Ficlet including American Colonial History

[sampaguita_blue]

Title: From the Desk...
Author: sampaguita_blue (in her other journal)
Pairings: Norribeth
Characters: Samuel Quincy (American History); Hannah Hill Quincy (American History); John Singleton Copley (Art History); Lieutenant Governor of Massachussetts-- Thomas Hutchinson; Magpie Fletchley.
Notes: 840 words... Completely ignores the sequels (RNotC)... Magpie

Comments

Re: confused?

[sampaguita_blue]

Now for the synopsis (and I'll try to keep it brief):

I started the piece with Elizabeth being a bored and miserable housewife. Will had worked hard to get to a point where he felt he could "deserve" a marriage to a woman of her station. As a result, both of them felt deprived of that feeling of freedom that made their relationship charming. Also, they realized that, not only did they not know the other person, but they had nothing in common.

Enter James... who had moved on, somewhat. But at the sight of a miserable Elizabeth crumpled in a heap crying to herself in her garden (he happened to live in the next house over), his feelings resurfaced and manifested in a kiss-- which the girl returned.

[And then I added a "meanwhile" moment wherein James' indentured maid witnesses the whole thing from a window... I later add that there is a childhood history between the poor girl and Will-- sounds sue-ish, I know... but people seem to like Abby... so, I don't know.]

I have James debating the meaning of honor (and trying to keep himself away from the married Elizabeth) cross-cut with Elizabeth wondering how it was she fell in love with James... and finding herself miserable when he makes himself absent. I also have Weatherby Swann noticing that they are on the verge of indiscretion... and causing complications.

[Enter Samuel Quincy as the wayward cousin from Boston. He is thrown, by Swann, into the company of the officers to train as the regimental drummer-- James is to keep a special eye on the boy, which should occupy his time and keep him away from the Governor's married daughter.]

All of this builds to a ball hosted by the Governor in honor of James' birthday (all a ruse to get him married off and successfully away from his daughter whose honor needs protecting especially considering she will not do it herself).

[Enter Miss Marianne Kensington as the object of Swann's matchmaking... but Miss Marianne is already spoken for-- hopelessly smitten with Gillette and he returns the feeling.]

Meanwhile... there are Abby and Will (whom I inserted very sporadically in an amongst the rest of the drama). Abby hates Elizabeth for ordering Will about like a slave when they were in their early teens-- and then there's also that small matter of that crush she has. Will now has a wife that can do nothing but question every decision he makes... and where she previously appeared to adore him, she has locked him out of her thoughts, feelings, and her bedroom. And while there has always been a connection between he and Abby, the last scenes I wrote with them in it is percieved by the two of them in two different ways. For Will, he realizes why he is forever running to the maid with his problems-- because he trusts her and generally likes talking to her more than his wife. For Abby, it seems as though she is being used as a consolation prize. All of this culminates in a rather vicious slap across the man's face.

Back to my canonical OTP... It is during this ball that they commit several indiscretions. (Which are more fun to read in full rather than recapped... and this applies to the circumstances which lead them to the acts.)

And that is where I stop writing in chaptered sequence.

As for Samuel-- Two-three years after his arrival in Jamaica, he is summoned back to Boston by his father who desires his son to finish his study of the law and to marry. During these few years, Samuel has fallen in love with a very young widow, Magpie Fletchley, (who is not my invention but belongs to classics_lover) who is of high birth and modest means-- some of that money being earned (again not my invention) by her management of a hired-kitchen/restaurant. (I did write a short piece surrounding his departure and will link you if you like.)

He spends almost a year bemoaning the loss of his love whilst he finishes his course of study. John Adams (before he became a Patriot) tries to knock the emo out of him. He enlists the aid of his fiancee Abigail Quincy Smith (almost Adams) to help Samuel lift himself out of his "woe is me" state. Enter Hannah Hill-- whom he later marries. (Random note about the Boston Colonials, but why did they all have to have the same names?)

cont...

Re: confused?

[sampaguita_blue]

Some time after the marriage, Elizabeth writes to him of a very sick Magpie. Gillette (who was already travelling to the Massachussetts colony on state business as a Witness for judicial sentencing surrounding bad commerce practices by certain privateers) was sent to summon Samuel. And Samuel decided to go. Hannah found Elizabeth's letters, and kept the knowledge to herself and made Gillette swear to bring Samuel back to Boston.

[Unwritten portion pertaining to the "faithless comment": Samuel commits an infidelity while in Jamaica with his dying love... who recovers.

Samuel returns to Boston changed and less complacent with the life he thought he could live with.

Enter John Singleton Copley, the historically famous portrait artist, who actually did paint a portrait of Hannah Hill Quincy in real life. He becomes hopelessly smitten with Mrs. Quincy, who does not return his feelings.]

And I think that is everything up until this piece. But does not include the many things I've written for Gillette and Marianne (whom I absolutely LOVE).

Hope this was helpful.