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Her throat shifted. “Kitty had everything well in hand. I was simply there for support.”
William grinned and reached for her cloak. “They know we are leaving? They don’t need anything else?”
“Nay.” She pulled the fabric tight around her. “Kitty and Nathaniel will be staying the night.” She covered her mouth as she yawned then her eyes went wide. “There is something I must tell you. I—”
A knock pounded on the door only inches in front of them.
Anna jumped back and William’s muscles jerked. Who would be calling this time of night?
“Who goes there?” he asked through the wood.
“’Tis Joseph Wythe. I am looking for Nathaniel.”
Nathaniel appeared from behind, reaching around William and pulling open the door. “Joseph, what’s wrong?”
The tall man entered, his blonde hair wild under his hat, his expression hard. “We have trouble,” he bellowed.
Kitty rushed in, hushing him. “Eliza and the baby are sleeping.”
Joseph looked between Nathaniel and Kitty. “Baby?”
Nathaniel lowered his tone as he neared. “Eliza’s just given birth to a girl.”
A swift gla
nce toward the stairs then back to Nathaniel told William the man wasn’t about to postpone what he had to share on account of a newborn. But he did quiet his voice. Removing his hat, he entered, speaking with his gaze pointed. “’Twas my evening to make an exchange, and a redcoat was waiting for me. I was able to appear innocent enough, but he followed and I was forced to hide three hours.”
Nathaniel’s jaw went tight and he stared forward, his nostrils flaring. “They suspect.” He turned first to Kitty. “Darling, could you ready the bed in the spare room below for Anna? I fear this meeting is too vital to defer until morning and I shouldn’t wish her to be over tired.”
Kitty nodded, as if she understood her husband’s unexpressed need to speak to the men alone. She hurried to Anna’s side and took her arm. Anna flung only a fleeting glance to William, her face awash with exhaustion. He nodded and she turned moments before the two women entered the room behind the fireplace.
Nathaniel’s jaw ticked sharper with every second. “Someone has been slothful in their post, but I doubt ’twas one of us.” He looked up to the stairs then back to Joseph. “The patriots in Plymouth are headstrong and without much practice in stealth.”
Joseph went to the fire, lowering his voice another rung as he stared into the flames. “We must find a way to be more covert.” He tapped the hat against his thigh. “I feel the need to join the men in Boston.” With that he turned back. “I know your work is here, that the smuggling you do is every bit as helpful now, but I must fight.”
Nathaniel said nothing, only dipped his chin.
Joseph continued. “I shall not leave immediately. I will need to find someone to care for Jacob until I return.”
“Of course,” Nathaniel said. “Washington will be all too pleased to have someone as capable as you serving in the ranks.”
“You’re leaving us?” Thomas descended the stairs, all but floating, though in his face the solemn look of knowing darkened his eyes.
“Soon, aye,” Joseph said.
William stayed back, his arms crossed, considering what they must already know. “Spies cover this land, and I fear if Mr. Wythe has been nearly taken, you may all have been compromised. Attempting another exchange may be too much of a risk for any of you.”
The other three men stared in various directions, expressions at contemplative slants.
“We could simply deposit the goods and leave them to be retrieved later,” Thomas said.
“Aye.” Nathaniel stepped forward. “That way we could—”
“You’re wrong.”
The men turned to look at William. He neared, resting his palms on the back of the chair. “’Tis not the manner of your exchange that is problematic but who is executing it.”
All three sets of eyebrows dipped. William finished. “You are well known here, therefore, further attempts by any of you to conduct exchanges will be fruitless.”
