"Yes. Dottie mixed a sleeping potion into a bottle of rum, and then Caroline gave it to the soldiers outside."
"Caroline? Then Miss Munro finally told you her name."
Jane nodded. "After the real Agatha showed up, she could hardly continue with the pretense."
He snorted. "She waited until she was caught before she confessed?"
"Don't be harsh on her. I don't know how I would have survived the day without her. She helped me mix some sleeping potion into your father's good brandy, and I gave it to Captain Hickman." Jane shuddered. "He's a Loyalist."
"Bloody turncoat," Matthias muttered. "Where is he?"
"Hopefully, he's sleeping in your father's bed."
A Loyalist redcoat sleeping in his house. Matthias cursed silently. He could hardly confront a sleeping enemy. " 'Tis a shame the bastard's drugged."
" 'Tis a blessing. We were frightened out of our wits. Betsy dropped the soup tureen at dinner, she was so afraid. She ran to the kitchen in tears, and Caroline took over her duties."
"Miss Munro waited on you?"
"Yes, she's been very helpful. It was her idea to drug the soldiers. And I readily agreed. If you'd seen the way that captain was looking at her - "
"What?"
"Shh." Jane frowned. "He might still be awake."
Matthias balled his fists. "Did the lobsterback have his claws on her?"
"He flirted with both the young ladies," Jane muttered. "Agatha enjoyed it, but I could tell Caroline was nervous."
"She should have bitten him." Frustration boiled inside Matthias. How dare the redcoats invade his house and frighten his mother, her servants, and his . . . vixen. He paced the floor. "How long do they intend to stay?"
"They're leaving at dawn."
"If they're able to wake up. I hope the potion has no side effects that will make them suspicious."
Jane winced. "Dottie said it was a light potion."
"I hope you're right. Try to sleep." He kissed her cheek.
"Are you leaving?"
"I dare not leave you here unprotected. I'll stay close by until the redcoats are gone."
"Please don't tamper with their cargo. Captain Hickman would blame us."
He groaned inwardly. As much as he'd love to set the barge on fire, he couldn't risk endangering his mother. Or her guests. "All right."
"Thank you." His mother hugged him. "The third floor should be safe for you. Why don't you use Haversham's old room?"
"Very well. Good night, Mother."
Moonlight shone through the large window on the second-floor landing, lighting the way up the stairs. The third-floor hallway was dark, but Matthias knew his way. He had slept in Haversham's room the last two nights.
The door opened an inch, then knocked against a piece of furniture. A soft feminine gasp greeted him.
Damn. Set up again. His mother had lured him to the vixen's lair.
"I'm warning you." Miss Munro's voice sounded strained. "I have a knife."
Matthias snorted. "Is it as sharp as your teeth?"
There was a pause. "Haversham? Is that you?"
"Yes. Who else barges into your bedchamber every night?"
"Oh, thank God. For a moment, I thought you were one of the redcoats."
Did this mean he was welcome in her bedchamber? Or did she merely consider him safe compared to a redcoat? Damn. He was tempted to let her know he could be just as dangerous as the next man. If he wanted to be.
He shoved at the door, reached inside to yank the chair out from under the latch, then invaded the dark room.
She gasped. "I - I was going to let you in."
He spotted the form of her white nightgown across the room. The scent of magnolia blossoms drifted toward him, almost as if she had reached out to touch him. Blood surged to his groin. Damn, he could barely see her and he was reacting to her.
"Are you still by the door?" she whispered.
"Yes." He closed it behind him.
This was the east side of the house, directly under the apex of the roof. The wall to his left boasted a window in the shape of a half circle. Moonlight spilled through, creating a shaft of misty light that cut the room in half.
On each side of the light, darkness reigned. He was on one side; she on the other. The shaft of light reached the wall to the right, illuminating the clothespress where he had found Haversham's uniform. Next to it sat a wooden chair where Miss Munro had spread her gown and white petticoats.
He clenched his fists, fighting an urge to cross the room and pull her into his arms. "Forgive my intrusion."