I saw Alexander quite soon after that evening. In fact we saw each other rather regularly but I never tired to see him and him to say, "Hello Eliza." He apparently became acquainted with my father due to General George Washington. It was made apparent that, "This Mr. Hamilton is quite welcome here," according to my father. This was quite a nice arrangement.
Alexander did not just visit me. He visited with Angelica to discuss various authors and the politics. I saw how Alexander got so excited people in the house had to tell him to be quieter. Angelica finally found someone who shared her views.
"…it clearly says 'All men are created equal'. If I should meet Mr. Jefferson I would have some words about including women in future works." I heard Angelica voice during one conversation.
"I agree."
He also had many conversations with Peggy but I haven't the slightest clue to what they talked about. Peggy was happier after their chats. I had asked her if she fancied Alexander once after a particular conversation where she seemed lighter. She denied saying he was just a good conversationalist.
So when Alexander showed up at our doorstep, it was not considered improper. I quite liked this more causal visiting though I never visited him. But thought they were more casual I never met him without out looking my best. I had never liked to brush my dark hair but when he came, I brushed my hair so it would shine.
"Miss Schuyler," Alexander said bowing and bringing forth a bouquet.
"Hello Mr. Hamilton. No need for such formalities." I curtseyed to mirror his bow.
"I wish to! As a woman of your status I must, I am a lowly servant at your service," he bowed again. As he raised his head he was smiling. I was smiling now.
"Alexander these are quite lovely," I said and I noticed the red rash on his hand.
"Where did you get these?"
"I picked them near where I am staying. A large field with the loveliest flowers that made me think of you," he said trying to hand the bouquet to me.
"My dear you seem to have stinging nettle in that bouquet and it seems to be giving you quite a rash," I pointed.
"Ah so that is what hurts, I thought I had merely scrapped it. Now that you mention it is quite painful," he intoned while picking the nettle out.
"Come in sir and I will see what I can do," I smiled accepting the bouquet at last.
As we crossed the foyer into the parlor Peggy crossed us and saw the state Alexander was in.
"Nettle?"
"Yes. See I told you floral arranging classes were useful!"
"No, I just have been stomping around in fields long enough to know what stinging nettle looks like," Peggy replied, "I shall go fetch some bandages and salve."
"I can see why my friend John enjoys talking to your Peggy," Alexander said sitting at the small table.
"How so?"
"He says she is direct and I see that is true. John is always going on about how no one says what they mean."
"She is direct," I said fondly.
"Here we are!" Peggy returned with the box of bandages and an assortment of lotions.
"Thank you Peggy," we both said at the same time.
"You are both welcome." Peggy turned and left. She knew I wanted to have private chat and obliged. All of us had a keen sense of what each other wanted or was feeling.
"Let's get you fixed up." His hand was very red and had some bumps. He clearly touched a lot of the plant and had not noticed the sting until it was this bad.
In a few minutes I had cleaned and bandaged his hand. I couldn't help but notice Alexander wasn't looking at what I was doing but at my face. He was smiling a bit the whole time and I became very self-conscious.
"Done."
"Thank you, it feels much better."
"So what brings you to our abode?"
"Today? Well, today I come on the most important business."
I looked down. I had hoped this would be a lighthearted business free affair but one cannot keep the sun from rising so I must face this.
"Do you remember that letter I sent you many a month a ago detailing my regret for not attending your birthday?"
"Yes?"
"Today is of importance because I wish to rectify this! I have brought you a very late birthday gift," he said with a grand gesture.
"You mustn't. My birthday is of no real importance and besides being with you is gift enough for a life time," I blushed. When blushing I turned an unsightly pink color, my bluish was almost the same color as Angelica's ball gown she wore when I first met Alexander.
"I must give you something! If not for a birthday gift but to repay you for the kindness you have done me in knowing you," he continued nonplussed.
With his good hand he produced a thin box. The box had no ribbon and the box seems quite battered but I accepted the box inside a splendid fan.
"Alexander this is too much! I must return such a beautiful gift," I said opening the fan. The fan was a light blue with white and pink peonies. The image on the fan displayed a lovely garden. I placed the fan back in the box and made to hand it back.
"This is mere tuppence!" Alexander beamed.
"But how did you get this? If I am correct this is a French fan. You haven't been to France so much as you told me," I inquired.
"It was not hard. I wish I had worked harder to bring you this gift. I have a friend named Lafayette and he is a French ally. Lafayette had one brought over on my request," Alexander continued.
"It is so beautiful." I opened and closed the fan; the brilliant colors so vivid it was like the flowers were real. I gave the fan a slight wave and I felt like royalty.
"Its beauty pales in comparison to the one who wields it," he uttered with finality.
Over the next weeks that stretched into summer more gifts came. Gifts not only for myself but my sisters. Gifts like a pair of silk slippers or books did not come cheap and yet these gifts came. Angelica and Alexander had taken to borrowing books from each other. Peggy received gifts from John Laurens through Alexander. It seemed John did not have such freedoms in seeing Peggy as I did with Alexander.
"Alexander you really must stop. One does not have a bottomless bank account after all," I scolded.
"You are correct. I may not be the richest man in the colonies but I must certainty try for you."
I wondered where his wealth came from. I hoped it did not come from draining his meager military salary. He had told me some weeks before that he was from a poor family in the British West Indies. Nevis he had said. I had learned he went to war to try and establish a legacy. I had bemoaned that he was a poor man and that he should not be with her, a lady of fine upbringing. But Alexander had gained a reputation with Washington and so it was overlooked he was not of wealth.
But one day to my shock he came bearing one final gift.
"Elizabeth Schuyler, I realize you wish the gifts to cease. I shall respect that after this final one," he said withdrawing a ring from his pocket.
I gasped. Could it be?
"Eliza you are a gift in my life. Without your presence in my life I think I should have perished last winter. When I saw you for the first time I knew you were not just a privileged fool. I knew you were worth more then the anything God has given us," he paused catching his breath, "Elizabeth Schuyler if your father consents, will you marry me?"
The world stood still. I was helpless. This was what I wanted and to have it now seemed all too perfect.
"Yes! Yes I will be your wife!"
He slipped the ring on my finger. It was nothing to big nor flashy, it was a simple yet lovely ring.
Looking at the ring I said with tears in my eyes, "When shall you speak to my father?"
"I arranged to speak with him tomorrow evening," he said wiping my tears with his thumb.
When Alexander left I was still crying tears of pure joy. I walked back to my chambers and my sisters were inside. They must have heard the whole ordeal.
"Eliza!" Peggy said, "Congratulations!" Peggy came over and embraced me. Angelica came over ask well but she seemed hesitant.
"I cannot believe this! Did you know?" I asked finally drying my tears.
"We had a good idea," Angelica tightly smiled.
"But this is foolish. He hasn't asked father yet. Father could very well reject this proposal. I do not think I could live if I knew I couldn't be with Alexander," I worried.
"Father is not cruel nor a fool. He will do the most best and most rational thing. I cannot think for the life of me why he would say no," Angelica said holding my hand and looking me in the eye. She always did that when I was worried. Angelica was right, father wouldn't say no for no reason.
"How will you keep this from father until tomorrow evening?" Peggy pondered.
It was decided I would stay out of the view of my father was quite easy during the day and in the evening I would act as usual. I doubt father would have been angry if he found out sooner but it was customary to ask the girl's father for permission before proposing to the girl, and what Alexander did wasn't the usual course.
I saw that Angelica was very quiet the rest of the day. When I asked her if she was alright she said, "Yes Eliza. I must be."
I did not know what Angelica was thinking but she retired early. But my elation and worries flooded my mind in her absence. Angelica always kept me calm and rational, but with her gone earlier my mind started fretting earlier.
A/N: This chapter celebrates the 1-year anniversary of my first publication!
Thank you all for such lovely support! I like to think Alexander established a friendship with all of the sisters. Wouldn't you? I wanted to show Angelica's lingering feelings for Alexander. I do not think, knowing her sisters, that her feeling would have gone unnoticed. Yes I know weddings proposals were very different back then but I am only going off of the musical cannon. Historical inaccuracies aside please enjoy!