I smiled at the new forming flowers as I hurried down the stair and paused as I saw my Papa talking to someone I have never seen before. He was about my age as he shook my Papa's hand. Papa saw me and the man turned around. "Theo my dear. I would like you to meet Mister George Eacker." Papa said as Eacker turned to face me.
"Miss Theodosia." He said bowing as I straighten up as I brushed my skirt off.
"Mister Eacker…" I said as Papa looked at me.
"Mister Eacker wanted to ask your hand to attend the Spring Festival with him." Papa said as I thought back to the letter from Philip saying to meet him at the clock tower so that we could see each other for the first time since the winter.
"Um Papa. I was going to attended the Spring Festival with Angelica and her siblings." I said as Mister Eacker took a step towards me.
"Miss Burr I would be honored if you were to go with me." Mister Eacker said as I took a deep breath.
"Theodosia why don't you accompany George to the festival." Papa said as I nodded.
"Alright, just let me go make myself look more presentable." I said as I curtsied and left. I walked up the stairs and patted my dog Figaro on the head as I started to adjust my brown and floral over dress and started to put on my favorite brown and sunflower hat as I looked at Philip's secret letter on my writing table.
"My dearest, Theodosia
Spring has finally arrived and now I am able to see you. I have missed seeing your face. Meet me by the clock tower such as normal. I hope that I can see you at the Festival.
~ P. Ham
I held the letter to my chest as I took a deep breath. I put the letters in its normal stop. I walked down the stairs and smoothed down my dress.
"Shall we, Miss?" Eacker as extending his hand. I nodded and took his hand. We walked out of the house as I opened my parasol. "You look quite lovely today Miss. Burr." Eacker said trying to flatter me.
"Thank you Mister. Eacker." I said giving him a small false smile. We arrived in the town as I smiled at the children running past us as I saw Angelica with her younger brother John and William.
"Angelica!" I shrieked excitedly as I ran away from Eacker and over to her.
"Theo! It has been too long." Angie said excited as I giggled. "Why is George Eacker looking at you like that?" Angie asked as I looked around.
"My father told me that I should accompany Mister. Eacker to the Spring Festival." I said lowly as I heard Eacker calling my name. "I should go. Tell Philip I'll meet him by the clock as soon as I can." I said quietly as she nodded. "Sorry George, I wanted to catch up with a friend of mine." I said as he nodded.
"Let's us grab something to snack on." Eacker said as he roughly grabbed my arm.
"George why don't you meet me in the park. I was going to wander with Angelica for a moment. I will wander with her for a bit then I will spend the rest of the afternoon with you." I said as he smiled at me and nodded.
"Alright, my dear. I will meet you in the park." Eacker said as I nodded, he walked away as I turned back to Angelica.
"Go, meet with your Romeo." Angelica said as I hugged her excitedly.
"Thank you my dearest Angelica." I said as I hurried away. I walked to the clock tower as I saw Philip.
"Dear Theodosia, I have missed you so much." Philip said as he embraced me.
"I have missed you also Philp. We must make this quick. My father has made me George Eacker to the festival." I said as he rolled his eyes.
"I have something for you." Philip said as he pulled out a small ring from his back pocket.
"Oh Philip, this is gorgeous." I said as he put the ring in my hand.
"I wanted to give you this for Christmas. But when our fathers fought at the Christmas Ball, my father told me never to speak to your father or you again." Philip said as I looked at him.
"Why must they hate each other." I said as he held me close to him.
"Love springs from hate." Philip said as I blushed.
"Philip you make me blush." I said as he looked at me.
"I should be going. If I don't hurry to the park, then Eacker will be looking for me." I said as I took a step back.
"I will have Angelica send you a letter later today." Philip said as he pecked my cheek. I burned bright red as I fixed my hat and hurried away. I let go of his hand and walked into the park where I saw Eacker waiting with a basket. I walked over to him as I brushed off my skirt as I approached him.
"Mister. Eacker." I said curtsying.
"Miss. Burr, you are still as radiate as the sun." Eacker said as I sat next to him.
"Mister Eacker, you are quite a charmer…" I said as I took a bit of a slice of meat. I ate quietly as Mister Eacker kept trying to sway me into talking. I would nod along to keep him from getting even more annoying. "Mister. Eacker. I would like to go enjoy some of the festivities on my own for the evening. I promised Angelica I would meet with her." I said as I got up.
"Of course my dear. I will allow you to be in company of Miss. Hamilton." He said as the word Hamilton came out bitterly.
"Thank you." I said as brushed off the grass. I started to walk away as Eacker started to whistle at me. I blushed and hurried into town. I saw Angie helping her little brother Will pick some flowers.
"Angelica." I called out as I hurried to my friend.
"You finally ditched Eacker." Angie asked giggling as I nodded.
"He is such a boar. He only wants to be with me because of my father and his position to put wealth in the pockets of men like him." I said as I pushed my hair behind my ear as Philip walked towards us.
"Philip what are you doing?" Angie asked as I started to act fluster.
"Ma sent us here for the younger boys to have a bit of fun. Why not take them to the pond where the sail boats are at." Philip said as the younger boy jumped in excitement.
"Philip can we? Can we please go to the sailboats?!" The youngest asked jumping up and down. Philip laughed and picked the young boy up.
"Yes young Willie. But calm down. Come along John. Let's go to the sailboats." Philip said as we all walked to the park and to the pond as Philip put his brother down and the boy ran to the pond where toy sailboats were sailing around. Angelica and I watched as he helped his brothers push their boats into the water.
"Angie look at my boat." Little William said proudly as Angelica clapped cheerfully.
"Willie that boat is superb." Angelica said as I smiled at Philip helping his other brother. "Miss Theo. Look at my boat." John said pointing to his boat.
"It looked like it sailing quite nicely John." I said as Philip smiled at me.
"John be careful not to fall into the water." Angie said warningly as John tried to reach into water.
"Philip please don't let him fall in." I said as Philip grabbed the boat and handed to his brother. I smiled at him as Philip smiled back at me, making my stomach flutter with butterflies and my face flush bright red. I watch the sun start to set as the light hit the water. I smiled at the sunset as I saw people starting to set up for the fireworks.
"Theodosia?!" Eacker said calling out for me as I sighed and turned to him.
"Mister. Eacker, are you enjoying the boats?" I asked as I turned to face him.
"Yes I was enjoying the wood boats. I was thinking it would be best if I escort you home." Eacker said catching me off guard.
"I was going to stay a bit longer. Watch the fireworks and enjoy the night." I said as Eacker shook his head.
"Your father said it would best like it if you were not in the company of people such as these." Eacker said as I looked at him shocked.
"How dare you. These people are my friends. I would advise you to leave me alone." I said as he looked at me and took a step towards me.
"Eacker you leave her alone." Philip said getting over protective as I turned to see Angelica trying to restrain her brother.
"It's alright Philip. Alright then I will go home." I said trying to diffuse the situation. I said goodbye to Angelica and her brothers as I turned back to Eacker and started to walk home.
"You should find better company my dear. That boy is scoundrel." Eacker said as I looked at him.
"Why should I bother listening to an egotistic ignorant cockroach like yourself!?" I asked indignantly as I turned to face him angered.
"Because Miss. Burr your father thinks it would be best if you and I were to court and be married." Eacker said as my jaw dropped and I covered it with my hand
"My father would never marry to a stranger." I said as I picked my skirt up above my ankles and walked up the steps onto my porch. "Thank you for escorting me home Mister. Eacker. But I will be taking my leave now." I said bitterly as I gave him a curt curtsy and walked into my home.
"Miss. Theo how was your day at the festival?" Mandy asked as she took my parasol.
"It was alright. Is my father home?" I asked as I heard my father walk out of his study.
"Ah my little Theo. How was the festival with Mister Eacker?" Papa asked as I brushed off my skirt.
"He told me you want me to court him." I said shocked as he looked at me and nodded.
"I think it would be best if you two were to court and marry." Papa said as I crossed my arms.
"Papa, that man is rude and only wants to be with me because of your positon and wealth." I said as Papa shook his head.
"Theo, you are nineteen years old. I think it would be best if you marry someone suitable such as George." Papa said as I shook my head.
"Papa, I want to marry out of love." I said as Papa shook his head.
"Love takes time Theodosia. You will come to love George soon." Papa said as I sighed.
"I am feeling ill. Do you mind if I retire to my room?" I asked as Papa nodded. I curtsied and hurried to my bedroom where I saw Figgie resting contently on my bed as I closed the door softly behind my door. "Oh Figgie. Things are turning so bad. Papa is making me see that dreadful George Eacker." I said as I sat on my bed and pet my cocker spaniel on the head as I toyed with the green ribbon with the gold coin on his neck with his name engraved on it. Figgie put his head in my lap as I smiled down at him. "I don't want to love that dreadful clod. I want to love Philip." I said as I got up and Figgie jump down as I started to unlace my dress and stepped out of it. I slipped into my night dress and sat down at my vanity. I brushed my hair out from the stiff bun as I sighed. I put my silver hairbrush down and got up. I went over to my fireplace and pulled down my box of letters from Philip and smile as I pulled out some of our old letters.
"Dearest Theodosia
Winter is growing colder and Kings College is much longer now that my only motivation for getting through my classes is to read any incoming letters that you sent through my sister. My mother and father are pressing me into thinking about my courses and what I want to do. I do miss you and your smile. Every night when I am drifting off to sleep you are always on my side my dear. I wish we can tell our parents but then I remember your father is my political enemy and that my father would shot him and me. But love springs from hate and soon we will be able to tell my parents and your father about us.
Yours for the keeping
~ P. Ham"
"Theodosia,
The last later you sent to me, had my heart beat louder than the crack of the church bells ringing. I pray that God will let me see you soon. Only having to read your letters is driving me up the wall. My mother asks why I am so pensive and only read letters that she has never send delivered that she never had seen. She doesn't ask too many questions. I hope that you are well my Juliet. Till we meet again.
~P. Ham"
I kept reading till my eyes started to give out. I held them close to my chest and I smiled. I folded them neatly and put them back into my jewelry book and climbed into bed. I closed my eyes as I heard the fireworks in the distance as I drifted to sleep happily as Figgie slept right next to me.
Philip Hamilton POV
"Eacker has some nerve telling Theodosia when she should do." I said ranting as Angelica slapped my arm.
"Will you please stop and rant when we arrive home and are in private." Angie said as I shook my head.
"Philip, did you like the festival?" William asked as he grabbed my hand and tugged on it. I looked down at him and smiled.
"I did, I liked the wooden boats and how it was a fun to see you be a sailor." I said to him as he laughed and caught up to John. "Angie, she did not want to go with him. She wanted to stay and watch the fireworks. But Eacker is such a pretentious little pain in the- Ouch Angelic!" I said as Angelica pinched me as Willie and John turned to face me.
"Were you going to say a naughty word Philip?" Willie asked me with child-like curiosity.
"No, I was not. It's not very gentlemen like to swear in front of ladies." I said as I picked him up. We arrived home and walked into our home as Ma and Pops walked out of the drawing room. I put him down as they ran towards them.
"Mama! Mama! We got to play with sailboats!" William and John said in excitement as Pops picked up William.
"You got to see sailboat little Willie?" Pops asked as I took off my coat.
"Were the boys well behaved?" Ma asked Angelica as she put her hands on her hips.
"It wasn't the little boys I had to worry about. It was Philip." Angelica said telling on me as Ma turned to face me.
"What did you do?" She asked confused.
"I didn't do anything this time. I nearly wanted to push George Eacker into the pond and hope he sink. But I didn't…" I said muttering under my breath as Ma slapped the back of my head lightly.
"You know I hate when you mutter. Now go get ready for bed all of you." Ma said sternly as we all nodded and hurried out. I walked into my room and unbutton my shirt so it flowed loose around my chest. I pulled out a small wood chest I had under my bed that contained all of Theo and I's letters. I pulled some of them out and read her faint cursive writing that she wrote to me.
"Master Hamilton
How our secret meetings and letter correspondence makes this seem like an adventure, With every letter I have written or have received from you, I hold close to me. My father does ask why Angelica writes me so often as she does when it has your letters. Your writing feels my senses and your words have left me defenseless from my feeling for you to grow. I do wish to see you but with snow storms. Father has forbidden me from going into town in fear I will get hurt in the storm. I miss seeing your smile and feeling you embrace.
Yours to cherish
~T. Burr
"Dearest Philip
How deardful this winter is. I am starting to go mad without anything to do. I have finished all of my studies and I am now helping organize my father's office and his papers. Mister Jefferson came by, He and my Father had a lengthy conversation with Mister James Madison from Virginia. That is what my days have come to. Playing hostess for my father's political playmates. I would rather be riding or be anywhere but here. But soon the flowers with bloom and I will see your face. Soon you will be moments away not snowstorms away.
Yours to cherish
~T. Burr"
I read as I heard her voice and put them back. I changed into my night clothes and climbed into bed.