New London, Connecticut December, 1776. Jane Lawson grabbed her cloak and headed for the door, running into the fading daylight. She ignored the pleas of Carrie, the housekeeper. “Miss Jane, you’re gonna ruin those shoes without your patins,” Carrie yelled at her. “I don’t care,” Jane yelled back. “Gilbert is home. He will buy me new ones.” Her skirts dragged through the snow that came up over her ankles. She pulled her cloak tight around her. Heavy flakes fell onto her e