The Gorgeous Hussy

Peggy O'Neal's outspoken nature shapes the inn's social atmosphere as Washington's politicians come and go. She is unafraid to speak her mind, drawing attention from guests and locals alike. When the famed Andrew Jackson visits, Peggy greets him warmly, affectionately calling him 'Uncle Andy.'

Beau Timberlake dismissively refers to Peggy as a 'tavern girl,' provoking a protective defense from John Randolph who slaps him in Peggy's defense. The incident stirs a conflicted dynamic: Beau becomes enthralled with Peggy, while she remains drawn to John. The moment marks the start of a complicated love triangle.

Beau declares his love and proposes, but Peggy refuses, insisting her heart lies with John Randolph. John spurns her affections, convinced she is too young and merely testing his feelings. Yet Beau's persistence plants seeds of hope for Peggy, even as John remains cautious.

On the night of their marriage, Major O'Neal overhears the announcement as Peggy and Beau exchange vows. Beau reveals that he must leave for a three-month tour aboard the USS Constitution the next day. The ceremony seals a brief, fated union that will be cut short by distance and duty.

When Constitution returns to Washington, Peggy learns that Beau has died during his voyage. The news shatters her optimistic plans and deeply affects her standing at court, compounding the personal loss with political scrutiny. She must carry on without the man she briefly married.

In 1828, John Randolph comes back from his post as minister to Russia, and Peggy is full of anticipation and warmth. He reveals how difficult it was to be away from Washington and his work there. The reunion rekindles their shared history and lingering feelings.

With Andrew Jackson's election looming, Rachel Jackson dies after asking Peggy to look after her husband. Peggy becomes Jackson's official hostess and confidante, a role that brings her further into political circles while arousing gossip among the wives of Washington. The position elevates her influence but complicates her social standing.

At a social ball, Rowdy Dow challenges John C. Calhoun in defense of Peggy, but she interrupts to dance with Rowdy instead. John Randolph visits Peggy after, and for a moment both acknowledge their love and plan to marry. However, they realize their differing political views would doom their happiness, forcing them apart once again.

Secretary of War John Eaton confesses his long-standing love for Peggy and proposes marriage. She accepts, hoping that the match will bring legitimacy and respectability to her life in Washington.

A year after the earlier revelations, Rowdy Dow informs Peggy that John Randolph has been shot and is near death. Peggy urges Rowdy to take her to him, and she visits him, bringing comfort as he dies contentedly after seeing her. The moment marks a poignant end to their long, fraught saga.

Returning to Washington, Peggy finds herself under pressure as Jackson's cabinet and their wives demand her removal from the capital social scene. Jackson misleads everyone by claiming Peggy's visit to Randolph was at his orders, a political appeasement that helps him buy time. The cabinet's sense of propriety is fractured as alliances shift.

Recognizing that acceptance in Washington may never come, Peggy persuades Jackson to send John Eaton as special envoy to Spain. She believes that with Eaton abroad, there can be quiet personal contentment and a more stable life away from the capital's scrutiny. The decision closes the chapter with a cautious hope.