Washington's Lady by Moser Nancy

Author:Moser, Nancy [Moser, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: First Lady, Revolutionary War, George Washington, Williamsburg, Philadelphia, love-story, Colonies, widows, Martha Dandridge, biography, Christian, fiction, romance, Mt. Vernon, Benjamin Franklin, war, bio-novel, Presidency, Martha Washington, British, Martha Custis, England, John Adams, War of Independence, New York, historical
Publisher: Livingstone Books
Published: 2012-10-24T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

“Sold! To Mr. Washington.”

From the seat beside him, I shook my head.

“I know, I know. But you and I have seen Sally use that serving cart a hundred times.”

“But we don’t need a serving cart,” I whispered.

Or a mahogany shaving desk, wash desk or tallboy, a set of dining room chairs, a gilt mirror or . . .

Our dear friends the Fairfaxes were not returning from England. The uneasiness of the colonies held no appeal, and since they were no longer the agent to Lord Fairfax, they were not comfortable in America. So . . . the Fairfaxes had left Fairfax County for good, leaving George to auction off their property.

That he had bid on many pieces of Sally’s personal furniture was of interest.

Not that I had failed to recover from any jealousy I felt regarding the bond they shared in their youth—before he met me. Yes, I had seen the ember of a spark even after we were wed, but I was also certain it had never been fanned into a flame. A person cannot help feeling an attraction toward another, but they can implement self-control and honour to never act upon that attraction. I believed, with my whole heart, George never acted in anyway untoward. As friends have said, he was the master of himself.

George leaned toward me, discreetly pointing to the front of the room. “Would you like that cloisonné vase? Sally often had it on the mantel.”

Actually . . . “Certainly,” I said. For Sally and George William did have exquisite taste. And Sally was my friend also.

A friend I missed.

As the disagreements between England and her colonies grew, how many other friends would I lose to political loyalty?

“Sold!” said the auctioneer, holding up the vase. “Again, to Mr. Washington.”

And his wife.

*****

Our guests were to bed and we were on our way toward that same location. As George washed his face and arms at the washstand—Sally’s washstand—I took the coat he had worn at dinner and hung it upon its hook.

A letter fell from the pocket.

My first reaction was not worthy of me—or George. But first reactions seldom are. My first reaction was to think he had kept a letter from Sally, and because she had been on our mind of late . . .

As penance for my unwarranted thought, I picked up the letter and took it to my husband. “Here,” I said, holding it toward him. “This fell from your pocket.”

He gave it but a glance, then said, “Open it. It is from Jack.”

“It’s not one I have read?”

“No,” George said while drying his face. “It was sent directly to me.” He nodded toward the letter. “Please.”

I opened it and read: I am at a great loss of words to tell you the level of esteem I hold for you. You have been my father in every way. I have nothing but affection and regard, both of which I possess in the highest degree for you. I shall strenuously endeavour by my future conduct to merit a continuance of your regard and esteem.

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