Eliza woke up in her husband's arms. Angelica would be arriving tomorrow. He woke up when she moved.
"Good morning, my love", he smiled at her. His love for her shining through those eyes. Eliza groaned as she pulled the blankets over her eyes.
"Stop shouting", her head was pounding."I feel like I'm dying".
Alexander laughed.
"Ah the dreaded hangover", he laughed a little. Eliza buried her face in his chest. She had forgotten how bad it felt the morning after drinking.
"How do men do this regularly?" Eliza looked up at him. She couldn't sit still. Alexander smiled at her as he ran his fingers through her hair. She hadn't brushed it out the night before. She would have to wash it to get the knots out.
"We don't have children to mind, a house to run or a husband who they have to drag to bed", Alexander answered honestly. "Thank you. I needed the rest".
Eliza rolled her eyes. Sometimes it felt like the house would fall apart if she wasn't there. Philip would probably come running into them shortly.
"I wouldn't have it any other way", she smiled at him. She couldn't imagine her life without Alexander and Philip. He ran his fingers down her stomach. Eliza moaned but pushed him away. She had too much to do today.
"I am so getting Peggy to mind Philip", Eliza decided as she sat up. He watched her get into her petticoats and prepare her corset.
"Do you mind getting Adaylia so I can get dressed?" She asked him.
"What happened to going around the house without the corset?" He questioned her.
"We have guests, Alexander. It was fine yesterday as it was only Peggy but it wouldn't be proper for Stephen to see me in such a manner", she explained to him. He didn't grow up learning social etiquette of the upper class like she did. He nodded before getting into his shirt and breeches to go get Adaylia for his wife.
Eliza attempted to brush out her hair while waiting on Adaylia.
"Mrs Hamilton, you called for me?" Adaylia asked her.
"Yes. I need to wash my hair", she handed her corset to Adaylia. Eliza took her lye soap from her vanity table, she would need it to wash her hair. She held her head over the bath as Adaylia washed her hair.
"The water is freezing", Eliza shrieked. She shivered.
"Would you like me to heat it up over the stove?" Adaylia offered Eliza but she turned it down.
"Not much point. I'm almost done", Eliza smiled at the other woman as she rubbed the lye soap into her scalp. Philip ran in wearing nothing, not even a nappy. Eliza sighed as she grabbed him. She needed coffee to relieve her headache.
"Angelica is arriving tomorrow. I need the house cleaned, the bed needs to be made in the other spare room. Can you get some fish at the harbour for dinner tomorrow? Also Alexander needs help with his work so Philip will need to be minded for a portion of the day. I will see if Peggy will mind him. You have enough work to do", Eliza delegated tasks for the day to the servant.
"Go find Daddy", Eliza grinned at her toddler. He shrieked at the suggestion of seeing Daddy.
"Daddy gone", he placed his arms out in an 'all gone' gesture.
"Daddy is in his office. Go find him", Eliza sent Philip to Alexander. Adaylia frowned.
"Mrs Hamilton, would sir not be angry that his son is being sent into him with not even a diaper on?" She questioned her. Eliza smiled.
"He's very kind hearted towards his family and always wants to be involved", she said just as Alexander came in holding the naked toddler. He smirked.
"Why is he naked?" He asked between laughter. Adaylia visibly relaxed. Something must have happened at her previous masters home.
Eliza shrugged as Adaylia brushed her hair, she dried it as much as she could it a towel beforehand.
"He came into me like that. If Peggy is around she can take him or I'll be ready in a few minutes", Eliza responded.
"I'll keep him in my office", he told her as he left the room. Philip wiggled to get down, running into the office ahead of his daddy. Eliza watched the exchange from the mirror. Adalyia pinned her hair up into an undo. She would have to stay near a fire for most of the day if she didn't want to catch a chill.
Once she was dressed, Eliza took Philip to get dressed. Her mouth dropped open when she saw his office. Philip had thrown papers everywhere and spilled ink on the majority of them. Eliza gasped. She left him with Alexander for five minutes.
"Philip what did you do?" She frowned at the toddler. Philip cried, pushing away from her with ink stained hands. Eliza quickly grabbed them, before he could stain her clothes. Eliza gave him a bath before dressing him.
Eliza brought him downstairs to get breakfast. Alexander now had 2 weeks of work to rewrite in 2 days. It helped that he remembered most of it by heart.
"Good morning, Eliza", Peggy greeted her. Adaylia had served Peggy and Stephen breakfast. She is such a bad host. She didn't even think of Peggy and Stephen being hungry. Eliza poured coffee before sitting Philip down in his high chair so he could feed himself.
"Good morning, Peggy. Good morning, Stephen. I trust you slept well?" Eliza greeted them. She was using social etiquette as a shield, Peggy picked up on it. Stephen smiled and nodded.
"We must thank you for letting us stay in your home", Stephen turned his attention to the morning newspaper.
"Excuse us", Peggy smiled at Stephen before dragging Eliza into the laundry room. Eliza frowned , trying to get back to Philip. She couldn't leave him alone again.
"Why are we in here? I must get back to Philip", Eliza attempted to open the door but Peggy was in the way.
Peggy shook her head.
"Adaylia is in there", that reassured Eliza slightly. Peggy held Eliza's face in her hands.
"What's wrong?" Peggy asked her. Eliza didn't mean to cry, the tension she had built up over this morning had gotten too much.
"I'm stressed. Angelica is coming tomorrow. The house needs to be cleaned, a room prepared, my hair had to be washed this morning so Philip ran around naked. He went into Alexander, in his office. He spilt ink on his work. Now Alexander has 2 weeks of work to complete in 2 days. And my head is killing me. I need coffee so badly. I am never drinking again." Eliza ranted in Dutch. She didn't want anyone over hearing her. It felt good to get the tension out. Peggy hugged her.
"I'll mind Philip today. Will that help take some of the load off?" Peggy offered. Eliza smiled and nodded.
"You are an amazing wife and mother. You can do this. Afterall it's only Angelica", Peggy reassured Eliza. Eliza smiled more confidently this time. Eliza wiped her cheeks.
"Okay. I can do this", Eliza followed Peggy back into the kitchen.
"Everything okay?" Stephen smiled at the two of them. Peggy nodded. He turned back to his newspaper when he realised that was all the response he was getting. Eliza placed a cup of coffee and a plate of eggs and bacon with fresh bread on a tray. She carried it up to Alexander.
"Please don't disturb me today Eliza", he instructed her. She placed the food down.
"Peggy is minding Philip. Do you need help?" She offered to copy out work or sort papers. He looked up, frowning slightly from the stress.
"Yes. Can you copy these out?" He handed her accounts. It would take a few hours because the numbers had to be precise. Eliza sat on the couch, leaning against a book and got to work.
"Thank you", he smiled at her. She blew a kiss towards him before returning to the accounts.
"If I can grant you peace of mind. Then I'll be happy", she told him.
Hours passed with the two of them working in silence together.
"Tell me how does this sound", Alexander read out his plan for a new form of government. Eliza had to admit most of it went over her head. It sounded like it could work but Alexander could make it sound like pigs could fly. He is very persuasive when he wants to be.
"It sounds good but it doesn't sound complete. Honestly I wouldn't know what the alternative would be. Most of it goes over my head", she admitted to him. He smiled at her.
"I'll rewrite it", he sighed as he got to work. Eliza handed him the accounts. He glanced through the pages.
"That was quick", he admitted. Eliza stretched. His gaze stayed on her.
"I'll bring us lunch", she kissed him before heading for the kitchen. Adaylia had prepared a salad with roast chicken. Eliza took two bowls and brought them up to Alexander's office.
He sat back in his chair, stretching his arms out. Eliza smiled at him.
"It's salad with roast chicken", she told him. Eliza kicked his feet gently as they ate. He trapped her feet in between his legs. Eliza laughed as she tried to pull her legs free. He eventually let her go. Eliza grinned, taking more essays to copy out.
"Are we even making a dint in your work?" She asked him. He nodded.
"We are, my love. Thank you for helping me", he smiled at her. They continued working.
Eliza shook her hand out, her stomach grumbling for food. She hadn't noticed the time go by. Her hand felt sore though.
"I need a break", she yawned as she stood up. Alexander nodded as he continued to work. She worried he would work himself to an early death. Eliza picked up their dishes.
"I'll bring dinner up to you", she told him before washing the dishes in the kitchen. Eliza gasped when Alexander wrapped his arms around her. He chuckled at her.
"I didn't expect you down here", she smiled as she turned around in his arms.
"I needed a break too. Come outside with me?" He asked her. Eliza took his hand and he led them outside. She glanced up at the blue sky.
"I received a letter from General Washington. We've been invited to a ball in July. Marta sends her love. Also there's another dinner in 2 weeks. He wants us to host it", he informed her. He watched her expressions carefully. Eliza smiled.
"I haven't been to a ball since we first met", she commented. She hated them back then but everything she hated was courting traditions. She loved the dancing and music.
He pulled her down onto the grass. Eliza gasped.
"Alexander, my dress", Eliza complained. He wrapped his arm around her.
"You're here now. You might as well stay", he smirked at her. Eliza kissed him. She glanced around, a blush forming on her cheeks.
"Anyways, tell George that we would be delighted to host dinner", Eliza agreed to host. She moved a strand of hair from his face.
"When will you be back from the congress meeting?" She asked him. Alexander sighed.
"I should be back Friday. It's a day's journey there and a day's journey back", he informed her.
"We should probably get back to work so that you can sleep a little and you can actually see Angelica tomorrow", Eliza stood up with his help. She wiped the dirt off her dress. Alexander closed his eyes.
"John used to drag me outside to look at the stars. It was the only way to get me to take a break. Now that he is dead, all things swift and beautiful and bright will be buried with him", he missed his friend. He held Eliza from behind, resting his head on her shoulder. Eliza leant into him. It wasn't dark yet.
"I wish I could have gotten to know him. I only briefly met him at the wedding", Eliza knew how much John Laurens meant to her husband.
"Was he married?" She placed her hands over his.
"Yes. He had a wife and a daughter. They live in England. He only married because she was pregnant. He loved someone else", he took her hand and led them to his office. What did he mean he loved someone else? Why not marry them then?
"You always wanted to work right? So how does it feel?" He smirked at her, changing the subject. Eliza yawned. She never felt this mentally exhausted.
"I'm wrecked. I don't have the drive for writing that you do", she laughed thinking about the hours he spends writing. He rolled his eyes.
"I noticed. For every 3 letters I sent you, you sent me 1", he shook his head slightly in disapproval. Writing to him forced her to think about how much she missed him. It was easier to ignore the pain she felt while he was at war.
"I'm sorry", he smiled slightly as he looked at what she had to copy out. Eliza sighed as she took it. It was another account. She hated the precision to detail that was needed, if one detail was changed Alexander could lose his job. He would check her work of course but if there were enough mistakes she would have to start again.
After an hour she handed it to him. Half of the account was copied.
"Can you check that? I'm going to help start dinner", Eliza kissed him before heading to the kitchen. Adaylia had peeled the vegetables. Eliza prepared the fish.
Philip ran up to her with Peggy following after him.
"How do you do this everyday?" Peggy laughed as she picked up Philip. She blew raspberries on his belly. Eliza shrugged as she smiled at them. It's just her life and she wouldn't change it.
"When will dinner be ready? I would help but this little lion is keeping me on my toes", Peggy asked them. Eliza began cooking the fish.
"It'll be about a half hour and you're helping me a lot with Philip. He's a handful", Eliza really appreciated her help.
"Are you okay to finish this on your own?" She asked Adaylia. The servant nodded. Eliza chased Philip around the room, smiling as he laughed. She tickled him as he tried to get away.
"I better get back to Alexander", she said as she shook her hand out. Eliza knocked on the door.
"Why do you knock even when I'm expecting you?" He asked her, sitting up to look at her. She sat on the couch.
"Because it was beat into me from a young age", Eliza laughed. Her father was a politician, important people were always in the house. She was taught to be seen and not heard. Always knock before entering father's office, the parlour or bedrooms.
"I guess that happens when you grow up in the public eye", he took her hand.
"I got to meet lots of people that other children wouldn't have, travelled often and had plenty of dinners and interesting guests in our home", Eliza smiled at him. She loved her childhood. Eliza finished copying out the account.
"My mother and father love me with all their heart and they love you too. My father holds you in great esteem", she added in once she realised what she had said, given that her husband is an orphan. He looked away.
"You never talk about your parents. What were they like?" Eliza asked him. Alexander gazed into her eyes. He had tears in his eyes. She put the paperwork down and sat in his lap. The layers she had on didn't make it easy. He wrapped his arms around her.
"Everyone around me dies", he whispered while blinking back the tears. He wouldn't dare cry infront of her. Eliza held his face. John's death was getting to him more than she thought it would. He once told her John was like a brother to him.
"I was 12 when my mother died, she was holding me. We were sick and she was holding me", Alexander opened up. "Now John is on the other side too". Eliza kissed him.
"It's okay to miss him, but not everyone dies around you. I'm not going anywhere", she caressed his cheek. He nodded.
"You better not", he laughed.
Eliza smiled, hearing him laugh.
"Your corset feels like I'm hugging a brick", he chuckled. Eliza stood up and turned around.
"Take it off me then", she smirked when she heard him gulp. His hands rested on her hips.
"As much as I would love to. No work will be done", he sighed. Eliza groaned. He was right though. She turned around and winked at him.
"Maybe later then", she smirked as she sat down to work. She wasn't ignorant to his glances at her. He was drinking her in. She loved the feeling of him having eyes only for her.
Eliza handed him the account.
"I'm sorry for letting Philip ruin your work", she still felt guilty that she sent him in here.
He glanced over the account and waved off her apology.
"All is forgiven. It's been nice being with you all day", he admitted. Eliza smiled at him.
"Really? Because it's been so tiring for me", she laughed as she stretched. Dinner must be ready by now. She took his hand and led him downstairs. He pouted when they passed their bedroom. Eliza rolled her eyes at him.
"Get your head out of the gutter. We have guests to entertain", Eliza laughed at him.
"You're the one that suggested it earlier", he shook his head at her. Eliza stopped on the stairs and kissed him. His hand rested on her back.
"You have me completely undone by your charm Eliza", he laughed. She grinned at him.
"Go tell Peggy and Stephen that dinner is being served", she left for the kitchen while Alexander went to the parlour. Adaylia had set the table. Eliza smiled.
"Is it ready, yes?" Eliza asked Adaylia. The smell of the fish reminded her how hungry she was.