I arrive home late in the evening for the second day in a row. I sigh, still trying to clear Alexander's admonishments from my mind. Upon entering the house, the first thing I notice is the quiet.
"Angelica," I call out.
"In here," she calls from my study and I join her, seeing her lounging on a chaise and reading a book, looking at peace.
"I hope you are pleased with yourself," I say with a snort of amusement.
She looks up a grin tugging at the edges of her mouth, her eyes sparkling with intelligence and curiosity. "I don't know what you mean, sir."
I put down my things and approach her. I bend down and kiss her, and she kisses me back, stoking the fire in my belly. She shifts, making room for me and sets her book aside as she leans into me once I'm settled.
"You know, Jefferson baited him all afternoon and even mentioned a dinner invitation that he was expecting for the end of the week?"
She reaches up and frees my hair, her fingers shaking it loose as she says, "Well, I thought it would be nice to invite him to dinner and get to know him more. He is an intelligent man, and perhaps this could make him more receptive to Alexander's proposal with the bank. Given that Virginia has no debt and New York does, it would be wise to make an ally of Jefferson, if not entirely on our side then at least open to the idea."
"Clever woman," I chuckle, and then sigh, "Would you mind convincing Alexander of that? He seems to be taking your meeting and attempts of friendship with Jefferson as a betrayal of our marriage."
"Why must he be so overdramatic. My pending friendships do not displease my husband, and usually never garners Alex's attention. He's just angry that I am pursuing a friendship with Thomas."
"Thomas?" I ask and grin.
She rolls her eyes, "I can't very well call him Jefferson if I want to get on his good side now, can I?"
"I concede," I reply. "So, when is this planned dinner? I can make arrangements to come home early to help you cook, and I imagine… Would Eliza be okay with taking the children? Speaking of which…?"
"She offered to take the children this evening when I told her I had met Jefferson, thinking we would have much to talk about. We also spoke of her taking the children Friday night so that they could all ride out together to head to Father's summer home. I'll leave to follow Saturday morning. I imagine that you and Alex will stay behind in order to appeal to Congress on behalf of Alex's financial plan?"
I nod. "Yes, Alex's career hangs in the balance of this proposal. I'll do my best to visit on the weekends. Now on to more pleasing business…"
She raised a brow at me, and I smirk, "It has been quite some time since we've had the house to ourselves. It would please me to see my wife satisfied by the end of the night, perhaps even well into the gray hours of dawn."
The rest of the week passes in a blur of argument at the Congress building, working on keeping Alex's temperament in check, and then Friday arrives. During lunch, I join Angelica and we see the children off with Eliza, and then I send a courier to remind Jefferson of his invitation to dinner and to take off for the rest of the afternoon, praying Alex can contain himself for one afternoon.
Once home Angelica and I retreat to the kitchen. We work together in tandem, cutting potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions. Angelica uses the mortar and pestle to grind and blend rosemary, thyme, sage, and cumin.
I get the pleasure of plucking and cleaning the chicken. Once the chicken is cleaned, I put it in the center of the large roasting pan. I watch as she rubs the herbs onto the meat, adds the vegetables, and pours in the broth she had prepared. She covers the pan and I place it into the oven for her.
We exchange a kiss and I say, "The invitation was for six this evening?"
She nods and then grins. "I think your specialty would be a most welcome dessert."
"Blackberries? Do we have any fresh or should I use some preserves?" I ask.
She takes a basket from our pantry and smiles. "I picked them fresh this morning."
"Very well, and you'll work on the biscuits? Glaze them with honey, my dearest. Tonight is a special occasion after all."
She laughs. "When Alexander finds out we served Jefferson honey biscuits at dinner tonight…"
"He will be intolerable," I finish for her.
I prepare the cobbler, having mastered the skill to create a suitable crust to top the dish. I do enjoy a few berries as I work on the dish.
Once everything is in the oven, having maneuvered the dishes to accommodate everything, Angelica pokes at the embers. We set the dining room table next.
"Should we pick out a wine?" she asks.
I consider this and shake my head. "No, he strikes me as more of a man that prefers whiskey. I could make a pitcher of sweet tea. Mine is more Southern than yours. If it steeps now, it would be the perfect temperature to serve by this evening."
The rest of the afternoon passes in shared kisses, cooking, and discussion. I tell Angelica about the tensions between Alexander and Jefferson, how Jefferson and his fellow Democratic-Republicans are against the idea of a national bank because the states would assume national debt.
"While the reasoning is selfish, I could understand his unwillingness to gamble with his fortune. Still, he is also a man with vested interest in governing our country and not just Virginia. He could be persuaded with the compromise on the table. There is the solution, a compromise."
My wife is brilliant, a compromise is ingenious, but that would require Alexander minding his temper. I wince at the thought of suggesting compromise to my takes-no-prisoners Alexander. At my expression, she sighs, "Alexander and compromise. I do not envy you that discussion with him."
"I also have my own reservations in this. Jefferson owns over 200 slaves, and you know my position on the barbaric practice," I say.
She approaches me and kisses me. "You are working towards fixing that end with your writing. I pray that we might see progress."
"We are not truly free until every last man, woman, and child in this land is free," I say, and I fear any compromise would put my efforts for abolition in peril.
As the hour for dinner draws near, I grow restless, find myself pacing once I have pulled the roasted chicken from the oven. The tea has cooled significantly. At the knock on our door, I share a look with my wife. She smiles and says, "Go welcome our guest, and be nice."
I do as asked, and notice the surprise on Jefferson's face as I open the door for him. He recovers quickly and says, "Ah, no servants?"
"We have a maid, but she has the day off and Angelica and I prefer to care for our home ourselves. My father-in-law calls us both mad, however he has yet to complain over any meal he has been served," I say as I allow him entrance.
"Ah, that's right Senator Schuyler is your father-in-law. That makes you and Hamilton brothers by marriage. You two seem close," Jefferson replies.
"We are very close. We have gone through quite a bit together, and I honestly owe my marriage to him. We met our respective wives on the same night," I reply.
"I heard there was some scandal regarding the wedding. Did the scandal involve him or you?" Jefferson asks, a toothy grin tugging his mouth.
"That would have been my marriage to John. Following my sister's wedding, John and I, knowing my father would not approve, left the reception and eloped in the early hours of morning. Lafayette was our witness," Angelica responds, and Jefferson nods, impressed.
"Lafayette? He mentioned knowing Hamilton, but your name escapes my recollection."
I laugh, "I'm growing used to that. Alexander is so loud, abrasive, and memorable, that those of us in his shadow are easily overlooked. I do not mind being second or lost to history if it means his success. The man is non-stop, writes like he's running out of time. He has done many great things, and he stands to do so much more. He's very ambitious."
"Such admiration for him. He's loud, brash, does not understand the subtleties of high society and wealth. His legacy is his own, no family or bloodline to speak of," Jefferson says, "It is curious how he has managed to come so far, and he's won over Washington. I will admit he is an accomplished writer, but his ideas are radical."
"A revolution is radical too, and yet here we are," I respond with a smirk.
"Touché," Jefferson concedes.
"I've placed dinner on the table. We need only be seated," Angelica says.
"I could have taken the dishes to table Angelica," I reply.
Jefferson looks between us, perplexed, but he follows us to the dining room.
"As the guest, you can take head of the table. We can sit on either side of you," I offer.
"Hm," he says and then narrows his eyes between us as he takes the main seat. "Am I missing something?"
"What do you mean?" Angelica asks.
"Well, Hamilton isn't going to be popping in? Or is the food something I should be wary of? This seems entirely too friendly, especially given that the pair of you are so closely related to Hamilton. Not to mention, your domestic situation seems rather… suspect."
I snort into my glass of tea at his observations. "Actually, our house is one of equity. Angelica and I are equal shareholders in our home and in our relationship. Equity is the basis for our union. We both prepared the meal; I also made the tea and dessert. I will admit that I am looking forward to your review of the meal, it's been a long time since we've had a new guest to dinner."
He tilts his head in confusion. "What? No servants, and she's got you cooking?"
Angelica laughs, "Wait until you try his blackberry cobbler. The honey biscuits are mine. I prepared the chicken, though he did the heavy lifting and prepared the vegetables."
Jefferson nods and says, "Very well, let's eat."
Breaking bread with Jefferson is an interesting affair. He seems to enjoy the meal. He is surprised when I take the dishes to the kitchen, but he perks up at the sight of my return with the dessert.
"So, this equity," Jefferson says, waving his fork for emphasis before taking a bite of my cobbler and moaning his delight, "How does this work?"
She smiles, "Well, he treats me as an intellectual being. He would not ask of me anything he would deem unworthy to do himself. We started our marriage in modest means, but even in having gained success and security, we have realized three fundamental truths in our union. One, we can see ourselves through any hardships together, as equally invested partners; Two, we have open communication, and transparency, we talk about everything; Three: we value education and each other's perspectives, even when our views diverge. We can talk and agree to disagree typically."
"And I would like to add, we always share our grievances and affections before bed each night. The only time we've ever been apart for any significant amount of time was during my time in the war. I'm home every night. We write regularly if we are apart for any significant time, which appears will be the case this summer. She is my equal in all things except intellect, in this area I believe she is superior. After all, I am the one charged with tempering Alexander's brash approach to advancement."
As Jefferson finishes the desert, he says, "I must admit, when I accepted the invitation for dinner, I was not expecting this. The meal was exceptional, and the two of you are quite reasonable and pleasant company. How is it that you find Hamilton tolerable?"
"His passion is a fire, it's singularly attractive, and wholly consuming. Perhaps we were lucky in being people he cares for, he would do anything for us, his loyalty and affection for those he grows to care for is unparalleled. He is also impulsive, loud, brash, unrefined, but he has integrity and strong convictions," Angelica answers.
I reach across the table to take Angelica's hand, a smile on my face, "You forget how impulsive I can be, my dearest, compassionate Angelica."
"And a bad influence," she replies.
"This has been more agreeable than I expected," Jefferson cuts in and we both turn to him. He looks from our clasped hands to our faces. "And you are agreeable to a friendship between your wife and me? I do not wish to impose, but I will admit she is of a rare mind. I would extend that friendship to you as well. In spite of my rivalry with Hamilton, would this be agreeable between us?"
I nod, "Yes, although we may agree to disagree on the topic of your present domestic situation."
Jefferson raised a brow, "Ah, so the rumor is true and you are an abolitionist. Interesting given that you're originally a South Carolinian?"
"Yes, but I know the African and African-descended slaves are wholly intelligent and deserve liberty. I fought for freedom for all," I challenge him.
Jefferson snorts in amusement, "I agree that slaves are far more capable than given credit and I do not agree with their bondage. In Monticello, my slaves are well kept and cared for, and I have heard this is not the case on every plantation. There is the issue of investment, but they are never mistreated and each properly educated. With opportunity they can accomplish as much as any man. It is a matter of economic fidelity that ties the hands of my household, Laurens."
"Is that economic fidelity a concern with Hamilton's financial plan as well?" Angelica asks delicately and Jefferson's laughter fills our dining room, echoing against the walls.
Upon Jefferson's departure, I exchange a look with Angelica and sigh. "I do not like enjoying that insufferable man's company."
She simply laughs at my expense and leads me to bed.
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