makeup would augment her plain appearance so Lady Whittington would not be so distracted by it, but it would not be so bold as to draw attention to her close resemblance to the queen, so perhaps that absurdity would be forgotten. She opted for a dusting of the foundation powder that Abigail and Libby had prepared, a brush of green eye shadow, and a touch of rouge on her cheeks and lips. She'd never worn makeup before, considering it pointless when one was as plain as she, but after observing herself in the mirror she decided it did make her more presentable. Actually not too unattractive.
She only wished she could avoid both Adam and his mother this particular morning, and slip away to The Town Tattler building, where she could immerse herself in the business of putting out the next issue. But it was Sunday and everyone in the household would be going to church, and she'd be expected to go with them.
She prayed that when Lady Whittington was socializing after the service she would not bring up the silliness about the queen to her friends, but she suspected her prayer would be in vain. Pandora's box had been opened to Lady Whittington, and there was no closing it now. But after the Town Tattler meeting, which was scheduled later in the week, and which had been publicized in postings distributed around town, Lady Whittington would have other issues to focus on, mainly her granddaughter's involvement in Adam's election.
Trudy had read all of the newspaper clippings that Priscilla had given her, and the young woman was eager to take part in the meeting. Trudy had also hand-lettered several leaflets promoting her father, which she planned to distribute. Priscilla had no idea what would come of it, but she suspected that Trudy's efforts would not go unnoticed.
Satisfied with her appearance, Priscilla slipped into a moss-green tailor-made with a fashionable, tight-fitting jersey bodice and a skirt with panels on each side trimmed with knife-plaiting at the bottom, an outfit she'd recently purchased. After one last look in the mirror, she decided she looked presentable, and left her room.
When she arrived at the breakfast table, Adam had just seated his mother. Once settled, Lady Whittington smiled graciously at Priscilla and said in a bright voice, "Good morning, dear. I have some exciting news. But I will wait until Adam has seated you."
Adam looked at his mother in curiosity, then pulled out a chair for Priscilla, and said to her, his lips close to her ear, "You look very nice this morning."
Lowering herself to the chair, Priscilla replied, "Thank you."
As he pushed her chair in, Adam said, "I must apologize again for the buggy bogging down last night. I hope you suffered no ill effects from the unexpected... umm... episode."
Priscilla wasn't sure what to make of Adam's comment. Was the episode he was referring to their near indiscretion, or the fact that the buggy bogged down? He'd been so quiet on the way home, she had not expected him to bring it up again at all.
She gave him a tentative smile. "Yes, it was unfortunate that the buggy bogged down when it did. I had been finding the ride especially exhilarating, and I was not prepared for the abrupt stop. Perhaps we can take another buggy ride in the near future and pick up where we left off." She looked up at him then, and his face looked grim. Yet, as he removed his fingers from her chair, they caressed her shoulders in a way that let her know he'd wanted to touch her.
"When I return from the ranch I'll take you in the buggy around town so you can visit the merchants," Adam said, letting her know that taking her virtue during a longer ride would not be an option. She wondered if it was the awkwardness of being in a buggy, or her. Something stopped him from taking his pleasure when he could, and it was clear he hadn't changed his mind. But then, men never were attracted to her. Why should Adam be different from the rest?
After she had settled in her chair, and
She only wished she could avoid both Adam and his mother this particular morning, and slip away to The Town Tattler building, where she could immerse herself in the business of putting out the next issue. But it was Sunday and everyone in the household would be going to church, and she'd be expected to go with them.
She prayed that when Lady Whittington was socializing after the service she would not bring up the silliness about the queen to her friends, but she suspected her prayer would be in vain. Pandora's box had been opened to Lady Whittington, and there was no closing it now. But after the Town Tattler meeting, which was scheduled later in the week, and which had been publicized in postings distributed around town, Lady Whittington would have other issues to focus on, mainly her granddaughter's involvement in Adam's election.
Trudy had read all of the newspaper clippings that Priscilla had given her, and the young woman was eager to take part in the meeting. Trudy had also hand-lettered several leaflets promoting her father, which she planned to distribute. Priscilla had no idea what would come of it, but she suspected that Trudy's efforts would not go unnoticed.
Satisfied with her appearance, Priscilla slipped into a moss-green tailor-made with a fashionable, tight-fitting jersey bodice and a skirt with panels on each side trimmed with knife-plaiting at the bottom, an outfit she'd recently purchased. After one last look in the mirror, she decided she looked presentable, and left her room.
When she arrived at the breakfast table, Adam had just seated his mother. Once settled, Lady Whittington smiled graciously at Priscilla and said in a bright voice, "Good morning, dear. I have some exciting news. But I will wait until Adam has seated you."
Adam looked at his mother in curiosity, then pulled out a chair for Priscilla, and said to her, his lips close to her ear, "You look very nice this morning."
Lowering herself to the chair, Priscilla replied, "Thank you."
As he pushed her chair in, Adam said, "I must apologize again for the buggy bogging down last night. I hope you suffered no ill effects from the unexpected... umm... episode."
Priscilla wasn't sure what to make of Adam's comment. Was the episode he was referring to their near indiscretion, or the fact that the buggy bogged down? He'd been so quiet on the way home, she had not expected him to bring it up again at all.
She gave him a tentative smile. "Yes, it was unfortunate that the buggy bogged down when it did. I had been finding the ride especially exhilarating, and I was not prepared for the abrupt stop. Perhaps we can take another buggy ride in the near future and pick up where we left off." She looked up at him then, and his face looked grim. Yet, as he removed his fingers from her chair, they caressed her shoulders in a way that let her know he'd wanted to touch her.
"When I return from the ranch I'll take you in the buggy around town so you can visit the merchants," Adam said, letting her know that taking her virtue during a longer ride would not be an option. She wondered if it was the awkwardness of being in a buggy, or her. Something stopped him from taking his pleasure when he could, and it was clear he hadn't changed his mind. But then, men never were attracted to her. Why should Adam be different from the rest?
After she had settled in her chair, and
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