some sister bonding time
"Will you be staying the night?" Eliza asked Peggy. She glanced at Stephen before nodding.
"If it's not too much trouble", Peggy smiled as she took a glass of wine from James. Eliza smiled. It's not like she could throw her little sister onto the streets for the night. Eliza took her glass before whispering to Alexander.
"Make a toast", she told him. He nodded as he stood up, raising his glass.
"A toast to the groom, to the bride and to your union. May you live a long happy life together. Peggy from the moment I married Eliza, you made me feel a part of your family. Stephen, you are very lucky to have such a generous, funny and beautiful wife. If you hurt her, I will hurt you. Finally to the hope that your fathers don't react too harshly to the news", he laughed at the end. Stephen nodded. They had yet to tell either of their parents. Eliza cheered before she took a drink. She loved seeing her sister so happy.
…
Eliza put a cardigan over her nightdress and walked downstairs. She shivered from the morning air. She took Philip into her arms.
"Morning my little baby", she gave him a kiss. He squealed and babbled to her.
"Is there any mail?" Eliza asked Adaylia as she poured coffee for herself.
"Yes. There is a letter for you in the hall. I'll get it for you", Adaylia told her. Eliza smiled at her. She poured some oatmeal for Philip.
Adalia handed her the letter. Eliza thanked her before giving Philip a spoon and letting him feed himself. She read the letter.
"Who's it from?" Peggy asked her. Eliza jumped. She did not hear her approaching.
"God you scared me! It's from Angelica", Eliza wiped a tear away from her eyes. She handed the letter to Peggy to read. Eliza sipped her coffee.
"She's moving to Europe?" Peggy almost screamed. Eliza hushed her.
"Tell the world why don't you", Eliza laughed.
"She's coming here in 2 days", Peggy commented as she read the rest of the letter. Eliza nodded. She needed to see Angelica before she left for Paris. They all did. Crossing the ocean is no safe journey.
"Can we stay until Angelica leaves?" Peggy asked her. She looked very vulnerable at that moment. Eliza smiled at her.
"I wouldn't let you leave. I would be killed by Angelica", Eliza laughed as she made Peggy a cup of coffee.
"Seeing you cooking feels so weird to me. You literally never cooked or cleaned at home", Peggy commented as she drank the coffee. Eliza laughed, she had been quite immature just a few years ago.
"I guess I could have helped out more", she shrugged. Philip threw his bowl across the room. Eliza sighed as she took him out.
"That is bold", she raised her voice as she slapped his hand. Philip cried and went to Peggy for comfort. Peggy hugged him.
Eliza shook her head. He is getting so naughty recently.
"We should go to the park today", Eliza suggested. Peggy smiled and nodded.
"Can I do your hair?" Peggy asked her. Eliza carried Philip as she led Peggy to her room.
"Is Alexander in there?" Peggy blushed slightly. Eliza shook her head.
"The only way Alexander would still be in bed would be if I handcuffed him to it", Eliza laughed. She sat Philip on the floor with a toy train.
"Why would you handcuff him to the bed?" Peggy frowned at her. Eliza smiled at her innocence. She could think of plenty of reasons to handcuff Alexander to the bed.
Peggy looked out her window.
"The view is lovely", she commented. Peggy helped Eliza into her corset and dress before doing her hair like she used to when they both lived at home.
"I'll have to see if Alexander is free to come with us", Eliza told Peggy. She frowned.
"He does work a lot, doesn't he?" Peggy laughed.
"He works non stop but he is working for me and Philip, to provide for us so I don't mind. As he says he fought and bled in a war. He has to make it worth something", Eliza agreed. Peggy nodded in understanding.
"You must have so much free time", Peggy commented. Eliza laughed.
"You think I have free time. I have a toddler", she pointed at the boy who was currently trying to climb down from the bed. He dropped half his height. He fell to his bum. Looked at her for a reaction and giggled. Eliza smiled at him.
"That's true. You have the maid to mind him when you need a break", Peggy commented. Eliza inhaled a deep breath.
"She has a name. Adalyia is very good with him. I feel guilty leaving him with her", Eliza said defensively. Peggy shrugged.
"As if it matters what her name is", she laughed. Eliza glared at her through the mirror.
"Peggy, it matters. They are people, just like you and me. Adaylia is not a slave. She is paid and can leave whenever she likes. I am sorry if you don't agree but it sickens me that someone can own another person. I didn't get whacked from dad for no reason. I will continue to speak up and much as I can", Eliza sighed before continuing. "As much as Alexander will allow me".
"That's fair. You're lucky Alexander agrees with you", Peggy finished her hair.
Eliza helped Peggy get dressed before going to Alexander's office. She knocked on the door.
"Come in", Alexander called. Stephen was in there with Alexander.
"Peggy and I are going to bring Philip to the park. Do you boys want to accompany us?" Eliza asked them. Stephen nodded.
"I will", he agreed. Eliza grinned. Alexander looked at his work before agreeing.
"Okay. It can't hurt to take a break", he stood up, kissing Eliza's hand. Peggy carried Philip.
"Shall we take a carriage to the park?" Peggy asked. Alexander frowned.
"It's not that far", he offered to take Philip. The boy smiled in his daddy's arms. Eliza linked arms with Peggy as they walked a little bit ahead of the boys.
"Where will you be living?" Eliza asked Peggy.
"Albany. Stephen will inherit the manor when he is 21. His father died when he was 5 and left it to him", Peggy smiled as she glanced back at Stephen.
"Excuse me ladies, have you got time for a drink with a fine young man like myself?" A rough looking man asked them. Peggy was always jumpy around unknown men. Eliza rolled her eyes at him.
"You disgust me", Eliza dragged Peggy along as they kept walking.
"No need to be harsh ladies", he growled at them. He ran his hand along Eliza's backside. Peggy screamed. Eliza whipped around and slapped him.
"Leave us alone!" She spat at him and looked back to see Alexander and Stephen dealing with a fussy toddler. She sighed.
"I'm sorry", she gave the man an innocent look. He smiled a devious smile. Peggy frowned at her. Eliza twirled her hair and offered the man a hug. He gladly accepted. Eliza kneed him in the balls. Peggy gasped.
"Little lady you shouldn't have done that", the man growled at her.
"Alexander!" She called for her husband. Eliza kept the man at a safe distance away from Peggy and herself.
Alexander smirked at her.
"What in the hell is going on?" He asked her. Stephen kicked the man behind the knee causing him to drop to his knees.
"He attacked us. I defended myself", Eliza explained to him. Alexander nodded. Peggy hugged into Stephen.
"Fair enough. Is this true?" Alexander asked him. The man held his hands up in surrender.
"They didn't mention they were married. I am very sorry sir. It wouldn't have happened if I knew they were married", the man rambled. Eliza rolled her eyes. For one they both were clearly wearing wedding rings and two it shouldn't matter. They had created a scene. A soldier took the man to a local jail. Alexander told the soldier that he was a lawyer and would testify against him if needed.
Eliza kissed her baby before letting him run. She hugged Alexander.
"Are you okay?" He wrapped his arms around her. She blinked back tears and shook her head.
"No", she whispered into his chest as he held her still for a moment. Why couldn't she walk to a park in daylight without being attacked?
"I love you", Eliza whispered to him.
"Stay by my side this time", he linked her arm and caught up with their son, Peggy and Stephen. Peggy stayed close to her husband as well.
Philip ran towards the lake.
"Ducks!" He squealed. Eliza smiled as Alexander ran after him. He bent down and pointed out the ducks to his son.
Peggy sat on a bench with Eliza.
"Are you okay? That was terrifying, wasn't it?" Peggy took her hand. Eliza nodded and smiled at her.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I feel a bit shaken up. What if Alexander or Stephen wasn't there?" Eliza began to overthink the situation. Peggy squeezed her hand.
"But they were there so don't stress over what might have happened", Peggy could be wise beyond her years at times. Eliza laughed. Peggy stared at the lake with the mountains behind it. Trees were growing around it to one side, leading into a trail.
"It is beautiful here", she commented. Eliza nodded thinking back to the last time she was here with Alexander.
"Yeah. We come here often", Eliza nodded.
"I can't wait to have children to bring to a park", Peggy contemplated. Eliza smiled at her. She was the same way when she had just gotten married.
"Remember we used to go swimming in the lake by father's house upstate", Peggy rambled on as she remembered their summers spent upstate. Eliza smiled, she thought back to teaching John and Philip to swim.
"Yeah it would be freezing when we got out", Eliza remembered.
"I haven't been swimming in ages. When was the last time you went swimming?" Peggy asked her. The lake was mostly frozen over with thin ice. Eliza blushed slightly. Peggy glanced at her and laughed.
"Elizabeth Schuyler, you have to answer me now", Peggy said in a shocked tone.
Eliza laughed. She looked over at Alexander and Stephen playing with Philip.
"Last summer. We snuck away when the night got dark. I didn't tell Alexander of my intentions. He was surprised to say the least when I started stripping", Eliza admitted through laughter. She longed to do it again but the lake was frozen over, mostly and the water would be far too cold.
Peggy gasped before laughing.
"You are insane, Eliza", Peggy laughed. Eliza shrugged.
"It was fun", she laughed. Alexander brought Philip over to her. His face was red from running after Philip.
"Can you mind him?" He asked her. Eliza shook her head.
"I can't run after him in a corset. I can barely breathe as it is", Eliza told him honestly. He nodded in understanding as he laid down on the grass, holding Philip still.
Peggy frowned.
"I didn't think you could tell a man to mind his child", she whispered to Eliza. She didn't want Alexander to hear her.
"Marriage works both ways, Peggy. Alexander asks only one thing of me; that I don't disagree with him in public or in front of people. I only ask that he occasionally mind his own child. Afterall, I wouldn't have Philip without Alexander. It takes 2 to make a child. His father wasn't around and he grew up with no family so he has no problem minding his child. Which I am grateful for", Eliza explained to her.
Peggy smiled at Alexander.
"He is so gentle and calming. I always felt like I could talk to him. I've never seen him angry. Father used to always be angry at us", Peggy admitted. Eliza shut her eyes thinking back to when Alexander brought the servants home. She had been terrified of him. Eliza gulped, shutting the memory away.
"No. He doesn't get angry often. He is very calm. He gets his anger out in writing", Eliza explained.
"My love, are you okay?" Alexander noticed that she had tensed up. Peggy rubbed her back. Eliza nodded.
"Yes", Eliza smiled at him. He would ask her about it later.
"We better head home. Philip will be needing a nap soon", Eliza told the group. They packed everything up and headed back to the trail. Alexander carried Philip. Eliza stayed close to her husband. They fell into a comfortable silence.
Eliza brought Philip up to bed for his nap when they got home. Alexander waited outside for her. She smiled at him when she snuck out of the room. He kissed her against the shut door. She pushed him away. Peggy or Stephen could walk by. Eliza took his hand and led him to their room.
"I love you", she smiled at him as she took his waistcoat off and unbuttoned his shirt. Alexander undone her corset from behind. Eliza sighed with relief when she could breathe again. She could feel his breath on her cheek before he turned her around.
"Are you feeling better than you did before?" He sat down on the bed. Eliza looked into his eyes, she felt helpless looking into them.
…
Eliza put a pillow on his lap before lying her head down on it. He rested his hand on her stomach. She grinned at him.
"I got a fright today", Eliza admitted. Alexander sat up straight. He ran his fingers through her hair.
"That shouldn't have happened. You need to stay beside me when we are out. It isn't safe for women", he told her. Eliza had to agree. Why couldn't it be safe for both men and women?
"It made me think of when you got back from the Yorktown battle. I disagreed with you and you got angry. I was talking to Peggy and I tried not to think about it. I really did. You were livid that someone laid a hand on me, but I need to ask you. Would you hit me?" She stumbled on her words. Alexander held her face in his hand.
"Never. Not in a million years", he smiled at her. Eliza nodded. She needed to hear that.
"I'm sorry I brought it up", she sat up and straddled him. He kissed her.
"I'll give you as much reassurance as you need. Never be sorry for it", he ran his fingers up and down her body.
…
Eliza laid down beside him.
"God if Philip wasn't about to wake up. I could keep going", she laughed. Alexander sighed.
"As nice as that would be, life gets in the way", he agreed with her. Eliza smiled at him.
"I'll bring you coffee", she kissed him before putting on a dress. Alexander pulled her onto his lap before kissing her neck. Eliza laughed.
"Ah", she gasped as he tickled her. He pulled her back into the bed. Eliza turned around and held his arms above his head.
"Stop it", she laughed.
"I'll stop if you kiss me", he told her. Eliza smirked at him before kissing him.
Eliza went into Philip.
"Momma", he cried when he saw her. She picked him up and hushed him. Alexander gave him a kiss before going to work. Eliza took him down to the parlour.
"Come to Aunty Peggy", Peggy chased Philip around the room. His laughter putting a smile on everyone's faces.
He hid behind Eliza. Peggy caught him, blowing raspberries on his belly.
"We should have some wine", Eliza suggested over dinner. Peggy and Stephen joined her while Alexander worked. She would bring the plate of food up to him so that he didn't starve. James went to the cellar to retrieve a bottle from their wedding.
"Wine sounds like a fantastic idea", Peggy smiled. James handed them a glass of wine each and left the bottle in the middle of the table.
"Is Philip asleep for the night now?" Peggy asked. Eliza nodded and sipped her wine.
"He sleeps through the night. I cannot begin to explain the feeling of finally being able to sleep through the night", Eliza laughed. It only took 18 months.
"You know what I miss? The theater", Peggy announced. Eliza nodded in agreement. Their father used to bring them once a month.
"I haven't been since before I married", Eliza put her head in her hands. She poured another glass of wine.
"I love romeo and juliet. It is so romantic", Peggy told them. Eliza grinned.
"It is romantic. I wish I could see it again", Eliza agreed. They had seen it when they were just children and didn't appreciate it enough.
"We should dance", Peggy announced as she dragged Sephen into the parlour. Eliza frowned, following them.
"Stephen, you are great at piano. Play something so we can dance", Peggy asked him as she took Eliza into her arms. She laughed as Stephen played a slow tune. Eliza grinned as they laughed.
"Here let me play", Eliza pulled away when a song stopped. She took over from Stephen at the piano. She sang Amazing Grace and played the tune on the piano. Peggy mouthed a thank you as she danced with her husband.
"It is getting late. We don't wish to end the night but we must retire to bed", Stephen announced, when the song was over. Eliza nodded in understanding. She informed James that they were finished before pouring another glass of wine. She headed for Alexander's officeď. Eliza opened the door completely then knocked. She couldn't control her laughter when she realised what she did.
Alexander couldn't help but smile at her. He chuckled before getting back to work.
"Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo", Eliza placed her wine glass on his desk. He immediately moved it.
He sighed, putting down the quill.
"Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and i'll no longer be a capsulet", Alexander quoted from memory. Eliza stared into his eyes. He stood up and kissed her.
"I have a lot of work to do this evening", he sighed. Eliza glanced over at his desk. He was copying documents.
"Does it need to be copied?" She said as she sat in his office chair. Alexander nodded. Eliza felt herself sober up.
"I'll do it", Eliza said as she stood up to let him sit down. She leant against a book as she copied out his work. There were quite a few spelling mistakes. Alexander smiled as he started on a new document for his murder trial.
"Do you mind loosening my corset?" Eliza asked him as she stood up, her back to him.
"Eliza, you really expect me to be able to work if I do that?" He asked as he held her hips. She hoped he wouldn't.
She shook her head.
"No but I believe that a break is needed. When is this due for?" Eliza asked him. Alexander looked at the date.
"3 days time", he told her.
"I wanna go for a walk", Eliza declared as she left his office. She heard him calling her name in confusion. Eliza ran downstairs. It was still warm from the day. She ran into the garden. He stepped outside watching her. Eliza laughed when she saw him watching her. She ran towards the swing they built together 2 years ago. Alexander caught up with her.
"Eliza it's not safe to be out here on your own", Alexander called after her.
"Then come with me", Eliza shouted back at him. She sat on the swing, leaning back to see the stars.
"It's so pretty at night", Alexander looked up at the stars with her. Eliza grinned.
"Catch me if you can", she laughed as she ran away from him. He easily caught her, wrapping his arms around her. Eliza tried to escape but his grip was too strong. She felt protected and safe. She sat down, dragging him down with her. Eliza leant back in his arms.
"I wanna stay here all night", Eliza declared to Alexander. She couldn't remember feeling comfier. He shook his head.
"No, come on. We'll go to bed", he agreed as he helped her up. Eliza turned around and kissed him. He held her head and waist in place causing her to moan. Eliza tried to run again, laughing when she realised he was holding her hand.
Peggy blushed when she saw them coming in. Eliza smiled.
"Je suis désolé si nous sommes bruyants pour la prochaine heure. Je l'aime. Je pourrais le menotter au lit comme je l'ai suggéré plus tôt. Il travaille trop", Eliza rambled in French to Peggy. Peggy froze. She had just admitted her desire to seduce Alexander and tie him to their bed in front of him. Her glance going between Eliza and Alexander. She blushed fiercely now.
"Eliza. Alexander speaks French", Peggy pointed out. Eliza glanced at Alexander's shocked expression before laughing.
"I meant to speak Dutch. Oh well", Eliza shrugged. She dragged Alexander to their room. She sighed with relief when he undid her corset. Eliza laid down on the bed. Her eyes drooped immediately .
She woke up an hour later alone in the bed. Eliza got up and found him in his office.
"Sorry, I fell asleep", Eliza sat on the couch. He glanced at her smiling.
"You need the sleep and one hour probably won't be enough. You should go back to sleep", he sat beside her with his arm around her. She leant into him.
"Can you please come to bed? I don't sleep well when you're not there. Especially when I'm drunk", Eliza laughed at the last part. Alexander kissed her forehead. He carried her into their room causing her to laugh and cling to him.
"So you want to handcuff me to the bed?" Alexander smirked at her as he gently placed her on the bed. He was referring to what she said to Peggy in French. Eliza sat up in the bed, a blush forming on her cheeks.
"I'm sorry. I went too far", Eliza apologised . Her gaze focused on her hands. Alexander stripped and laid beside her. He lifted her chin up to meet his eyes.
"I've been neglectful of you lately. It is me that must apologise, my Eliza. I have to admit though, the thought of me at your mercy is quite intriguing", he kissed her. Eliza frowned, looking for any sign of doubt or meliousness. A woman being in charge was not heard of.
"You at my mercy. I like the idea of it too", she finally smiled at him. Eliza straddled him and held his arms above his head.
"Keep them there", she instructed him.
Thanks for reading x