"Today Kevin will help me in the fields," said my father. "It's far too easy I've been on him of late. It is planting time, after all; if you bairns would eat next winter, you must work!"
"Indeed they must," said my mother's voice, and she entered the foyer from the drawing room. "I have work for you to do today as well, Miss Maclaine. There is more to being a young lady than putting on the gowns your father lavishes you with and visiting about the countryside."
I looked at the floor.
The gong sounded. My father gave my mother his arm, and we went in to breakfast.
Kevin talked as he spooned hominy and eggs onto his plate. "There are rumors that the Stamp Act shall be repealed," he said. "The agents have all resigned. There is no one to enforce it."
"Of course no one could enforce it," said my father. "They were afraid to. They knew the Liberty Boys would rout them properly."
"We did rout them, indeed, didn't we?" said Kevin, laughing. "Remember the night we tied up that fat agent at Callender? Why, our Jessie wrote a song about it! Did you hear it, Mama? Papa?"
My father laughed, looking at me. "No, I did not hear about it! What a talented lass you are, my dear! You shall sing it for me tonight."
"You flatter me too much, sir," I said. "It was only a silly verse, intended to amuse my friends."
"No doubt they found it exceedingly entertaining," said my mother. "I only wish my endeavors to teach Jessamine needlework were as successful as her attempts at poetry!"
I lowered my gaze to my plate, waiting for my father to defend me. I was not disappointed.
"Ach, let the lass be. There is plenty of time for her to learn how to keep house. Let her play while she still may."
"The girl will be eighteen in October, sir," said my mother. "For how would you keep her a spinster?"
"A spinster?" My father laughed, as loudly as Kevin. "She is but a child. I am in no hurry to marry her off."
My mother did not answer him, and I did not look at either of them. I fervently thanked God that my father still considered me a child.
Kevin spoke. "Perhaps, Papa, after dinner today we might all ride over to Brianag to see the Randalls. It's been too long since we've visited."