PENNY!
“P-P-Penny. You. Are. Beautiful.” - Jack Pyle
PENNY ROLLINGS
The militiamen on either side of the entrance stairway came to attention. The Commodore’s party made their way up the stairs and through the open front door, and into the Paca mansion. Faint but lilting notes from the chamber orchestra filtered their way in from the gardens through the open door at the opposite end of the Great Hall.
They approached the center of the rotunda. Under a banner inscribed, “Our Good Friend, Sam Chase, April 17, 1741 to June 19, 1811. Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court,” sat his portrait.
Rembrandt Peale’s painting rested on an easel, surrounded by black crepe fabric bunting, and cushioned by an elaborate and beautiful floral display. Black-Eyed Susan, red roses, and white lilies of the valley, representations of the state colors, black, gold, red and white, flanked by the Maryland and American flags.
“Only a week ago.” Rodgers shook his head. The four of them paused a few moments to pay their respects when a gentleman with graying hair and resplendent in physique approached. Attired in a charcoal tailcoat with six gold acorn-shaped buttons, opened to reveal a white waistcoat and cravat, with polished black knee-high boots, he presented a formidable countenance.
“Good evening, Commodore.” The distinguished gentleman bowed. “Mrs. Rodgers, Mrs. Decatur, you grace our state with each visit.”
Minerva smiled, with an arched brow and a hint of mirth in her eyes. “Thank you. Should we address you as ‘General’ or ‘Senator’ Smith tonight?”
“Sam will do just fine.” The stately gentleman extended his hand to Rodgers. “Good to see you, John. Havre de Grace is doing well in your absence. We gave the shipbuilders there a nice fat contract to build coastal defense boats.”
Rodgers grinned and shook his head. “You’re the consummate politician, Sam.”
The stately gentleman let out a hearty laugh that resounded through the hall. “No one cuts to the chase as quickly as you, John. I take it this is one of your young officers?”
“Indeed, he is.” He nodded to his midshipman. “Jack?”
“Aye, sir.” He stepped forward and stood at attention.
“Midshipman Jack Pyle, this is Samuel Smith, United States Senator from Maryland, President pro tempore of the United States Senate, and Major General of the Maryland Militia. General, serving under George Washington during the Revolution. Sam, this is Brevet Midshipman Jack Pyle of the United States Navy and serving under my command.”
“Indeed.” Smith cocked his head as he extended his hand toward Jack and briefly glanced at Rodgers. “Brevet? Oh! Yes!” The general squared his shoulders. “Son, you will be happy to know that the United States Senate has approved your official advancement to Midshipman and sent it to the President’s desk for his signature. Congratulations, young man.”
“Thank you, General. Um, Senator. Oh! A pleasure to meet you, sir.”
The general’s laugh thundered through the hall once more. “John, see that this young fellow gets a drink of gentlemanly sustenance. I dare say he’s earned it.”
“Very well, sir.”
Smith gestured toward the other open door at the far end of the hall. “I’ll take you to the Governor and get you into the party.”
“Thank you.” Rodgers squeezed Minerva’s hand and escorted her to the door, with Jack and Susan right behind.
She leaned up and whispered in Jack’s ear. “I can hear your heart pounding. Relax.”
“That’s easy for you to say.” Jack nodded toward Smith and shuddered. “There are lots of important people here.”
Susan giggled. “Just think of them sitting on the privy. That’s what I do.” The tip of her gloved finger lifted Jack’s jaw back in place, and her brightest smile immediately appeared. “Come. Let’s go have fun.”
As they approached the doorway, the Governor came into view. Smith formally introduced them and left to return to the hall. The lively strains of a Mozart concerto drifted up from the orchestra stage, accompanied by a cacophony of aromas from the gardens and kitchen. He glanced at Susan, smiled, and listened to Rodgers’ conversation with the Governor.
“John. Your frigate has been the talk of the town since you put in and certainly has lifted the citizenry’s spirit.”
“Thank you, Governor Lloyd. Sad news of Mister Chase.”
“Aye, it is.” The governor broke into a smile. “But Sam himself said, ‘It is the gravest sin for any Marylander to waste a good party on mourning a gentleman who has moved on to a far better place. One should view it as that rare opportunity, with a beverage in hand, to both celebrate and deprecate the dearly departed’.”
Rodgers grinned. “We shall endeavor to keep Mister Chase’s wishes.”
Each shook the governor’s hand before descending the stairs. Jack noticed the Commodore slip something into his pocket. Shrugging, he took a moment to take in the view from the landing. The stairs on each side of him were higher than at the entrance. A sea of temporary awnings extended outward from the landing to the edge of the formal gardens.
The orchestra continued the bright and lilting music as they descended the stairs and walked under the awning. The protective covering began at the bottom landing. It stretched across the elegant red brick apron from the rear wall of the mansion to the border of the formal gardens and between the two wings. Jack escorted both ladies toward the very busy kitchen door and kept watch until they both disappeared inside and returned to the brick apron to gather his bearings.
Strategically placed across from the stairs and on a raised platform was the stage, upon which sat the ten-piece chamber orchestra. Near it sat a small table with extra fans for the ladies. The opposite end held the elegantly equipped coffee and tea station.
Off by itself, surrounded by guests, sat the equally elegant punch station, with two large silver punch bowls, each with a placard in front. Murmurs and giggles from which captured Jack’s attention. With an arched brow, he strolled over, focused on discovering the source of humor.
“Jack!”
Startled, he jumped a little and lost his grip on his cane. It took him a moment to re-gather it and reorient himself.
“Well, I didn’t think I had that effect on you.”
It was only then that he noticed the young lady tending the punch station. “Penny!”
She giggled and motioned for him to come around to her side of the station as she ladled punch into guests’ rock crystal goblets. “My, you look handsome in your dress uniform.”
Somehow, he managed not to blush as he came around the serving table. “Thank you.” His eyes shot open when he saw her in her entirety. “P-P-Penny. You. Are. Beautiful.”
With a mirthful gleam in her eye, she reached over and lightly lifted his jaw back into place, and followed with a playful curtsy. “Why, thank you, Mister Pyle.”
For a timeless moment, Jack could only watch her as she continued serving the punch. Her copper hair, tied at the back of her neck in her ponytail, with a peach-colored ribbon that matched her dress. Wispy ringlets fell softly just below her ears. A slight hint of roses gently wafted toward him, completely mesmerizing him so that he did not notice the deep breath he had just taken in.
She gave Jack a quick glance and a wink and caught a group of three ladies watching her with obvious curiosity and approval. One was her mother. The other two she had met at the tavern, along with Jack. Penny gave them a big smile, then held a finger against her pursed lips. The ladies all nodded with grace as they walked away toward the busy open door. But she missed the fourth woman, who had just emerged from the shadow of the interior. Her mother looked her way and spoke to a nearby servant.
Still frozen, Jack absorbed what was before him. Penny’s dress was peach color and appeared to be made of silk. The bodice fit her form perfectly. The empire waist cinched just below her bust with a sash in a slightly darker peach. A delicate lace trim followed the demure scoop of her neckline. It continued to follow an enchanting, shallow ‘V’ around the rear of the bodice. From there, the dress flowed gracefully to the floor. Layers of sheer peach chiffon and delicate lace fell just above matching peach shoes.
Jack snapped out of his trance only when the servant arrived to take over the station. Penny gently grasped his hand, turning him to face the servant. “Jack, this is my friend Minty. Minty, this is Jack.”
An angry murmur gave him pause, but Penny’s smile erased everything but her.
Minty bowed. “Hello, Mister Jack. Miss Penny told me about you.”
“Really?” Jack’s face quickly reddened.
“Never mind about that!” Penny gently but firmly led him around the front of the punch table. “You should really see these, Jack,” Penny barely contained her amusement. She lifted one placard and handed it to him.
Grateful for the distraction of something closer to routine, he looked at the card and blinked. It read, “Commodore’s Punch, recipe courtesy of Mrs. Minerva Rodgers.”
“Oh, dear.”
“It gets better.” Penny handed him the other placard.
He read it aloud. “Decatur House Punch, courtesy of Mrs. Susan Decatur.” He looked back up at Penny. “Really? Oh, heavens.”
Giggling, she put her arm through his. “Let’s go for a walk. These gardens are stunning.”
“Not as stunning as you, Miss Rollings.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a sly smile. “How long did it take you to recover enough to say that? Hmmm?” They looked at each other and simultaneously burst out laughing. Then began their walk just as the opening notes of a joyous Mozart piece lifted from the orchestra.
