![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
LJ Idol, Prompt 12: “America”
Jul. 6th, 2022 05:49 pmMary entered her mistress’s study with a polite knock and a perfunctory curtsey.
“What is it, Mary?”
Mary approached her mistress’s writing desk. “A letter has arrived for you, madam.”
Martha took it, and waved Mary away with a warm smile. “Thank you, you may go.”
As soon as she was alone, Martha gazed at the folded parchment. She did not recognize the handwriting. It wasn’t her husband’s hasty script, at any rate.
She broke the wax seal and read the contents. As she did, a slow smile spread across her youthful face, and she brushed a wayward lock of auburn hair back behind her ear as she quickly rose, strode to the doorway, and glanced down the hall. “Mary, come to my quarters - we have a trip to pack for!”
=#=#=#=#=
The following morning, Martha and her maidservant boarded the estate’s private carriage. A footman rode at the back, and the driver sat stiffly up front on the box seat. Her oak traveling case - filled with a selection of her favorite gowns, petticoats, aprons, and shifts - was safely stored on the roof, along with a much smaller case with a change of clothes for Mary.
The horses nickered as they started out on their long journey from Virginia to Pennsylvania, one that Martha knew would take at least five days.
The steady clip-clop of the horses iron-shod hooves, along with the oppressive June humidity, soon put Mary into a light doze on the seat opposite hers, while Martha nimbly worked on decorating the border of a large kerchief with elaborate embroidery.
Martha hadn’t seen her husband in nearly six months, and had been pleasantly surprised at being sent for. She could hardly wait to throw herself into his arms and kiss his soft lips. He wasn’t much of a talker, but his smile melted her heart.
She sighed happily and cast her hazel gaze over the slowly moving landscape outside her carriage window for a few minutes, before turning her attention back to her needlework.
=#=#=#=#=
( Read more... )
“What is it, Mary?”
Mary approached her mistress’s writing desk. “A letter has arrived for you, madam.”
Martha took it, and waved Mary away with a warm smile. “Thank you, you may go.”
As soon as she was alone, Martha gazed at the folded parchment. She did not recognize the handwriting. It wasn’t her husband’s hasty script, at any rate.
She broke the wax seal and read the contents. As she did, a slow smile spread across her youthful face, and she brushed a wayward lock of auburn hair back behind her ear as she quickly rose, strode to the doorway, and glanced down the hall. “Mary, come to my quarters - we have a trip to pack for!”
=#=#=#=#=
The following morning, Martha and her maidservant boarded the estate’s private carriage. A footman rode at the back, and the driver sat stiffly up front on the box seat. Her oak traveling case - filled with a selection of her favorite gowns, petticoats, aprons, and shifts - was safely stored on the roof, along with a much smaller case with a change of clothes for Mary.
The horses nickered as they started out on their long journey from Virginia to Pennsylvania, one that Martha knew would take at least five days.
The steady clip-clop of the horses iron-shod hooves, along with the oppressive June humidity, soon put Mary into a light doze on the seat opposite hers, while Martha nimbly worked on decorating the border of a large kerchief with elaborate embroidery.
Martha hadn’t seen her husband in nearly six months, and had been pleasantly surprised at being sent for. She could hardly wait to throw herself into his arms and kiss his soft lips. He wasn’t much of a talker, but his smile melted her heart.
She sighed happily and cast her hazel gaze over the slowly moving landscape outside her carriage window for a few minutes, before turning her attention back to her needlework.
=#=#=#=#=
( Read more... )
