The States

wisdom, justice, moderation

September 1774

"Ah, dear Scarlett, beautiful as ever." Governor Wright presses a kiss to one of her gloved hands as Scarlett smiles politely. "This shade of silver contrasts marvelously with your hair."

"Governor, I thought we might discuss the Continental Congress?"

Wright frowns. "Scarlett, I thought we had put this treasonous nonsense behind us?"

The string of pearls around her throat suddenly feels constricting.

Her brothers are at that meeting.

Wright seems to realize flat out saying treason was a misstep, and uses the band beginning to play as an excuse to change the subject. "Enough of that. May I have this dance, Scarlett?"

Scarlett nods, a quick, jerky unladylike motion.

After dancing a few steps of the minuet, skirts swirling around her feet, she asks about the Continental Congress again.

"Would it be so wrong to just hear them out?"

Wright scowls at her. "Hear who out? Patrick Henry, who wants to separate from Great Britain, our mother country? Or John Jay and his ilk, wanting to pressure Parliament when they have done nothing wrong? Or the delegates from Massachusetts, who believe that throwing three hundred and forty-two chests of tea into the harbor is a proper way to express one's displeasure?"

Scarlett's steps falter at the anger in his voice. "Governer-"

"Enough, Scarlett. Politics are no place for a young lady such as yourself."

She blinks, too shocked to protest as he leaves.

April 1775

Revolution is the air, and Wright pets her delicate strawberry-blonde curls like one pets an agitated puppy.

He dismisses the idea of sending delegates to the assembly and her opinion in the same haughty tone.

"Oh, dear Scarlett, revolution is a contagion, and you cannot be blamed for contracting it."

July 1775

Georgia always understands more than they think she does.

Here are the facts of life: she is a colony, and she needs protection. England provides this protection, and she can not afford to lose it with the Indians threatening her people.

Her brothers may not understand, but they have long since accepted that she always has reasons for the things she does.

Georgia can remember the day she formed, how every thump of her heart- Savannah- seemed to say protect defend protect defend.

She remembers the day she met her brothers, how they hadn't blinked twice at her, hadn't even thought about how much harder it was to keep three heads above water instead of just two, all because she was family.

And now they are moving on without her.

Her siblings are fighting, waging a war they have no chance of winning.

They are taking England's protection and throwing it back in his face in the name of independence.

And she can not afford to do the same.