Chapter 2

Alexander watched helplessly as Eliza packed her belongings. This was wrong. Everything he was witnessing felt wrong. His wife was leaving him for good and nothing he said nor anything he did could compel her to stop.

"You're leaving me, aren't you?" he asked while standing in the doorway of their bedroom.

Eliza stopped her movements and turned her head towards his voice. "I'll be gone for a few days. I'm not leaving you," she said tired. She knew Alexander was getting ready to voice his opinion on the matter. He wasn't going to give up without a fight. It was quality she adored and admired but now it was certain to grate on her already frayed nerves.

"Where are you going?" he asked urgently. "I can come with you."

Eliza shook her head in disagreement fervently. "I need a few days to think and gather my wits about myself. I can't do that here. I need some quiet time away from the prying eyes of our nosy neighbors."

Alexander scratched his head trying to think of another argument that would make her change her mind. "Don't you know how this looks? The people will think you have decided to divorce me and this is the first step."

Eliza inhaled reigning her emotions. She was annoyed, furious and bitter and she was desperately trying not to release another tirade on her husband.

"You never cared what people thought before so don't start now. What happens between us is our business unless you plan on writing about our marriage to the press or to your friends," she admonished.

Alexander looked at the floor ashamed. "What can I do to make it up to you? Eliza, I'll do anything you want."

"Give me a few days. It's the least you can do in exchange for the fifteen years I've put up with you. I am owed that much Alexander," she replied.

"Okay," he acquiesced knowing he had no other choice. Eliza nearly faltered in her resolve to leave the state but decided that her mission was important if it meant her family could continue to have a decent life.

"My father should be here any moment. I need to finish packing," Eliza explained.

Alexander nodded solemnly and went downstairs. He went to his office and sat at his desk. He picked up his pen to write anything. Anything that could help him restore his reputation in the political arena but his mind was too scattered to think. All he could do was hope and pray his wife would not extend her short-term vacation into a permanent one.

Eliza stood in front of her mirror and closed her eyes. "You can do this. You are a Schuyler. You're a Hamilton. You're a wife and a mother whose family have been shredded to pieces. You are a fighter and it's time to show that to the world," she said to herself.

She headed downstairs and heard a myriad of voices. She sighed as she could hear Angelica, Phillip Sr. and Alexander in an argument. She walked into the office with a calm but irritated stare that made them all silent.

"Are you ready father?" she asked.

Phillip smiled apologetically at his middle daughter. "Yes, my dear. Let's get out of this house." He turned to Angelica. "Are you sure you will be alright? I have no problem coming to get you and my grandchildren."

Angelica kissed her father on the cheek. "I promised Eliza I would look after her children. I'm staying."

Alexander watched his in-laws discuss his family as if he had no say and he supposed he deserved to be shut out.

Angelica rushed towards her sister. "Take care of yourself. Phillip and Angelica will be fine. I love you and I will miss you."

Eliza hugged her sister fiercely. "I love you too and I will definitely miss you." Eliza took a glance towards Alexander. "Goodbye Alexander."

As Phillip took his daughter to the harbor he periodically glanced at him. He was worried for his daughter's sanity. It was one thing to suffer humiliation in private but everyone knew of Alexander's affair. Even his friends tried to find out the latest gossip from him.

Phillip would never betray his daughter's trust. She had been hurt and he didn't want to add fuel to the fire.

"Father, you're staring," Eliza said breaking his thoughts.

"Sorry my dear. I'm just an old man worried about his daughter. I am allowed to worry as a parent."

Eliza grimaced momentarily before relaxing her features. "I won't pretend I'm fine but I will get better. There are things I need to take care of. Father, don't worry about me. I'm a tough girl."

They sat in silence for a while each contemplating the future in very different ways. As Phillip parked his carriage he turned to his daughter.

"Be safe Eliza. I hope you won't find yourself in any trouble."

Eliza smiled lovingly at his concern. "No need to worry father. I know how to handle trouble."