The couple were greeted by Wilkins' parents, before they entered the ballroom. Musicians were playing, guests were dancing; the ball was in full bloom. They looped around the dance floor and stopped near the windows for a glass of wine. Across the room, General Cornwallis nodded to them, acknowledging them. Different officers came and talk to the colonel, Charlotte politely smiling, holding on to his arm. She felt very hot in the room and excused herself to the balcony, a few steps away.

Stepping outside on the balcony, the fresh air did her some good. She did not have good nights of sleeps, and had been feeling nauseous most mornings for a few days. She still felt unsafe since her kidnapping by the militia and stress was hard on her body.

"Lady Charlotte, there you are! I really want to thank you again for letting me borrow this dress of yours," Florence was absolutely ecstatic, being at her first ball.

"It is a real pleasure, it suits you well. Where is M. Smith?"

"Quite close I am sure. He wrote to me saying he would be late."

Charlotte winced, how could this man ask Florence to come to the ball only to let her alone. Colonial probably have different customs, she thought.

"Lady Charlotte, have you seen Margaret recently?"

"No, I have not been a lot in the parlor with the officers' wife lately."

"So you haven't heard the latest gossip? Rumor has it she cheated on her husband!"

Charlotte lifted an eyebrow; she did not enjoy gossip, and surely did not like the woman. She nodded and suggested they got back inside, hoping this would change the topic of conversation.

..

Near the tree line, Billings had a clear view of the balcony. He did not have to wait long before he saw Charlotte outside. Martin told him to only make contact with Smith, and not to do anything stupid. Looking by his spyglass, he could not keep his eyes off her. Probably every man in the militia had a different view on what should be done with her or to her.

He had already been waiting for a while. Maybe too long and surely too close to british line. Noah was nowhere to be seen. Billings could stay but not for long again or he would be caught for sure.

..

Bordon was supervising the patrol outside. Balls were not really his cup of tea so Tavington put him in charge of security tonight. After the encounter of the militia at Wilkins Manor yesterday, they had to be careful.

He could not help but have harsh thoughts about the new recruits. They were the worst men the dragoons ever recruited; out of shape, bad marksmen. The only advantage they had was that they knew the surrounding and even for that, Wilkins was a better asset. Smith was the worst of them all. If only he could shoot as well as he talked, Bordon thought.

"Sir, the men found a traitor within our ranks" Lieutenant Sullivan interrupted his daydreaming.

"Who ? Where is he?"

"Noah Smith, sir. He is in the stables for now. He might be willing to talk and trade information, from what I have heard."

"Take me to him right now."

"Should we send a courier to Colonel Tavington?" Sullivan enquired.

"For now, the colonel should enjoy his evening. Let me talk to Smith and see what I can get from him first."

In the stables, Smith's hands were tied to a gate. His face a bloody from the beating he went through. He was too self-confidence, thinking he could get away with being a smooth talker, but none of the dragoons trusted him. He would always enquire about the troop movements, the number of soldiers in camp. Tonight, before he took his watch duty, he was put to the test by fellow soldiers. He got lost in his lies, and got beaten before he was tied up.

Smith was trying not to let it show, but inside, he was shaking in fear. He knew the rumors about the dragoon brutality were not made up. He could not even make his way to Billings, who was probably still waiting for him, hidden in the bushes. The stables door opened and Smith was relieved to see Bordon, and not Tavington. He knew the man was softer that the colonel.

"So, what do we have here? A traitor from what I am told. What do you have to say for your defense?" Bordon asked.

"What will you do to me?"

"We might reward the truth. Maybe your life will be saved if you tell us for whom you are working and where your point of contact is."

Smith looked around. All the men standing in the stables seemed to be ready to kill him. He had no guaranty his life would be safe if he spoke. He tried to think fast about his best bargain. He thought for a second to give them false information, but he would pay the price of his lies afterwards.

Bordon nodded his head toward Sullivan, who punched Smith in the stomach. A second punch was directed at his face. Blood filled his mouth and he spate to the ground. This would be a long night.

..

Charlotte enjoyed the music, danced a bit, but soon she felt drained, so tired. William saw her energy level going down and offered her to retreat to the bedroom. She gladly accepted.

As they walked across the room, she saw Margaret looking at them. She could not figure out what was the look on her face. The colonel surely noticed the woman behavior. He held her gaze and narrowed his eyes. It had the expected effect on her and she turned away immediately. If she would tell even a word to his wife about the ambush she did, he did not know what he would do. His beloved had been through so much already.