Chapter EighteenMaria
This morn, as Maggie cleared the dishes and I read the papers with James, a letter arrived by courier. It was from Alex—and addressed to me! Trembling with anticipation and delight, I tore it open.
Jacob Clingman was visiting us, and in the privy when the letter arrived.
“I take it Ham the Ram wants another rendezvous.” James nodded in approval. “Tell him to keep his britches on till the morrow. Jacob and I are meeting here with some other investors. I'd like to scout out a prime parcel of land in the southeast quadrant of Northern Virginia. We'll be hobnobbing with old Georgie Washington himself! How 'bout them golden apples!”
“Speculating on some swamp a hundred miles from Mount Vernon hardly qualifies as hobnobbing with the president, James.” I dismissed his la
