Neither of us spoke again until we arrived at the townhouse, but before the driver had come around to open the door for us, Mother’s voice reached out and clasped me around the heart.
“I will accept his proposal on your behalf, and you will marry him, mark my words.”
She exited the automobile and strode to the door without waiting for me to follow.
7
WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA
MAY 26, 1774
The sky was overcast on Thursday, matching my mood. Since the paper had gone to press that morning and my work for the following week’s newspaper had not yet begun, Mama encouraged me to go to the milliner and mantua-maker’s shop with Rebecca and Hannah to discuss the gowns they needed. I had not yet broached the subject of payment, hoping Mistress Hunter would sell them to us on credit, though I detested owing a debt to yet another person. We had scraped together the last of what we owed to Mister Jennings in the past couple of days, but he was not the only one threatening to take action against us.
A low roll of thunder met my ears as we sat in Mistress Hunter’s shop, looking at Virginia cotton fabric, buttons, and ribbons. We were the only customers in the store and had come in just as one of the plantation wives had exited, her footman ladened with packages. I wondered if it would start to rain before we returned home, but I was in no hurry and didn’t give it much thought. Mama needed a bit of time alone as much as the girls and I needed a distraction and a break fromour responsibilities. It helped keep my mind off 1914 and Lord Cumberland’s impending visit.
“What do you think of this color?” Mistress Hunter asked Hannah as she held up a dark green cotton. “’Twould match your eyes, miss.”
“May I have a pink gown?” Hannah asked me, not even looking at the fabric Mistress Hunter presented. “With lace and ruffles and dozens of petticoats?”
“There will be no lace, I’m afraid.” I offered a smile to soften the reality.
“If it’s pink the child is wanting,” Mistress Hunter said, “then I have just the drugget. It arrived at Yorktown this week, and I haven’t had time to bring it out.” Her tiny brown eyes opened wide in excitement. She motioned to one of her enslaved women, Martha, to retrieve the material.
Drugget was the cheapest material one could buy next to homespun. Had Mistress Hunter heard of our financial plight? It would not surprise me with the way gossip traveled in Williamsburg.
Another rumble of thunder, this one closer and louder, rattled the windows of the mantua-maker’s shop. Mistress Hunter went to the window, looking toward the west. “The clouds are rolling in quickly.”
Rebecca hated storms. Her eyes were troubled as she looked from the windows to me. I put my hand on her arm to reassure her, but I wondered whether we should go home now or stay and wait out the storm. There was no telling how long it might last.
“Oh my,” Mistress Hunter said, putting her lace-gloved hand to her mouth. “It looks as though there’s trouble.”
I went to the door to look outside. A great commotion had developed. People were gathering in small groups outside businesses up and down Duke of Gloucester Street. Mister Jefferson and Mister Patrick Henry were standing with several other burgesses just outside the capitol building.
But where was Henry?
“I must find out what has happened,” I said to no one in particular. Rebecca and Hannah rushed to the door to look with me. “Return home,” I told them. “I will be along shortly.”
“But what of our dresses?” Hannah asked.
“We will come back to discuss them later.”
The girls did not look pleased, but they obeyed me and left the shop.
I turned to Mistress Hunter. “We will need to return later to make decisions about the dresses, I’m afraid.” I offered a quick curtsy and then left.
Sophia Charlton stood with a group of young women on the opposite side of the street, near her father’s wig-making shop. When she spotted me, she broke away from the others.
“What has everyone so agitated?” I asked her.
“Governor Dunmore has disbanded the burgesses!” Her dark eyes danced with animation. “He returned this morning from the countryside and was given the resolution. Then, this afternoon, he sent a messenger to inform the assembly that they are to return home until further notice.”
“Where did you hear this?”
“’Tis circulating all over town.”
“When did they disband?”
“A quarter hour ago, by my knowledge.”
