General Howe glared at his tea. “So, because of this accursed snow storm, we cannot attack the rebels.”
Agent Chaplen sipped his tea delicately. It always tasted better when Robyn made it for him. “Yes, and I heard General Washing increased the troops on the Heights to six thousand.”
“Yes, no thanks to you.”
Chaplen set down the cup. “I beg your pardon?”
“Washington was informed of the attack.”
“How? I thought no one was to leave the gates last night.”
Howe harrumphed. “They were not, but some idiot let a small precession of soldiers out.”
“So?”
“I gave no orders for any men to leave.” Howe leaned on Chaplen’s desk. “Besides, one of them claimed to be you.”
Just then, someone knocked on the door. After Chaplen called for the person to enter, Robyn strode in with a pile of clothes in her arms. “Here you are, Mr. Chaplen. All washed and clean, they are.”
Ah yes, his missing clothes. “Where did you find these, Miss Rivers?”
“Oh, with the rest of the washing, sir. I thought you put them there.”
“I did not.”
“That’s odd.” She put her hands on her hips and frowned in a confused manner.
Chaplen smiled into his tea. “Do not trouble yourself about it, Miss Rivers.”
She looked up at him, more confused than before. “Trouble myself about what sir?”
Oh, she was hopeless. “Do not worry about it, Miss Rivers.”
She curtsied. “A good afternoon to you, Mr. Chaplen, General.”
After she had left, Howe said, “What a stupid girl.”
Chaplen smiled. “Oh, she has her moments.”
~~~~~
Ben burst into the kitchen. “This is outrageous!”
Robyn and Sovay looked up from their dinner-making. “What is?” They chorused.
Patriot looked up from his place by the fire.
Several days had passed since their little jaunt to warn General Washington. Ben waved a piece of paper in the air. “General Howe has issued a proclamation that all linens and woolen goods that could be used by the Continental Army are to be surrendered to the British Army!”
Chaplen peered at Ben over his newspaper. “You are to be given certificates—“
“Of worthlessness!”
“Now, there’s no need to get excited,” Agent Chaplen murmured over his newspaper.
Ben plopped down in a chair and Robyn quickly handed him a cool cup of milk. Gratefully, he drank it. Patriot sauntered over and nudged Ben’s hand.
“Is the army evacuating, then?” Sovay asked for Robyn, who was dying to know.
Ruffling Patriot’s ears, Ben shrugged. “That would be my guess. Agent Chaplen?”
“I have not been told either way.” He stood up and stretched. “I think I shall go find out.”
Once he was gone, the three began making plans.
Still petting the happy dog, Ben sighed. “We’ll have to give the Redcoats something, but we can hide the rest.”
“I have an old linen shift that no longer fits. We could give them that,” Sovay offered with a wicked grin.
“The rest we can hide under the floorboards in the attic.”
Ben nodded. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s get to work.”
Robyn grinned. “I can get Sovay’s shift and hide the things on the second floor. You two attend to the first floor.”
After Robyn had left, Ben turned to Sovay. “If the Redcoats do pull out, Chaplen will leave without knowing the Shadow Fox’s identity.”
Sovay shook her head. “Do you think Chaplen will leave without trying something? We have to keep our eyes open and keep Robyn out of trouble.”
Patriot barked his agreement.
That would have been easy if Agent Chaplen had not become desperate.
-----
I know, I know. I'm sorry. It's been an interesting week consisting of way too much homework already and becoming soccer coach. Yeah, my head is still reeling.
Anyway, fun chapter! For some reason, when I was talking about Chaplen drinking his tea, I typed the following: "He made faces as he drank it."
What?
Yeah, I don't even know. I'm pretty sure I was also chatting with my roommate at the time.
And the last sentence? Yeah, gives me the shivers every time.
Anyway, have a lovely week. I hope to be back on schedule next Monday.
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