Jess again. Mark had called her Jessica. As if she were a full person, not a truncated portion of one.

“What you did when you were young could kill you. It just might take years to do…”

“Kate had dressed for battle, donning her finest pink muslin morning dress. With…”

“The vicar gave him permission and he kissed her - not hard, for lust, nor long,…”

“You probably think battles are won with cannons and brave speeches and fearless…”