The last chapter was very sad. Poor John Laurens. This one is happier
"We're here", Alexander told her as the carriage pulled up to Washington's home in New York. Eliza took his hand as he helped her out of the carriage.
"Betsey!" Marta exclaimed as she hugged her. Eliza smiled.
"Marta. It has been too long", Eliza took her coat off and handed it to the servant. She took a glass of champagne. Alexander kissed her cheek.
"You look beautiful. God bless poor John", Marta wore a black dress too. Everyone was in black to show their mourning to John Laurens.
"I'm going to find George", he whispered to her. Eliza nodded as he left. Marta brought her into the parlour.
"How is your boy?" Marta asked her. Eliza grinned.
"He is crawling. He said his first word today; dada", Eliza gushed about her baby. This would be the longest she would be away from him.
"It will be non stop from here on out", Marta joked with her. They watched as Alexander told a story to a crowd of mostly women. The girls were all over him.
"Does it bother you that he flirts with other women?" Marta asked her. Eliza smiled at her. Yes.
"No", she shook her head. "He may flirt with them but at the end of the day. He's mine".
"I would love to see their reaction if you just butted in and kissed him", Marta laughed at the thought of it.
"I'd never act so whorish", Eliza laughed with her. Eliza couldn't take her eyes off him.
"How did Alexander take the news of Laurens passing?" Marta asked her. Eliza thought back to the past week. Alexander had worked non stop. She struggled to get him to eat. He claimed he was not hungry. She practically had to drag him to bed each night.
"Not good. He was very close to John", Eliza sighed. She glanced at Marta before watching Alexander again.
"Stop stressing and just stand beside him. The girls will back off", Marta pulled her up and brought her over.
"I got an accelerated study. I completed it in 6 months", the girls were laughing even though the story wasn't funny. Marta stood next to Eliza who linked her arm with Alexander. It would be hard to ignore the disappointing looks from the girls. Alexander smiled at her.
"We better sit. Dinner will be served soon", Eliza found their seats. They were sitting with George and Marta on the left of them and John Jay and his wife Sarah to the right of them. They were facing John Adams and his wife Abigail.
"Since when is your name Betsey?" Alexander asked her in a hushed tone. Eliza smiled, she hadn't used that name since she was a child.
"I was called Betsey as a child. I met Marta when I was 17 at an aide de camp with my father. We were sowing soldiers clothes and knitting gloves for them", she informed him.
"I like it. My Betsey", he grinned.
"Alexander, what are your plans now that you have graduated?" George asked him. Alexander turned to George.
"I am going to set up a bank in New York. I have started the plans for it. I wrote to congress to get funding for the building. The idea is that it would be safer to have a central location to store money and jewelry. I also started working on restoring King's college. The future generations will need a college and if we can keep them in New York then all the better", Alexander responded. Eliza listened carefully to him. This was the first she was hearing of his plans.
"You have a lot on your plate", George laughed as he sipped a glass of whiskey. Marta looked at her sympathetically. She smiled back at her. Eliza knew her husband would never stop working and she was okay with that.
Alexander nodded. They were served soup for starters. Eliza silently corrected Alexander on which spoon to use. He chuckled and gave her a small smile.
"Oh don't get me started. Just look at the constitution, it's a mess", Alexander sighed. "I want to fix the issue with currency first. We are one nation and we have 13 different currencies", George added. Alexander nodded in agreement. Eliza could only think of how much Angelica would love to have these discussions, but she's a woman.
After dinner the party moved to the parlour. The men continued to talk politics.
"Wouldn't it be lovely if we had music", Sarah commented. Marta nodded.
"Betsey you play piano, don't you?" Marta asked her. Eliza blushed. She could barely play.
"I know one or two songs", Eliza put her wine glass down and sat at the piano. The men stopped talking and watched her. Alexander smiled with pride. He gave her an encouraging nod.
Eliza tested the keys. There was silence in the room as Eliza started playing Free America. The men sang along to the revolutionary war song. George danced with Marta, spinning her around. There was a round of applause when she finished the song.
John Adams played a song next. Eliza danced with Alexander. She laughed as he spun her. She let him lead the dance, he almost stepped on her toes multiple times. She took note to practice dancing at home. She had been taught since she was a child. Alexander didn't have that luxury.
Eliza grinned as he kissed her hand. His eyes were just for her now.
"Come for a walk?" He whispered in her ear. The party was just starting to get fun. She took his hand and followed his onto the balcony.
"The party was just getting good", Eliza complained.
"I'll only keep you a few minutes", he told her as he made sure they were out of sight before kissing her. Eliza moaned, her hand going through his hair.
"Okay but only a few minutes", she agreed as she kissed him again. Alexander laughed as he sat down on a bench. Eliza sat on his lap, kissing him. It would be a scandal if anyone saw them.
"We better get back", Eliza stood up a few minutes later. Alexander nodded, giving her one last kiss. Eliza couldn't contain her laughter when they got under the light. Alexander stared at her confused. She dragged him away from the door.
"Don't go in yet", she said while getting air. His face was covered in lipstick. She took his handkerchief from his pocket and spat on it.
"What?" He took the handkerchief back.
"My lipstick got on your cheeks, and your forehead and your lips", she laughed as he handed her back the handkerchief and wiped it off.
"Okay, you're good", Eliza gave it back to him.
"Ah to be young and in love again", George commented when they got back. Eliza blushed as she sipped her wine, sitting down beside Marta.
"Did you have a nice walk?" Marta asked with a grin. Alexander nodded.
Eliza played another song on the piano.
"You have a beautiful voice, Betsey", Sarah complimented her. Eliza smiled.
"Thank you", she yawned.
"I am getting quite tired. I believe it is time I retired to bed. Could you show me which room we will be staying in?" Eliza asked Marta. She nodded and brought Eliza to a guest room.
"Goodnight Betsey. It was great seeing you again. Eliza massaged her chest. Not having Philip to nurse caused her pain in them. A servant came in and helped Eliza out of her corset.
"Thank you. I can do the rest", Eliza stopped her from taking off her dress. She waited until she was alone to get into her nightdress. Eliza lit a candle and laid down. Alexander would most likely wake her up when he came in.
"Hey little lady. Hey pretty lady", Alexander said as he stood at the door in a trance. Eliza yawned, sitting up to watch him. He was very drunk. She stood up and led him to the bed.
"Get off those pants. They're my pants", he tripped over himself onto the bed. Eliza held her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing. She took off his boots and breeches.
"Take your jacket off", she said to him as she took his arms out.
"I want to touch your boobs", he laid his head back. Eliza was wide eyed. She had never seen him this drunk.
"I miss John. I love John. He never believed me. I wish that it was in my power my words or actions to show him that I love him", Alexander admitted. Eliza frowned.
"Do you love him as much as you love me?" She asked him. Alexander laughed.
"No. I didn't marry John, but I did love him first", he cuddled into a pillow letting out the occasional snore. Eliza left him in his shirt and socks.
She laid back down, pulling the pillow away from him.
"No. My Betsey", he whined. Eliza chuckled before cuddling into him.
"Oh this Betsey is warm and soft", he smiled as he wrapped his arms around her.
…
Eliza cuddled Philip when they returned home.
"My baby boy. I missed you", Eliza smiled with joy. Alexander took their bags in.
"I need a nap", Alexander groaned as he held his head.
"He's hungover", Eliza explained to them, Alexander sent a glare back at her. She laughed at him.
"Go rest. I'll bring you coffee", she pecked him on the lips. Philip pulled at her dress.
"When did he last nurse?" She asked the wet nurse they had hired.
"3 hours ago, Mrs Hamilton", the wet nurse told her. Eliza nodded and thanked her.
Eliza brought Philip upstairs to their room to nurse him.
Alexander was fast asleep. Philip cried because she wouldn't let him crawl on his daddy.
"Eliza please take him out", Alexander ordered her. She obligied him and took Philip downstairs.
…
Eliza yawned as she held Philip close to her. She dipped his passifier in whiskey to help his teething. He screamed, his cheeks red from the pain. He had one tooth and another two coming down.
"Shh", she soothed him as she found something cold to give him to chew on. Alexander offered keys to her. Eliza nodded and she handed it to him. He sucked on the keys.
"When will the teething stop?" She asked him, she bags under eyes. Philip had barely slept in days meaning Eliza had barely slept in days.
"Daddy", he cried as he reached for Alexander. He took his son, kissing his red cheeks. Eliza felt helpless.
"Back to mommy. Daddy had to go to work", he handed Philip back to Eliza.
She sighed as she took Philip downstairs. She laid on the couch, snuggling into him. They both fell asleep.
Eliza shot up when she woke up without him in her arms.
"Where is Philip?" She ran out of the room looking for him.
"Mrs Hamilton. He woke up so we played together", Christopher told her when she found them in the kitchen. Eliza sighed with relief.
…
"Alexander, come downstairs. Your son is one today!" Eliza called up the stairs to him.
"I'll be there in a minute", he called back. She rolled her eyes. The liar.
"Alexander!" She called back up.
"Okay. Okay", he came downstairs. Philip waddled over to his daddy.
Eliza grinned as they sat in the parlour.
Alexander laid on the ground as Philip crawled over him. Philip laughed as he held him up in the air. Alexander brought him down and gave him raspberries on his belly.
Eliza fed Philip his dinner and kissed him good night. She went to Alexander's office, knocking before going in.
"I can't believe it is a year since I gave birth to him", she said as she sat on the couch.
"How are the plans for the bank coming along?" She asked him. He smiled at her.
"There is so much waiting. It is killing me", he threw his head back in exhaustion. Eliza nodded.
"Patience was never your style", she agreed with him. He laughed.
"Yeah I married you in 3 weeks", he laughed thinking back on it. "It felt like a long time but back then I couldn't wait, though. I love you too much."
"Come to bed Alexander," Eliza yawned as she took his hand. Alexander glanced back at his work.
"It can wait until the morning", she placed his hands on her hips from behind. He kissed her neck. Eliza moaned as she broke free to lie on the bed.
…
Eliza walked Philip through the park. He whined when she wanted to hold her hand but he would have to learn. Philip wanted to run into the lake. Eliza fixed his hat for the 5th time. He kept throwing it off. The heat from the sun would burn his scalp. She sighed as she carried him home. He needed lunch and a nap. This was the last time she would try to bring him to a park on her own.
"Eliza", Peggy hugged her when she walked up the driveway. Eliza frowned, she didn't know Peggy was coming over.
"Peggy this is unexpected", she hugged her back before picking up Philip.
"Say hi to aunt Peggy", Eliza helped Philip to wave.
"What brings you here? And with a boy?" She asked her little sister. Peggy glanced back at him.
"That's Stephen Van Rensselaer. We're married", Peggy grinned at her. Eliza frowned. They're married. They eloped.
"Father is going to be pissed. Do you love him? Can he provide for you? Why didn't Father agree to the marriage?" Eliza had so many questions. She brought the two of them inside.
"I love him with all my heart", Peggy told her as Eliza led them into the parlour. Stephen sat beside Peggy. Eliza was about to tell them to separate but they are married.
"Alexander!" She called up to him.
"Adalyia please take care of Philip", Eliza handed the servant her toddler.
"Okay that's good you love each other. Love only gets you so far. I assume you have your parents fortune to inherit?" Eliza asked Stephen. She knew he was a member of one of the richest families in New York. He nodded. Alexander came in, he frowned at Peggy.
"Eliza didn't tell me, we were expecting company", Alexander apologised to them. Eliza smiled.
"We weren't", she told him. Peggy held up her left hand. Alexander paused before frowning.
"You eloped?" He sighed as he sat beside Eliza.
"Did you have a witness?" He asked them.
"One of my friends acted as a witness", Stephen told them. Alexander nodded.
"Let me see the papers, make sure everything is legal and in order", he took them from Stephen. Alexander sighed with relief. They were married. It had been a week since they had eloped. If the papers weren't correct and the marriage was illegal or fake then Peggy would be labeled a whore. He wouldn't have that happen to his little sister.
"Why did you have to elope?" Eliza asked them. She would have done the same thing if her father said no to her marrying Alexander.
"My family believe I am too young to marry", Stephen informed them.
"You couldn't have waited a year or two?" Alexander inquired. Peggy laughed.
"Ha. You waited 3 weeks", she reminded them. Eliza kept quiet but she had to agree. Peggy was right.
"Well you're here now and you are married. Let's celebrate", Eliza laughed breaking the tension. She needed wine after that news. Peggy grinned, delighted that her sister approved of her husband. Stephen grinned.
"I'm the easy one to win over. Good luck with Angelica", Eliza laughed as she poured wine for the four of them. Alexander laughed.
"I have to say I agree. If Angelica were a man, she would be leading this country", he told Stephen. Peggy and Eliza nodded.
Thanks for reading.