"Hammie, I think we should call it." Hercules grunted.
Alexander and Hercules had been canvassing for five hours. They had fifty-two men sign their petition to form a company in the two weeks since they began canvassing. They needed sixty. Since they had begun canvassing that day, they'd received an additional man who had signed the petition with a false (and frankly, vulgar) name.
Alexander looked over at Hercules, frowning.
"What time is it?" He asked.
"You barely have time to make it, as it is." Hercules answered.
Every night since Eliza had discovered that Alexander was back in New York, he had been meeting her in the city at four o'clock. Her father had gone with General Washington's forces, leaving her and her sisters quite alone with their mother. In General Schuyler's absence, Alexander found that he did not mind walking Eliza home every evening. He still attempted to avoid Mrs. Schuyler, who might have known the Laurens family through her husband's connections, but there were even times when Mrs. Schuyler was out at the homes of her friends. When Mrs. Schuyler was out, Alexander would sometimes accept Eliza's requests that he join them for dinner.
Alexander sighed.
He knew that he could not miss walking with Eliza. She had come to rely on his company, and he found that he enjoyed hers far more than he had dreamt he would.
"All right." He said. "Will you meet me here tomorrow?"
Hercules sighed this time. He dropped his hand to his side, the parchment intended to collect signatures crumpling against his body.
"Hammie," He protested. "No one wants to join our company. Perhaps we should consider giving up and seeking non-leadership positions. I heard that General Washington is looking for spies…"
"No." Alexander argued.
He could not reach a position high enough to justify a proposal to Eliza by being one of General Washington's lackeys. If he was going to work for General Washington, he would have to be an officer.
"Then what is your plan?" Hercules demanded, very obviously frustrated.
"I could, uh…well, I could talk to Angelica Schuyler. She might have some ideas." Alexander replied, his tone a bit desperate.
Hercules rolled his eyes and shifted his weight from one foot to another. "How is Miss Schuyler going to help us recruit soldiers? She is a girl. Her only experience with recruitment is sending out invitations to dinner parties."
"I have to try." Alexander said. "I cannot go on without at least trying."
They both knew that if Alexander could not assemble a company, he would have to accept a lower position in the militia. He could not wait around for General Washington's employment and still maintain the appearance of a well-bred gentleman. Eliza would quickly see through the façade if he could not manage something so simple as an officer's commission.
Hercules let out a sigh and nodded.
"I have to renew my lease next month." He told Alexander. "I had been hoping that today would determine whether I was to remain in New York or not. I must know before the end of the month. We must have sixty men by then. I like you, Hammie, but I won't starve for you."
"I'll find sixty men by the end of the month." Alexander folded up his own parchment, full of lines for signatures that did not yet exist, and crammed them in the pocket of his breeches. "Just trust me, will you?"
"No, I will not trust you." Hercules frowned grimly. "But I'll wait."
"Good enough." Alexander agreed, walking backwards to indicate that he was forced to depart or otherwise miss walking Eliza home. "I'll see you tomorrow, Herc!"
"You are out of your mind, Hammie." Hercules said just loud enough for Alexander to hear as he hurried towards the opposite end of town.
"There you are!" Eliza smiled brightly as Alexander came hurrying into sight. "I was beginning to think that you were indisposed and unable to walk me home this afternoon."
"I could never be too busy to walk you home, Miss Schuyler." Alexander replied, bending over to kiss her hand.
Their greetings had grown rather familiar over the days in which they had known one another. Alexander had never been happier.
"Were you successful with your canvassing today?" Eliza asked, placing her hand on Alexander's arm as they began to walk towards the Schuyler mansion.
"There was less interest than we were expecting, but I believe that we will have the numbers we need before the end of the month." Alexander replied, glancing down at his shoes to avoid meeting Eliza's eyes while he lied to her.
He did hope that he and Hercules would find a sufficient amount of men to patch together a company before Hercules' lease ran out. However, He was less certain of the possibility than he was projecting to both Hercules and Eliza.
"I will be sorry when you leave." Eliza professed in a small voice.
Alexander looked to her in surprise. He could not imagine Eliza Schuyler experiencing sorrow over his absence. He could not imagine meaning so much to such a woman. He considered himself the luckiest of men.
"I will be sorry to leave." He said carefully. "But in my absence, I will write you letters in the hopes that they provide you with a small amount of comfort and company."
"You will write?" Eliza looked as though Alexander had said something wonderful. "Do you promise?"
"I promise." Alexander replied without hesitation.
He remembered the first time that Eliza had granted him permission to correspond. With each letter he addressed to her, he felt a twinge of pleasure in his chest. He would not have given up such an honor for anything in the world.
"Oh, Mr. Laurens!" Angelica called as the Schuyler mansion came into sight. She had been waiting for them. "There you are. Thank you for delivering my sister home safely. Will you stay for supper? My mother is not home, but the servants have made roasted lamb."
Angelica had taken to sitting outside of the mansion around the time that Alexander walked Eliza home. She would warn Alexander in advance if Mrs. Schuyler was around, or not. She understood Alexander's need to avoid Mrs. Schuyler.
"I would like it very much if you would stay. I feel as though I should enjoy your company as much as I can before you leave." Eliza contributed. She hadn't removed her hand from Alexander's arm yet. She looked up at him with big, brown eyes. Alexander was helpless to resist them.
"How could I refuse such a request?" He wondered, allowing the corner of his mouth to tilt into a smile. "I would be delighted to stay for supper."
Eliza smiled brightly. Alexander was momentarily silenced by the smile. He could not think of a single thing to say; any words remaining in his head were entirely about her lips, and how he'd like to kiss them.
Angelica cleared her throat. Alexander tore his eyes away from Eliza with great difficulty. Eliza dropped her hand from his arm, but continued smiling.
"Eliza, would you like to change into a fresh dress for supper?" Angelica suggested, casting Eliza a pointed look. Dirt and dust had kicked up during their walk back to the Schuyler mansion. The hem of her dress was now entirely brown.
"Oh." Eliza looked down at her dress. Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. "Yes, I suppose I had better! Mr. Laurens, I hope that you will excuse me."
"Do not worry, Eliza. I will keep Mr. Laurens company while you prepare yourself for supper." Angelica looked Alexander over with a wolfish smile. Alexander glanced down at his shoes in the hopes of hiding his own smile.
"Thank you." Eliza looked to Alexander one last time before hurrying into the mansion.
Once the door swung shut behind Eliza, Alexander allowed himself to look at Angelica. She was still watching him, her head cocked to the side. She gestured for him to join her on the porch, where there were a dozen wicker chairs. Alexander obliged her. They both took a seat beside one another.
"How many men did you recruit today?" Angelica asked.
Alexander sighed and shook his head.
"One." Alexander replied. He winced, remembering the fake name that the man had written, instead of his own. "Sort of."
"All right." Angelica said. "So now you have fifty three men, sort of. How much time do you have left to get the amount that you need?"
"Herc's lease runs out in a month. We need sixty men by then, or he will stay in New York. Presumably, I will be forced to stay, too." Alexander replied.
"That should not be so hard, should it? If you found fifty three men, sort of, in two weeks, you should be able to find the remaining seven men within the next month." Angelica reasoned.
Alexander frowned. He looked down at his hands, interlocked between his legs.
"It should not be." He agreed dismally. "However, I fear that we have already engaged every willing man in the city. We were canvassing for hours today and received only a single name - a false name."
"It cannot be that bad." Angelica said, frowning.
"I am afraid that it is." Alexander replied, his shoulders slumping. "I do not dare tell Eliza such things, but it is only a matter of time until she finds out. Your father could never permit me her hand if I am nothing more than a lawyer or a foot soldier."
"What if…I helped?" Angelica suggested, casting Alexander a sidelong glance.
"You?" Alexander could not hide his surprise. "How could you help?"
"I will blame your poor breeding for that comment." Angelica's eyes narrowed.
"I apologize." Alexander felt his face redden slightly.
He had become accustomed to being around Hercules, John, and Aaron; he had become desensitized to their biting remarks and pointed jokes. Angelica was constantly having to remind him to consider his words more carefully.
"If I am not mistaken, I believe that I am something of an attraction in the city." Angelica said.
Alexander quirked an eyebrow and tilted his head, silently accepting this statement. Angelica was the most eligible woman in all of New York, if not the country. She was beautiful, charming, witty, and everyone knew that her husband would receive a staggering dowry. Every man at the loading docks had asked Alexander to introduce them to Angelica, once it became known that he was well-acquainted with her.
"I believe the men of New York would be more amenable to my suggestion that they join your company than they would be yours." Angelica continued.
"Perhaps." Alexander allowed grudgingly.
"Then we are agreed." Angelica said briskly, rising to her feet. Alexander rose to his feet, as well.
"Well, I suppose, but…" Alexander faltered.
He did not like the idea of Angelica canvassing alongside of him. It made him feel small. He did not want to have to ask Angelica to resolve his own shortcomings. He wanted to earn his position in the world for himself.
"Dinner should be ready by now. I would like for you to join me at the table. Eliza should be ready to join us in the next minute or two." Angelica threw open the doors to the mansion and walked in, leaving no room for Alexander to argue.
"Very well." Alexander mumbled to himself, following Angelica into the mansion.
"Have you lost your mind?" Hercules demanded the moment that he caught sight of Alexander and Angelica.
"Nearly." Alexander joked.
"Mr. Hamilton told me that you were having some trouble recruiting men for your company." Angelica spoke up. She looked Hercules directly in the eye. "I thought that I might be able to assist you."
"How are you going to assist us?" Hercules wondered.
Hearing the words from another man's mouth made Alexander appreciate what had offended Angelica in the first place. It was a rather condescending thing to say.
"Hello, Miss Schuyler." A passerby stopped long enough to bow and smile in Angelica's direction.
"Hello, Mr. Seaburn." Angelica turned to smile at the gentleman. When she smiled that way, two dimples appeared on her cheeks. They matched Eliza's. Alexander smiled at the thought of Eliza.
The man, Seaburn, came to a stop. He adjusted his stance, positioning himself nearer to Angelica. His intentions were made clear by the way that he leaned closer to her. He did not seem to even notice Alexander or Hercules.
"What brings you to the city today, Miss Schuyler?" He asked.
"As it happens, I am accompanying two dear friends of mine. Have you met Alexander Hamilton and Hercules Mulligan?" Angelica gestured to Alexander and Hercules with a charming smile.
Alexander suddenly became aware of the beauty that every other man in New York was half-mad over.
"I have not had the pleasure." Seaburn shook both Alexander and Hercules' hands in turn. He looked them over, evaluating how much of a threat they posed to his chances with Angelica.
"They are attempting to start a company." Angelica said as Seaburn's attention returned to her. She looked to Alexander, her eyes dark and alluring. "I find very few things more attractive than a man fighting for the patriot cause. It is a good thing, too. I daresay my father would never approve of a man who did not fight a day in the war. How could he, when my family has already given so much to the cause?"
"Is that so?" Seaburn looked to Alexander suspiciously.
Alexander blinked, unsure if he ought to say something. Angelica was making it seem as though Alexander was courting her. He did not see how that would increase the goodwill any of the gentlemen in the city felt for him.
"Exactly so! Although, I am sure that my father's demands have no bearing on Mr. Hamilton's hopes to join the militia. He is courting my sister, you know." Angelica told Seaburn conspiratorially.
"Your sister." Seaburn's face lit up with relief. He glanced at Alexander again. All of the suspicion was gone from his face. "Congratulations, Mr. Hamilton. She is the finest lady in all of New York."
Clearly, he did not believe the words he said. He was looking at Angelica with an eagerness that could not be reserved for any lady other than the one he favored. Alexander did not mind. He did not wish for any more competition for Eliza's hand than he already had.
"Thank you." Alexander nodded towards Seaburn slightly.
"Perhaps, ah…" Seaburn removed his hat and began worrying at it with his fingers. He looked from Angelica to Alexander. "Perhaps I might join your company. I have been considering joining the militia for some time now, but did not want to be placed on the front lines. Say, what kind of company will you run?"
"Artillery." Alexander answered.
Hercules nodded beside Alexander. He had been rather neglected during throughout the conversation. He just watched the interaction with a stony expression.
"That is not a fighting position, is it?" Seaburn wondered.
"No." Alexander replied quickly. "We would be responsible for the cannons and the guns. Reloading them, transporting them, firing them…"
"Hey, I think that I would be rather good at that." Seaburn remarked. "Do you have room in your company for one more, Mr. Hamilton?"
"Certainly. If you could please sign your name here." Alexander handed Seaburn the parchment full of names, along with a pencil.
Seaburn quickly etched his name into the parchment, then turned to look at Angelica.
"I suppose I will be leaving town soon." He remarked.
Angelica's smile had grown less charming, now that Seaburn had signed the paper. Her use for him, it seemed, was gone.
"Your absence will be felt." She told him without much conviction. "But I am certain that Mr. Hamilton will keep you safe until you return home to New York."
"Will you write me when I am gone?" Seaburn pressed.
Alexander glanced at Hercules. Hercules rolled his eyes. Alexander nodded his agreement.
"Of course I will." Angelica's tone was bordering on outright irritation now. "I will write to you every night."
Seaburn smiled, not seeming to realize that his emotions had been utilized for Angelica's purposes.
"Perhaps -"
"Mr. Seaburn." Angelica interjected in a clipped tone. "I am afraid that I am holding Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Mulligan back by favoring you so openly. They were hoping to find a few more men for their company. You do not want to be the only one marching behind these fine gentlemen, do you?"
Alexander tried not to smirk as Seaburn looked from him to Hercules.
"Well, no. I suppose not…" Seaburn replied uncertainly.
"Then I am afraid I must take my leave of you." Angelica worked up another charming smile. "If you will excuse me, Mr. Seaburn."
Seaburn bowed as Angelica led Alexander and Hercules away from him.
Once they were out of earshot, Angelica let out a laugh. Alexander joined in her laughter, unable to resist. Angelica Schuyler had one of the most contagious laughs he had ever heard. Hercules smiled; even he was not immune to Angelica's charms.
"I cannot imagine why you were so concerned about getting men to sign up!" Angelica giggled as they walked down the street. "Men are so foolish, they will sign their names to just about anything so long as they believe it is their idea."
"Jesus, Hammie." Hercules remarked, shaking his head. "Why didn't you think to invite her sooner?"
With Angelica's help, Alexander and Hercules received one-hundred and thirty-six signatures in five hours. That gave them command over a force of one-hundred and eighty-nine men, minus the fake name.
Within a week of submitting the petition, Alexander received a letter. It was from George Washington himself. He tore open the envelope, his mouth watering for a position under Washington's command.
Captain Hamilton,
Congratulations on assembling an artillery company in New York. I am told that it is one of the largest artillery forces in the country. I am certain that your enterprising qualities and your manpower will be of great use to your country during this war.
It is my desire that you join my forces near Philadelphia. Your formidable forces will be of great use to me there. Congress will provide any funds required to move your forces.
Respectfully,
G. Washington
P.S. This note was dictated by General Washington, written in the hand of John Laurens. Hello, Alexander! I look forward to seeing you in Philadelphia!
Alexander could hardly believe what he was reading. General Washington had not only taken notice of his troops - he had requested that they join him. He had written to Alexander himself - or, at least, he had dictated to Alexander himself - to invite Alexander to join his forces.
"I must tell Eliza." He murmured to himself.
He slipped the letter under his straw mattress, where no prying eyes might find it, then hurried towards his wardrobe to grab more suitable attire. He quickly changed out of his ragged clothes and into the finer officer's uniform that Hercules had made for the two of them.
He borrowed Firebrand from the inn and rode over to the Schuyler mansion. He knew that both Eliza and Angelica would be home. Angelica had told him the day before that they would be entertaining a family friend before he left to become an aide for General Montgomery.
"Mr. Laurens." One of the servants outside of the mansion - a friendly man named Jack - recognized him on sight. Alexander smiled as he dismounted his horse.
"Hello, Jack." Alexander greeted the servant. "Are the ladies seated for supper yet?"
"They just went inside." Jack replied, grinning. "I'll take your horse if you wanna go on in."
"Thank you." Alexander nodded to Jack before moving towards the house.
Another servant, a man named Freddy, opened the front door after Alexander knocked. He did not ask who Alexander wanted to see, or if he was expected. He simply opened the door and gestured for Alexander to enter the mansion. He did not ask if Alexander wanted to be introduced. He knew by now that Alexander preferred to stroll into the dining room and announce himself.
"Hello," Alexander called as he rounded the corner into the dining room. He knew that Mrs. Schuyler was staying with family friends through the week, so he did not worry about the volume of his voice.
He did not worry about the family friend visiting the Schuylers. He assumed it was another soldier who was heartsick over Angelica. He doubted very much that such a man would pay attention to him.
He was wrong not to worry.
Aaron Burr was sitting between Angelica and Eliza. He grinned at the sight of Alexander.
"Hamilton." He said, rising from his seat. "It's good to see you! What are you doing here?"
Alexander felt all of the blood in his body rush to his feet. He nearly shuddered at the sensation. He glanced at Angelica. She looked mortified.
"Hamilton?" Eliza glanced up at Aaron, her brows furrowing and her mouth curving into a curious smile. "Colonel Burr, I am afraid you are mistaken. This is Alexander Laurens. You may know his cousin, Colonel John Laurens."
Aaron laughed. Alexander knew that he was ruined. Angelica was covering her eyes with her hands.
"What are you talking about? Of course this is Hamilton! I would recognize this man anywhere." Aaron remarked. "Perhaps you misunderstood your introduction. I would not be surprised; before Colonel Laurens departed for General Washington's camp, he and Hamilton were damn near inseparable."
"Excuse me. I must have been mistaken." Eliza's smile had evaporated. She rose from her seat, the wooden legs of the chair scraping against the hardwood floor. She stalked out of the dining room without another look at Alexander.
Everyone watched Eliza leave the room. Once she was gone, Aaron looked from Angelica to Alexander curiously. Angelica had yet to remove her hands from her eyes. Alexander's ears were ringing.
"I…I'm sorry. Did I say something wrong?" Aaron asked no one in particular.
Alexander turned on his heel and followed after Eliza. He did not care to explain Aaron's blunder to him. It did not matter; not when Eliza was so obviously injured.
"Eliza?" He poked his head in every room he passed in the hallway. He could not find any sign of her. "Eliza?"
Finally, he spotted her through a window. She was in the garden. She had her arms wrapped around herself and was pacing back and forth. Alexander's panic morphed into something far more palpable - guilt.
He pushed through the doors and into the garden.
"Eliza." He said.
Eliza spun around. Her eyes were red. Tear streaks framed her face. Her mouth was bunched up into a tight pout, but her lips wobbled as she struggled against another bout of tears. Guilt threatened to cripple Alexander.
"There you are, Mr. Laurens. Or should I say, Mr. Hamilton?" Her voice was unsteady. Her tone was raw. Alexander hung his head.
"I am sorry." He said.
It seemed a woefully inadequate thing to say, but it was all he could think of. He could think of no words to weasel his way out of this mess.
"Why did you tell me that your last name was Laurens? Why did you lie to me?" Eliza asked.
Alexander shook his head.
"Isn't it obvious?" He replied. "My name is not known to families like yours. I do not have sufficient letters of introduction for your father, nor do I have appropriate connections to secure an invitation to any of the social events you attend. I wanted to meet you. Lying was the only way."
"And why is it that you wanted to meet me? Did you want my father's money?" Eliza demanded.
"What? No! No, of course not. I wanted nothing more than to meet you." Alexander protested.
"Oh, please. If you were to tell me such a tale about wanting to meet Angelica, I might believe you, but me? It must have been the money seducing you!" Eliza shook her head.
"Eliza, be fair." Alexander said.
"I would prefer that you call me Miss Schuyler." Eliza tilted her chin and narrowed her eyes. She resembled Angelica when she was angry. "And I do not think I owe you any amount of fairness. How fair was it to lie to me about who you were? About loving me?"
"I did not lie about loving you - only about my name!" Alexander exclaimed.
"I think that you should leave, Mr. Hamilton." Eliza proclaimed. She turned her back to Alexander again. Her shoulders hunched in a way that suggested a fresh batch of tears were on their way.
"Eliza." Alexander took a step towards her.
"I said, leave." Eliza's tone hit a level of venom that Alexander had not previously thought her capable of. Alexander was so startled by it that he stumbled back into the mansion without a second thought.
He nearly collided with Angelica in the hallway. She had been standing there, apparently watching their argument.
"Is she…" Angelica started.
Alexander shook his head.
He began to walk towards the front door. Angelica followed him. They walked slowly. Alexander was hoping that Eliza might change her mind and catch him before he left. Angelica seemed to have an uncharacteristic amount of patience for him.
As they stepped out of the mansion, Angelica reached for Alexander's hand. Her hand felt warm against the coolness of the night. Alexander accepted this rather forward act for what it was; a friend comforting another friend on the loss of a lover.
"So, she doesn't love you…" Angelica ventured as they approached the stable. She looked at Alexander, demanding his attention. Her eyes glinted in the moonlight. She made an attempt at a watery smile. "Is that really so bad?"
Alexander glanced back at the mansion and shook his head.
"I do not know what I will do without her." He replied.
"Perhaps you might find someone else." Angelica suggested. She gave Alexander's hand a squeeze. "Someone who you might learn to love. Someone who might love you without the pretense of the Laurens name."
Alexander gently pulled his hand out of Angelica's grasp.
"Goodnight, Angelica." He said.
He walked into the stable, leaving her standing alone in the night air.
I'm back! Be gentle with me; I'm easing my way back into this story. The characterization might be a little off, and the style may be a bit different than when I left off, but I'm trying. I figure with everyone being shut in their houses for the next month or so, I may as well use the time to finish up some of my unfinished fics.
Any input is appreciated, and nagging is always welcome if I start to fall off the writing wagon again!