Chapter Text
Patriots
by: Dee
Category/Pairing: Josh/Donna
Rating: MATURE
Disclaimer: This is a tough one. Are they really his if I have them living in another time? I guess. But he's so not worthy.
Extensive Notes: Okay, so when I heard about MLP returning, I thought that's it. I'm done. I can't watch the show anymore, which means I certainly can't write fic for it. But then I read a post on SotU, (I think by Mojo) which basically said we can't control what the writer wants to write. That's the point of fic.
Now I still have big issues with AS regarding the fact that he played me. And I don't like to be played. MLP isn't returning to drive a wedge between J/D. I think we have to come to grips with the fact that she is not a Plot Device. She is AS's intended love interest/angst interest for Josh. Now before you get all mad at me... let me explain (note my previous use of the word extensive). He intended Mandy to be Josh's love interest, but it didn't work for a bunch of reasons. The fans liked Josh and Donna, wanted more of Josh and Donna so AS went with it. Season two was about playing around with them and we shippers loved it.
But I guess, he changed his mind. It's really the only explanation. I know I tried to look for hints and subtext this season but I find it hard to believe he can be writing subtext into the show when he's just finishing the script on the day of shooting. So I'm taking the relationship with J/D and A at face value. But I still think he cheated. I don't think it's fair to allude to something that's never going to happen. I also don't understand BW's comments about being deep down inside at the back of his brain stem or whatever in love with Donna. JM makes a similar comment in that WW book. If that's the characterization note that AS has given BW and JM then he needs to lead us in that direction. But if he wants Josh to be with Amy, how am I ever supposed to buy into a relationship (as if I ever could) when I've been told that the character is really in love with someone else? It's his total inconsistency with what he's written and said that is killing my interest in the show.
But he's the writer and I guess he doesn't care about consistency. And truthfully as long as his show is in the top ten, he can do whatever the heck he wants.
I've been trying to empathize a little. I've been trying to think what it would be like if The Show was actually a show and everyone in fandom loved the idea of Elliot and Janey as a couple and hated Eve. As a writer I would be like tough... they're mine and I'm going to write Elliot with Eve whether you like it or not. So maybe MLP is AS's way of saying tough.
Anyhoo, I thought I was done telling their story because to me it seems AS is done telling their story, but then I thought damn it! (excuse my language) they are still one of the best relationship dynamics I've seen in a long time, and if he's not going to take advantage of that then I am.
This is an AT (Alternate Time) story set in 1775-6 or thereabouts. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea. Really I have no idea how I'm going to do this, or if it will work but I've been reading Stephanie Laurens (one of my new favorite authors) and suddenly this story came to me. I'm not a historical writer at all but I thought it might be fun to play around with it in fic. Please forgive the creative license I'm about to take with actual historical figures, namely Josiah Bartlett, historical events, and any historical gaffs I might make.
"You have references?"
"Of course." The young woman sitting so straight in the chair across from his desk dug into the carpetbag pressed against her side next to her on the chair. She removed a piece of folded and sealed parchment and handed it to him. He noticed that her hand trembled and he thought she must really want the position.
He broke the seal, studied the letter, and nodded. "Can you tell me why you left this position?"
"Mr. Hyde-Smythe took another wife. I was no longer needed to care for his children."
There was something else. Something more that she wasn't telling him. It was there in her eyes. "May I ask you something ... personal?"
"Would it reflect on my getting the position if I said no?"
"Yes."
"Of course you can ask me anything you would like."
Joshua smiled. She was nervous, and perhaps a little desperate, but she had grit. She would need it in her dealings with his daughter, Amanda "Why aren't you... what I mean to say is... why don't you ...How old are you Miss Moss."
She stiffened and raised her chin slightly, but met his eyes. "Twenty- six."
"In the colonies, young unmarried women are... rare." He was bungling this and worse, she knew it. "What I mean to say..."
"You want to know why I'm not married," she stated.
"Yes." Her hair was fastened in a tight knot on her head, hidden by a cap, but the wisps of hair that did escape about her face denoted the color of a bright sun. She was tall, unfashionably so perhaps, but her lean figure was pleasing to the eye. There was a sparkle in her blue eyes that lent itself to mischief. He recognized it because his daughter's eyes had the same quality. But all in all she was not difficult to look at. A woman her age, in New Hampshire where there were ten men to every woman, it was almost inconceivable that she should not be married with her own children rather than applying for a position as a governess. "I was betrothed," she admitted.
"I'm sorry," Joshua said quickly. "Did you lose him?"
"Yes." Not in the way, she suspected her employer believed, but she was no longer betrothed so it amounted to the same thing.
"Where are you from, originally?"
"New York, sir. I have a sister, married, still there. She offered to take me in, but if possible I prefer to make my own way. Do you understand?" She hoped he might. Because truthfully she was counting on his generosity of spirit. She wasn't from the area. She had no local contacts to recommend her. There was really no reason for him to trust her. "Yes. I do. I believe in independence more fervently that you can probably imagine, " he said somewhat distracted. "Would you like to meet my daughter?"
She tried to hide the sudden rush of relief she experienced. Surely he wouldn't be introducing her to his daughter if she hadn't won the position. "I would like that very much."
Joshua Lyman rose from behind his desk. He was of average height and build. His russet hair, his own, was tied in back with a scrap of leather. His coat and breeches were of the finest quality, and he wore the long boots of a farmer rather than the more fashionable shoes, all of which spoke to his success as both a farmer and a solicitor. Donna rose and followed a few steps behind him as he led the way from his study down the hall to the living room situated in the back of the house. "May I ask you a personal question, sir? How did you lose your wife?"
"I lost Mandy to a fever when Amanda was very young. She barely remembers her. Her nurse has taken care of her for these last six years, but Finn is getting on in years. I want Amanda educated. I presume you know how to read and write."
"Yes, sir. Actually quite well, sir," she said boldly.
He turned at that answer and considered her. "Excellent." They stopped at the entrance to the living room. The fire burned steadily keeping the room warm and the child dressed in a simple white muslin dress played with cloth dolls. "Amanda, come meet someone."
The little girl lifted her head and smile. Large dimples bracketed either side of her face. She popped up to do her father's bidding and curtseyed when she saw Donna. "My name is Amanda and I am six," she introduced herself.
Donna sank down to her knees to face the girl, her skirts billowing about her. "My name is Miss Donna and I won't tell you how terribly old I am."
The little girl giggled behind her hand.
"And who is this?" she asked pointing to the rag doll in the girl's hand.
"This is Miss Pimms. She is my very best friend. And she's very wise. She always knows precisely the right thing to say and do."
"An admirable quality in a best friend to be sure."
"Are you going to teach me to read? Daddy tries, but he gets awfully frustrated when I don't make the sounds right."
Donna raised her face to her potential employer. He was smiling indulgently at his daughter, and it pleased her. A house filled with love was always a preferable place of employment.
"I do not," he protested. "I simply don't understand why "th" is so difficult for you." He made the sound a few times.
But when Amanda tried, Donna could immediately see the problem. Making the th sound was infinitely more difficult when one was missing two front teeth.
"We'll work on it. I promise." Rising, she took the girl's hand in her own. "Now if you would be so kind, would you and Miss Pimms escort me to my room." Donna looked to the girl's father and waited for him to gainsay her. She was being rather bold by suggesting that she already had the position, but then she'd been rather bold to come all this way in the first place. He knew when he was being manipulated. Amanda did it often enough. But since he happened to be in agreement with her decision, he let it go. This time. "She'll have the room at the end of the hall, the one connected to yours, Poppet. I'll bring your bag along shortly."
She couldn't suppress a radiant smile at the realization that she had just been hired. "You understand we haven't even discussed your wages," he pointed out wondering at the cause for such happiness.
"I'm sure you will be fair, sir," she said confidently.
So confidently, he decided to increase his original offer. He was of the opinion that faith should be rewarded.
He watched his daughter lead her up the narrow staircase to the second floor of the house and found himself lingering on the sway of her hips underneath her skirts perhaps a bit to long. She was his child's governess for heaven's sake. He shook his head and dismissed all thoughts of her, and her somewhat mysterious past, from his mind.
There was work to be done. His compatriots were meeting tomorrow night at the mill and they were expecting him to have news. That meant he would be making a visit to a neighbor tonight.
He summoned his houseman, Dobbs, and returned to the study. He took a piece of parchment out from this desk and wrote a brief missive. "Take this to the Marquise La Font. Tell her to expect me this evening."
"Yes, sir."
He was about to return to his ledgers when he spotted the carpetbag. He had promised to bring it up and since he'd sent Dobbs off on an errand he was the likely candidate. He rose and lifted the bag, noting its weight. No doubt it was everything she owned. Her dress, while respectable, was several years old. That combined with her anticipation over getting the position led him to believe she wasn't a woman with means.
He carried her bag up the stairs and immediately heard the sound of chatter coming from the bedroom at the far end of the hall.
"And this is Mr. Snuggle, and this is his wife Mrs. Snuggle, and this is their son Pierre."
He listened as his daughter introduced each of her stuffed rag friends to the new governess. He could only imagine she was exhausted; he wasn't sure how far she had traveled that day, but the anxiety of what awaited her no doubt contributed to her state. Still, she sat on the bed and said hello to each and every one of Amanda's toys. He'd made the right decision. He could feel it. He coughed once to announce his presence and immediately she rose from the bed.
"I brought you your bag."
"Thank you, sir."
"You'll no doubt be hungry. Hill is the cook. If you ask her she'll prepare something for you. Dobbs is her husband and my houseman; they live in the carriage house next door. I've sent him off on an errand, but when he returns, he can show you about the property."
"Thank you."
He turned then stopped. "How long have you traveled to get here?"
"Three days, sir. By coach. I traveled with an elderly couple coming to see their son."
"Amanda, let Miss Donna rest. You can begin your lessons tomorrow."
"Oh no, sir. I'm ready to begin right now. I'm not tired at all and quite capable of carrying out my duties. In fact I'm very capable."
"And not one to downplay your skills, I see."
She might have thought that he was reprimanding her, if she hadn't seen his lips twitch. She smiled and said very clearly, "No, sir."
"Very well."
He turned and left and she thought yes, very well indeed.