“You look and smell like shit.” I looked at Henry and Washington with a snarled nose. Both men looked as though they had an eventful night. Henry, being the elder of the two, looked as though his recovery would take longer. They looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. “Honestly, boys, you both smell like a tavern and look like someone pulled you out of a stable by your ears. After breakfast, you really should get cleaned up. If you can stomach it, eat and you’ll feel better. Make sure you drink plenty of water.”
Henry grunted a reply of some sort. “We need more wine.” I was not sure what he thought he was going to prove with that tone. Stay drunk? That was his plan?
“What is the plan?” I was getting frustrated with them.
“For what?”
“Are you still drunk?” I asked Henry. I looked over at Washington for an answer to my question. His head was in his hands, elbows on the dining table, and his eyes closed. “Colonel Washington, did you pass out? What time do you have to meet with the governor?”
“Party.” I got a one-word reply from Henry before he closed his eyes while he sat at the table, plates of uneaten food sat in front of both men.
“Great. The both of you should grab your food and go sleep off your foolishness.” I abruptly left the table and left my two hungover compatriots to wallow in their misery.
The heavy fog that crept through the garden told me it would be humid when the sun burned through the clouds. The garden was abuzz with bees moving from flower to flower. A squirrel skittered across the yard and twisted its way around and up the tree. One area of the garden had beautiful flowers of different colors and varieties. Most would grace tables in the house. Further back in the yard was a greenhouse and a vegetable garden. Directly behind the house at the end of the path, was a plant covered domed outdoor room. Standing under it and looking up, made me feel like I was looking at an upside-down interior of a ship’s hull. The greenery covered it, making it a private room in the garden. It was peaceful and inviting.
I thought about what it would be like to live in this house permanently. Would I come out and tend to the garden? Would I read and write throughout the day? I might have to learn how to embroider. Women did that sort of thing during that time. It was silly to think about all of that, but I had to think of my future in 1754. I knew it would be difficult to make it on my own as a woman in the eighteenth century, and if I became the mistress of this house or any other house, I might lose my independence. He would allow me to stay if I asked. I just wasn’t sure if that was what I wanted.
I had been thinking about getting home to 2019 and then realized that couldn’t happen. I wasn’t sure how time travel worked, so just popping back home was out of the equation. Then, I thought about Fredericksburg. Although that was my home, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stay there during this time. It wasn’t the Fredericksburg that I had known. Williamsburg could be home. I would have a place to live and could live the rest of my life here. Would we get married? That was such a strange thought to me. I hadn’t thought about marriage since Todd died. I had concluded that I would get cats, write books, travel, meet up with friends for breakfast or a hike, and just go about my life. Unattached. Independent. Tied to no one. My thoughts continued to race around my brain in a million different directions.
In 1754, my game plan might have to change. I had no income, limited rights as a woman, and the only woman friend I had was the very young Elizabeth. Henry would have to leave to fight in the war and leave me behind. What would happen in twenty years with the start of the Revolution? I would be sixty. There would be a great divide among the people that live here, and it would become dangerous for everyone. In Williamsburg, I could not escape it. I didn’t know what I wanted. I needed to get out of the house to clear my mind and to see what I would have to deal with if I stayed here in Williamsburg or what my other options would be.
I noticed a couple of shops when we rode in the day prior and thought I could convince Henry to take me shopping. I needed dresses and shoes made, since I was going to be in 1754 for who knows how long. That would require me to drag him out of bed.
I knocked softly on Henry’s bedroom door. “Hey sleepyhead, are you up?” No answer. Another tap on his door. “Henry? May I come in?” No answer. Something was wrong. He wouldn’t have slept through the knocks. I opened the door and found his bed empty.
Millie closed the door from my room. “Oh, Mistress Murray, I beg your pardon.” I gave her a quizzical look. I wondered what she was doing in my room. At that, she probably wondered what I was doing in Henry’s room.
“Where is Lord Henry? I was looking for him and he’s not in his room.” I didn’t want her to think I was in there with him, which I wasn’t, but I needed no more gossip than I was sure was already happening.
“He mentioned he had appointments this afternoon. Mayhap I can be of service?” I was suspicious of what she was doing in my room and wanted to find a task for her so I could check for my notebook, the only thing I considered of value. Even though my wedding ring was loose on my finger, I still wore it. I hadn’t been carrying the notebook in my pocket. I thought it would be safe in the room.
“Would you prepare me some tea and take it to the library? I will be down momentarily.” I darted into my room and made a beeline it to the table. The notebook was still there. It didn’t appear to have been moved, but I wouldn’t have known if it had or had not. I was derelict in keeping it safe. I looked around the room to figure out what she was doing. The bed tidied, curtains opened, and the chamber pot cleaned. Suspicion level on high alert for no good reason. She was doing her job. I felt like an ass for suspecting her of being a snoop.
Shopping would have to wait until Henry returned. I headed to the library to see if I could find a book on etiquette. I needed to brush up before the governor’s reception. Robinson Crusoe would wait.
Nothing. I found nothing in his library that was close to the type of book I sought. I would have to find it somewhere else. University? Book store? Did they have public libraries? Henry might help me find what I was looking for whenever he came back home. Washington had left for the Governor’s Palace earlier and was expected to stay with Governor Dinwiddie for the remainder of his time in Williamsburg. Until Henry returned, I could read or head out for a walk. I spent the afternoon with Robinson Crusoe, after all.
“Amelia,” Henry said as he walked into the library. I looked up from the book, slipped a ribbon in the book to hold my place, and sat up from my curled-up position on the sofa. “I beg your pardon for leaving you here alone today. There were a few appointments that I had to attend.”
“Yes, Millie told me.” I said lazily. From the heat of the day and from reading, I had almost fallen asleep. I stretched my arms up, a few audible pops from stretching my vertebrae pierced through the room like sniper shots. “Anything exciting?”
“One of my visits was to Matthew Hamill. He’s a law professor. You’ll meet him and his wife, Margaret, tonight at the governor’s event.” He pulled out a package he held under his arm and handed it to me.
I unwrapped the small brown paper-wrapped package. I opened the black leather-bound book to the first page. “The Whole Duty of a Woman Or, an infallible Guide to the Fair Sex.” I looked up to see his reaction. Henry wore a huge smile on his face, obviously quite proud of his find. “Containing, rules, directions, and observations, for the conduct and behavior, blah, blah, blah, and circumstances of life, good housewifery, rules, cookery.”
“I thought it would be helpful for you to learn how to be a woman during this time.” He looked like a dog that had done a good job digging up the garden. “Not that you’re not a woman. That is to say…”
I held my hand up to keep him from inserting his foot any deeper into the bullshit. I opened to a random page in the book, ran my finger down the page, and read a few lines. “This basically says that I am to not be jealous of your improper behavior. It doesn’t exactly say it, but I’m guessing I shouldn’t be jealous of the things you do, to include infidelity. However, I need to remain faithful to you because you cannot control your jealousy. Does this sound about right to you?” I slammed the book shut. “What on earth made you think I would want a book on how to behave like a proper housewife? I wanted to know protocol. When do I curtsy? When do I call you Lord Henry or Captain Henry or Asshole Henry? Do I call on someone? How do I introduce myself to people to make friends? You know, stuff like that. Not the importance of turning a blind eye to my husband’s—not that I have a husband, mind you—infidelity.”
He sat down next to me and took my hand. “Before you become upset with me, please hear me out.” I lifted an eyebrow at him. Well, two eyebrows. I still couldn’t figure out how to do the one eyebrow thing, even though I practiced while we traveled when Henry couldn’t see my face. “I had asked Margaret for a book on etiquette and protocol. I knew you were concerned about this evening. I’ve noticed your watchful eye when we’ve dined in Fredericksburg and here. You sought to learn. I wanted to help you get comfortable with your new world.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles.
“I just don’t want to look like a complete ass in social settings. I will have you know that whatever happens between the two of us.” I motioned to the space between us. My emotions flared. “I will not be subservient. I have every intention of being jealous and kicking your ass to the curb if you even think about being with another woman.”
“I am your humble servant, my lady.” He took my hand again, kissed it, and slid closer next to me. “It would disappoint me if you were subservient. I quite enjoy your tenacity.” He kissed my fingertips. “I should let you know. I don’t want you thinking about being with another man.”
He kissed my palm. I sucked in a breath. I could feel my face flush and the goosebumps threatened to emerge over my body as he reached up and softly touched my cheek. “Oh, my. What are we going to do about this?” I let out in a breathy whisper.
“You’ll stay here.” He kissed my pulse point on my wrist and gave a light blow across it. Every goosebump on my body made their abrupt and pointed appearance.
“I know I’m not an expert about living in the eighteenth century and courtship, but I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t be living with you.” I gasp a breath.
He kissed the inside of my wrist again. He was smooth and undeniably arousing. “You could stay here if we married.”
“Whoa. Married?” I pulled my hand away. Let’s put the brakes on this for a moment. “That’s an enormous leap, don’t you think?”
“As well as you being here with me in seventeen fifty-four.”
“Valid point.”
“Will you, then?” He took my hand back to his lips.
“I may consider it on a couple of conditions.”
Henry chuckled. “What are your conditions?”
“This is a partnership, and we respect each other. We are honest and take care of one another. We realize our upbringings are quite different, really different.” That was an understatement. “And we agree to work with our differences instead of against them. I will try to adapt to your time, but I need you to realize that I am not a meek wallflower.”
“Agreed.” He sat up straight. “Now, here are my conditions: friends first, love and respect always.” I couldn’t disagree with that proposal. “In public, there are certain etiquettes and protocols that are expected of the wife of a respected lord. I don’t want you to deny who you are, but sometimes you need to understand your role. There will be times when we are in public where you will disagree with me and you will want to call me by my official title, Asshole Henry, but I will need for you to call me Lord Henry or Captain Spencer, dependent on the situation. We must maintain our reputations in order to get through the life we are going to lead together.”
Together. He said a life together. That hit me like a ton of bricks. “That sounds reasonable.” I squeaked out and looked into his blue eyes to search for any reason for me to not to marry him. I couldn’t find it. I took a deep breath. “I may consider it, but there are no promises. I’m just not sure I’m ready to be married.”
“Arrangements can be made in the morn for the soonest possible date, if you decide it to be so. But for now, we need to get ready to go to the governor’s palace.”