wouldn't ask about Sumter and their father. She hated to add to Ginny's worries.
Virginia sighed. "I'm concerned how this ruse of yours will affect the children."
"They'll have food and clean beds."
"Yes." Virginia nodded. "I'm grateful for that, but they will have to lie, too."
Caroline winced. Once again, she'd blundered ahead without thinking everything through. "I'm sorry."
" 'Tis done." Virginia walked toward the children. "Sweetings, we're going to play a game for a few days and call Caroline Aunt Agatha. Do you understand?"
They nodded.
Jane Thomas sauntered back into the hall. "My servants are heating water in the kitchen. 'Tis the only hearth that is lit during the hot months."
"Of course. We can bathe there if it is more convenient," Virginia offered.
"As you like," Jane answered. "We have a small room off the kitchen with a tub. Did you leave your trunks on the pier? I can have a servant fetch them for you."
"I'm afraid we have none," Caroline admitted. At least part of her story was true. "We were robbed on our way here."
"Gracious! You poor souls." Jane studied the children. "There are some old clothes in the nursery that belonged to my son. They might fit young Edward. And Matthias wore some simple gowns before his breeching that will suit Charlotte."
"That would be wonderful." Caroline strode toward the stairs. "I'll bring them. Where is the nursery?"
"The third floor. Look for an old trunk."
The third floor? Caroline had never stayed in such a grand house before. "I see."
"Come along." Jane motioned for Virginia and the children to follow her. "I'll show you to the kitchen."
Caroline ascended the stairs in her stocking feet. On the second floor she paused at the large open window that overlooked the back of the house and the garden below. Rectangular in shape, the garden was lined along its perimeter with thick hedges of Carolina jasmine and climbing roses.
She took a deep breath and let the sweet scent of roses fill her senses and calm her frayed nerves. How lovely it would be to rest on one of those stone benches, surrounded by blooming flowers. In the center of the garden, a small reflecting pool caught the rays of the setting sun and sparkled like diamonds.
So beautiful. A place untouched by war. The perfect place for her family. She'd made the right decision when she'd lied. And she'd keep telling herself that 'til she believed it.
Behind the garden, rows of trees formed an orchard. To the right, she spotted the kitchen garden. Mrs. Thomas was ushering Virginia and the children into a brick building next to it. The kitchen.
Guilt nagged at Caroline as she started up a narrow staircase to the third floor. She shouldn't have lied to Mrs. Thomas. The woman deserved better than that. It was surely a blessing from above that they had discovered a safe haven in the midst of war. So in turn, she would try to repay Mrs. Thomas by being a blessing to her and helping her any way she could.
The nursery consisted of two rooms, one for the children and another she presumed for the nursemaid. She searched through several trunks, located some suitable clothes, then found her way to the kitchen.
After they had all bathed and supped, they took the children to the nursery to put them to bed. Virginia tucked Charlotte in and gave her a kiss. Edward had immediately fallen asleep.
"I cannot thank you enough, Mrs. Thomas," Caroline whispered.
"Please call me Jane. And I should thank you. It has been so long since there were children here." Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Now if you and your sister are ready to retire, I'll show you to your room."
Virginia rubbed the small of her back. "If you don't mind, I'd prefer to stay in the adjoining room. My children might need me during the night. After all they've been through . . ."
Caroline couldn't help but admire her older sister. Even though Ginny had to be exhausted, she still worried about her children first. "Do you want me to stay here with you?"
Virginia hugged her. "No, I'll be fine. Sleep well."
"Good night, then." Jane smiled, then led Caroline down the stairs to the second floor. "There are four rooms on this floor, one in each corner. My husband and I use the two bedchambers facing the front balcony."
"Is your husband here?" Caroline asked.
"No." Jane paused beside a door. "He was in Charles Town last spring, fighting the British. Now he's a prisoner."