All is well until November 1792. Jefferson seeks me out after a meeting, and he looks thoughtful.
"How clean are Hamilton's records?" he asks, and my eyes widen in surprise at the question.
"Impeccable," I reply.
"And yours?" he asks.
"Jefferson, what are you asking exactly?"
He sighs. "Monroe is planning on calling together a meeting tonight, private, him and Congressmen Muhlenberg and Venable. Jemmy and I will be there as well. Hamilton is the guest of honor, and I am insisting you join us. Apparently, Monroe has come across some incriminating evidence against Hamilton. I'm warning you given our friendship. You needn't fall from grace with Hamilton if you are an innocent party."
"That makes no sense. Alexander's records are perfect, what kind of evidence, who's the source?" I ask.
Jefferson considers for a moment and then with a nod says, "A man named Jacob Clingman."
"Who?" I ask in confusion, being unfamiliar with the name.
"He was arrested for counterfeiting and speculation in the Revolution. Apparently, there is evidence of a link between his partner, a James Reynolds, I believe, and Hamilton."
"Shit," I hiss out and pinch the bridge of my nose.
"So, you do know something," Jefferson counters, his eyes narrowed on me.
"It's damning, but not incriminating. I'll be there tonight. What time?"
"Eight," Jefferson replies. "John, how much are you involved in this?"
"I'm not, at least not beyond Alexander's confidence to me regarding Reynolds. I have no investment in the matter, and have not even met the man, though I am aware of the nature of his character."
"I hope that is the case, Monroe is livid about this matter. He actually held Hamilton in some regard before he came across this incident."
"I just hope that some discretion is taken into consideration with this course of events. Alexander will defend his reputation and the legacy he is working to secure."
"I imagine he will have a lot to say. These accusations border on treasonous."
"Thomas," I say, still growing use to actually using his first name. "You know as well as I do, even as often as you disagree, Alexander is a patriot, he loves this country too much to commit treason. This country is a promise to his children."
The rest of the day passes by in a blur. I send a carrier with a message to Angelica that I will be out late tonight per Jefferson's request. Given Jefferson's concern, his invitation, and Alexander's avoidance of me throughout the day, I decide to arrive on my own at Monroe's residence. I cannot shake the feeling that I am about to walk into an ambush.
Upon my arrival, a servant leads me to a large study, and Monroe and the two congressmen look up. Monroe's lips tighten.
"Laurens, I was not aware you had been informed of this meeting," Monroe says, his voice cold.
"Take a drink, James," Jefferson cuts in from across the room. "I invited him. I spoke with him earlier, and given his friendship with Hamilton, he will know the details of this meeting by tomorrow evening at any rate."
Monroe gives a stiff nod, and he turns to speak quietly to Muhlenberg and Venable. It's strange to see so much anger contained in stillness, so different from the constant motion of Alexander.
We do not wait long, as within ten minutes Alexander enters the study, looking around the room, and then his eyes widen in surprise at seeing me here.
"Right, now that we are all here, down to business," Monroe says.
I watch the man interrogate Alexander, ruthless and unforgiving, reviewing Alexander's financial records, questioning him about Jacob Clingman and the accusations, which confuse him, until the mention of Clingman's partner James Reynolds.
Once that name is in the air, Alexander freezes, and he passes me a quick, feral look. Monroe looks coldly at Alexander and then says, "So then it is true. How long did they work for you?"
"They didn't," Alexander says, subdued by his shame. "I don't even know this Clingman."
"But you know Reynolds? Well enough to pay him 1,300 dollars?" Monroe snapped, and I see Jefferson perk up at this, given Alexander's position as Secretary of Treasury. Before Jefferson can speak, Alexander takes in a breath, and he looks up, his dark gaze stormy. Shit.
"Every penny was my own, from my personal accounts. While my business with Reynolds is not a point of pride, it was all personal, and ended in July, sir."
"July?" I manage and I see Alexander stiffen again, as he looks at me, "John, I'm sorry, I know I told you it was over at the end of last summer, but… He…"
"Later, Alex," I say and he realizes we have an audience.
"No, this needs to be cleared up now or a formal hearing will be called," Monroe threatens, and that is enough.
"I want your word that the people will not know what I am about to disclose in my defense," Alexander snaps. "If I can prove that I never broke the law, do you promise not to tell another soul what I say, what I show you to attest my innocence."
"Agreed," they all say, and I remain silent, though Alexander already knows my loyalty.
Alexander pulls several papers from his bag, passing them out to everyone but me.
"Whaaat?" Jefferson says in surprise.
"James Reynolds's wife, Maria… She courted me, escorted me to bed, and when she had me in a corner that's when Reynold's extorted me for a sordid fee. I paid him quarterly. I may have mortally wounded my prospects, but my papers are orderly. All of my records are clean, cleaner than my conscience. I never spent a cent that wasn't mine. Yes, I have reasons for shame, but I have not committed treason and sullied that part of my good and patriotic name. Is this to your satisfaction?"
"To my satisfaction no, but orderly. You've explained yourself in accordance with the law."
"I expect discretion," Alexander says. "My wife needn't know about this. The affair is ended, my association with Reynolds done. While I am 1,300 dollars poorer for it, for his silence and my wife's happiness, every penny was worth that much."
Monroe nods stiffly, "I had thought your character a higher caliber, Hamilton."
Alexander takes in a harsh breath, and then Jefferson says, "Well, you are human after all."
Alexander holds his head high and I approach him, drop my hand to his shoulder and give it a squeeze. I can feel his trembling. I look at everyone in the room and speak, "He is done here. The details of this affair should not leave this room. Each of you has your own failings, exposing his, when there is no legal cause, speaks more against your character than his. Come on, Alex, you look like you need a drink."
Alexander gives a stiff nod and we leave, not a word spoken to stop us, and not a word spoken to assure the promise of discretion.
The affair remains quiet for five years, and then 1797, that cur James T. Callender, a libelous fool, comes across old records, questions Muhlenberg and Venable, and publishes A History of the United States for Year of 1796, mentioning the scandal of Hamilton's association with Reynolds.
"Alexander," I call out to him, try to step in his way to stop his pacing. He is devastated and full of trembling, nervous energy.
"I'll write my way out… I can't have my reputation ruined. Damn them. Muhlenberg and Venable have spoken out, written retractions. Monroe denies leaking anything, but that damned Callender published parts of the letters… Monroe, that bastard!"
"Alex," I say and grip his shoulders, he looks up at me, eyes as wild as the energy making his body shake. "You need to go home, talk to Eliza, salvage what you can."
He shakes his head and sighs.
"Okay, well, I'm going home. Don't confront anyone. Just, do the right thing, Alexander. Go home."
I take my leave of him, and Angelica has questions, I tell her what I can, she knows I know more than I am saying, but she is patient, something that I am grateful for.
"What was the money for?" she asks.
"Angelica," I grimace and sigh. "It is not my place to disclose his confidence, not even to you. He's a damn fool, and he made a horrible error of judgment. Please, do not think I am defending him, his stupidity. I just, cannot betray what he told me in confidence. Please do not hold his indiscretions against me."
She worries her bottom lip with her teeth, and then sighs as she asks, "Will it hurt Eliza?"
I nod, and she takes in a sharp breath. I reach for her hand and pull her to me. "I'm sorry. If I could undo this I would."
"It's not your place to undo this. He made this choice, not you," she says and leans up, presses her lips to mine, and I am grateful for her intelligence, her strength, in the wake of this growing storm.
She pulls back. "Should I keep the papers from Lexi and Andrew?"
I nod, and she embraces me, sensing my exhaustion and running her fingers through my tangled curls in an effort to comfort me, and this is the first time that I find sharing Alexander's guilt to be burdensome.
Two weeks later on a Friday morning, following my recovery of a cold and fever, Angelica wakes me up to tell me that Jefferson has joined us for breakfast and wishes to speak with me in the study first.
I am quick to dress and find Jefferson has made himself at home, sitting cross-legged on the chaise, sipping delicately on a glass of orange juice.
He raises his glass and says, "You've seen better days. I had heard you'd taken ill and missed a few days from the office. I wanted to check on you and warn you."
"Warn me?" I ask.
He nods, and then, "Hamilton is a fool. I've never seen somebody ruin their own life before. Leave it to him to be the first."
"What?" I ask in confusion.
He picks up the pamphlet at his side and holds it out to me. I see Alexander's name as the author and turn to the first page, "The charge against me is a connection with one James Reynolds! For purposes of improper speculation. My real crime is an amorous connection with his wife for a considerable time with his knowing consent…"
"Shit," I manage in utter disbelief, flipping through and reading random pages.
"I'll say. 100 pages in all. Dates, details, disbursement of funds, everything, all there. One less thing for me to worry about, he's never gone be President now. That aside, I'm sorry John, he's a damn fool," Jefferson says, and then he stands, puts a comforting hand on my shoulder as he says quietly, "He's not a complete fool though, he never once mentions you nor your knowledge of any of this. Even when he's falling apart, given his missive against Adams and now this, he is still protecting you."
"That is not the consolation you had hoped it to be," I reply dryly.
Jefferson shrugs. "Consolation typically falls short."
"I will need to go into the office today given this. What was he thinking?" I groan.
Jefferson snorts, "As smart as he is, he's too passionate, lets that cloud his reasoning."
"He did this to preserve his legacy," I attempt to defend.
"At the cost of ruining his family," Jefferson replies gently, and sighs. "He's rivaled all of my scandals and rumors to date. Is he always so eager to out do everyone? I know he loves hearing himself talk and proving he's the smartest in the room, though this would be contrary to that belief. Fair warning, Laurens, Angelica snatched this from my hand earlier, has seen it, and she knows."
Shit.
Breakfast is awkward, extremely awkward.
Lexie and Andrew squabble for a bit, and then Lexie asks for the paper, all of fourteen, and she enjoys staying current with events.
"Don't think that's a good idea, darlin'," Jefferson says, and at a glare from my wife, he quickly recovers. "You know, Martha and Mary were asking after you last night. Think you could join us for dinner this evening?"
Lexi looks excited, and Andrew rolls his eyes.
"I think that would be nice Mr. Jefferson," Lexi says and then turns to me, "Daddy?"
"I see no problem, Angelica?"
Angelica nods and then looks at Andrew, "Are you still staying over with Pip?"
Andrew nods. "Yes, he wanted to show me his new horse"
"That sounds like fun. I think I'll join you this evening, and have a good visit with Eliza," Angelica says.
I nod, immediately understanding. She intends to stay with Eliza tonight given the circumstances.
"Laurens, care to join me for a drink this evening?" Jefferson asks, looking not so subtly in my direction.
"That sounds like a plan," I say, as we finish up breakfast and I take my leave with Jefferson, we take his carriage to the office.
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