On a Search (Abby)

[teperehmi]

Joseph looked at the cards in his hand and then focused his attention on the wigged man sitting across the table from him. The man’s mouth twitched. “Point of six.” Joseph took a drink and shook his head. “Making?” “39.” “Equal.”

The man’s twitch was getting worse. Joseph couldn’t help noticing that his mouth seemed misshapen and somewhat squishy. “Sequence of four.” Joseph leaned in closer. “How high?” The man leaned in as well. Joseph was certain that he must have lost his teeth at some point. “To the Queen.”

He sat back in his chair. Damn, he thought. He looked back down at his hand. His highest card was an eight. He still had a chance of taking the trick but it wasn’t looking very good. Even if he managed to take the last trick, he’d be two points away from a hundred. He frowned. He had put nearly half the money he had brought to Philadelphia on this one hand.

The man laid his Queen down face up on the table. It was now Joseph’s turn to declare. “Point of six.” The man seemed to have found some sort of inner confidence. “Good.” “Sequence of four.” Joseph was replying without much enthusiasm. They both knew where this was heading. The man was practically radiating glee. “How high?” Joseph sighed. “To the eight.” A large grin had filled the man’s squishy, misshapen face as he greedily stared at the small pile of money. “Not good…no, not good at all.”

Joseph angrily threw down his eight. The man quickly scooped it up. “I take the trick, the points, and the pile.” He slid the money to him.

“Take it.” Joseph stood up and walked out without a glance back. He could hear the smug little chuckle from behind him. “If you ever dare to try to win it back, you know where to find me.”

“I don’t need…probably cheated anyway.” Joseph muttered as he left the Club. He stopped just outside, squinting a bit in the bright sunlight. For such a beautiful day, he was certainly in a sour mood. He came to Philadelphia for a chance to be on his own. Totally and completely on his own without the constant hounding of family and stern lectures regarding such awful words as responsibility and squandering. In fact, squander seems to have become a word that was used quite often around him. And he hated it. He didn’t squander anything. He merely had a tendency to make poor choices on unlucky hands of piquet. That wasn’t squandering. No one could control their luck. And he would win it back. He usually did eventually.

Joseph sighed. He was bored of cards and now needed something new to do. He nodded to a few passing women. They were almost certainly married. That wasn’t something that concerned him very much, but they were also too old. He smiled as he realized that he had something to do. He was going to go on a search. Putting on his most charming grin every time he passed someone, he started off down the street; careful to pay notice to everyone he passed.

[Katie]

Abby never know how much a lie could completely change her life. It had only been a few days ago when she had ran into her claimed 'fiance' in the back alley behind the markets of Philadelphia. Andrew had left their house and the city quickly after they had met and now she had heard of him possibly being up in the North and she hoped that he really was alright.

People had heard of their rumored engagement so she constantly had people asking her what was going on and she had to keep up the lying which she hated to do. She hated being lied to so why she was still sticking to this rumor, she had no idea why. Ben suggested it was because she cared about Andrew and wanted him to be alright. Maybe so, she did not know.

She headed out the door, preparing to go into the market once more to buy ink and papers for the Gazette. Placing the hood over her head that was attached to the back of her cloak, she closed the door and headed into town just wanting to get back home and not deal with anything. She was tired from all her chores and taking care of Ben who was sick with a cold.

Heading into the market, she went into the ink and paper store and bought what she needed, grimacing and rolling her eyes at the sudden jump of prices of the supplies that she needed. She just wanted to head back home, prepare dinner, eat and go to bed early tonight.

[teperehmi]

With each step Joseph’s mood improved. The lost money seemed a thing of the past. What did it matter if he lost a little bit of money now and them? It wasn’t all that much. And it certainly wasn’t the most he had ever lost. And he did have the money to lose. It was fine. It was a beautiful day and everything was fine.

Joseph grinned as he continued down the road. Philadelphia was a nice city. It wasn’t quite as nice as Charles Town or some of the other cities in his home state. But it certainly was nicer than he had thought it would be. He was even a bit surprised. Growing up he had always assumed that the farther north one went, the louder, dirtier, and courser everything became. And now that he was here, Philadelphia almost had a certain charm to it. The streets were tidy and the people looked almost civilized. He allowed his gaze to follow a blushing young woman as she crossed the street. Not quite like in South Carolina, he thought as he watched her disappear into a shop, but better than expected…much better.

He paused as another woman exited the same shop. She had a hood pulled over her head and walked with a determined gait. Everything about her shouted, don’t bother me. It was a perfect challenge. And Joseph simply adored a challenge.

Keeping an eye on her, Joseph hurried down the street. His plan was to get ahead of her, cross the street, double back, and then most casually bump into her. It was foolproof even if it did call for quite a bit of quick walking and an impeccable sense of timing.

As Joseph bumped into an older man, nearly knocking him down in the process, he felt his irritation begin to rise again. Why did the streets of Philadelphia have to be so crowded? He mumbled out a few insincere apologies as he turned sharply and darted across the street.

Where was she? Joseph peered ahead. Seeing her walking his way he slowed down. He took a couple of deep breaths as he regained his composure.

Now for the perfect timing. He kept his eyes focused on her as they neared each other. At the last possible second, he stepped to the left and bumped into her.

“My most sincere apologies. Are you alright?”

[Katie]

Abby glanced around after exiting the ink and paper shop, pulling the hood up closer to her face to hide it more. Wanting peace and quiet for once in the market, she sighed and stepped down from the short steps that normally made her trip over her own two feet.

She began slowly walking down the street passing everyone who nodded at her and not paying her much attention which was exactly what she desired.

"Abigail!" A voice stopped her and she groaned as she recognized the screechy voice of the nosy, elderly lady and her granddaughter coming down the street towards her.

"Good evening, Betsy, Martha. Forgive me for leaving so abruptly, but I must return home to my grandfather. He is sick with a cold and I must go take care of him." She replied trying to get past them, but Martha blocked her way.

"Nonsense he will be alright for one minute, so are you betrothed to a Frenchman and did not tell us?" She asked Abby curiously as Abby sighed.

"I am indeed, he is currently up north helping Washington's army keep the Redcoats from arriving in Pennsylvania. Now if you excuse me, I must be going." She replied getting a bit more tough and annoyed as she moved around them swiftly and headed back towards the house she shared with Ben. All she wanted was to get home and suddenly she stopped as she stepped on something that was not concrete. She frowned as she recognized it to be a paper. She threw it in her bag before feeling herself being bumped once more.

"For the love of....I'm fine thank you sir. Forgive me I am a bit clumsy today. Are you alright as well?" She asked glancing up at the man in front of her wondering if she had hurt him. She stopped and quietly admitted to herself that he was incredibly handsome, but did not recognize him.

[teperehmi]

General Washington, himself, couldn’t have pulled off a plan so smoothly. Everything was turning up Joseph and he couldn’t be happier. And now that he had the young woman right where he wanted her it was time to move on to the second part of his plan. But where should he go from here? He could play lost. Or simply the role of the insistent Southern gentleman. It was almost a shame that he hadn’t knocked her down. If she had twisted her ankle, things would be so much easier. It would be his responsibility to help her home.

He looked her over. Now that he was near her, he could see her clearly for the first time and he was not disappointed. Joseph put on his most charming smile. He couldn’t possibly have chosen better. He was simply mesmerized by her green eyes.

“Oh no, it was my fault. You must forgive me. I was distracted.” It was a partial truth at least. “Are you hurt?” There was always a chance, though she looked fine.

Joseph affected a look of extreme concern. In light of the situation, there was only one thing that he could do. He had decided on the role of the Southern gentleman. It was going to be his duty to see her home. Of all the roles that he could play, it was the closest to the truth. Women seemed to love chivalry for some reason. Joseph never saw the great deal about it, but who was he to argue over what worked.

[Katie]

Abby couldn't quite understand people sometimes, she was mostly referring to those incredibly nosy neighbors that were still watching her. Why was everyone's lives including their personal ones anyone else's business? Now that this man was making conversation with her, she knew that Betsy and Martha would never leave them alone.

"No I am fine thank you." She replied turning her head with her cloak still covering her face as the two nosy, older women began walking towards them. She cursed out loud before grabbing his arm and leading him down the street.

"Follow me and keep up. You will thank me later." She told him a bit firmly as she began a bit faster towards the end of the street and hoping that the two women would finally leave them alone, they followed them suspiciously.

"Come with me." She directed him towards a back alley that would lead them straight towards her backyard. She pushed him into the alley and pulled her hood down to reveal her bright, red hair before stepping inside of the alley herself hiding them the best that she could.

"I do apologize for this, just the nosy neighbors, trust me I am saving you on this. Plus I get very annoyed by them easily. I do have a question for you, you said you were distracted earlier, how so?" She asked him curiously raising an eyebrow before hearing footsteps and the women's voices once more. She pulled the hood up to hide her hair knowing that would give them away immediately.

[teperehmi]

Whatever Joseph had expected to happen, it certainly wasn’t what actually happened next. Several smooth lines that he had intended to say fled his mind as she grabbed his arm and pulled him along with her. Either his smile was more charming than usual, or there was something else going on. Either way, he was pleased with the results and was already formulating a new plan of action.

“Is it the habit in Philadelphia for young ladies to whisk away the gentlemen they bump into?” Joseph laughed as she pulled him into a back alley. As her hood fell back, he noted her bright red hair. She was simply lovely.

So she was attempting to hide from nosey neighbors. This was a first for Joseph. Though the more he thought about it, he realized that he had hid from people before but usually it was with a young woman that he had known a little bit better. He had never before met someone so bold and daring to do such a thing. “You honestly don’t believe that running away with a young man would prevent your nosey neighbors from suspecting anything out of the ordinary.” Her plan seemed anything but foolproof. If anything, he believed it would cause more trouble than she had anticipated.

He smiled at her. “You know, if you wished to arouse suspicion among your neighbors, there are better ways of going about it than darting through an alley.”

Joseph thought quickly for his answer. “Distracted? Oh yes, I was actually a bit lost.” He made a show of looking around. “And I seem to have gotten myself a bit more lost now.”

“I feel I owe you an introduction.” He reached for her hand and quickly brought it up to his lips. “Joseph Whiting, at your service. And who might I have the pleasure of running away with?”

[Katie]

At the man's question about being whisked away and if it was a tradition, Abby could not help, but roll her eyes. What a question, but it definitely confirmed to her that he was not from around here. It sounded like he was from the South maybe.

"No it is not tradition, however, like I said it is so I can save both of us from humilation and annoyance later on. Those two women are the most annoying and petty women I have ever come across in my life and I have met a lot of people in my lifetime." She replied with a sigh peaking out of the alley slowly to see Betsy and Martha walk right past them still caring on how about irresponsible Abby was. She rolled her eyes once more and then visibly began to relax more as she turned to face him with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh really? Please tell me what other options should I have gone with dear sir." She asked him curiously finding herself eager to hear his answers herself. So far he was quite a man, she wasn't sure what to make of him yet. He was completely different than the other man she had met in an alley---Andrew.

Sighing, "I am sorry if I got you more lost than before, I can guide you to wherever you need to do. Oh forgive me, I am Abigail Franklin. It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Whiting. Running away with me? Is that what you call it? " She replied holding out her hand and watching him kiss it gently. Smirking gently, she released her hand wondering what exactly Joseph was up to now.

[teperehmi]

Joseph was intrigued. He was definitely intrigued. He just could not figure out how to take this young woman. Did she really believe what she was saying? In all honesty he couldn’t figure it out. To him it seemed like it could potentially cause more humiliation by grabbing a random guy and running off than the simple exchange of apologies for bumping into each other followed immediately by going on everyone’s own ways. But he certainly was not one to argue. In fact, he decided to play it up a little bit more.

“Really? Just how many people have you met?” Joseph smirked. “Do you travel often? Personally, I’m not a big fan of travel. Being cramped in a tiny coach over endless miles of bumps, dining at disreputable dirty taverns, being lost in strange locations… though the more I think about it, it’s not all bad. Occasionally one may find himself bumping into something…worth it all.”

He followed her gaze at the two women walking past the alley. “I believe your reputation is now safe.” He grinned. “But since you seem so curious, I can certainly tell you many ways to arouse suspicion, having done one or two myself. But this does not seem quite the topic for a young lady.”

Joseph laughed. “Never apologize. This is the most fun I’ve had since I arrived here two weeks ago. And I am certain that Dante himself wouldn’t have had as good of a guide.”

As she told her name, Joseph thought it sounded familiar. “Franklin? Are you related to the great Benjamin Franklin?” He didn’t know too much about the man, but everyone had heard of him. One could hardly go out their door without hearing Ben Franklin this and Ben Franklin that.

“Of course that is what I call it because running away was precisely what we did.” He grinned. “We didn’t run very far though. If you would like to go farther, you have only to ask.”

[Katie]

Abby still couldn't quite believe that she was in this kind of situation right now. Another man, another alley and she was wondering if this really was going to keep happening to her. She let out s soft sigh through her nose and dropped her hood running her hand over her face and through her hair relieved that the two nosy women had left them alone. She then turned her attention towards the man with her, Joseph, she remembered.

Smirking at his question, "Wouldn't you like to know Mr. Whiting? I have met several people in my lifetime and have only come across the situation twice. I dear hope this does not turn into a reaccurring event in my life. I do travel sometimes, mostly for my profession, but I normally travel by horse not by carriage because the carriage is often in use for something else," She replied and then raised an eyebrow, "I suppose you're right regarding the matter of the company. Are you implying at something dear sir?" She asked him curiously with a curious grin on her face.

"No I am never safe as long as the war is going on and with those two nasty, nosy women, but thank you for your assistance. Dante himself? Are you comparing yourself to him? Interesting indeed. Can I repay you in some way and I mean something innocent like dinner or a place to stay for a couple days." She said giving him a look that simply said that she wasn't all that innocent sometimes.

She then blushed a tiny bit and took a big step outside of the alley into the sunlight, "Yes I am related to Ben Franklin, he happens to my sickly grandfather. I do need to return to him soon for I have some medicine and remedies for him. I like to think we escaped the nosy people of the big city. Oh really? You would dare trust me when all I have done is drag you into an alley avoiding people? Why?" She asked him curiously turning to face him once more.

[teperehmi]

“A whole several people!” Joseph teased. “You are quite fortunate to have only been in such an unsavory situation twice. But I do hope this sort of ‘event’ was to reoccur several more times. For I have found that it is very healthy for a young lady to experience the occasional indiscretion. And an indiscretion is certainly nothing that should be avoided…or feared.”

How dull life would be if everyone was always doing what was expected of them. Joseph realized that very early on in his life. And, as such, he had never done what was expected. It is true that it had often gotten him into a lot of trouble. But his life wasn’t boring. And he thoroughly enjoyed it.

He grinned. “A profession! Well I think I may be a bit mistaken about you. A young lady with a profession is already an indiscretion. But, between you and I, I am all for it. What is it you do exactly? Please tell me, that it isn’t nursing the poor or needlework.”

Joseph wasn’t telling Abigail, but he didn’t believe that a woman should ever work. He was brought up believing that woman should be treated as Queens. Of course, he never had any intention of doing any real work himself, so he hadn’t quite figured out how all of this may play into his future plans if he had ever decided to start a family.

“All I have implied, my dear lady, is that perhaps you seek excitement, but perhaps not so knowingly. Particularly since you seem to have something you wish to hide from your neighbors. But I believe you like the excitement. At least a part of you does.” Joseph had learned one thing from his countless years of what some would call womanizing and that was all women, whether they admitted it or not, enjoys the excitement of the scandal.

“I was comparing myself to Dante and yourself to Beatrice…though you are more than welcome to compare yourself to Virgil if you deem that more appropriate, though the resemblance certainly wouldn’t be there if that were the case.” It had been a very long time since he had read any Dante and wasn’t very certain if he had the names correct. He sincerely hoped that Abigail wasn’t a big reader in case he was wrong. Most women didn’t read but he had a feeling that she was a bit different than the woman he usually met.

“I wouldn’t dare inconvenience you in any way. I am content to have merely had the pleasure of meeting you.” He smiled before putting on a very concerned look. “If he is sickly, then you should certainly return at once to him. He is probably wondering where you are. But let me at least escort you home. As a gentleman, it is the very least I could do and certainly my duty.”

Joseph laughed. “I have only just met you, Miss Franklin, but I would trust you to the ends of the Earth and beyond.”