“Black flag?” Lucy wrinkled her nose. “Isn’t that for pirates?”

“Yes, but those may be the least pirate-ish men to ever walk the earth,” Charlotte said.

Most of the “pirates” were British officers in vivid red-and-white regimentals. Young men of vigorous health whose laughter and spirited voices carried across the water, growing louder as they approached the finish marker. As they stole the front spot from a sloop filled with British navy men and sailed to victory, they roared and waved their hats wildly.

Their celebration was irresistible. I was laughing as I recognized the pretty amber of Lieutenant Duncan’s hair. Another young man’s hearty hug had knocked his hat away and I watched him sweep it up and search the shoreline.

I suddenly had a strong feeling he was searching for me.

“And there he is,” Charlotte said. “Our dashing lieutenant.”

As the sloop drifted toward shore, several of the men shed their hats and coats and shoes and jumped into shallow water to cheers of delight from the onlookers. They looked ridiculous as they splashed the short distance to the shore, like boys without a care. Duncan was right in the middle of it. Then suddenly several of the men pounced on him.

“Grab him! Grab Duncan!” they yelled.

Duncan tried to slip away, but he was outnumbered. With playful shoves, his friends shepherded up the bank, toward…

“Oh dear,” Lucy said. “Are they coming toward us?”

“They are,” Charlotte whispered. “Emmie, take this with grace or you will only make it worse.”

I had no idea what I was taking with grace.

By the time the rowdy young men delivered Duncan to me, his hair and regimentals disheveled and dripping, a small crowd had begun to form around us.

Duncan shook his head. “Miss Coates, I—” His cheeks were flushed and his eyes held a deadly sparkle. He looked like he was either going to laugh or tear his friends apart with his hands. “I cannot begin to apologize for—”

One of his mates shoved him. “Ask her, Duncan! Go on!”

My legs twitched, aching to escape. Never had I liked being the center of attention, but now I felt guilty. Exposed. Even Major André and General Clinton were watching from a distance.

“Come on, man!” encouraged a tall blond with another playful shove. “Ask!”

“Miss Coates,” Duncan said, “please believe me when I say that I had no part in—”

“Duncan, if you don’t—”

“Will you honor me with a dance at the wedding ball, Miss Coates?” Duncan blurted. “Now, you may refuse me. I deserve it.” He waved at the grinning young men surrounding him. “We deserve it.”

Liesje came over, her smile wide. “Oh, Miss Coates. You must agree!”

My mind had gone blank. All I wanted was for this to be over. “I accept, Lieutenant.”

Huzzahs broke into the air. Duncan’s friends spirited him away to loud congratulations.