I take in a deep breath, pinch the bridge of my nose and let it out, still shaking my head from earlier, but I will do my best to leave it outside of the house, well until my dear wife asks about today's cabinet meeting. Holy shit, meeting is too tame a word.

I straighten myself and then open the door, the sound of two pairs of footsteps running towards me I kneel as my sweet Alexandra and Andrew run to me.

"Daddy, Lexi took the last cookie from me earlier," Andrew says in a pout, and I shake my head and turn to my eldest with a raised brow.

"I broke it in half," she says, and then elbows him as she cuddles into my arms. I gather up Andrew as well.

"And did Andrew get the other half?" I ask.

She shook her head and then grinned. "No, he wasn't fast enough so momma took it and told him he could wait after supper."

I laughed heartily, at Lexi, a miniature of her mother, but my hazel eyes and then raise a brow at my youngest, my boy, skin like mine, already the beginning of freckles, and dark eyes like his mother. "I'm sorry son, but if your momma says after supper, you have to wait."

He rolls his eyes, a pout already tugging at his mouth as he grumbles, "But now I have to eat the carrots."

"John," I hear from the direction of the dining room, "Glad you're home. How was your day?"

I squeeze the children and then let them go. They run off bickering between them, a little less than a year in age between them. Lexi will be seven in July and Andrew will be six in September.

Entering the dining room, I see the table set, and I imagine dinner is waiting to be served. I wince, realizing how late it is. Angelica looks at me with a raised brow, her dark eyes narrowing, and I know she senses my stress over the day.

"Was it Burr?" she asks.

I roll my eyes, "When is it ever Burr?"

She snorts, "Well I remember when he used to be Alexander's second in court. You would come home looking just as weary. Was there a fight? Who did you have to pull Alex away from this time?"

"Thomas fucking Jefferson," I grumble.

Thankfully her surprise and curiosity spare me the admonishment for my crude language.

"Really? Jefferson?" she says in surprise.

I nod. "Yes, Washington introduced him as the new Secretary of State. Alex tried to be nice and introduce himself, but Jefferson snubbed him and when the national debt and Alexander's proposal for a national bank was brought up all hell broke loose. At one-point Alex effectively told Jefferson and Madison to bend over so he could put a shoe up their asses."

Angelica cannot contain the laughter. "Oh my, well sounds like an eventful, if not productive, meeting."

"That was where Washington broke it up, seeing me ready myself to come between Alex and Jefferson, and he privately addressed Alex later. I do not envy Eliza this evening, he is in quite a sulk."

"Hmm," she manages thoughtfully and I groan. I have an idea where this may lead.

"Angelica?"

"Well," she says, "If it is agreeable, I would like to meet Thomas Jefferson. I have some familiarity with the nature of his character given my correspondence with Maria. Perhaps I could provide you and by extension Alexander some assistance in how to help with the financial plan?"

I snort and shake my head. "That would require him being unaware that you are my wife, I fear."

She tilts her head and grins, "Would that be disagreeable?"

I grab the back of my neck and squeeze it, knowing Angelica has a will of her own and trusting her implicitly. Then again, I also think about what I've seen of Jefferson today. I don't know who would be more likely to punch that insufferable smirk from his arrogant face, my dear Alexander or my dear, compassionate and fiery Angelica.

I hear her foot tapping as she has finished laying out the cutlery. "I have no issue with it, but should you manage to be charged with assault, because Jefferson is so insufferable, I will have no choice but to acquire Burr as your counsel for defense."

"Burr," she says with a grimace, her mouth a tight line, her dark eyes narrowed.

"You know, you needn't ask my permission to meet anyone, my dearest," I reply with a smirk, and then the pang in my belly prompts me to ask, "What's for supper?"

She smiles. "Roasted mutton and vegetables served over rice. I added some rosemary to my usual blend of herbs. I cooked the rice in bone broth, and I pulled a jar of apricot preserves for the biscuits. Also, I can manage my temperament better than our dear brother."

"Barely," pops out of my mouth before I can stop myself.

She chooses to ignore it, for now. She smiles and says, "I know I needn't ask permission. I ask out of respect for my husband. You know how the rumors spread. I hope you do not mind if I introduce myself with my maiden name though? I would like to gather a first impression of him without the bias of my relationship to you. Upon recognizing the Schuyler name, he will know my acquaintance with Alexander."

"That will probably be the best way to meet Jefferson with as little bias as possible, actually," I reply thoughtfully, following her into the kitchen, seeing the food laid out on the table. "I'll take the food to the table and prepare the plates for the children. Go round them up."

"Don't forget to add carrots to Andrew's plate," she says as I pick up the pan with the roast to take to the table. My poor boy will be most displeased, but better him than his mother.

The last thing I bring to the table is a large pitcher of sweet tea, and yes, I am married to the best of wives and women. I'll be damn that Alexander say that about Eliza and not argue the point in favor of my own Angelica.

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