Washington's Lady by Nancy Moser Read Free Book Online

pensive. Then he said, “If I did any good there, it was to bury the general properly, wisely. After four days he died, and I had him buried in the road, at the front of our column. Then we proceeded east, walking over his grave, making it look like a common road so no Indians would find him and desecrate—” He stepped upon a piece of ash that had escaped the fire. “Bishop, Thomas Bishop, the man who accompanies me here . . . with the general gone, I asked if he would work for me. He agreed. And the general had bequeathed me his horse and a sash. Also a pistol. I cherish them all.” He looked at the door. “Poor Bishop. He has probably stood ready to leave for hours.”
    “Richard informed him of your intent to stay. Surely he is well off to a good night’s rest.”
    The colonel nodded once. “I do not mean to detain you from rest, Mrs. Custis. When your children come in, if you feel the need to retire, I would understand. I would regret your parting, but I would understand.”
    “I feel no need to retire, Colonel. In fact, I feel quite invigorated.”
    The parlour doors flew open and the children rushed into the room as though bidden by his mention of them. Three-year-old Jacky and nearly two-year-old Patsy looked adorable in their nightshirts, with their bare feet padding upon the wooden floor. There was something delightful about a child’s bare feet.
    Jacky virtually jumped into my lap, with Patsy climbing up behind. “Oomph!” was all I could manage amid their oblivious elbows and knees.
    Once settled, Jacky looked at the colonel as though seeing him for the first time. “Who are you?”
    I should have admonished his forthrightness but instead chose to answer him. “This is Colonel Washington. He has been fighting out west.”
    Jacky used his finger as a gun and shot the colonel with a pyoo-pyoo sound.
    To his credit, the colonel put his hands on his heart and groaned. “I am hit!”
    Patsy mimicked her brother with her own gun and pyoo-pyoo . The colonel suffered again for her benefit.
    Mary Chamberlayne stood at the doorway, missing nothing. Her sisters-in-law, Elizabeth and Rebecca, stood close by. “Come, children,” Mary said. “Kiss Mamma good-night.”
    The very fact these three women had brought the children and had not sent them by a servant, spoke of their curiosity as to what exactly George and I were doing behind closed doors. If I would have told them we were discussing battles, they would have been disappointed.
    I, however, was not. As the children were led away I realized I was willing to talk about most anything as long as it kept me in the presence of Colonel Washington.
    *****
    The fire had died, its embers a flicker. My companion looked at the clock, then back at me. “It has moved from late night to nearly morning.”
    I had not noticed. “So it has.”
    George stood. I say George , for during our all-night conversation, we had progressed from Colonel Washington and Mrs. Custis to George and Martha—at least in private. “I have kept you awake. I have prevented you from—”
    “You have not kept me awake, nor prevented me from doing anything other than that which I desired to do.” I extended my hand to him. He hesitated, then took a step closer to take it. “I can honestly say I have never enjoyed myself more than I have conversing with you, George. The very fact that time had no meaning, that we did not notice the coming dawn, nor the dying of the fire, holds great significance.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps we are each other’s dawn, each other’s fire?”
    I would not have been so bold—nor so eloquent—but was pleased he had chosen to be. “Very well said.”
    He offered a bow.
    I rose and glanced at the door. “Perhaps we should retire, e’en for a bit.”
    “We shall speak again in the full morning, yes?”
    “Of course.” I offered him a flirty smile. “I am not done with you yet, Colonel Washington.”
    He blushed—a response that put him even