It’s #bookqw and Annmar’s new boss is ‘dressed’ outside the usual Victorian norms.
More from The Unraveling:
“Hello there,” called a woman behind her.
Annmar turned, her hand rising to swipe back her escaped curls. A woman strode along an avenue created by rows of fruit trees. She was tall, her lean figure dressed in the style Mrs. Rennet wore, a ruffled blouse topped by a suit vest styled for a lady. But unlike Mrs. Rennet, this lady had on a split skirt, the kind worn by women who rode horseback. She would most certainly be holding a sword when she rode—
“Would you be Anna Mary Masterson?”
Annmar dismissed the images springing up in her mind and bobbed the half-curtsy expected of Rennet’s Renditions’ workers. Then she caught sight of her filthy gloves. She tucked her sketchbook under her arm and removed them. So much for appearances.
“I’ve just arrived. Well, not just. I saw a light and heard…” She nodded back to the white building. “I was looking for someone because no one was at the main house.” Oh, Lord, she was talking too much. Annmar stopped and forced a smile. “Would you be so kind as to direct me to Mistress Gere?”
“You have found her. I am Constance Gere.” The sword-bearer—lady—offered her hand, also gloveless.
Annmar said a silent thanks her impropriety would be overlooked in this country setting and shook the work-roughened hand.
The woman glanced her over from head to foot. “I’m sorry not to have been here to meet you. Not the best introduction for a young lady, stumbling around what must have appeared to be the storage. I hope you aren’t too put off…” She peered down at Annmar with intense gray eyes and slowly said, “Yes, young lady.”
Caught. Annmar met the formidable woman’s gaze. “My mother, Anna Mary, passed away last year. I am Ann Marie Masterson, also an artist with a very similar style to my mother, who instructed me.”
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On a personnal note:
We’ve had relatives visiting and went to George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
I knew he was an avid farmer, but this is the first time I’ve really noted how many native plants are included in the gardens and wild borders around his estate. I was impressed! Willow oaks, Tulip Poplar trees and others line the lawn and walkways.
Beneath the taller trees are understory of natives like Buckeye.
In the shrub layer, I found native Witch Hazel.
Mixed flower beds encompassed the vegetable gardens. While many were not native, a few were mixed in, and all are food sources for pollinators.
Wild Red Columbine, native to the east, was among the mixed flowers.
The walkways between the estate and the new museums hosted all native shrubs, including Eastern Sweetshrub.
The Orange or Florida Flame Azalea is native to the more southern states but looked well established here along the Potomac River!
Since the house tour moves fairly quickly, we spent more time in the gardens–and bringing my binoculars will be a must for my next visit!
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