May 1785
Eliza watered the flowers outside in their new home. She grinned as she saw a carriage approaching. She hurried inside, taking off her apron. She had baked pastries this morning and kept the apron on to do the gardening.
"Alexander come downstairs. Angelica is here", she called up to him. Philip ran to the door watching the carriage approaching.
"Who is it, mommy?" He asked her. Eliza picked up Angie. She couldn't wait to see her nieces and nephews and show her theirs.
"Eliza", Angelica dropped her bag and ran to her sister. Eliza screamed as she hugged her sister. Angie giggled, caught in between them.
"Is this little Angelica?" Angelica asked Eliza as she took Angie from her. Eliza nodded.
"It's Angie for short, Philip renamed her when she was born. He couldn't pronounce Angelica", she explained to her. Philip his behind Eliza's legs. He was shy, he was too young to remember Angelica. He was only a few months old when she left for Paris. She bent down.
"Who is this handsome boy?" Angelica asked him. He looked up at his mommy. She smiled at him but was not going to answer for him.
"My name is Philip", he mumbled.
"Speak louder, my boy", Alexander smiled at his son. His shyness was adorable. Alexander wrapped an arm around Eliza. He smiled at Angelica.
"I'm Philip, I'm a poet", he spoke louder this time. Angelica grinned.
"You're a poet? Wow can you show me a poem?" She asked him. Philip grinned, stepping away from Eliza. He took Angelica inside and showed her his book of poetry. She smiled at the words written out in Eliza's handwriting.
"Mommy writes them out and then I draw pictures around them", he explained to her.
"I love it", Angelica praised him. Eliza followed her inside. She put Angie down to play on the ground.
They would be heading upstate to their father's summer house with Angelica and John in the morning. Alexander helped John carry in their bags.
"Where's my little nieces and nephew's?" Eliza asked Angelica. She stood up, leaving Philip to draw in his poetry book.
"They're at home. We left them with the nanny. I'm sorry", Angelica informed her. She picked up Angie, kissing her cheek.
"I miss them already", she admitted. Eliza smiled.
"That's understandable. Sometimes adult time is needed", Eliza sympathised with her. She would miss Philip and Angie if she had to go away. She couldn't imagine being an ocean away from them.
"How long are you staying?" Alexander asked John as he poured the two of them a glass of whiskey. John accepted the drink with a nod of thanks.
"Till August. Then we will be living in London", John told them. Eliza frowned.
"That's not long at all", she complained, hugging into her sister.
"I know", Angelica hugged her back. They sat on the couch together. James brought them tea and pastries.
"I missed your pastries", Angelica admitted. She savoured the taste of them.
"Tell me everything. What is Paris like?" Eliza grinned, holding Angelica's hand. She was afraid if she let her go she wouldn't see her again.
"It is beautiful, the buildings are all so classical and grand. The British still rule there unfortunately but there's talk of a revolution. We met your friend Lafayette. He is an honourable man. There are so many artists there. I got a portrait of me and Pip", Angelica told her.
"Oh I wish I could show it to you. We were always at dinners and balls. I never have a minute to myself", Angelica smiled at her. She had told her all of this in her letters but she wanted to hear it again. Angelica laughed.
"I'm afraid it's not much different here", Eliza laughed as she glanced at Alexander.
"Just a month before we left. I met Mr. Jefferson at a ball. We were discussing politics. The man riles me up. I slapped him so hard he bruised. He kept telling me that I had no say in the matter. God I could slap him again", she shook her head. Eliza covered her mouth in shock, holding in her laughter. Angelica was fierce but violent.
"Angelica!" Eliza slapped her lightly.
"You really should watch what you say, my love", John told her. She rolled her eyes, smiling at him. It warmed her heart to see them more in love than when they left for Europe all those years ago.
"He's not wrong", Eliza shook her head. Alexander smirked, he put up his hands in surrender.
"I can't say much. I'm the exact same", he laughed. Angelica grinned.
"Thank you. I have someone on my side. You better be prepared for my letters", she warned him. Alexander smiled at her, tilting his head slightly.
"I eagerly await each one, dear sister", he told her. Angelica blushed slightly. Eliza had to remind herself it was just a game between them.
"How shall we celebrate you being home?" Eliza asked them. Angelica yawned.
"Not tonight, Betsey. I am tired from travelling", Angelica complained. John nodded. They both were tired and couldn't wait to get to their father's house upstate.
"Perhaps a walk to stretch your legs?" Alexander suggested. Angelica nodded.
"That would be nice", she agreed.
Eliza brought Philip and Angie to Adalyia.
"We're going to the park. The children will stay here", Eliza sent them in to play with Christopher.
Eliza walked ahead with Angelica at her side. She remembered the man attacking Peggy and herself. She glanced back at Alexander and John. She needed to make sure they weren't too far behind. It is a safer time now, though.
"What's wrong?" Angelica picked up on her uneasiness.
"It's nothing", Eliza dismissed her. Angelica gave her a knowing glare.
"What is it, Betsey?" She stopped them, taking Eliza's hands into her own.
"Last time I went for a walk with Peggy we were attacked by a drunkard. He wouldn't leave us alone until our husbands stepped in", Eliza explained to her. Angelica scoffed.
"Typical men. They'll respect another man's property over another human being", she rolled her eyes. Eliza nodded. She wished there would be a time when that statement wasn't true.
"I'd slap him just like I did Thomas Jefferson", Angelica shrugged with a laugh. Eliza scoffed as she laughed.
"I'd love to visit you in Paris or London someday". There was something in her that made her want to travel. The furthest she's ever been was to Philadelphia.
"I'd be delighted to have you. Despite all the entertainment, I miss you and the rest of the family dearly", Angelica hugged her. They reached the park and walked towards the lake. Eliza blushed. A very inappropriate thought coming to her head.
Angelica smirked.
"What are you thinking?" Angelica asked her. Eliza was always the impulsive one. Eliza shook her head, looking back to see if the men were in hearing distance.
"I just thought it's very warm and I'd love to go for a swim. Then I started thinking about our dear husbands' faces if we started stripping", Eliza covered her face. Angelica laughed, blushing at the thought of stripping in front of Alexander.
Eliza snickered.
"Okay I'm not saying we do it but what we pretend we are going to", Eliza laughed as she stopped Angelica near the lake. It was the exact same spot she had brought Alexander swimming years ago. Angelica laughed.
Alexander smiled as they approached Eliza and Angelica.
"What's so funny? Do tell", John asked them. Eliza caressed her husband's cheek.
"We're going to go for a swim. Will you watch our dresses?" She turned away from him. Alexander frowned, catching her arm.
"No you're not", he frowned wondering what madness had gotten into her.
"I told you they wouldn't want to join us", Angelica piped up. Eliza smiled at her. John wrapped his arms around Angelica.
"But we want to go swimming", Eliza laughed. She couldn't hold it in any longer. Alexander sighed with relief knowing she was joking. She wiggled out of grip.
"You better catch me, lest I go swimming", Eliza ran away from him. Angelica laughed at her, cuddling into her husband.
Alexander sighed.
"My man, what are you waiting for? That is a lady who wants to be chased", John pointed out. He nodded before chasing after her. Eliza laughed when he caught her.
"You are paying for this behaviour later", he whispered to her when he caught her. She gulped, wanting to take him to bed straight away.
"Your faces were comical when I suggested swimming", Eliza laughed. Alexander pouted slightly. He didn't like being mocked.
…
Eliza blushed her hair out while Angelica sat on her bed.
"Do you remember that time when we snuck fathers whiskey?" Angelica mused. Eliza groaned.
"I'd rather forget about that time", Eliza took her jewellery off. "Mother made us fetch water at 4 in the morning and gave us extra chores all day. I swear she knew we were hungover". Angelica laughed.
"Of course she knew. The bottle was half full when they left us that night", Angelica laid back on the bed. Alexander came in, turning around when he saw Angelica laying on his bed.
"My sincere apologies, dear sister. I did not know you were in here", Alexander spoke with his back to them. Eliza smiled at him.
"You can come in", Angelica sat up. He hesitated before turning around. He smiled at them before sitting down at his desk. He started writing some words.
"Will you share him, Eliza. If just for a night", Angelica begged her. Eliza glared at her sister. Alexander froze listening, taking in what Angelica just said. He had messed up the letter he was writing.
"Ha", Eliza laughed at her.
"I'll see you in the morning. I bid you both adieu", Angelica smirked at them as she left. Eliza put her arms around her husband.
"Come to bed", she asked him.
"I messed up the letter", he held it up to show her. Eliza laughed. She lit a candle at his bedside before pulling the curtains. She laid down in the middle of the bed.
"Leave me some room", he smirked at her. Eliza laughed.
"No, never", she spread out taking up as much room as she could. He shook his head as he rewrote the letter.
"I missed Angelica", Eliza admitted. She missed her sister more than she realised. She moved over to give him room to lie down.
"Me too", he told her. Alexander kissed her, his hands on her hips. She moaned her hands on his chest. Thoughts of Angelica far from her mind.
…
Angelica laughed when she saw Eliza in the morning.
"Dear sister, you're going to have to cover that hickey", she moved Eliza's hair from her neck. Eliza's frowned.
"What hickey?" She ran for a mirror, checking her neck. Angelica smirked. Her neck and collarbone were lined with hickeys.
"I am going to kill Alexander", she covered her neck when John greeted them in the kitchen. He sat down to read the newspaper. Angelica pursed her lips together. Eliza dragged Angelica upstairs.
"Excuse us", she smiled at John. Eliza led them into her room.
"Will you help me cover it?" She asked her sister. It would be too warm to wear a scarf. Angelica used makeup to cover the hickey on her sister's neck.
"There", she showed Eliza who relaxed.
Eliza knocked on Alexander's office door.
"Come in", he called to her. She pursed her lips. Shouting at him would only rely her anger up. She kissed him, running her hands along his thigh. He moaned helping her to sit on his lap.
"I have work to do, my little witch. I can spare ten minutes", he ran his hands up and down her sides.
"I can't", she said as she got off of him and left him. She came back to him with coffee.
"Little tease", he smirked at her as he took the coffee. She smiled, innocently at him. She kissed his cheek before leaving him to work. She put an extra swing in her hips knowing he was watching her.
James brought their bags to the front door. Eliza got Philip and Angie dressed.
"Her dress is too cute. Did you make it?" Angelica commented as she held Angie. Eliza nodded.
"Yes, I make all their clothes", she smiled at her sister. Eliza took out her knitting needles, beginning to knit gloves for the winter for Philip and Alexander. Adalyia brought them tea and cakes.
"Thank you", Angelica said as she poured the tea.
"I'll help you", she knitted the start of a scarf.
"There's a ball next week in York town, you will come. Won't you?" Eliza asked her sister.
"George Washington is hosting it. There's talk of him becoming president", Eliza added. Angelica smiled.
"I'd love to. We haven't been to a ball together in years. Peggy will be there?" Angelica loved meeting new people. Eliza sighed.
"She couldn't make it. Stephen is bringing them to Virginia for the summer. Peggy hopes to be back at the end of July and see you then. I'll show you the letter she sent", Eliza put down her knitting and fetched the letter.
Alexander knocked once on the door to the parlour to announce his entrance. Angelica blushed when she looked up at him.
"Eliza I do believe your husband is in need of you", she commented.
"Angelica I do believe my husband is well aware that we are going to see our parents today and he shouldn't have left hickeys all over me", she didn't look at Alexander. She knew she'd drag him upstairs as soon as she saw him.
"Angelica I believe my wife is unaware of her beauty and charms", he said as he took Eliza's hand. She grinned as she looked him up and down.
"Oh I'm fully aware of them", she said with a devious laugh. She led him upstairs to their room. Alexander kissed her against the door once it was closed. His hands all over her. She moaned, pushing him back. She took his shirt off.
"You have me under lock and spell", he growled at her as he backed them up. Eliza laughed when she fell onto the bed.
…
Eliza sat up, fixing her stockings. She redid her hair. He hadn't taken her dress off.
"We should be heading off soon", she commented. He nodded, getting dressed.
James put their bags in the carriage.
"Can you bring Philip to the carriage?" Eliza asked Angelica. She nodded.
"I never took you for being a tease", Angelica smirked as she handed Philip to her and got into the carriage. Alexander and Stephen sat in front and drove.
"Alexander remember that time you offered to drive me to the ball before we were married", Eliza laughed. Angelica smirked, she remembered vividly.
Alexander frowned at her.
"What's so funny about chivalry?" John asked them. Eliza covered her face as she laughed.
"He couldn't drive a sleigh. He can know but", she laughed. Alexander scowled at her. He turned around, keeping his focus on the road. He made a point of driving.
"Eliza please respect your husbands honour", he chastised her. Eliza pursed her lips together, keeping quiet. Angelica rolled her eyes, she'd never let a man shut her up.