Becoming Miss Lee

Chapter 25 - Not the Way I Had Dreamed

He was born eight months later on the tenth of August of 1783, a beautiful, healthy baby boy with his father's dancing olive eyes and my dark hair. Silas was beyond pleased. I had never seen him so anxious and excited when he burst into the room after Pelly had informed him that my birthing was finished. I sat there with this tiny human being in my arms, crying fiercely and clutching my finger for dear life, and reveled in the fact that I was a mother before any of my sister-in-laws, who had all married before me. I was even allowed to name him, since I had done most of the work, according to Silas, and I named him Richard Francis Hale Montgomery. Silas never questioned the Hale and I am happy that he didn't. Trying to explain that would have been interesting in and of itself, but the Richard Francis was obvious. I named him after the three men that I adored most in the world, all save for one. Not long after, we were blessed with a little girl only ten months his junior. She was born on the fourth of June of 1784 and Silas named her Martha Anne Maria Montgomery, after his mother, my mother, and his beloved aunt respectively. She had both my hair and eyes, and she was the darling of Silas' world.

Since Silas was often gone off doing his surveying, I got to spend more time with my little boy and girl than I could ever have dreamed of. Most mothers might have had a detached relationship from their children, but I refused to become distant for any reason. I taught them to walk on my own, taught them to speak, read, and write, but I most importantly taught them manners and goodness from the time they could comprehend speech. Betsy was writing me, dying for me to bring them to see her, and Miss Anne and Mister Lee made sure to frequently visit their new grandchildren. Thomas wrote me his best regards and informed me that little Patsy and Polly were simply dying to see my children and that Sally sent her best wishes. Every one of my old friends was so happy for me and it made me feel beyond loved in the best of ways. I could not have been any more content with my situation. I spent my days with my darlings. Richard was rambunctious and I had to have Henriette and Pelly assist me in keeping an eye on him while my little Martha never strayed far from my side. For five years I was blissfully content at home, though most of the time Silas was gone. He was always off surveying and helping his brothers establish decent standings after they'd drank or gambled their money away on frivolous pursuits. I never stuck my nose into it. His family was not my place.

The farthest I went in that time was to General Washington's inaugural ball, which I had been invited to and attended without my children or my husband. Alex was there and had made sure that I stayed as comfortable as possible during my brief stay. He had quickly become accustomed to being a member of the elite crowd, though it was clear that Vice-President Adams did not care for him and that the Secretary of State, my very own and newly returned from France Mister Thomas Jefferson, seemed to be eternally at odds with him. When I saw General Washington, I could not believe that I was looking at the same man anymore. He had aged immensely and he seemed more in control than ever, but when he saw me, that flicker of happiness in seeing someone from a family that you adore came into his eyes and I can say that I danced a measure with the first president of the United States. I stayed for that day only and promptly returned to my home.

By that time, Richard was five and Martha was four. It was May when I realized that I had not had a letter from Silas in quite some time. He wrote at least once a month, always, and was never late. I wrote his brother George, who I adored like a brother of my own, and inquired where he might be. George replied that Silas was having to take extra time with their brother Henry because of some unscrupulous debts. He offered to leave his spot in the Virginian militia to come look after me, but I politely declined his offer. They needed him there more than I needed a man here.

That was a fact in its purest form. I did not have need of a man to run things. Years of looking of Mister Lee's shoulder had provided me with the knowledge on how to run a farm. I oversaw operations better than the lazy overseers did, and I am quite sure, thanks to Henriette, that the workers liked me better, too. I would make flocks of fried chicken or pork for them, accompanied by a drink, usually tea, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and the children would help hand them out to everyone. Those massive fries were always followed up with a seasonal pie with enough for everyone to have a slice plus seconds. I wanted everyone to be happy, as happy as I was, and the notion of those poor souls not having any real food made my heart ache. If the women needed new clothes, I made them. If the men needed anything, I would make that, too. If they did not have enough bedding, I purchased it with my own allowance. Coats? I bought those as well. Baby supplies? All they had to do was ask me and they would receive whatever they needed. They never asked for much, so what they did ask for, I made sure that they got. It did not make them any lazier, which is why that whole argument is repulsive. If anything, my kindness made them more inclined to work harder for me. I never asked for them to work harder. They did it on their own. Our farm was producing some of the finest tobacco and cotton in Virginia by the time I was finished, and we had enough money left over to make a wonderfully cozy profit and fire our old overseers and hire on one of Silas' cousins instead, and he followed my instructions to a 'T'. The rest of Silas' family was a little verklempt at our success, but Silas, upon seeing the organized account book and the profits, was happy to leave me in charge of whatever affairs necessary while he was gone, a rarity in this time as I have come to find out. Mister Lee was beyond impressed and not just a little proud of me. Tom was apparently hankering for my success secret, and all I supplied was "Just watch Mister Lee."