rail. The door swung open. A passageway lay before them, littered with shards of glass. He peered through the peephole and spotted his desk. "The bastard. He's been watching us all this time. Or she has." Was Caroline Munro behind this?
"We could arrest everyone in the house," Pugsley suggested.
"They would claim ignorance. We need proof." Ezra noted the stairs. "Are they on the third floor?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then we set fire to the grand staircase. They'll have to use this staircase to escape."
Pugsley's eyes widened. "But if they don't know about this staircase, they could be trapped and burn to death."
"The price they pay for proving their innocence." Ezra smiled. "I wouldn't worry about that, Pugsley. Caroline Munro will use this staircase to save the children. And we'll be waiting outside the dining room to arrest her as a spy."
"I see. Excellent plan, sir."
"Yes." Ezra nodded. "And the best part of it - I can clear my name with Tarleton by foisting the blame on her. Innocent or guilty, she's going to die."
Caroline stuffed a pillowcase with a spare set of clothing for her and the children. In her pocket, the knife rested against her hip.
"May I bring the tinder wheel?" Edward asked.
"Yes," Caroline answered, watching him jam the device into his coat pocket. "It may come in handy later." When they were camping in the woods with no home.
"I like it here." Charlotte frowned, her father's book clutched to her chest. "Will we ever come back?"
"I don't know. For now, we're going to North Carolina to live with your grandmother. Doesn't that sound nice?" Caroline gave the children an encouraging smile as they hurried down the hall.
"What about Mama?" Charlotte asked.
"She'll come with us." Caroline winced inwardly. Could a day-old baby survive such a journey?
Betsy met them at the top of the stairs. She, too, had a bundle in her arms. "This is all I have in the world. The redcoats destroyed my home and my family."
Edward scowled. "I hate the redcoats. I want to join the partisans and fight with Josiah."
"You're too young." Caroline headed down the stairs. "Hurry now. Quietly."
"I smell smoke," Betsy whispered behind her.
Caroline reached the second-floor landing and gasped. Billows of smoke drifted up the stairs.
"The house is on fire!" Betsy shouted.
Charlotte squealed and dropped her book.
"Wait here." Caroline covered her mouth and nose and descended a few steps. A wall of heat stopped her. Through the smoke, she spotted the flames, devouring the base of the stairs. She scurried back up the landing.
The terror on the children's faces ripped at her heart. "Don't worry. We'll get out," she told them to reassure herself as much as them.
"I know!" Betsy yelled. "We'll go down the servants' staircase and out the back door. Hurry!" She charged up the stairs to the third floor. The children ran after her.
Caroline glanced out the window of the second-floor landing and spotted Hickman and his foot soldier by the servants' door. Pugsley had a musket in his hands, the bayonet gleaming in the afternoon sun. A trap. Hickman wanted them to use the secret passageway.
"Wait!" She charged up the stairs. "Betsy, wait. We have to find another way."
Betsy stopped. "What other way is there?"
"We'll . . ." Think, Caroline, think. "We'll go to the balcony on the second floor. The front of the house."
"And what? Jump? 'Tis too far."
"I know where there's a rope. Go! Go to the balcony." Caroline passed her bundle to Edward, then ran to the room where Matthias and Jacob had rescued Jane. She gathered up the rope and darted down the stairs to the second floor.
Waves of heat rose up from the ground floor. The smoke was so thick, she covered her mouth and hurried to the balcony. Fresh air welcomed her and she breathed in relief to see Betsy and the children waiting.
"We'll climb down using the rope." She tied one end around a column.
Betsy tossed their bundles over the balcony.
" 'Tis too far," Charlotte whispered. "I'm afraid."
Edward pounded his fists on the balustrade. "I hate the British! I hate them. They burned our home and our cabin. And now they're burning - "
"Edward!" Caroline grabbed him by the shoulders. "I need you to go first. Show your sister how easy it is."
Edward nodded. Caroline and Betsy held him steady as he climbed over the balustrade and took hold of the rope. With his feet pressed against the column, Edward eased himself down the rope to the ground.
Caroline knelt in front of her niece. "You