"Stop fidgeting." Hercules commanded as he pinned the emerald green jacket that he had been trying to find a buyer for, for the better part of two months. He had to shorten the sleeves so that Alexander did not look like he was being engulfed by the satin fabric.
"Hard not to, with a pin that close to me." Alexander grumbled.
"If I wanted to stab you, I would have done it months ago." Hercules mumbled, sticking a pin between his teeth as he crouched down to adjust the length of the jacket.
"Try to look stately." John Laurens advised, looking Alexander over critically. "You're in expensive clothes. Act like it."
"Why don't you try to act like you have money?" Hercules remarked, crawling behind Alexander to adjust the coat tails. He poked his head out from behind Alexander's legs to glare at John. "Buy him the damned coat instead of making me risk losing the money I spent on the fabric."
"Ah, but Hamilton doesn't need anything so fine. It would be gilding the lily." John winked at Alexander. Alexander grinned back at him.
"Uh-huh." Hercules grumbled. He rose to his feet again. He walked around to look at Alexander head-on, adjusting the jacket on his shoulders a bit. He observed his work with an intimidatingly critical expression. Alexander tried not to fidget under his gaze.
At long last, Hercules let out a sigh and took a step back. He was satisfied with his work. He clapped Alexander on the shoulder and afforded him a small, tired smile. "Alright, Hammie. Give 'em hell."
"What should I say to her?" Alexander inquired, fidgeting with his cravat as John Laurens' carriage lurched toward the mansion at which the most recent ball was being held. He looked out the window impatiently.
"You could tell her that you've been watching her from afar for the past year and a half." By contrast, John was perfectly at ease. He watched Alexander fidget from the opposite carriage bench.
"Be serious, man." Alexander pleaded. "I fear for my eternal happiness if our introduction does not go well."
"It will go well, Alexander." John was the only one of Alexander's friends to use his first name instead of his last. He cast Alexander a small, quiet smile. It wobbled somewhat. Alexander chalked it up to the bumpy carriage ride. "Everyone loves you. Why should Miss Schuyler be any different?"
"I don't see how she could love me." Alexander shook his head. He began fidgeting with the cuffs of his sleeve. The more he fussed with them, the more uncomfortable he became. He shifted in his seat miserably. "I have nothing to offer her. She has everything that a woman could want. Why should she accept me?"
"Perhaps because she has everything except for you?" John suggested weakly. He leaned forward a bit, fixing his eyes on Alexander's. "Any woman would be lucky to have you. You are handsome, you are smart, you are kind, and you are devoted in a way that most men do not allow themselves to be. If she does not see how maddeningly lucky she is to have captured your attention when you introduce yourself, she is simply not worth having."
"How can you say that? Of course she is worth having! Do you know if she has any other suitors? I imagine she has a small army of men more deserving of her hand than I." Alexander closed his eyes and leaned back against the seat. He wondered how much longer the carriage ride would be. He was sure that he would drive both John and himself to the brink of insanity if it lasted much longer.
"Let us not speak of this any longer." John said firmly.
Alexander kept his eyes closed. He did not respond. He, too, had worn himself out with all of his worrying. Unfortunately, his panic did not stop with his words. His mind raced as the carriage jostled down the road.
"We're here." John said, after a few minutes. He sounded relieved.
Alexander's heart gave a nervous twinge in his chest. It was time for him to introduce himself to Eliza.
They stepped out of the carriage. Alexander looked around. The estate was much grander than any that he had been to before. He looked over to see if John was intimidated. He was surprised to see that John looked wholly unimpressed. He tried to adopt the same unaffected airs.
"Mr. Laurens!" The host, a rotund man with a red face, boomed as they entered the foyer. Beside him stood a gaunt woman with haunting black eyes. "How wonderful that you could join us! Who is your friend?"
"Mr. McCullough, it is my pleasure to introduce my distant cousin, Mr. Alexander Laurens." John bowed graciously to the rotund man before gesturing to Alexander. Alexander bowed with less grace. His face burned with embarrassment.
"Welcome, sir." Mr. McCullough smiled. He did not ask any further questions about Alexander's lineage or breeding. Alexander was surprised. He had always believed that at such events, people came prepared with papers which proved that they were, in fact, better than everyone else.
"You have outdone yourself, Mrs. McCullough." John was good at being charming. Alexander watched him in surprise. He had never imagined how John might perform at functions like these before. Witnessing it was something surreal.
"Oh." Mrs. McCullough waved off John's compliment with a delighted, if not breathless, smile. "You flatter me, Mr. Laurens."
"Might I inquire as to whether or not the Schuyler family will be attending this evening?" John lowered his voice conspiratorially. Both Mr. and Mrs. McCullough leaned forward, obviously delighting in the gossip. "My cousin witnessed Miss Eliza Schuyler in the city today and was quite taken with her. I was hoping to make an introduction."
Alexander looked at John, his eyes wide in horror. He had not expected John to give away that information so freely. He had been hoping to ease into it, instead of walking around the ball with his heart written on his sleeve.
"The Schuylers are expected tonight, yes. As they have not yet arrived, I believe that I will rearrange the dinner table. How would you like to sit beside Miss Schuyler, Mr. Laurens? I believe that she will quite like you." Mrs. McCullough chattered, beaming at Alexander.
"I-if it's not too much trouble…" Alexander answered uncertainly. He bowed again.
"It was so sad to hear about the fellow that had been courting her earlier this year." Mr. McCullough remarked as Mrs. McCullough disappeared to change the seating arrangements. He clucked his tongue and shook his head. "Can you imagine? Not knowing that the man paying you court is a traitor?"
"Indeed?" Alexander's eyes widened. He had assumed that there were plenty of men courting Eliza, but he had never heard specifics. John refused to participate in gossip surrounding the Schuylers sisters, which was unfortunate, as he was the only one of Alexander's friends who was invited to the sort of events where such gossip circulated.
"You cannot blame Miss Schuyler, of course. She was the most taken in of all of us." Mr. McCullough hastened to explain.
"No one could think less of Miss Schuyler." John agreed, looking around dully. "Mr. McCullough, if you will excuse us - it appears that you have other guests to greet."
Mr. McCullough bowed to both of them. John took Alexander by the arm and guided him to a room that was presumably the ball room. Alexander stumbled along, looking around him in awe.
"You're doing well." John praised him as they entered the ballroom. He spoke in a low tone, so they would not be overheard. "Just don't act so quick oblige. The rich do not answer to anyone."
"Everyone answers to someone." Alexander protested. "God alone stands without judgment."
John rolled his eyes. "The Schuylers will arrive shortly. Have you thought about what you might say to them? Will you seek to be introduced, or will you wait until you're seated beside Miss Schuyler?"
"I did not think that I would make it this far." Alexander confessed. He wrung his hands nervously. "What do you think I ought to say? Do you think that she would respond better to a joke, or a witty comment?"
"I'm going to need a drink, if you insist on carrying on this way." John grumbled.
"Shall I fetch you a drink, sir?" A server, presumably a slave, inquired. She seemed to appear out of nowhere. John flinched. Alexander looked at him, hoping that John would not ask this poor woman for a thing. He hoped that John truly abhorred slavery the way that he did.
"No, ma'am. Thank you." John bowed to the server the way that he would have if Mrs. McCullough had offered him a drink. Alexander smiled in relief and did the same.
"Let's take our seats." John suggested as the server walked away, looking incredibly confused. Others were beginning to take their seats. More importantly, there was wine at the table.
Alexander nodded and followed John. Mrs. McCullough was standing by, waiting to show everyone to their seats. Alexander took a seat at the table, noting with some discomfort that John was seated across from him. He presumed that Eliza would be beside him. He did not know how well he would do without John at his elbow, guiding him through the process of being an aristocrat.
John suddenly rose to his feet, looking at something behind Alexander with what seemed like a tinge of nervousness. Alexander turned around to see what exactly he was looking at.
The Schuyler sisters.
"Mr. Laurens," Mrs. McCullough was beaming at Alexander as he stumbled to his feet. He managed a shaky bow in their direction before even being introduced. "May I introduce you to your dining partner this evening, Miss Eliza Schuyler?"
"Mr. Laurens, it's a pleasure to meet you." Eliza curtseyed to Alexander. Alexander had never dared himself to imagine that she would ever do such a thing. She owed him no such courtesy. Alexander bowed again, hoping that he did not appear ridiculous.
"I didn't know that you had a cousin, Mr. Laurens." Angelica, Eliza's older sister, remarked. She looked at John with an arched eyebrow. Alexander hoped that she would not pry.
"You can see why I would like to keep him hidden from society." John joked dryly. "For what chance to I have with the ladies, with a cousin like this?"
Alexander blushed, looking down at his shoes. He could feel Eliza's eyes on him. He wondered if he should say something to her. He felt as though too much time had gone on for him to say that he was pleased to meet her, too. He was sure that she could plainly see that he was; his heart was hammering against his chest at the mere feeling of her presence.
"Where are you from, Mr. Laurens?" Eliza asked, as Alexander pulled her chair out for her. She smiled at him, her two perfect dimples gracing her cheeks. Her eyes were sparkling. Alexander's legs wobbled underneath him.
"I, uh…" Alexander looked at John. John just smiled. He was still under the watchful eye of Angelica Schuyler. "South."
"South Carolina?" Eliza offered helpfully.
John's family was from South Carolina. It would make sense that Alexander was from South Carolina, too. He nodded.
"Do you like New York?" If Eliza thought that Alexander was acting strange, she didn't show it. She was smiling at him patiently. He took a seat beside her, his limbs trembling.
"I do." He confessed. He locked eyes with her. "I like it very much."
"Perhaps I could show you around town, if your cousin cannot be obliged." Eliza glanced at John, who was engaged in a conversation with her other two sisters.
"I would like that very much." Alexander agreed immediately.
They exchanged small smiles for a minute. Alexander took a long gulp of wine. He had imagined meeting Eliza so many times. Now that she was really here, sitting right beside him, Alexander could not think of a single thing to say.
"What do you do, Mr. Laurens?" Eliza asked after a moment.
"Oh." Alexander and John had worked on an answer to that question. It was much harder to recite the carefully crafted lie when Eliza's sparkling eyes were locked on his. "I own a few merchant vessels for the time being. With war on the horizon, I'm considering donating the vessels to General Washington's fleet and joining the fight."
"How brave! Are you sympathetic to the patriot cause?" Eliza's face lit up. Alexander wondered if he should be talking about any specific cause, after hearing that Eliza had been courted by a traitor.
"I am." Alexander agreed tentatively. "I believe that it is far time for this country to stand on its own as a meritocracy."
"I couldn't agree more. I always thought that it was so strange that one person should be considered better than another solely because of who their father is." Eliza said with a smile. She leaned just a bit closer to Alexander.
"Do you really?" Alexander could not resist asking. "You aren't glad that riff raff can be kept out of events like this?"
Eliza laughed and shook her head. Some of her dark, glossy hair spilled over her shoulder. "I think that riff raff might liven up these stuffy parties."
Alexander had never heard a sound better than Eliza's laugh. More people poured in, joining the party. Alexander knew that he was supposed to rise to his feet and greet every person who arrived at the table, but he could not be torn from his conversation with Eliza. She did not rise to her feet, either. Alexander hoped that she was equally engrossed in the conversation.
"Why attend these parties, if you don't like them?" He asked playfully.
"In the hopes that I will finally go to a ball worth attending. I've heard rumors that these things have the possibility of being fun." Eliza answered easily. She flicked her hair back over her shoulder. She didn't look away from Alexander's eyes.
"I'm enjoy this one immensely already." Alexander remarked, hoping that Eliza would understand that he was only enjoying the ball because he was with Eliza.
"Me, too." Eliza batted her eyelashes prettily.
"May I propose a toast?" Mr. McCullough said, holding up his wine glass. Alexander and Eliza exchanged reluctant smiles before looking away from each other. They both held up their wine glasses as well. "To the independence of these colonies!"
"Hear, hear!" John agreed loudly. Alexander grinned at him. He was glad that John behaved the same way in his fancy social circle.
Everyone clinked their wine glasses against the wine glasses of another. Alexander risked a glanced over at Eliza. She was looking at him. With a smile of relief, he offered his wine glass. She clinked hers against his. She smiled at him in a way that made him want to kiss her. He promised himself that before this evening - and the delusion that came with it - ended, he would kiss her.
"So, Mr. Laurens." Eliza returned her attention to Alexander again. Alexander wished that she would call him by his real name. "How long are you in New York?"
"I don't know." Alexander replied.
John had told him to tell people that he was only in town for the weekend; that he was stopping by New York to say hello to John before continuing to Massachusetts for some kind of investment opportunity. If he claimed to be in town any longer, he would be invited to more things. More people would hear about John Laurens' cousin from the South. There was a greater chance of Henry Laurens receiving a letter about his nephew if Alexander showed himself more than once. Alexander had agreed to John's plan, but that was before he met Eliza. That was before her eyes locked with his. Now, he didn't want to make any plans to disappear.
"What will you do when you leave New York?" Eliza wondered. Alexander did not miss the way that her eyes dropped to look at his left hand. She was looking for a wedding band.
"I will pursue an investment opportunity in Massachusetts." Alexander answered blandly. Eliza wrinkled her nose. Alexander chuckled and said, "I should not enjoy it nearly as much, now that I know what I'm leaving behind in New York."
"What do you do when you're not handling investors?" Eliza questioned, blushing.
"I write." It was one of the first things that Alexander told Eliza about himself that was true.
Eliza perked up. "What do you write?"
"All sorts of things, I guess. Poetry, politic pieces, short stories…" Alexander wished that he could tell Eliza that he had been published. He wished that he could proudly show her newspapers on which his name was printed.
"Poetry?" Eliza was smiling. "Is your poetry good?"
Good enough to be published on several occasions.
"Some people think so." Alexander smiled, too.
"Would you consider writing me a poem?" Eliza asked, batting her eyelashes at him. "I would love little more than to receive a poem from you in the post. I never get mail nearly so exciting."
"I would be honored to correspond with you, Miss Schuyler." Alexander struggled to choke out the words. He looked around, unable to tamp down a smile. "In fact, I would be delighted to write you a poem right now, were I in possession of the proper materials."
"What would you write about?" Eliza inquired, tilting her head to the side. "I mean, how could you know what to say? You hardly know the first thing about me."
Alexander couldn't exactly tell Eliza that he knew far more about her than he was letting on. He had spent over a year watching her walk around the city. He knew which stores were her favorites. He knew which girls were her closest friends. He knew which church she attended. He knew that she smiled whenever a stray dog approached her. He knew that she was her prettiest when she was happy.
"Miss Schuyler, I could write an entire poem about your smile." He said, instead. He indulged himself, looking at her lips with ill-disguised longing.
Eliza's smile was sunnier than Alexander had ever seen it. He took delight in the fact that he had caused it. He had made her happier than the stray dogs on the street, just with his words.
"You certainly have a way with words, Mr. Laurens." She remarked.
The servers began serving the food. Alexander accepted with some reluctance that their private conversation would have to stop. John accepted his meal from his server with his own hands, instead of allowing them to set it in front of him. Alexander did the same. Most of the guests smiled at them indulgently and rolled their eyes. Eliza looked at Alexander, her eyes shining.
"So, Mr. Laurens." Mr. McCullough called the table's attention to John and Alexander. Alexander felt himself shrink back. He typically loved being the center of attention, but there was too much risked by being noticed now. If Eliza found out who he really was, she would never allow him to correspond with her. "Tell us about yourself. I feel like we know very little about a man we should have heard a great deal about."
Alexander smiled shyly. "I apologize, Mr. McCullough. The secrecy, I'm afraid, is entirely through fault of my own. I rarely write my cousin, Mr. Laurens, interesting enough letters to merit discussion. Often, they are droning letters about economic policy and investment decisions that I must make."
"A true man of business." Mr. McCullough approved. A few men nodded, smiling. "What do you make of what this war is doing to our economy?"
There were grumbles among the table.
"I think it's an interesting opportunity." Alexander answered, looking around hesitantly. No one of Mr. McCullough's status had ever asked him what he thought about anything before. "I think breaking from an economic structure that has proved to be volatile and untenable gives us an opportunity to enact some of the theories that men have been kicking around for years."
"What theory do you propose we utilize?" Another man asked, leaning forward.
"I think that depends on where the war takes us, if there's going to be a war." Alexander replied, his eyebrows furrowing. He enjoyed talking about these things. He finally knew what was going on. Economics made far more sense to him than aristocracy. "If we have the resources to consider mercantilism, we might do that. I don't think that we should vest our financial certainty on other countries. They're all terribly in debt to one another without a hope of paying the debts back. If the meritocracy ideal that the patriot cause seems so fond of works, maybe we ought to consider capitalism, as Adam Smith suggested in his book."
"You are well-read, Mr. Laurens." Mr. McCullough approved. He smiled playfully. "But do tell us about yourself beyond the banalities of every day work. Do you have an estate in South Carolina? Do you have a family? Is the society there more tolerable than the society here?"
"Certainly, I can say that the society here is more welcoming than any society that I've ever been a part of before." Alexander cast a glance in Eliza's direction. She was smiling at him, but she looked worried. He wondered if she thought that he was married. He was not wearing a wedding band; she had seen that for herself. "I do not yet have a family, though I do hope to have one when I find a woman who can tolerate me and my ideals."
"Perhaps you will find such a woman during your stay in New York." Mrs. McCullough remarked with a knowing smile.
Alexander blushed, his eyes dropping down to his plate.
"Perhaps." He agreed.
He did not dare look at Eliza.
After dinner, a string quartet began to play music. People began to pair up for dances. Alexander watched as Eliza spoke with Angelica. He pulled at his cravat nervously.
"Ask her to dance." John advised him. "Everyone knows that you want to. The longer it takes you to ask her, the more you embarrass you both."
"How do I ask her?" Alexander asked hopelessly.
"Alex, I've seen you speak to women before. You know how to do it; you're good at it." John's eyebrows furrowed.
"Do you think that I could speak to her the same way? Don't you think she'll find it too…forward?"
"Maybe, if you were some kid who works on the docks as a merchant's clerk, but you're rich. You're established. Everyone will just think that you're charming." John answered with a shrug. He looked around the room, looking uninterested. Alexander wondered if he was boring his best friend with his inner turmoil.
He nodded, gathering his self-confidence. He fought the urge to ask John more questions and instead crossed the ballroom. He approached Eliza. She and Angelica curtseyed as they approached. He bowed, forcing himself to smile as he straightened his posture again.
"Mr. Laurens." Angelica greeted him, her eyes boring into him. It felt like she could see right through him. Alexander's smile faltered a bit.
"Miss Schuyler." His eyes shifted to focus on Eliza. His smile grew more genuine. "Miss Schuyler, I was wondering if I might ask for the honor of your hand in a dance?"
"It would be my pleasure!" Eliza replied. She was smiling brightly. Her voice lilted with excitement. Alexander grinned at her, exhilarated by the thought that Eliza Schuyler had been excited to be asked to dance by him.
They walked out to the space of the ballroom where everyone was dancing. Alexander allowed himself to take Eliza by the hand. He pulled her close to him, trying very hard not to be distracted by her proximity. He reminded himself as they began to move that they were in front of two dozen people. He could not embarrass himself. He could not embarrass Eliza.
"You dance very well, Mr. Laurens." Eliza remarked as they glided across the floor.
"As do you, Miss Schuyler." Alexander smiled down at her. His heart hammered against his chest.
"Do you dance much in South Carolina?" She asked.
"Some." Alexander didn't want to lie to Eliza any more than he had to. "What do you do for fun, Miss Schuyler?"
"Oh." Eliza seemed surprised by this question. Alexander wondered if anyone had ever asked her such a question before. "I don't know. I go shopping in the city with my sisters fairly often. Sometimes, Angelica and I go to King's College and sneak into the library. She loves the books. I cook often, of course, and I help my mother run the house. I love children. I often look after my older brother's children."
Alexander realized that Eliza was beginning to list off domestic qualities which would make her appeal to a man as a potential wife. He shook his head, still smiling.
"I am sure that no one could run a better household than you, Miss Schuyler, but what do you do when you are not burdened with such obligations? Do you love books, like your sister? Do you prefer to shop for anything in particular?" He asked.
"I'm not sure I understand your meaning, Mr. Laurens." Eliza lowered her eyes demurely. "Why are you asking me these things?"
"I want to know everything about you, Miss Schuyler." Alexander's eyebrows furrowed. He hoped that he had not upset her. "Anyone can run a household. Only you can be Miss Elizabeth Schuyler."
"I…I love animals." Eliza looked at Alexander uncertainly. It was like she was waiting for Alexander's approval. He smiled at her gently. "And I enjoy listening to my sister read. I like riding horses. Sometimes I take the horse out by myself so that I don't have to ride sidesaddle!"
Alexander grinned down at Eliza. He loved her so much. He wished that he could hold her tighter. He wished that she would keep on talking forever. He wished that the night never had to end.
"I don't know why I told you that." Eliza confessed with a shy laugh.
"I'm glad that you did. I wish you would tell me everything, Miss Schuyler."
The song ended. Everyone clapped. Eliza curtseyed, her face red. Alexander bowed. Once he straightened his posture again, he clapped. He kept on smiling at Eliza. Her eyes were shining.
"I want to dance every dance with you, Miss Schuyler." Alexander told Eliza in a low voice.
"I'm flattered, Mr. Laurens." Eliza looked at the ground, blushing.
"I wish that you would call me Alexander." Alexander did not want Eliza to use John's last name anymore. He wanted this to feel real, even if it wasn't.
"Alexander." Eliza echoed, the corners of her mouth curving into a small smile. The traces of her dimples became visible. "It's a lovely name."
"Would you let me write you a poem?" Alexander asked. He had seen an office on his way to the ballroom. "I would really like to write you a poem."
"Right now? Right here?" Eliza looked around before looking up at Alexander again. She looked uncertain, but tempted. "Why, Alexander, I…"
"In the office." Alexander pleaded. The sound of Eliza saying his name was doing something unnatural to him. He took hold of her hand, pleading her with his eyes. "Where there's parchment and quills."
"I don't know if I should disappear with you." Eliza worried. "It would be terribly improper."
"I would never do you harm, Miss Schuyler." Alexander promised. He kept her hand in his, drawing her to the side of the ball room. As they walked, he noticed Angelica Schuyler's eyes on them. She seemed like a very protective older sister. "I just want to write you a poem. If anyone asked, you could always show them."
Eliza looked around, smiling shyly. "Okay."
Alexander did not wait around to be told twice. With a delighted smile, he hurried Eliza out of the ballroom and towards the office. If anyone noticed that they were leaving, they did not say so. Eliza giggled as their shoes clattered on the hallway floor.
They ran into the office. Alexander grabbed a piece of parchment and took a seat in the obviously expensive chair behind the desk. Eliza sat upon the chaise across the room, watching Alexander with an expression dangerously close to that of affection.
Before no mortal ever knew
A love like mine so tender, true,
Completely wretched - you away,
And but half blessed e'en while you stay.
If present love does face
Deny you to my fond embrace
No joy unmixed my bosom warms
But when my angel's in my arms.
Alexander acted as though he required a good amount of time to work out the words. In reality, he'd written this poem months ago. He had time enough to write dozens of poems about Eliza while waiting for a weekly sighting of her at the dock. He also liked the way that Eliza watched him while he wrote.
He spent the time that it took the quartet to play three songs working on the poem. When he was through, he rose to his feet and crossed the room. He handed the poem to Eliza. She accepted it shyly.
She started to read the first line. She looked up, noticing him standing before her. Still sporting the shy expression that was making Alexander's knees water, she patted the space beside her on the chaise.
"Why don't you sit?" She offered.
Alexander nodded, sitting at the very edge of the chaise. He wanted to be closer to her, of course, but he didn't want to scare her away. He watched her as she returned her attention to the parchment he'd handed her.
"I'm not as good with all of this as Angelica is," Eliza explained abashedly, her face reddening as she examined the parchment. "Poetry and words, I mean. I hope you'll forgive me for my ignorance."
"I will readily forgive you for all of your shortcomings, Miss Schuyler." Alexander assured her.
Eliza smiled as she read the rest of the poem.
It took her two and a half more songs to look up from the parchment. When she did, her eyes were brimming with tears. She turned to look at Alexander, her mouth curved into a smile of total adoration. It was a look that made Alexander want to kiss her.
"Alexander," She said. Her voice was full of a hushed reverence. "This is beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it." Alexander replied sheepishly.
"I love it." Eliza breathed. "I love…"
Their eyes met. Their sentiments were wordlessly exchanged.
I love you.
Eliza scooted closer to Alexander. Alexander watched her, afraid to hope for what he'd been wishing for since he'd first seen her. Once they were close enough that their legs brushed against each other, she leaned closer. Alexander could see lines where her dimples appeared etched into her cheeks. He could see where her makeup had started to smudge. He found himself leaning closer to her without meaning to.
She kissed him.
Alexander would never quite be able to believe it, but Eliza Schuyler was the one to kiss him. If she hadn't kissed him first, of course, he probably would have broken down and begged her to allow him to kiss her, but this was much better. This allowed no doubt that she wanted the kiss just as much as he did.
His brain felt like it was melting. Alexander only had one coherent thought before it completely shut down on him - he needed to make this Eliza's best kiss. He needed her to want to kiss him again. He leaned into the kiss, cupping the sides of her face with his hands.
"Eliza." Angelica Schuyler's voice caused Alexander and Eliza both to jump and look to the doorway with guilt-riddled faces. Alexander felt like a teenager who had just been caught in a compromising situation. He hadn't felt that way in years. Not since he had left for the colonies, anyway. The familiarity of the situation might have made him laugh, were he not concerned about ruining his and Eliza's reputation.
"Angelica, I -"
Angelica smiled. The smile was directed purely at Eliza. "Honey, we've got to go. Papa asked us to return home before midnight."
"Is it that late already?" Eliza looked around the room for a clock.
"Dinner did start late." Alexander provided unhelpfully. Angelica rolled her eyes at him.
"Mr. Laurens, I…" Eliza rose to her feet, but turned to look at Alexander before joining her sister. "I mean, Alexander - it was a pleasure meeting you. I do hope that you will write me."
"It would be my honor." Alexander agreed, also rising to his feet.
"Come on, Eliza." Angelica sounded like she might be laughing. She linked arms with Eliza after Eliza made her way to the doorway. Both girls started for the door. Alexander followed after them, leaving a few feet of distance between himself and the two sisters.
"Goodnight, Alexander." Eliza called as they were helped into their family carriage.
"Goodnight, Mr. Laurens." Angelica contributed.
"Goodnight, Miss Schuyler." Alexander said, far too quietly for either of them to hear as the carriage drove away.