My pulse ticked in my wrists, and my breathing stilled—but I couldn’t let him think he’d heard something he shouldn’t. “It’s of no consequence.”
He studied me again as if trying to piece together some great puzzle. “I disagree. I believe it is of great consequence. Your words troubled me, Libby, though I cannot pretend to understand their meaning. I do not know if you and your mother were playacting or if you truly believed what you were saying. If you did, I fear for your mental state.”
Panic swelled in my chest, but I forced my face to remain neutral. “I don’t know what you think you heard—or why you would think we were playacting. Mama was sharing a story with me, nothing more.” It was true, she had been sharing a story—a story from her past. “Why?” I asked, tilting my head. “What did you think we were discussing?”
Louis was quiet for a moment as he regarded me. I could see the questions swirling in his mind, but he didn’t speak them out loud. Instead, he straightened his shoulders and crossed his arms.
I could no longer stand there in his presence. “I will bring this proof back after I’ve had the opportunity to look it over completely.” And, with that, I left the printing room.
“Mama,” I said the moment I entered our office and closed the door, “we must be more careful. Louis asked me about our conversation yesterday. He’s confused, as I knew he would be, but I don’t think I’ve eased his mind.”
“It seems we have spies all around us,” she responded.
I frowned. “All around us?”
But she waved aside my question and went back to her work.
Did she know something I did not? Did she know about Henry?
Whatever it was, she didn’t appear to want to share.
A light but steady rain commenced that afternoon. It was hard to focus on my work, not only because of the previous day, but also because of the Virginia Convention being held down the street at the Raleigh. More than anything, I wanted to know what the men were discussing. To see history unfold in person—and to know how important it would be in the course of world events—was something very few people experienced. I knew the outcome, but what was it like to be in that room? What did it smell like, sound like, feel like?
I would never know. The closest I could come was hearing a firsthand account from someone who was there. Someone like Henry.
As the day progressed, Mama became more and more exhausted and began to complain of a headache. We were sitting in the office when she finally pushed away from the desk. “I must go to bed. The sleepless night has taken a toll on me.”
I noted the dark circles under her eyes and the lines around her mouth. Guilt weighed upon my heart, knowing she was suffering because of me.
She was pale, but she offered me a smile as she placed her cool hand on my cheek. “Do not feel responsible, Libby. I would do it again and again.”
“Do you think you’re becoming ill?”
“Nay. Just a megrim, ’tis all.” She paused and pressed her hands against her temples. “What I wouldn’t give for some ibuprofen and a Diet Coke right now.” On a sigh, she said, “I’ll be fine in the morning once I’ve had some sleep.”
It was rare that she spoke about the things she missed fromher other path, but when she did, it reminded me of all that she had given up for me. “I’ll see to the girls.”
She patted my shoulder and left the office. Soon I heard her heavy tread upon the stairway.
The day pressed on, and when Abraham appeared at my office door a few hours later, I was surprised to look up and see that the sky was darkening.
“I have the supplies you ordered.” He entered and placed a box on Mama’s desk. “Mister Tanner will send the bill around.”
I tried not to groan, wondering where I would come up with the money to pay the merchant. Instead, I stood to inspect the supplies to make sure Mister Tanner had given me everything on my list.
“There’s talk in town that the convention attendees have called for a Continental Congress to meet in September in Richmond,” Abraham said. “They’ve elected delegates to attend from the Virginia Colony, and I’ve heard several of our local men will be going.”
My hands stilled as I lifted a new quill. This was exactly the kind of news our subscribers would want to read. “Do you know who?”
“Nay. I didn’t hear any names.”
Would Henry attend the Continental Congress? Who else was elected? With the paper going to press in two days, I needed to know. No doubt Mister Archer had been at the meeting and would have all the information he needed. I couldn’t compete with that, but I could get my news from another source.
“Could you please ask Mariah to see to the girls this evening? I must go out, and I don’t know when I’ll be home.”
I barely waited for his nod before leaving the office to grab my heavy cloak. I pulled the deep hood over my head to protect me from the rain and curious eyes. If Mama had been awake, she would have asked me to stay home, but I could not. Our newspaper had to compete with Mister Archer’s if we wantedto keep the public contract. There were those who would use any excuse to take it from us, and I couldn’t let that happen.
It was still light outside, though the clouds were heavy with rain and the sun would soon set. I walked toward the Palace Green. Straight ahead was the College of William and Mary at the start of Duke of Gloucester Street. The stately brick buildings and wide-open lawns were beautiful and set Williamsburg apart in the colony. Many men I knew had attended, including Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and others. In my 1914 path, it was still an exclusive men’s college, but Mama assured me that one day women would be allowed to enroll. I had often thought about what I would study, had I been allowed. Would I choose to be a newspaper editor? Or would I be a lawyer? A doctor? An architect? It was hard to know. I’d been thrust into my role, but would I have chosen it if given another option?
