The air in my bedroom is stuffier than usual. I don't bother to open the windows, though; only warm air will blow through and make it impossible for me to concentrate on anything besides the heat.

I stand in front of my mirror, tucking a raven curl behind my ear. My hair is french braided on each side of my head, meeting at the top of my neck. My face is flushed, making my blue eyes shimmer. Today, I am wearing a gray bodice with a long, gray skirt with only one ring of skirts underneath. I bite my lip, making the area pink.

I smile. She has no clue what's coming to her.

My brother Andrew stands in the doorway of his room, my father close behind him. My father looks me up and down, then looks back up at my face. "How are you today, Piper?"

"I'm quite swell. How are you?"

"I'm alright. Andrew is a bit of a handful. Could you help me with him later?"

I roll my eyes, but I make sure he can't see. My father is sensitive at times, and would take my non-verbal complaint the wrong way. "I'll help later. I have some business to attend to."

My father jerks his head up, his chocolate eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What.. type of business?"

I sigh. "It's just… my friend let me borrow her necklace. I have to return it today."

Elijah Schuyler Hamilton, in his glorious blue suit and shiny black boots, only nods.

He doesn't believe me.

Thankfully, I know how to get around Mr. Hamilton. He is so clueless at times, but he adores me, and I adore him equally. I guess you could say that I am my father's daughter. Yet, I have to burden of carrying my mother's name, and her brains, and even graduating at King's College like she did.

I carry my mother's name today, too. Georgia Eacker has a debt to repay me, a debt to my name, a debt to my family. And she will pay in words, or pay in blood.

As I think over what I'm going to say, rage flooding through me, I see a group of men standing on a corner. I approach them and they bow their heads in respect. I curtsy and smile graciously. "Good afternoon, gentlemen! Have any of you seen Georgia Eacker around this block?"

"She said she was going to see a play, Ms. Hamilton," one of the male's eyes shift to his buddy. His friend can't help but laugh. I laugh too, trying to keep the mood light.

"Well, I guess I should pay her a visit, then!" we laugh again, and it's a little bit awkward this time. I bite my lip as the gentlemen come closer to me.

"Ms. Hamilton, may I have permission to overstep my bounds?"

His question sends me for a loop; I become defensive immediately. "It depends on how far you're stepping, sir."

He cheeses, looking me up and down. "Piper, you are a fox."

I blush, not expecting such a forward comment. As I roll the words around in my brain a few times, I think of the perfect response. "Well, sirs, you both appear pretty dashing today as well," I lean closer to their ears, bringing them closer to me. "How about this; meet me at this corner when dusk settles in. Later, we can strip down to our socks."

The men nod in vigorous agreement. Their cheeks aren't nearly as flushed as other parts of their body. I kiss the one to my left on the cheek before sauntering off to Broadway to find the devilish Georgia Eacker.

The show was just starting when I entered her box. She was in a big magenta gown with a high collar; the poor prude pretends she has dignity, and yet slanders my mother with her disgustingly sharp tongue. That ends today.

"Georgia," I hiss, my face right behind her ear. She hushes me, but I call her name a bit louder. She whips around, her face full of rage.

"I'm trying to enjoy the show, Hamilton," Georgia folds her hands over her lap. "What do you want from me?"

"You should have held your tongue when you decided to slander my dear mother," I reply, wagging a finger in her face. Anger flares up in her face.

"You should choose your words wisely, Piper. The thing is, none of what I said is a lie. Therefore, it is not slander," her ugly, vomit-inducing mouth curls into a snarl. "Your mother is a scoundrel, and so are you."

She's done it.

I put my hand on the arm of her chair, leaning into her face. "Is it truly like that, Georgia?"

Georgia rolls her eyes, facing the stage again. "I am not your schoolgirl friends, Piper."

"Then I propose a duel!" I say a little louder than I had meant to.

Georgia shakes her head, then faces me again. "I know where to find you, darling," Georgia doesn't take her eyes off of me. "Now piss off! I'm trying to enjoy the show."

I leave the theatre, my heart pounding in my ears. Georgia will pay. Georgia will pay.