Chapter 1

Eliza did not think the impossible could happen to her as she sat in her room with her eyes glued to the document in her hand. Eliza read every letter Maria Reynolds wrote to her husband. Each sentence of loving adoration made Eliza's skin crawl and her stomach do somersaults. It was as if someone poured scalding hot water on her skin burning her for life. How had this come to be? How did her life come to such ruin?

Eliza felt like a fool. She did not see what was happening under her own roof. She thought Alexander was busy working like he always had. How could her husband fall for another woman? Did Alexander fall out of love with her?

As Eliza listened to her sister, Angelica, rant about Alexander's misdeeds, she wondered who leaked the information. Who would be so desperate to ruin Alexander and his family?

"Eliza, you can't stay here. I will let John know you and the children will come to London with me."

Eliza snapped her weary eyes at her beloved older sister. "I can't leave everything behind."

"Yes, you can. You need time to get away from the gossip. You and the children shouldn't be tortured with petty remarks. London will do you and the children some good," Angelica argued.

"But Alexander-

"What?" Angelica asked seething at the mention of her brother-in-law. "But Alexander what?"

Eliza sighed dejected. "He is still their father and he won't take kindly to me leaving."

"Who cares what that arrogant man wants? He lost all rights to have any say in what you do since this whole affair came to light. I will make arrangements in the morning."

"Angie, thank you but I cannot travel with you. I will not run from this. I am staying. Schuyler sisters don't run from trouble."

Angelica wasn't convinced. "We need to leave this wretched place at least for a few weeks."

Eliza shook her head no. "Leaving this place over the summer the first time was apparently wrong. If I leave now it will only spark more rumors and those rumors will get published sooner rather than later. My place is here."

Angelica reluctantly agreed. "Are you sure I can't persuade you?"

"Not now Angie. I will visit you in London with John and Phillip one day. I promise."

They were interrupted by a sound downstairs. The sisters could hear Alexander's footsteps hit the foyer.

"He's here," Angelica said. "I'll get rid of him."

"No. Let him come up," Eliza said rising from his seat. "I will be fine...mostly."

Angelica met Alexander halfway down the stairs and all she could do was glare at him.

Alexander looked tired, weary and heartbroken. That was fine by her.

"Angelica," he greeted softly hoping to see a semblance of caring eyes reflecting back at him. He was not going to receive grace from one of his dearest friends.

"Alexander," she responded harshly. "Your wife is upstairs."

Alexander blinked. "Eliza wishes to see me."

"Yes," Angelica replied. "Don't get too excited Alexander. She still hates you."

Alexander cautiously went into his bedroom. He had not been allowed to step a foot into the room while she was there.

"Eliza," he called out.

"Alexander," she said curtly. "Close the door."

Alexander didn't know what to say other than what he already said. He apologized for the affair profusely. He tried to tell her that his heart was hers but the words fell on deaf ears. He failed to make her see how deeply he regretted his affair.

"Alexander," Eliza started already exasperated. Just looking at the man she pledged her life to made her blood boil. "How?"

"How what?" he asked.

"How could you destroy our marriage?" she asked her voice rising a little.

"It was a mistake. I wish I could take it back. God knows I don't deserve your love or forgiveness but please hear me when I say that I truly regret what I have done. I was stupid and ignorant. I didn't think about the consequences until it was too late," he explained.

"Why didn't you just say no to begin with? I begged you to take a break but you were too busy to put your family first and now look where we are. We are tabloid fodder for the masses to consume. Do you know the damage you have caused? How did this even come out?"

Alexander shifted his weight avoiding her angry gaze. "I was accused of mishandling funds from the treasury by James Monroe and Frederick Muhlenberg due to James Reynolds' accusations. He blackmailed me and I paid him $1,000 a month to keep the...the affair quiet."

Alexander felt like Eliza was silently cursing him for being so stupid. Her eyes were hardening with every word.

"And what was Mr. Reynolds' crime?"

"Reynolds was part of a scheme with veterans' wages during the war. He was involved in not paying soldiers their wages," Alexander stated truthfully.

"And it was either go to jail for a something you did not do or openly proclaim your relationship with Mrs. Reynolds," Eliza finished.

"It wasn't a relationship," he refuted lamely.

"No? What was it then? My mistake, she accidentally tripped and fell into our bed...several times in fact over the course of two years," she sneered.

"Eliza-

"Just continue with the story. How did it all come out if you didn't publish the letters?"

Alexander winced. "Jefferson."

"Excuse me? What does Thomas Jefferson have to do with this?"

Alexander sighed. "He found out through Monroe. He gave Jefferson the letters five years ago and he used this opportunity to permanently eschew me from politics. He warned me but I didn't think he would go through with it. Next thing I know, I'm being hounded by newspapers. He wanted to ruin me so I could not seek the presidency."

"I see," Eliza said calmly.

"Eliza, I know what I've done is unforgivable but please find it in your heart to forgive me," he pleaded. "Please have mercy."

"Go Alexander. I can't look at you anymore."

Once the door closed, Eliza shook with a rage she didn't think she could ever feel towards someone other than her husband. Thomas Jefferson would now know to never cross a Hamilton.