Half-Breed

It takes everything she has not to groan in pure annoyance the second she hears his voice.  Was it really too much to ask to have one of these parties pass without having to play nice with someone so insufferable? Though perhaps the sad part was she really couldn’t think of another person she’d rather be forced to play nice with. “I beg your pardon Mr Jefferson, were you looking for me?  I dare say I’m surprised- certainly I can’t be the only young lady here for you to harass?” A similar amused grin finding it’s way onto her features- she’s all too familiar with how “sociable” Thomas can be when it comes to young women.

She resented everything about being at one of Jefferson’s parties.  Why couldn’t her father bring literally any one of her sisters who would probably flourish in such a gathering?  Surely Mary, Lucy, or even young Anne would’ve been in the center of everything acting as a true lady of the Lee family should.  Unlike Annabelle who was attempting to hide from unwanted snide remarks, sideways glances, and perhaps above all else Thomas Jefferson himself.  Which was probably how she managed to slip away and end up in the garden, though she couldn’t say she was alone it was certainly more quiet than inside Monticello’s walls, and the cool wind was certainly a relief against her heated skin.  Taking a breath the young woman for a moment found respite.

me: man door hand hook car door

“I can appreciate hard work when I see it.” It was a light jab easily hid with a polite almost sweet tone, and a soft smile. “Some of the detail must have been painstaking.  I have to commend you on your patients, I doubt even my mother would have the discipline to complete anything so complex.” In truth she had no doubt her mother could.  Though many of the designs from her mother’s clan were simplistic she knew there was far more to it than what was on the surface. In a sense much like many things and people, you could never really trust how something looked on the surface, being of beauty or simplicity.

The shift had been a surprise, she knew she could unnerve some people but never did she think she could get under Thomas Jefferson’s skin. She couldn’t help the soft smile that crept onto her face. “Secretary Jefferson I don’t take you for a fool, I’m not spoken of fondly and you can clearly see why.” She stated rather bluntly, it wasn’t like many people kept their opinions on her quiet anyway.  So why should she ignore something she was rather proud of. “In all honestly I was admiring your beautiful home. My father had told me you built this entire place yourself, is that correct?” She asked head tilting the side ever so slightly feeling rather confident now she felt like she had the upper hand.

She hadn’t been surprised when the question had been asked.  She hadn’t been formally invited herself.  Though as she turned to answer her stomach churned at the sight of purple velvet.  If there was anyone in the world she would want to avoid it was Thomas Jefferson and yet here he was; and if this wasn’t such a grand gathering she would oh so love to punch him in the face. “You must be Secretary Jefferson, pleasure to finally meet you.” Her tone couldn’t have been sweeter though it was difficult to keep the polite facade up. “I apologize for the intrusion sir, but my father, Henry Lee, insisted I attend tonight.” She’d hoped that would suffice and she could slip away though she doubted it.  From what she heard from her father, Jefferson was never one to let something go easily.

The soft light illuminated the entire ballroom.  Though the atmosphere was filled with a sense of camaraderie and joy one lone figure was attempting to avoid it all together.  She could understand her brother coming tonight, her father even, but why did she need to be dragged here?  Her father had spoken of Thomas Jefferson, perhaps a little too much; and it left a sour taste in the young woman’s mouth to say the least.  Dark brown eyes scanned the room, Monticello was grand she had to admit it; but the dark secrets it held tained that beauty and sickened her to stand within those very walls.