Gunpowder and Tea Cakes: My Journey with Felicity

I tell Felicity I’d like to accompany her to her friend’s house. We we walk, Felicity explains to me that Elizabeth’s family are Loyalists, but that doesn’t mean they’re not nice people. She knocks firmly on the Coles’ door, and a servant answers. Felicity says she wishes to make sure Elizabeth and her mother are well. The servant lets us inside, and leads us to a parlor. A woman and a pretty girl are sitting together. The girl jumps up and says it’s good to see us.

Felicity introduces me to Elizabeth and her mother, and I bend my knees in a curtsy. Elizabeth’s mother says we’re welcome here, but she fears that we should be safely home. Elizabeth says none of them have dared leave the house today. She looks stressed.

Felicity says the militia didn’t break into the Palace. Mr. Randolph was there to calm everyone down. Then, the servant returns. she says Mrs. Hutchinson and Mrs. Kipling have come. Mrs. Cole rises, smooths her skirt, and asks for them to be brought in.

The servant ushers two elegant ladies into the parlor. They’re both wearing fancy skirts that are pushed way out to the sides, but flat in front. They also wear big wigs. I’m pretty sure the richer you are, the bigger your wig is. One lady wears a brown wig, the other a pale pink. A dust of pink powder has landed on her shoulder, but we all pretend not to notice. Felicity, Elizabeth, and I bob little curtsies.

The brown-wigged lady, Mrs. Hutchinson, says they’re not here for a social call. She’s sure the Coles have heard an angry mob threatened the Palace. She says they’ve decided to pay Lady Dunmore and her children a call. They must prove to the Dunmores that Williamsburg doesn’t wish them harm. Mrs. Cole looks shocked at the thought of visiting the Palace without an invitation. Mrs. Hutchinson says she doesn’t expect Lady Dunmore to see them. Merely for them to give their names to the footman. But by making the attempt to visit, it will demonstrate that she has not lost their affection.

Mrs. Kipling nods, and says Mrs. Cole must bring her daughter. She looks at Elizabeth. Elizabeth asks if Felicity can come as well. And her new friend… me. Mrs. Cole says her eldest daughter is away. But she’s sure it’d put the Dunmore children at ease to see other young people.

I’m pretty sure Mrs. Kipling would rather I didn’t come. She’s probably not thrilled about Felicity going either, but she gives in and says she’ll call for us in two hours.

After the women leave, the parlor gets very quiet. Mrs. Cole looks stunned and Elizabeth looks overwhelmed. Felicity also looks like she doesn’t know what to do. She turns to me and says that I don’t need to go if I don’t want to.

Fifteen minutes ago I was ready to charge the Palace gate with a group of soldiers. Now it seems that if I want to, I can just walk through the same gate as a guest! Mrs. Cole looks at me and asks what I’d like to do.