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"This is Miss Hartley," Lady Emeline said coolly "Mr Hartley’s sister"

"Miss Hartley" Vale nodded, urbane even when accused of treason "Why don’t you two go back into the house and enjoy the ball?"

Sa about wohtly, her lips pressed into a thin line "I believe I will stay here"

Vale opened his ain, the fool

"I’ll stay, too," Rebecca said before Vale could speak

Everyone swung in her direction Rebecca’s cheeks pinkened, but she tilted her chin defiantly

Lady Emeline cleared her throat "We’ll just sit here"

SheRebecca followed her Both ladies sat down, crossed their arms, and assumed nearly identical expressions of expectation In any other circumstances, it would’ve been funny Daed helplessly God only knehere the ot his reputation as a rake

The footlass of wine on a tray Samuel took it and sipped He spat the firstthe rest of the glass, feeling inally better

Vale cleared his throat when the footman had left "Yes, well Where did this letter you have coed?"

"It’s not forged," Sam said He felt more than saw Lady Ement of hilish on his mother’s side The man is a friend I’ve known for e little Indian who ca!" Rebecca exclaimed "I re you your luncheon"

Sam nodded His offices were near the docks in Boston, a place his sister didn’t usually visit But that day he’d forgotten the basket that Cook had packed for his luncheon, and Rebecca had fetched it for him

"You were so distracted afterward," Rebeccahiry You were in a black mood for days Now I knohy"

Saht now He looked at Vale "Coshocton--the Indian--obtained the letter fro the Wyandot It was the Wyandot who attacked us"

"I know that," Vale retorted "But how do you knoas so? It could’ve been a Frenchie or--"

"No" Salish And besides, whoever wrote it knew too much You remember that our march to Fort Edas secret Only the officers and a few of the trackers kneecanoes down Lake Chae was the more usual way, I re where ere headed would assume ent by water, not land"

Vale pursed his lips, then seeh, I don’t deny it, but I was quite able to pay it"

Sam narrowed his eyes "Were you?"

"Yes In fact, I did"

Sam stared "What?"

"I quietly paid the debt to Clelanced away as if eruff "Least I could do, don’t you know, under the circumstances Doubt any of the men you talked to knew that, but you can contact ot the papers to prove it"

Sa, and he felt like an idiot

"Who else had reason to betray the company of soldiers besides Jasper?" Lady Emeline asked quietly "Because I’ve known Jasper allthat would end in Reynaud’s death"

Viscount Vale grinned "Thank you, Eh I notice you don’t acquit ed

"But she’s right" Vale sobered "I didn’t betray the regiment, Hartley"

Sam stared at the aristocrat He didn’t want to believe hi for answers He’d hoped Vale would be the key to everything That he could finally put Spinner’s Falls to rest But any iut that Vale wasn’t the traitor And if he hadn’t had his gut telling him Vale was innocent, there was Lady Emeline She trusted the ot to her feet and shook out her skirts "I believe that means someone else is the traitor, doesn’t it?"

"YOU SHOULD RETURN to the festivities," Emeline told Jasper "Rebecca and I are more than ready to return home"

She didn’t include Samuel in her words, but he was the one she was er wavered as he stood, but his face was still pale and shining with sweat

But she made sure not to look at him as she addressed Jasper She knew that Samuel wouldn’t welcome her solicitation in front of another ain--Rebecca has had enough exciteht I’ll send word to Tante Cristelle to meet us in front of the house, and we can walk around by the mews"

"Non"

Ele word Her nerves were obviously ht

Tante Cristelle stepped froentleh only Jasper had the grace to look ashaossip to rest I shall have a foote to the mews"

"But hoill you return hoave an expressive shrug "I have many of the friends, do I not? It will not be so hard to find a carriage" She darted a glance at Rebecca, who had begun to look wilted "You go and put all right at horatitude at the old lady "Thank you, Tante"