"My honest reply Mr. Henry? Off the record books?" I asked, not missing a beat.
"Naturally."
"Nothing." His face fell at my answer and he reached for the nearest bartender and proceeded to order a double whiskey on the rocks.
"Well, then, Miss Merriman, it has been a pleasure. I'm sure you will mention none of this to your father."
"You did not let me finish Mr. Henry," I started. His drink arrived, but instead of drinking up, Patrick Henry leaned closer, intrigued. "I was not lying before when I said I know nothing about spying, but I do know I enjoy a good challenge. And I'm sure learning the tricks of a spy is among the toughest of challenges." He nodded, encouraging me to continue, his eyes not leaving mine. "What have you to offer besides the thrill of going behind my father's back and serving the noble cause?"
"Your freedom and better yet, everyone else's," he replied quietly, but with such intensity it gave me goose bumps.
"Good enough for me." Patrick Henry finished his drink in one gulp, stood, promised to be in touch shortly, and left as quickly as my little sister Nan can run – and she won the town fair's 100-meter dash.
Leaving Hartwell Perry's tavern, I continued home to wash up before midday meal with Mary and her family. Once I stepped up the first step to our door, momma came running out from the south gate entrance. She was most likely hanging Christmas garlands on the fence in the south gardens. She was obviously about to scold me for not coming home straight away from my errands that morning, but upon seeing my new dress, she ran over and squealed with delight.
"Oh Lissie! It's beautiful! You're father told me he got you a present for the Governor's Ball but he did not say what it was. Do you like it?"
"Not at all!" She frowned at my reply, but she saw my lips begin to curve into a smile. "I love it!" She nodded in agreement before ushering me toward the front door.
I looked up at our brick covered house. It was one of the larger homes in Williamsburg, as both of my parents are prominent members of society and well liked. It is of a rectangle shape, two floors with four rooms on each, all with their own fireplace. Once inside the door, my mother pushed me from the foyer through the hallway to the backdoor.
"Let's take it off and have Tippy wash and press it so it's ready for the party," she ordered referring to one of our maids. Tippy was the head of the slaves on our property and the most loved by the entire Merriman family. I shan't ever forget the time she caught me playing with Abigail, her daughter, and Mary in the muddy swamp in the woods behind the pasture. She wore out her paddle on all of us that day.
Granted, I did not learn anything from that experience. I was in that same swamp the very next week. However, I remembered not to let Tippy catch me whence I came home.
I told momma about my encounter with Mr. Tucker and his invitation. She told me to wash up out back and change to a more formal gown instead of my everyday frock.
Jumping down the steps and into the back of our property, I saw Nan, my nine year old sister, trying to teach William, my six year old brother, to make snow angels on the arbor. It is a sort of shaded area at the back of our property where we normally sit and relax. Instead of walking straight, through the pleasure gardens towards my siblings, I turned right to make my way to the north well. There, I found Ben, my father's apprentice. As today was Wednesday, Ben had off. I saw this as his chance to prepare before he had to run the store for a week while father was away in Philadelphia.
"Good day Lissie," he said upon seeing me galloping like a child toward the well. "Seems like you are in a cheerful mood."
"I get to eat midday meal with Mary and her family today!" I shouted before pulling up the bucket and pouring cool water into my hands and scrubbing the dirt off my face. I yelped in surprise at the freezing water.
"Have you not noticed that Old Man Winter has come, Lissie?" called Ben from his place in the stables where he was tending to his horse, Eagle. He always liked to make it quite clear that he was smarter than I.
"Actually, I was just shouting to see if you would come to my rescue. Such a pity you are not the knight in shining armor you claim to be!" I shouted before hurrying back into the warmth of the house, leaving behind a confused Ben.
Once inside, I headed to my room on the second floor. At the top of the stairs, I turned left and headed into the first room I came to. My room faced southwest and from my windows, I could see Bruton Parish Church on the left and the backyard.
I headed to my armoire and pulled out my linen maroon petticoat and a flower-embroidered chemise. Mother always said the maroon made my strawberry brown hair shine. After getting dressed, I ran downstairs to say good-bye to mother. I found her in the parlor singing my three-year-old sister, Polly, to sleep.
"Oh Lissie, I asked Ben to take you to the Tucker's. He'll be waiting for you outside."
"Mother, I'm not a little girl anymore," I whispered forcefully. "I can walk there myself."
"Quite right you are. You are not a little girl anymore. You are a grown lady of fifteen and you shan't travel alone anymore. Now, do not keep Mary and her family waiting. I'll see you whence you come home, and be ready to tell me all about it."
I sighed in defeat before mumbling, "Yes mother," and setting off to find Ben. He was outside, leaning against the garden fence, polishing off a sweet roll. He brushed his hands on his pants before offering me his arm with a barely audible, "milady."
We walked in silence until we crossed the street. "So who will be present for your midday meal?" Ben asked.
"Mary, her mother and father, and her snooty sister Annabelle," I answered, with a noticeable amount of loathing at the last name. Ben chuckled and patted my hand.
"Some animosity towards Miss Annabelle, Lissie?"
"She's constantly saying she's more beautiful, more powerful, and more wealthier than I. And she says my freckles are disgraceful and they chase away all the boys." I was starting to think she was right, since the only boys who do more than talk to me are Ben and James. The rest simply say good day in passing, or ask for a dance at special gatherings. Nothing out of the ordinary though.
"Now, Lissie. You cannot believe that is true," Ben said, stopping in front of the Tucker house and looking down to me.
"Well, I don't see any boys jumping at the chance to see me. But they surely jump to see Annabelle." I started to look down at my feet but Ben's hand caught my chin. He ran his thumb over my chin then pressed his palm against my cheek. I leaned into the warmth from his hand and closed my eyes.
"Maybe they don't have to jump. Maybe they're tall enough." I opened my eyes and gazed into Ben's green ones, never faltering. "Besides, Annabelle's teeth are much too big for me." I laughed at his comment, but appreciated it all the same. He removed his hand from my cheek, smiled, and kissed my hand before leaving. As he was crossing Palace Street, he turned and shouted over his shoulder, "I'll be back in an hour and thirty. Enjoy yourself Lissie!"
"Miss Merra'man, so nice t' see you 'gain." I turned around to see Gordon, the Tucker's house slave, standing at the open front door
"Good day Gordon," I said, walking into the warm house.
Well...there ya go..I hope you liked it...PLEASE REVIEW!
Until next time,
RiLeY