Post by Susannah Frey on Oct 30, 2014 3:26:06 GMT
He was gracious. Susannah would give him that. She had hardly waited more than a few minutes before she was ushered into the large, sparsely furnished room and gestured into the waiting seat. She took her seat with a smile, smoothed down her skirts and readjusted the ribbon holding her low-brimmed straw hat to the top of her head. Washington had taken the seat across the low desk. He folded his arms on top of it and waited patiently for her to begin.
“Sir,” she began. “I would not dare to trouble you if I had not such an issue of concern to bring to your attention.” She stopped. She would not have spoken to him at all if it could be helped. Such a visit declared loyalties better than any spoken words. And loyalties, she had none. She did not wish to side with one side or another, at least not until one was clearly winning. But there was no one else to address regarding this particular issue and it must be resolved one way or another.
“You see,” she continued. Susannah looked down with what she had hoped was an innocent expression. “A few miles outside of town, I was walking home from church services and minding my own business when two of your young men – I believe they belonged to you, they were blue coats and were armed – they accosted me. They did not physically hurt me,” she added at the look upon his face. “But they stole something from me. A small bible. I would wish it returned if it were at all possible. Because, you see, it was quite dear to me – a gift. And I am quite attached to it.”
Attached, alright. Susannah didn't give a fig for the book just like she hadn't been returning from a church service. What she dearly wished to see again was a letter addressed to her. A letter that could cause a great deal of harm to her reputation and quite the scandal in town if word of its contents ever reached daylight.
“Sir,” she began. “I would not dare to trouble you if I had not such an issue of concern to bring to your attention.” She stopped. She would not have spoken to him at all if it could be helped. Such a visit declared loyalties better than any spoken words. And loyalties, she had none. She did not wish to side with one side or another, at least not until one was clearly winning. But there was no one else to address regarding this particular issue and it must be resolved one way or another.
“You see,” she continued. Susannah looked down with what she had hoped was an innocent expression. “A few miles outside of town, I was walking home from church services and minding my own business when two of your young men – I believe they belonged to you, they were blue coats and were armed – they accosted me. They did not physically hurt me,” she added at the look upon his face. “But they stole something from me. A small bible. I would wish it returned if it were at all possible. Because, you see, it was quite dear to me – a gift. And I am quite attached to it.”
Attached, alright. Susannah didn't give a fig for the book just like she hadn't been returning from a church service. What she dearly wished to see again was a letter addressed to her. A letter that could cause a great deal of harm to her reputation and quite the scandal in town if word of its contents ever reached daylight.
