now digging through the pile of silk onher bedroom floor. “Do you know about the Meshianza Masque?” Peggy’s eyes roiled with that same intensity that Clara had seen in them last night at her first sighting of John André.
“No, my lady. What is that?”
“Read this.” Peggy held out the daily paper, pointing at the front page. “It’s going to be a party, such a grand party, the likes of which Philadelphia has never seen.” Peggy turned her gaze to the article. “Read it aloud, Clara.”
Clara turned to the journal and began reading: “ ‘ The Meshianza is a Masquerade hosted in the honor of General William Howe, who is departing Philadelphia to return to London .’ ”
“You must have seen the general at Lord Rawdon’s?” Peggy interrupted. “The short little man? I was so irritated when they stopped playing the music because he entered the tent.”
Clara nodded, reading on at a quick pace; this chore was taking entirely too long. “ ‘ General Howe’s men, laboring hard to organize a fête in their leader’s honor, have confiscated the mansion of rebel millionaire Joseph Wharton and intend to transform the space into a Turkish court and harem .’ ”
“Did you hear that? A Turkish court and harem!” Peggy interrupted, clapping.
“It sounds like quite the evening.” Clara offered the paper back. “Now, Miss Peggy, shall we get you dressed?”
“Not yet, read on, it gets even better.”
“ ‘ Howe’s men shall dress to resemble the grand knights of the crusades who defended the Holy Land under King Henry IV. They will be divided into two camps for a jousting tournament, adorned as the Knights of the Blended Rose versus the Knights of the Burning Mountain .’ ”
Peggy grabbed her wrist. “You’re coming to the part about me !”
“ ‘ Before a jousting tournament begins between the two armies, the knights will pause to receive favors from their ladies—twelve of Philadelphia’s favorite belles, admired not only for their beauty and virtue, but their steadfast affection for the British crown. These lovely maidens will be dressed à la Turque, in full Turkish garb like that which would have been witnessed in the harems of ancient Constantinople.’ ”
Was Miss Betsy going to come in and find the new maid, who was supposed to be dressing both sisters, sitting on the floor reading the newspaper with Miss Peggy?
“Why did you stop reading, Clara? Keep going.”
“ ‘ Each maiden will remove favors from her turban, which she shall bestow on her Knight before the joust. Once the tournament is complete, the entire party will retire into the mansion for dinner and dancing. The evening will be concluded with a fireworks display.’ ”
Clara lowered the paper to the sound of Peggy’s clapping. “This was all Johnny’s idea, having us dress up as the ladies of the Turkish harem while they dress as Knights.”
Clara wondered if her mistress had bothered to read the article immediately below the piece on the Meshianza Masque; the report outlining how the French had announced their alliance with the American rebel troops, and how, at this very moment, Washington’s Continental Army was nearby, preparing to descend on Philadelphia and drive the British troops north.
“Guess who my knight is.” Peggy’s blue eyes sparkled. “Guess who has asked to escort me.”
Clara needed only one guess. “Major John André.”
“That’s right.” Peggy picked up a strand of gauze and twirled it overhead, as if preparing for her role as a harem dancer. “That should knock the haughty smile right off Meg Chew’s face. Johnny chose me .”
A knock at the door filled Clara with dread: she must have keptMiss Betsy waiting too long. But she was relieved to see Mrs. Quigley appear. “Miss Peggy, you have visitors. A Mr. Joseph Stansbury and a tailor from the clothing shop Coffin and Anderson.”
“Send them in.” Peggy rose from the floor.
“Your dressing gown,
“No, my lady. What is that?”
“Read this.” Peggy held out the daily paper, pointing at the front page. “It’s going to be a party, such a grand party, the likes of which Philadelphia has never seen.” Peggy turned her gaze to the article. “Read it aloud, Clara.”
Clara turned to the journal and began reading: “ ‘ The Meshianza is a Masquerade hosted in the honor of General William Howe, who is departing Philadelphia to return to London .’ ”
“You must have seen the general at Lord Rawdon’s?” Peggy interrupted. “The short little man? I was so irritated when they stopped playing the music because he entered the tent.”
Clara nodded, reading on at a quick pace; this chore was taking entirely too long. “ ‘ General Howe’s men, laboring hard to organize a fête in their leader’s honor, have confiscated the mansion of rebel millionaire Joseph Wharton and intend to transform the space into a Turkish court and harem .’ ”
“Did you hear that? A Turkish court and harem!” Peggy interrupted, clapping.
“It sounds like quite the evening.” Clara offered the paper back. “Now, Miss Peggy, shall we get you dressed?”
“Not yet, read on, it gets even better.”
“ ‘ Howe’s men shall dress to resemble the grand knights of the crusades who defended the Holy Land under King Henry IV. They will be divided into two camps for a jousting tournament, adorned as the Knights of the Blended Rose versus the Knights of the Burning Mountain .’ ”
Peggy grabbed her wrist. “You’re coming to the part about me !”
“ ‘ Before a jousting tournament begins between the two armies, the knights will pause to receive favors from their ladies—twelve of Philadelphia’s favorite belles, admired not only for their beauty and virtue, but their steadfast affection for the British crown. These lovely maidens will be dressed à la Turque, in full Turkish garb like that which would have been witnessed in the harems of ancient Constantinople.’ ”
Was Miss Betsy going to come in and find the new maid, who was supposed to be dressing both sisters, sitting on the floor reading the newspaper with Miss Peggy?
“Why did you stop reading, Clara? Keep going.”
“ ‘ Each maiden will remove favors from her turban, which she shall bestow on her Knight before the joust. Once the tournament is complete, the entire party will retire into the mansion for dinner and dancing. The evening will be concluded with a fireworks display.’ ”
Clara lowered the paper to the sound of Peggy’s clapping. “This was all Johnny’s idea, having us dress up as the ladies of the Turkish harem while they dress as Knights.”
Clara wondered if her mistress had bothered to read the article immediately below the piece on the Meshianza Masque; the report outlining how the French had announced their alliance with the American rebel troops, and how, at this very moment, Washington’s Continental Army was nearby, preparing to descend on Philadelphia and drive the British troops north.
“Guess who my knight is.” Peggy’s blue eyes sparkled. “Guess who has asked to escort me.”
Clara needed only one guess. “Major John André.”
“That’s right.” Peggy picked up a strand of gauze and twirled it overhead, as if preparing for her role as a harem dancer. “That should knock the haughty smile right off Meg Chew’s face. Johnny chose me .”
A knock at the door filled Clara with dread: she must have keptMiss Betsy waiting too long. But she was relieved to see Mrs. Quigley appear. “Miss Peggy, you have visitors. A Mr. Joseph Stansbury and a tailor from the clothing shop Coffin and Anderson.”
“Send them in.” Peggy rose from the floor.
“Your dressing gown,
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