“Halt! Guard the windows and the rear, you four!”
“Colden’s voice!” exclaimed Peyton.
Elizabeth was somewhat startled. “He must have been still at King’s Bridge when Sam arrived,” said she.
“He must be a close friend,” said Peyton.
“He is my affianced husband.”
Peyton staggered, as if shot, around the projection of the spinet, and came to a rest in the small space between that projection and the west wall of the room. “Her affianced! Then it’s all up with me!”
The outside door was heard to open. Elizabeth turned her back towards the spinet and Peyton, and faced the door to the hall. That, too, was flung wide. Peyton dropped on his right knee, behind the spinet, leaning forward and stretching his wounded leg out behind him, just as Colden rushed in at the head of six of the Queen’s Rangers, who were armed with short muskets. The major stopped short at sight of Elizabeth, and the rangers stood behind him, just within the door. Peyton was hidden by the spinet.
“Where is the rebel, Elizabeth?” cried Colden.
She met his gaze straight, and spoke calmly, with a barely perceptible tremor.