Eliza laughed with Peggy and Angelica as she wore her father's knee length coat, long waistcoat and breeches. She looked into the mirror. She grinned.
"I am missing something", Eliza noted as she turned around. Her eyes spotted his top hat. She put it on.
"Look I am a man!", Eliza declared. Angelica rolled her eyes. "I do what I want, go where I want. I have the right to vote, legally own property and I can join the revolution". Peggy stood up, placing her hand out.
"It's a pleasure to meet you", Peggy greeted her. Eliza bowed and kissed her hand.
"We better be getting ready for the ball", Angelica announced as she helped Eliza get out of her father's clothes. "And Eliza no pulling any stunts like last time". Angelica Warner her.
"I made an offering", Eliza announced innocently. She didn't want to go. Angelica would be the life of the party as always. Old men would be flirting with them to get their status raised or have a fortune. It came with the Schuyler name.
"You dropped a mouse in that poor man's lap", Angelica ran her hand through her hair. The frustration showing on her delicate, beautiful face.
"Yes, like a cat", Eliza sat down as Angelica prepared the ribbons on her corset. Peggy laughed.
"You are not a cat", Angelica laughed at how ridiculous it sounded. She took Eliza's arm and helped her up and into the corset.
"No, tragically I am a woman", Eliza sighed. She loved being a woman but wished that she could do some of the things men could do. She wanted to be able to take midnight strolls in the park or at any time really. She wanted to be able to study philosophy and law but her father wouldn't allow it. She wouldn't even be allowed into the college if she was allowed.
Catherine stepped into the room. She smiled at them.
"My girls you're going to look beautiful tonight. Eliza look out for a husband at the ball, won't you?" Catherine helped Peggy to get ready.
"Why does nobody care if I get a husband?" Peggy pouted. She wanted to get married, wear a white dress and have children. "Yes mother", Eliza agreed to look for one. She wasn't getting her hopes up. Eliza helped Angelica to get ready once she was dressed.
"Beautiful", Catherine announced as they got into the carriage. Angelica grinned, she lived for these parties. Eliza felt nerves build up in her stomach.
"Why do we have to be introduced?", Eliza asked Angelica. She shivered slightly. The cold air hitting her.
"Because we are Schuylers that's why", she answered her. Angelica looked out the side of the carriage. "We are almost there", she told them.
The carriage came to a stop. The driver came around and told them to wait a minute while they announced their arrival.
"It'll be fine once we get in", Angelica reassured Eliza. Eliza nodded smiling at her. She was excited for the ball but wanted to get the introduction over with.
They were helped out of the carriage and introduced to the crowd.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please stand up for Angelica Schuyler, Elizabeth Schuyler and Margarita Schuyler. It is a pleasure to have you here", a general that father works with introduced them. A swarm of men surrounded them. Eliza smiled at them as they kissed her hand and introduced themselves. She wanted to wash her hands.
Angelica took her hand leading them to the dance floor. Eliza smiled as she quickly took Peggy's hand too. They danced before stopping to have some wine. Angelica was telling a story from a previous ball. Eliza stood close, only half listening to the story. Eliza admired how she could dazzle the whole room.
Eliza looked around the hall, soldier boys catching her attention. They looked good in their uniform.
"Wow", she whispered to herself as one of the boys smiled and joked with his friends on the other side of the ballroom. Eliza took Angelica out to the dance floor, she kept checking to see if the boy had noticed her.
"Angelica see the soldier boy over there", Eliza nodded towards him. "that one's mine". Angelica grinned. "You finally found a man you like", she smiled as she made her way over to the boy. Eliza frowned. What is she doing?
Eliza took in a deep breath as Angelica dragged the boy over to her.
"I'm about to change your life", she heard her sisters tell him. God she is dramatic.
"Then by all means lead the way", he has an accent. Eliza grinned.
"Elizabeth Schuyler. It's a pleasure to meet you", she introduced herself. The boy smiled at her. His grey eyes surprised. He obviously wasn't here during their introduction to the room.
"Schuyler?", he questioned. Angelica smiled at them.
"My sister", Angelica told him.
"Thank you for all your service", Eliza felt like she didn't want to focus on anything but this boy.
"If it takes fighting a war for us to meet, it will have been worth it", he bowed down and kissed her hand. Is it possible to fall in love this quickly?
Angelica grinned at the helpless look of love on her sister's face.
"I'll leave you to it", she continued to keep an eye on them.
"My name is Alexander Hamilton", Alexander informed her. "It's very noisy here, would you like to step outside?" He asked her. They walked out to the balcony together. There were still plenty of people around.
"What's it like fighting in a war?", Eliza asked him. She peaked his curiosity. Most women wanted to know nothing about the war.
"It fills me with great pride fighting for the freedom of our young nation. King George keeps taxing us ridiculously but then goes on a spending spree. I will happily lay down my life for our country", Alexander looked out to the night as he spoke. Eliza took a glass of wine from a servant. She took a sip. It was bitter with a fruity taste. He looked at her. "I'm not throwing away my shot. Don't be shocked when your history book mentions me". His passion for the war was unmistakable, but perhaps it's more like he doesn't want to be forgotten.
"What happens when you win? What then?" Eliza questioned him. He paused for a moment.
"I'm studying law in Kings college. I've almost finished my studies. I had to take a break for the war", he told her.
"Did your parents pay for your tuition?" She asked him. He shook his head and snorted. "No, I got a scholarship. My father walked out and my mother is passed. I'll never forget her face. I'll rewrite the law if I have to".
"We really do come from completely different backgrounds", Eliza pondered out loud. Alexander laughed, agreeing with her.
"Tell me about yourself. Are you studying anything?" He asked. Eliza laughed. She wished. "I'm not allowed to. I'm a woman. I'm studying how to be a good wife", she rolled her eyes.
"What would you study if you could, Elizabeth?" He rephrased his question. "Philosophy. The mind intrigued me and please call me Eliza", she replied to him instantly. He smiled.
"I've read many books written by philosophers. It's a good choice", he smiled as he led her inside. "I wish for you to meet my friends", he told her as he walked her over to them.
"This is Hercules Mulligan, John Lauren's and Gilbert Lafayette '', he introduced them all to her.
"Who's this beauty?" John Lauren's asked Alexander. "The tomcat found another girl", Hercules Mulligan nearly yelled. Eliza smirked. They didn't know who she was.
"This is Eliza", Alexander introduced her. Eliza let them go on.
"Hey Hamilton, there's a free room upstairs for you and the lady", Hercules told them.
Eliza smiled at them despite their vulgar language.
"Elizabeth Schuyler, it's a pleasure to meet you", she told them with a grin on her face. "Schuyler?" Lauren's said after an audible pause. His hands started fidgeting.
"Mmm mhmm yep", she laughed at the shock on his face.
"I am so sorry. Please forget what we just said. Please", Lauren's apologised. She could have them hung for talking to her in such a way. She smiled at Alexander.
"We would not have spoken in such a way had we known", Hercules apologised too. Alexander laughed at her knowing she let them dig their own graves.
"All is forgiven", she reassured them. They had a drink together. The band stopped playing.
"Elizabeth you intrigue me", he smiled at her. "I wish to write to you, will you write back?" He asked her. She nodded.
"Please call me Eliza and yes of course. Please write, I'll be awaiting your letters", Eliza smiled as he kissed her hand.
Angelica found them.
"You better not be dishonouring my sister", she warned Alexander. Alexander raised his arms up in a surrender.
"Never my intentions are pure, I wish to marry if your father allows it", Alexander informed Angelica. She seemed happy enough with his answer as she turned to Eliza.
"Our carriage is waiting", Angelica led Eliza away from Alexander and towards the carriage. Eliza looked back at those grey eyes.
Peggy was waiting in the carriage. She had take her shoes off and was massaging her feet.
"Tell us all about him", Angelica grinned as they were all headed home. Eliza smiled just thinking of Alexander.
"You met a boy?" Peggy asked in a shocked tone. "How did I not know this? Who is he? What does he look like? Where is his family from?" She bombarded Eliza with questions.
"His name is Alexander Hamilton. He has grey eyes and the most genuine smile. Is it possible to be in love already? He wouldn't talk about his family. Most likely he's penniless. We talked all night, the way he describes things is fascinating and just grabbed my attention. I could listen to him all day, everyday without boredom. I met his friends. They are fighting in the revolution with him", Eliza told her sisters.
"Is he going to write?" Angelica asked. Eliza nodded.
"He said so", she smiled and nodded.
Catherine greeted them with tea and cake when they arrived home.
"How was the night, my girls?" Catherine asked her daughters. Angelica grinned.
"Eliza found a boy", she told the news. Catherine grinned. She hugged her daughter.
"He's in the army. He works very close to the general", Angelica told her mother, setting high standards for before they found out he has no legacy or fortune.
"He also is an amazing writer. He is very good at writing, he wrote Eliza a poem on the spot. It's beautiful", Peggy joined in.
"And he's fighting for the revolution like daddy", Eliza told her mother. Catherine smiled at them. They never cooperated this well together.
"What's the catch?" She asked them. Eliza's smile dropped.
"He's penniless. His only status is what he will get during the war", Eliza told her. "But I don't care. I want to marry him. Do you think father would let me?" Eliza was worried now.
"Don't mention it yet. See if he even writes to you", her mother told her. Eliza nodded as she yawned.
"I'm going to retire to bed. Will one of you help me out of this dress?", Eliza announced. Peggy followed her. Eliza took in a deep breath once the corset was off. She lay down in her nightdress thinking about her life with Alexander.