The schuyler sisters day out!
Peggy arrived at Eliza's house early in the morning. She looked great, dressed in a new yellow summer dress.
"You know what we need? A girls day", she grinned when Eliza opened the door. Eliza yawned. What is Peggy on about?
"Eliza come on. I'm not going to stand here all day. Me, you and Angelica are going to a picnic in the park. I have wine and sandwiches packed in the carriage. Get dressed. Get dressed. Get dressed. Upstairs. Go. Give me Eliza", Peggy took her niece.
Eliza smiled, looking back at Peggy swinging Eliza Holly in the air. Her laughter filled the room. She went and got dressed into a pale blue, summer dress. She had it a few years but was yet to buy a new one. The kids clothes came first.
"We're in here", Peggy called from the parlour. Eliza Holly waddled over to her with a slice of bread in hand. Eliza bent down and kissed her.
"Is that yummy?" She asked. Eliza Holly nodded, offering her some.
"Peggy, how is Alex? I've been worried sick", Eliza stood up. Peggy waved her off.
"He's fine. Stephen will bring him home today", she reassured her. "It's just a twisted ankle".
"Where's this picnic?" Eliza brought Eliza Holly upstairs to Angelica.
"Angelica. I need you to mind Eliza Holly today and keep an eye on William and John. I'm going to a picnic with your aunt Peggy and your aunt Angelica. Be good", Eliza told her before giving Eliza Holly a hug.
Angelica nodded.
"Yes. Momma, we'll be good".
Eliza gasped when she got into the carriage.
"Peggy. That is so much wine!" Peggy laughed, sitting opposite her.
"Better to have too much than too little", she shrugged. Eliza waited in the carriage while Peggy dragged Angelica out of her house.
"Why are we leaving so early if it's just a picnic in the park?" Angelica smiled at Eliza, giving her a kiss on the cheek. She had picked up that habit in France.
Peggy let out a mischievous giggle.
"The picnic is on the beach at Long Island", she settled in. It would be about a 4 or 5 hour journey.
"Really? I want to check on Alex", Eliza commented she was still worried about her son.
"Alexander always talks about the beach on the island he grew up on. It's a shame we can't travel", Eliza mentioned. Angelica nodded in agreement.
"The beaches in France were the best I've ever seen, although we didn't live there. Paris is midland", Angelica explained. It reminded Eliza of the times when she didn't think she would ever see her sister again. She couldn't be more grateful that Angelica lives in America now.
"Eliza you need a new dress", Angelica commented. Peggy and Angelica were both in new dresses.
"Yeah, I probably do", Eliza laughed, looking down at her dress. Angelica took her hand.
"Sincerely if you need money for one don't be afraid to ask", Angelica offered. Eliza shook her head.
"We're not that poor. Alexander made a big purchase at the start of the year. He bought 32 acres of land in the countryside", Eliza smiled telling them. She could one day live in a grand house with a lake on her doorstep.
Peggy cheered. "Congratulations. Look at Alexander finally getting the house he talked about since he was a young boy coming up to mom and dads asking to marry you". Eliza grinned. They've grown up so much. A lot has changed; good and bad.
"You deserve it. Both of you. But don't let Alexander forget that you need new dresses to go with the new house", Angelica reminded her. Eliza nodded, she wouldn't.
The carriage came to a stop. They could hear shouting outside. Peggy screamed when men with guns ripped open the carriage curtains. They smirked when they saw it was only women in the carriage. Eliza felt her stomach drop. It wasn't safe to go anywhere.
"Long may the king reign", Angelica spoke in an English accent. They stared at the 3 of them for a long moment. They smiled at her.
"Let them go", the man shouted and the carriage continued. They sat in silence for a moment.
"What the hell was that?"
"You could have gotten us killed!"
Eliza and Peggy shouted at Angelica. She pointed to her chest.
"He had a Union Jack on his chest. It's the English flag", Angelica sighed. "We came across that a lot in England. There's a lot of unrest".
"Forget about that. We're almost at the beach", Peggy grinned. They could smell the fresh sea air from here.
Eliza opened the curtain and got down with the help of the driver. She looked out and as far as she could see was ocean. Alexander didn't exaggerate when he described the sea. The waves were so calming. She wished the children could be here with them. She'd love to see little Eliza playing in the water. She took a bag from Peggy and carried it onto the beach.
"It's been so long since I've seen the beach", Angelica laid a blanket down, helping Eliza to sit down.
"I can't believe how far it goes", Eliza couldn't stop looking out to the sea-line.
"It was bizarre looking out while on the boat. There was no land to be seen", Angelica recounted. Eliza smiled.
"That sounds scary", Eliza shook her head slightly.
"So is this the picnic you dragged us too?" Angelica looked around at the mostly empty beach. Peggy shrugged as she opened a bottle of wine. She handed Eliza and Angelica glasses.
"Remember that time we were in fathers summer house and we decided we wanted to go swimming", Angelica remembered. Eliza shook her head in disbelief.
"You mean that time you decided you wanted us to go swimming and pushed us in?" Eliza corrected her. Angelica shrugged.
"Same thing", she took a sip of her wine. Peggy laughed.
"I barely remember that day. I just remember the freezing baths afterwards", Peggy shuddered at the thought of it.
Angelica laughed slightly, covering her mouth.
"It was only freezing because I had the first bath", she admitted.
Peggy grunted. Of course that was the case.
"I was thinking the other day that my Angelica will be getting married in a few years. She's 16 now. She's a young lady. Philip accompanies her to dances. I guess he'll marry soon too", Eliza changed the subject. Peggy nodded.
"I always dreamed of having a grand wedding. Funny how life goes isn't it?" Angelica admitted. She is the eldest daughter. She was supposed to have a huge wedding.
"I'm just glad father forgave you", Eliza quietly commented. She hated those weeks where she became the oldest daughter. Every responsibility was put on her shoulders.
"Have you discussed the prospect of Angelica loving someone Alexander does not approve of? What if she elopes?" Peggy questioned her. Eliza hadn't even considered it. She shook her head.
"Oh god. Alexander has so many people he dislikes", Eliza sighed. Angelica laughed.
"Dislikes is an understatement". He often complained about them in letters to her.
"I sincerely remember him wanting to hit Jefferson with a chair", Peggy recounted from Alexander's letters to her. Angelica laughed.
"I remember that! He was so angry at him. He's always frustrated by Jefferson. I read the letter he sent to him", she laughed.
"Okay fine. It's more than a dislike", Eliza gave into them. She got up, looking around the beach. She put a seashell in her bag to bring home.
"We better head home. It's another 5 hours back", Angelica declared as she started packing up. Eliza smiled. 5 hours travel to stay an hour. They must be mad.
…
"Momma!"
"Where did you go?"
"Look what I did momma!"
John, James and William ran to her. She smiled at them.
"I was at the beach with Angelica and Peggy", she told them. Philip looked up from his book.
"What beach?" He frowned there were no beaches nearby. Alexander wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Long Island beach. Is the book good?" She placed her hands over Alexander's.
"Come upstairs?" He whispered in her ear.
"Okay", she followed him to their room.
"Look what I brought back", she showed him the seashell. She admired the pattern on it.
"The water went on for miles. As far I could see", Eliza grinned. Alexander kissed her neck. He pulled away to look at the seashell.
"Put it to your ear. You can hear the ocean", he showed her. Eliza's eyes lit up.
"That is magic! It's fantastic. Listen", she put it to his ear. Alexander nodded.
"After that long carriage ride I would love nothing more than a walk. I want to check on Alex. Did you go see him?" She cuddled into his chest. He smelt like ink.
"Yes. He's walking around a little bit with the help of a stick", he ran his fingers through her hair. "And after the walk?"
Eliza glanced at the bed.
"Mmm I'll let you guess", she bit her lip looking up at him.
He grinned, pulling her downstairs.
"Are any of the kids coming on the walk?" He asked her. Eliza shook her head.
"No just us", she gave William and Eliza a kiss before they left.
"It feels so good to move my legs. I don't know how you travel so often", Eliza linked her arm with Alexander's. He smiled at her.
"I don't often travel there and back in one day", he reminded her.
"You travelled 8 hours there and back the first time we met", she reminded him. He nodded.
"Ah the joys of being young. I didn't know you remembered that", he smiled at her. She nodded.
"Angelica wouldn't shut up about you. She was amazed by your intellect, especially for someone so young", she recounted. Alexander stopped walking. "And you?"
"I remembered your red hair and your charming smile. Your compliments to all of us. I remember you not knowing when and who to bow to, who to shake hands with. I remember having fantastic conversations at dinner and wishing you would stay the night. But also admiring your commitment to us having a free country", Eliza recounted. They had stopped beside the Hudson. Alexander threw a rock into the water before wrapping his arms around her.
"I remember when you left. Father told us we couldn't consider you a prospector for marriage as you weren't agreeable for us. Even meant you were broke", she told him. Alexander nodded.
"I'd agree with him. I had no station then. I would have amounted to nothing post war", he stated as a matter of fact. Eliza laughed.
"That is the most ridiculous statement. After 20 years of marriage I can still barely get you to stop working. Most of the time it's guilt tripping you or me seducing you that gets you to take a break or someone is ill", she recalled. Alexander laughed too.
"Okay. I would have worked but I doubt I would have been as successful". Eliza pecked his cheek.
"Well you were successful. How is the house coming along?" She asked as they continued walking.
"It's good I went to check how it is coming along yesterday. We should be able to move in spring next year", he spoke with pride. He was overjoyed to finally be able to own their own house.
Eliza served dinner for Alexander and herself when they got back.
"Are the children fed?" She asked Adalya while in the kitchen.
"Yes ma'am. Eliza and William are in bed", she informed her. Eliza looked up at the clock.
"Oh I didn't realise it was so late. Do you mind putting these plates over steaming water while we say goodnight to the kids? Thank you", she didn't wait for a reply.
Alexander frowned when she came back with no food.
"Was I bold? Do I have to go to bed with no supper?" He joked with her. Eliza laughed.
"No, I want to say goodnight to the kids. Come give them a kiss?" She held out her hand to him.
He took it, kissing her hand before following her upstairs.
They snuck into Eliza's room. Alexander kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight. Papa loves you", he whispered in her ear. Eliza did the same before hugging into Alexander's chest.
"I still can't believe we made a human", Alexander whispered. Eliza quietly laughed.
"I can't believe we made 6 humans", she whispered back. They gently closed the door behind them.
"Where's John and James?" Alexander asked as William was asleep in the room that they shared.
"Most likely in Alex and Philip's room", she told him. She wasn't too concerned. They are old enough to not get up to mischief.
Eliza fixed the blankets over William before giving him a kiss and whispering I love you.
"I love you my sweet boy. Sweet dreams", he whispered to him. They could see William smile before falling back asleep. They left him to sleep.
Eliza got their dinners while Alexander sat at the table. She set it quickly before bringing in the plates of dinner.
"I can't remember the last time we had dinner. Just the two of us", Alexander commented. Eliza nodded. She stopped Alexander from starting to eat.
"You'd swear you never stepped inside a church in your life. We need to pray before we eat", she corrected him. He sighed.
"Do we really have to? We don't have company or impressionable little ones with us. You know I'm not religious", he argued back. Eliza took his hand.
"Do it for me?" She asked. He sighed, giving in.
Eliza said a prayer.
"Now we eat", she picked up her glass and cheered with him.
Thanks for reading
I had to throw in a happy chapter. There is so much sadness in the next 4 years