The Scarlet Oak — Cornelia Meigs

A Mystery set in early American History. When Jeremy and Hugh arrive with their family to stay with their Grandfather in New Jersey they find only bad news waiting for them. The family fortune is possibly lost due to one of the family ships being seized by the Dutch. Jeremy heads of to Europe to try and free the family ship while Hugh looks for a way to be supportive at home. Hugh gets a job as a gardener at the neighboring estate of Joseph Bonaparte the brother of Napoleon who has fled to exile in the United States. There is a mysterious man spying on the Mr. Bonaparte and his household. Who is he and what does he want? Can Hugh get the adults around him to listen to his fears before disaster strikes