Philip has taken to visiting Lexi more often in the past few years, practically moving in with us, and joining him is a young man, dark skin and dark eyes, reserved, but intelligent, named Edmund Livingston. Alexander has spoken of Livingston and his intellect, and has also entertained me with rumors that Livingston is in fact Aaron Burr's illegitimate son. Given the rumors, timeline, and Burr's reputation, this is entirely possible.

Still I know a man from similar means who has played a major role in founding our nation, and stealing my heart. I have admonished Alexander more than once over his apparent hypocrisy in judging the young man who has been wholly respectful in my home and is a good friend to Philip and to Lexi.

Of course, it is a Tuesday when I fear that I should have paid more attention to Alexander as he'd warned of apples not falling too far from trees and sins of the father.

Angelica rolls over as she begins to wake, pressing her lips to mine and I smile, accepting the affection, even while suspecting there is motive for it. I open my eyes lazily and her dark eyes lock with mine. "You'll join us this weekend?"

I sigh, and then nod, the retreat to Philip's upstate home. She is leaving with Lexie and Andrew after lunch.

"So, which of them will I be waking up this morning?" I ask with a groan.

She grins. "Lexie, she is not as abrasive with you as she is with me."

I nod in agreement, and we make short order of dressing and readying ourselves for the day. I am pleased Angelica had packed up the trunks last night, one less thing.

Angelica makes quick work of waking Andrew and they head downstairs. Angelica to begin cooking breakfast, I will be taking care of lunch, and Andrew is probably off to the stables to tend the horses.

With a yawn and a sigh, I brace myself as I reach Lexi's door. I give a quick rap with my knuckle, hear some scuffling and whispers, one voice decidedly masculine, and then I take charge and throw open the door.

At my entrance the young man, Livingston, trips from the bed to the floor and I see far more of him than I ever had need too. Lexi has the bedclothes pulled up around her as the poor young man works into his breeches, terror evident on both of their faces, her face and neck flushed red, making her freckles, similar to mine, stand out.

"I… um, Mr. Laurens," the poor boy says as he gets to his feet, his breeches barely secured, yanking on his shirt, the garment inside out, and Lexi follows up with, "Daddy…"

I take in a deep breath, recalling when Philip Schuyler once told me how daughters test the health and temperament of their fathers. Damn the man for being right.

I enter, close the door behind me and sit down in one of the chairs in the room. I pull my left ankle over my right knee, point to the chair across the room from me, for Livingston and hold up my hand in Lexi's direction to let her know I would rather she stay where she is.

I turn to Lexi; I pull my lips tight for a moment and then I speak. "Will he make you happy?"

I see the surprise in her eyes at my question. She nods, and says, "He already has Daddy. We were married in secret last night."

I cock my head to the side, and I try to hold in the laughter. Philip Schuyler is either going to kill me or take the piss out of me for the rest of my life. I can't hold back and just burst into laughter. This prompts my daughter to find her night dress and come to my aid, probably thinking I've lost my mind, and poor Livingston looks fairly ashen, wondering how long he has before I make my daughter a widow.

"Daddy?" she asks, unsure as she approaches me. I take her hand, turn it over and press a kiss to her palm, then I get up and pull her into an embrace.

"You were raised to be smart enough and capable enough to make your own decisions. While I am disappointed that I was not there to see you accept a husband, and I was not there to give you away, if this makes you happy, then this is okay. That is all I want for you and for Andrew, your happiness, that is all the legacy I care about," I reply.

She hugs me back tightly, and then I add, "Besides I should have expected this to be my luck considering I robbed your grandfather the opportunity to see your mother and I married."

She looks at me in confusion. "What?"

"On the night that your Uncle Alexander and Aunt Eliza got married, after we toasted them, me, the best man ran off with the maid of honor and we eloped near dawn. It was quite the scandal at the time. Best decision I ever made, taking your mother for a wife."

"Really?" she asks, and then grins, "Is that why Grandpapa gives you such a hard time?"

"Part of it. I also bested him in a drinking contest once," I reply with a grin, and then I look over at my son-in-law, my grin growing to display my teeth. "Welcome to the family son, expect to get to know me very well. You've your work cut out for you, she is fiercely independent and raised in a house of equity. Also, good luck with her mother, you two need to get dressed and come downstairs, the both of you can have the pleasure of telling her."

I leave them to prepare themselves and go downstairs. I join Angelica in the kitchen, and given the occasion I think that juice is in order, and I take several oranges from the crate Angelica had intended to take to her father's, given that they are his favorite.

"Hey, you know those are for my father," she scolds.

I kiss her and say, "I'll pick up a crate and bring it with me Saturday. This will be a nice treat for breakfast."

She narrows her eyes in suspicion, but lets it go. With a pitcher of freshly squeezed juice, I pull down the good glasses. Then I have an idea. I step out to find a courier and send off a missive to Alexander to let him know I am leaving with Angelica to go upstate. I want to see the old man's face at the news.

Soon Angelica, Andrew, and I are at the table. Lexi peaks into the dining room, and I lean back in my chair, looking at Lexi expectantly, while her mother's brows rise.

"Okay, enough, what is going on?" Angelica snaps, and that is when Livingston, bless him, steps out to stand next to Lexi, and given that his father is probably Burr, I have to admire his bravery.

Angelica tilts her head, her lips tight, nostrils flared, and dark eyes narrowed. She manages to give me a little side eye, and Andrew snickers, but is silenced when Angelica shoots him a glare before returning her focus to our daughter and Livingston.

"Edmund, when did you ride up?" she asks.

I snort in amusement and receive the promise of that familiar Schuyler woman fire.

"My dearest, compassionate…" she cuts me off quickly.

"Momma, I… uhh…" Lexi starts, and I chuckle and then outright start laughing.

"Dammit, John, spit it out!" Angelica snaps, hating that she is missing something.

I get to my feet and take my glass of orange juice, raise it up and say, "A toast to the bride and to the groom, may you be as happy as your mother and I are."

"What?!" Angelica shouts and then she's on her feet, shoving away a sickly-looking Livingston and grappling our daughter into a rough hug.

When she pulls back, she eyes Livingston up and down and says, "Make her happy."

That a threat lingers following her words to him is evident. She then takes both of their hands and pulls them to the table, runs to the kitchen for a plate for Livingston. Once we are all seated, Lexi and Livingston looking bewildered, Andrew speaks up, "So does this mean I can avoid the whole wedding thing too?"

"Absolutely not!" Angelica snaps and fixes him with a glare. "It is tradition in this family that the second born has a formal wedding."

He snorts, crossing his arms over his chest and glares at his sister, "Lexi, you completely ruined all of my future wedding plans."

"Andrew, how is Prospero looking?" I ask, eying him over my glass.

"He's good, I rechecked his shoes this morning," he replies, and I nod.

"Good, would it be too much to saddle him up for me after lunch?"

"No," he says, and I smirk.

Angelica gives me that side eye and groans. "Really? My dearest, consternation…" she says shaking her head.

"Oh, I plan to enjoy every moment of this given how long it took me to win over your father's respect. Granted I'll take some of the piss," I say, and then looking at Livingston. "Edmund, you will be joining us. I'll see that your mother is notified by courier, or I can make arrangements for her to join us. I'll also see to helping you arrange a household, and we will talk about your prospects. You have a year yet at King's College, is that right?"

He nods, and then sighs. "Yes, sir. That's right."

"Will Burr still cover the cost considering this hasty wedding?" I ask.

He pauses for a moment and then nods. "He's good to my mother and me. He would finish out my tuition. Would perhaps even offer something towards building a household."

I nod, and do not miss the distaste on Angelica's face at the mention of Aaron Burr.

"Very well then, you'll join us, and we can return to my office on Monday to work on your housing arrangements, and you may call me John, son, we're family now, and I know you to be a mostly respectable fellow, your present situation with my daughter notwithstanding. Alexander can write up the announcement to be published next week…" I pause at the sight of the young man suddenly weeping, and Lexi turns to him, trying to comfort him. I get up and put a hand on his shoulder.

He looks up, looking embarrassed. Angelica joins me, her arm around my waist as we look at him.

"I… I wasn't expecting kindness. I know you are good people, but with my circumstance growing up, but I love Alexandra, and I thought it would be the only chance I had to be with her… I meant no disrespect, and I never thought you would be so accepting," he manages, his voice cracking with emotion.

Angelica and I share a look. "We understand, and as long as you love her and she loves you and the both of you are happy, this is a blessing. You both have our blessing."

Angelica takes up her own glass of juice and holds it up, her eyes meeting mine as she smiles and says, "A toast to the groom. A toast to the bride, from your mother. I will always be by your side. To your union and the hope that you provide and may you always, always be satisfied."

She takes a sip from the glass and then I pull her into an embrace, kissing her, and as we part, my forehead against hers, I whisper, "And here we are, full circle, my heart intact, our family happy and growing, and still very much your husband, your love."


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