Angelica Schuyler Church is irritated. She realizes she has absolutely no right to be- in fact, there is a whole list of reasons why she should be the happiest she has been in a very long time: She's back home in the States after being across the sea in England for what seems like an eternity. She's spending the summer with her family, with Eliza- the sister whom she loves more than anyone in the entire world. She gets to see her delightful nephew and the adorable little niece who shares her name. Even the weather is faultless, clear days and warm nights.

Still, despite all these reasons to be satisfied Angelica is not- and the reason why two words: Alexander Hamilton.

On the day she had arrived, when he had told her he wouldn't be joining them-avoiding her eyes, hands fidgeting- she had launched into a heated rebuke, hoping to spur him into action and change his mind.

"Screw your courage to the sticking place Alexander! For heaven's sake, you've done more for this country already than half those men in Congress put together. The others can finish what you started here. Other people besides you want this deal to pass, let them do their share. You always think that you alone know what's best, you alone can do everything. You listen to me- you don't need to do every single thing yourself! I've sailed a thousand miles to see you; the least you can do is take a damn break and spend some time with me!"

She had expected him to fire back at her, to match her energy with his usual fervor.

What she had gotten was the complete opposite-he had weathered her entire tirade without any comment whatsoever. This in itself was enough to throw Angelica completely off guard, and it was her first warning sign that this was something very serious.

"I have to get my plan through Congress" was all he had offered, in a tired and hollow voice that showed his thoughts were a world away.

His uncharacteristically lackluster response unnerved her even more. His entire bearing- normally exuding such powerful confidence and charisma- seemed instead unsure and fragile. It was as though the fire that always burned in him had been snuffed out, leaving only ashes behind. She had glanced at Eliza, and her sister's reaction indicated that this behavior was not something new to her. In fact, Eliza had been looking between the two of them herself as if trying to catch onto some hidden message. Angelica had felt her frown deepen. What is going on here?

Before either of them could even think of anything else to say, Alexander had already disappeared back upstairs.


Angelica has been running over the events of that day in her head ever since, trying to piece together an answer. She knows that the deal her brother-in-law has been working on is extremely important both for the future of the country and his career. She knows that trying to get those in Congress who oppose it-and who greatly dislike him- to come to a compromise is a herculean task. Back in England, she herself had been one of the people pushing him to see it through- don't stop until you agree. She hadn't expected that advice to end in this result.

Alexander's dejection worries her that maybe this time he's bitten off much more than he can chew. Is it worth achieving a compromise if his entire self suffers for it?

Eliza's reaction to the entire situation has fueled Angelica's frustration and worries even more. She knows how much her younger sister had been looking forward to this- all of them back together after so long. To see her trying to act as though everything is fine when it clearly is not hurts Angelica much more than Alexander's rejection had. She wants to see her sister relaxed and cheerful with her children. She wants her to smile and laugh and stop having to worry about a husband miles and miles away. Instead Eliza wears a mask of calm that might convince the children she is fine but doesn't fool Angelica in the slightest.

Something else about Eliza worries her as well. Several times she has noticed her sister watching her with a strange expression when she thinks Angelica hasn't seen. And once, late at night not long after they had arrived, Eliza had seemed very much to want to say something to her. But when Angelica had asked Eliza seemed to lose her nerve, giving a small laugh and claiming to be merely tired. Since then her sister has made no more mention of it and Angelica hasn't pressed her. Eliza has always confided in her, ever since they were children. Whatever it is, she will tell her in her own time. But still Angelica feels a deep sense of unease.

Suddenly an idea springs into her head, fully formed. Yes. Angelica makes up her mind in an instant, because to her at this moment there is only one solution to this mess they're in. To hell with the compromise and to hell with Congress. She is going back to New York, and she's going to drag her brother-in-law back with her upstate for the summer with threat of force and by his collar if need be. For the sake of his sanity, her sister's, and her own.

After packing as fast as possible, she arranges a coach to bring her back to the city. She tells her father her plan, but decides to keep it a secret from Eliza and the children and makes him promise to do the same. She wants to see their faces light up when their father arrives. She wants to see Eliza with a real smile for the first time in weeks. She can't wait.

It's only a matter of time.


The city is a long journey from the Schuyler home, but the travel is fast and her racing mind keeps her occupied in the meantime.

It is evening when she finally arrives in New York. Her coach stops at the end of the street and she hurries out of it, thankful to finally be able to stretch her legs and escape its cramped confines. She makes off at a brisk pace down the mostly empty road and is only a few houses away when she sees a young woman ahead of her reach the Hamilton home first.

Angelica doesn't truly take notice at first, seeing the other woman's tattered clothing and assuming her to be one of the many scroungers and downtrodden folk who go door to door asking for alms. But when she gets closer, the door opens and she sees Alexander quickly usher the girl inside. He doesn't see his sister-in-law and closes the door quickly behind himself and the mysterious woman.

Angelica pauses in the middle of the street, trying to process what she has just witnessed. Who was that girl, and why was Alexander letting her into his home? A friend of the family? No, even living abroad as long as she has Angelica still remembers most of the socialites in their circle, and moreso the clothes the woman wears and the way she holds herself are too coarse to mark her as a social acquaintance.

Who is she? Why is she coming to call when the rest of the family is away? And why did Alexander let her in? A restless feeling begins to swirl in her stomach. Her original plan of action has been thrown completely out of her mind in the wake of this new development, a new one quickly forming in its wake.

It's downright improper for a woman of her standing to be sneaking around outside of private residences and spying on their occupants, but at this moment Angelica Schuyler Church could care less, determined as she is to get to the bottom of whatever peculiarity is going on here.

Quickly glancing down the street to make sure no one is watching, she tiptoes along the side of the house. Gently easing the shutter open a tiny bit, she peers inside.

Her heart splinters.

He will never be satisfied.