Read Online Tesla's Time Travelers by Tim Black - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tim Black
Tags: Young Adult
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girls,” Victor said.
“Why?” Minerva asked.
“Yes, why, Victor?” Bette added.
“That’s Peggy Shippen.”
“No way,” Bette Kromer said.
“Way,” Victor replied.
“Who’s Peggy Shippen?” Minerva said.
“Benedict Arnold’s wife,” Bette said. “She’s the traitor’s girl.”
“Well, not yet, Bette,” Victor said. “She married him in 1779 and he’s almost twenty years older than she is.”
“Gross,” Minerva said.
“Not in the 18 th century,” Bette interjected. “It was actually quite common for men to be a decade or two older than their wives.”
“Some historians think Peggy Shippen was the reason Arnold became a traitor,” Victor said. “She introduced him to a spy, a Brit named Major Andre, and Arnold agreed to give up West Point to the British, which was like the most important fort in the colonies. See, Arnold was a great hero until he betrayed Washington. Broke George’s heart. The Shippens were Loyalists. Peggy was later kicked out of Philadelphia, and she and Arnold died in exile in England.”
“She was an evil witch,” Bette said with conviction.
“Arnold was a hero?” Minerva asked.
“Yes, he rallied the troops at the Battle of Saratoga, and our victory there was the turning point in the Revolution,” Victor said. “It led to France joining our side. And let’s face it—we wouldn’t have won our independence without the help of the frogs.”
“Frogs?” Minerva asked.
“Nickname for the French,” Bette interjected
Minerva had never realized that about Benedict Arnold. Arnold was a hero and a good friend of George Washington’s. That was why Arnold’s treachery was so heartbreaking to Washington. Arnold was the Judas Iscariot of American History, for Judas was Christ’s disciple until his betrayal. She glanced over her shoulder for another glimpse of Peggy Shippen. Benedict Arnold’s future wife was following them!
“Peggy Shippen is following us, Victor,” Minerva said.
“Huh,” Victor said, his head swiveling. Bette turned her head as well.
“Keep calm,” Victor advised. “Here’s our cover story. We are from Florida. Saint Augustine. Florida was a British possession from 1763 to 1783. You girls are my cousins…we are on our way to, ah, London,” Victor said. “Let me do the talking. I’m the man.”
Bette and Minerva looked at each other and exchanged raised eyebrows.
“She’ll expect me to start the talking, really,” Victor said.
Minerva evaluated Peggy Shippen as the future Mrs. Benedict Arnold approached. Her riding habit fit her snuggly, Minerva thought, and she realized Miss Shippen was wearing a corset beneath the coat. How repressive! Her tailor did her justice though, and the low neckline had a hint of cleavage that Minerva judged to be adequate. Her crème colored skin was a bit of a surprise; she certainly didn’t have the tan of the two Florida girls, and perhaps Peggy had thought them lower class because their skin wasn’t pale when she had returned Minerva’s glance with a glare. That would make sense. Minerva cattily wondered if Miss Shippen had lice crawling through her scalp, for that was a common problem for both men and women in the 18 th century. Her perfume seemed to be masking a faint malodorous smell and Minerva realized that her morning shower and deodorant would certainly make her smell much nicer than Peggy Shippen. But the buckles on her shoes, in the shape of an S , were large and apparently made of real silver.
Peggy Shippen handed Victor her calling card.
“Margaret Shippen,” she said, smiling slightly, but eyeing them, Minerva thought, as if they were hicks from Hicksville. “But my family and friends call me Peggy.”
Oh no, Minerva thought. Victor had no card, did he?
Victor took her card and scanned it with a wince. So, Mr. Historian hadn’t thought of everything after all, Minerva mused and handed Peggy Shippen her own calling card.
Minerva Messinger
Cassadaga
“I’m
“Why?” Minerva asked.
“Yes, why, Victor?” Bette added.
“That’s Peggy Shippen.”
“No way,” Bette Kromer said.
“Way,” Victor replied.
“Who’s Peggy Shippen?” Minerva said.
“Benedict Arnold’s wife,” Bette said. “She’s the traitor’s girl.”
“Well, not yet, Bette,” Victor said. “She married him in 1779 and he’s almost twenty years older than she is.”
“Gross,” Minerva said.
“Not in the 18 th century,” Bette interjected. “It was actually quite common for men to be a decade or two older than their wives.”
“Some historians think Peggy Shippen was the reason Arnold became a traitor,” Victor said. “She introduced him to a spy, a Brit named Major Andre, and Arnold agreed to give up West Point to the British, which was like the most important fort in the colonies. See, Arnold was a great hero until he betrayed Washington. Broke George’s heart. The Shippens were Loyalists. Peggy was later kicked out of Philadelphia, and she and Arnold died in exile in England.”
“She was an evil witch,” Bette said with conviction.
“Arnold was a hero?” Minerva asked.
“Yes, he rallied the troops at the Battle of Saratoga, and our victory there was the turning point in the Revolution,” Victor said. “It led to France joining our side. And let’s face it—we wouldn’t have won our independence without the help of the frogs.”
“Frogs?” Minerva asked.
“Nickname for the French,” Bette interjected
Minerva had never realized that about Benedict Arnold. Arnold was a hero and a good friend of George Washington’s. That was why Arnold’s treachery was so heartbreaking to Washington. Arnold was the Judas Iscariot of American History, for Judas was Christ’s disciple until his betrayal. She glanced over her shoulder for another glimpse of Peggy Shippen. Benedict Arnold’s future wife was following them!
“Peggy Shippen is following us, Victor,” Minerva said.
“Huh,” Victor said, his head swiveling. Bette turned her head as well.
“Keep calm,” Victor advised. “Here’s our cover story. We are from Florida. Saint Augustine. Florida was a British possession from 1763 to 1783. You girls are my cousins…we are on our way to, ah, London,” Victor said. “Let me do the talking. I’m the man.”
Bette and Minerva looked at each other and exchanged raised eyebrows.
“She’ll expect me to start the talking, really,” Victor said.
Minerva evaluated Peggy Shippen as the future Mrs. Benedict Arnold approached. Her riding habit fit her snuggly, Minerva thought, and she realized Miss Shippen was wearing a corset beneath the coat. How repressive! Her tailor did her justice though, and the low neckline had a hint of cleavage that Minerva judged to be adequate. Her crème colored skin was a bit of a surprise; she certainly didn’t have the tan of the two Florida girls, and perhaps Peggy had thought them lower class because their skin wasn’t pale when she had returned Minerva’s glance with a glare. That would make sense. Minerva cattily wondered if Miss Shippen had lice crawling through her scalp, for that was a common problem for both men and women in the 18 th century. Her perfume seemed to be masking a faint malodorous smell and Minerva realized that her morning shower and deodorant would certainly make her smell much nicer than Peggy Shippen. But the buckles on her shoes, in the shape of an S , were large and apparently made of real silver.
Peggy Shippen handed Victor her calling card.
“Margaret Shippen,” she said, smiling slightly, but eyeing them, Minerva thought, as if they were hicks from Hicksville. “But my family and friends call me Peggy.”
Oh no, Minerva thought. Victor had no card, did he?
Victor took her card and scanned it with a wince. So, Mr. Historian hadn’t thought of everything after all, Minerva mused and handed Peggy Shippen her own calling card.
Minerva Messinger
Cassadaga
“I’m
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