Charlotte

Delilah was sitting in a chair hugging her knees close to her chest. Juniper was trying to comfort her older sister.

“Delilah, he's still breathing, and they patched him up. I think that he will be fine,” Juniper said patting her back. Delilah’s head shot up in anger.

“He lied to us!” Delilah stood up as she yelled at Juniper. “He promised he would fight for us!” Delilah stomped off out of the small kitchen.

“Delilah wait!” James #1 said before running after Delilah.

“Wait for me!” Juniper said chasing James #1. Mother and I just looked at each other than the door. Well, that just happened. I don’t think I've ever seen Delilah look mad. Mother stood up and dusted her hands off on her dress.

“Girls, Can I speak with you outside?” Mother asked politely. Rose and I followed her out the back door.

“Yes?” I asked. Something is going to happen. I sense evil.

“Do you girls remember Mr. Turner?” We all nodded our heads. “His children have now come of age and—" Rose and I looked at each other.

“Mother, I’m only nine and she is only thirteen,” Rose complained.

“You are not setting me up in a marriage. Especially not without father’s permission,” I added.

“Listen to me girls. One of the boys is eleven and one of the boys is fourteen,” Mother said.

“Then they are not of age! Mother, I don’t want to marry some weird rich boy! And where is Father’s word in this?” I began to yell.

“Charlotte when they are of age, you will marry the poor boy and help keep our business in check!”

“I refuse to marry a rich boy without Father’s permission!”

“Well, your father’s somewhere fighting right now! He doesn't have a word in this!” “He has every say! I can’t just run off and marry some fourteen-year-old, mother! The Schuyler sisters aren’t even married yet, and Angelica’s twenty!”

“How would you know the Schuyler sisters, Charlotte? They live in New York. We’re in New Haven, Connecticut.”

“Have you ever heard of the newspaper? And stop trying to change the subject! I'm only thirteen. They're in their late teenage years!”

“Well, their father is a crook! He refused to join the war and chose to spoil his children instead!”

“I still refuse to marry a rich boy without Father’s say!”

“Well, your father’s dead!” she screamed.

“He’s not dead. He sent us a letter just last week,” My voice was now quiet.

“I—that—letter was from General Washington, informing me that—that he had been killed. That’s why I didn’t let you read it.” I heard Rose start crying. She's lying. She must be. I felt warm tears fill my eyes.

“As I was saying. They prepared a ball for you young ladies to meet them. The party will be held in Mr. Turner’s garden,” Mother’s eyes filled with greed and sorrow. “You will marry them. Understand?” Rose and I both nodded our heads in defeat.