I woke up with Figgie barking at my bedroom door as Mandy walked in.
"Hush now fuzz ball you will wake up Miss. Theodosia." Mandy said as Figgie growled at her. I sat up and whistled to Figgie. He turned around and ran to me and jumped up.
"Silly little thing." I said patting him on the head.
"Mister Eacker is here to see you miss." Mandy said as I groaned and laid back down.
"I don't wish to see him." I said as Mandy opened my closet and pulled out my dark brown riding skirt and a long sleeve brown tweed and fur jacket.
"Your father is also requesting to see you." Mandy said as I sat up.
"He is making me spend time with Eacker isn't he?" I asked as Mandy shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know miss. I was sent to get your ready. Manny is saddling Coal up for you to ride Miss." Mandy said as I nodded.
"Mandy, Emmanuel and Sarah's father. Did you love him when you married him?" I asked as Mandy nodded.
"With all of my heart Miss. I've always loved my Samson. It killed me when he went off to the war but when he came back it was the happiest day of my life." Mandy said as she brushed a piece of her dark hair behind her ear. "Are you in love Miss?" Mandy asked as I looked at her.
"What I say to you now may not be spoken to no one else. Especially even my father." I said as she nodded. "Of course." Mandy said as I got up.
"I am in love… But to who is what my father would be most disapproved of. It's Master Hamilton son is whom I love, but my father does not know. Please Mandy do not tell him or let him see any of the letters." I said as she nodded excitedly.
"Oh Miss Theodosia, I won't even tell my dear Samson. But what about Mister Eacker?" She asked as she helped tie my stay.
"I don't know about him. I certainly do not love that foolish man." I slipped into my boots and I fixed my hair into a braid. I walked downstairs and saw Eacker talking with my father.
"She wants to marry out of love Mister. Eacker, but you do offer my Theodosia a good life." Papa said as I cleared my throat. "Ah, Theo." Papa said as he turned and saw me. "Mister. Eacker wanted to take you on an early morning ride." Papa said as I folded my hands in my lap.
"Alright…" I said quietly.
"Let's ride my dear." Eacker said extending his hand to help me down the stairs. I hurried outside to see Manny holding the reins of Coal as I got on. I felt Eacker put his hands on my waist as I nearly fell back in shock. "Let me help you mount my dear. You nearly fell." He said as I shook my head.
"I can mount myself Mister. Eacker, thank you." I said bitterly as I mounted myself with ease as Manny handed me the reins. "Thank Emanuel." I said as he bowed. He hurried to Eacker's horse and gave him his reins. I started to ride as Eacker got next to me.
"Would you like to go to the riverbank?" Eacker asked as I shook my head no.
"No…" I said as he looked at me in shock.
"Alright, I have an idea. Follow me." Eacker said as I started to ride slowly as we rode into the woods as the path became muddier and I knew where we were.
"I don't think we should go this way. It is still muddy and the horses will slip." I said as I stopped Coal.
"Take a risk darling. The horses will be fine. I am an excellent horseman." Eacker said as I refused to move.
"I am not risking my horse breaking its neck for you to prove yourself." I said stubbornly. He grabbed my reins and startled me as Coal reared back and took off into fiery gallop. I screamed as Coal ran towards the river bank. I tried to jump off but my boot was stuck in the stirrup. Coal slipped into a deep part of the river as I was greeted by cold water and I fell off into the rushing river. I tried to swim upwards but my foot got caught in my skirt. I clawed my way to the top of the water as someone jumped into the water and helped me out of the water. I coughed up water as I finally rubbed my eyes and saw the figure jump into the river and helped Coal out of the river. I finally had clear vison and saw Philip drenched in water.
"Theodosia Burr, you scared the living hell out of me." Philip said falling to his knees and embracing me tightly as I spit out some water.
"Where… i-is… Eacker?" I asked slightly dazed.
"I haven't seen him. I heard you screaming when I was chopping some fire wood not far from here. I ran and saw your horse slip into the river. I ran and managed to jump in the water in time." Philip said as I cried into his shoulder as he rubbed my back. "Can you stand up?" Philip asked as I barely nodded. He helped me stand up as I nearly fell to the ground. Philip caught me and picked me up as if I weighed nothing and put me the higher ground. "I'll get the horse just stay there." Philip said as I nodded.
"Okay…" I said as he helped Coal out of the river and to where I was. Philip helped me stand up and get me onto Coal. I could barely hold myself up. I was shivering as I felt a deep chill in my bone. We started to walk back from the woods.
"Why were you with Eacker?" Philip asked as I saw my house in the distance as Eacker and my father rode towards me.
"Theodosia! Oh thank the lord you are safe. Hamilton! What happened to my daughter?!" Papa asked as he pulled me off of Coal gently as Eacker pushed my hair back pretending he was not the reason I was in the river.
"Her horse fell into the river sir. I jumped into save her." Philip said as Papa held me close to him.
"Hamilton, get home before you catch your death. Mister. Eacker, please take my Theo's horse to the stable and then see yourself out." Papa said as I tried to keep myself as close to him as possible to keep warm as he picked me up. He ran into the house as Mandy and her husband Samson hurried out from the back room in the kitchen. "Mandy draw a hot bath for Theodosia. Samson fetch the doctor." Papa said as he started to carry me to my room. Figgie jumped down and ran over to what was happening as Mandy and her little girl Sarah filled a bathtub with steamy water.
"Master. Burr, Sir. I think Sarah and I can take care of Miss. Theodosia now sir." Mandy said as Papa nodded. He put me down on my bed as I tried to stand up.
"Miss. Theo, are you alright." Little Sarah asked as I barely nodded.
"Sarah, grab one of Miss. Theodosia long sleeve night dresses." Mandy ordered her daughter as Mandy helped me stand and undressed me. She helped me into the tub and poured hot water on me to warm me as Sarah ran back and spread my night dress out.
"Momma is Miss. Theodosia going to be alright?" Little Sarah asked as Mandy nodded.
"She will, now grab the sheet while I help her stand." Mandy said as she helped me stand up and Sarah wrapped the warm sheet around me. I grabbed my night gown feebly as Mandy helped me put it on and tie it.
"Sarah, go see if your Pa is back with the Doctor." Mandy said as Sarah scurried out. Mandy help me lay on my bed under the covers as Figaro jumped on my bed and started to lick my face.
"Silly pup. Get down now." Mandy said as she tried to pick him up but Figgie started to growl at her. "It's alright Mandy, he isn't doing any harm." I said as I started to pet him.
"How are you feeling Miss. Theodosia?" Mandy asked worried as I barely closed my eyes.
"I'm alright, just a bit cold." I said as the doctor rushed in with Papa trailing behind him.
"Papa, I'm fine." I said weakly as the doctor felt my forehead.
"Just a bit warm. Should go down by the end of the day." The doctor said as he finished my check-up. "Nothing to worry about Senator Burr. Your daughter is lucky." The doctor said as he packed his things and hurried out.
"What happened my dear? Mister. Eacker said you rode ahead and your horse was startled ran to the riverbank and fell in. The man rode here like mad only to see Philip Hamilton escorting you back." Papa asked as I sat up.
"Mister. Eacker startled my horse, and was why Coal was startled and when Coal fell in the river, Philip happened to be chopping wood and jumped in the water to save me. Because of Eacker, Papa, I nearly was killed." I said as Papa shook his head.
"I think you need to get some rest my dear. I will send Mandy up with some hot tea and you will get some sleep." Papa said as he kissed my forehead and got up. "Papa, that man nearly cost me my life." I said upset as Papa closed his eyes. "Get some sleep. We will talk later my dear." Papa said as he walked out and closed the door behind him.
"Mandy?" I called out as I walked down the stairs.
"Yes ma'am. Miss. Theodosia, you should be resting. Your father will have a fit if he knew." Mandy said as I held out a piece of paper wrapped with a purple ribbon.
"Go to the clock tower, give this Philip. My father is having Eacker over for dinner and I promised Philip I would meet him by the clock tower." I said rambling as she nodded.
"Of course ma'am." Mandy said as she took the letter from me and hid it in her apron.
"Thank you my friend." I said as I started to cough.
"Now back to bed with you miss. If Master. Burr finds out you are out of bed. He will have a fit." Mandy said as she helped me back upstairs. I got back into bed and covered up.
"Get the letter to him, and make sure no one see you." I said as she nodded.
"Of course miss." She said as I started to fall asleep.
Philip Hamilton POV
I waited by the clock tower as I noticed it was getting late. Theodosia is never late like this, I started to get worried till a woman started to walk towards me with a letter wrapped in purple ribbon, just like Theodosia always gave me.
"Master. Hamilton, I was sent by Miss. Theodosia." She said as I took it from her.
"Is she alright?" I asked concerned as she nodded.
"Yes sir. Master. Burr has Mister. Eacker coming by for dinner. I must hurry sir." The woman said as I calmed her down.
"Give this to her. And…" I said unsure of her name as she took the letter wrapped in a piece of black cloth.
"Mandy, sir. I must be going now. I will make sure that Master. Burr does not see the letter." The maid said as I nodded.
"Mandy… Thank you." I said as I put my hand on her shoulder. She curtsied and hurried away as I opened the letter from Theodosia.
"Philp,
I never quite thanked you for saving my life in the river from our childhood and two days ago. You have always been there to save me. Father is determined to have me marry George Eacker. How I wished that it was you instead of Eacker. How I wish that we could tell our parents that we are sharing this secret courtship. Philip I wish that we could be together in the light instead of hiding in the shadows. But for now my Romeo, this will be for the best for now.
Your Juliet
~T. Burr"
I held the note to my chest as I sighed angered that George Eacker was trying to marry Theo. I folded the note neatly and put it into my inside pocket.
Theodosia Burr's POV
I fixed the collar of my gold long sleeve gown as Mandy hurried in and gave a quick cursied. "Master. Hamilton has your letter miss." Mandy said as I sighed relieved as she handed me a letter.
"Is Eacker here yet?" I asked as I fixed my hair.
"Yes Miss. He is talking to your father in the parlor… Miss, I heard your father and Mister. Eacker talk about your soon to be marriage to Mister. Eacker." Mandy said as I sighed.
"I won't marry him." I said as I clipped on my necklace. "Mandy, is dinner being cooked?" I asked as she nodded.
"It will take some time." Mandy said as I smiled.
"Delay as much as possible?" I asked as she nodded.
"Yes miss. If it takes too little, I will say that you are still resting." Mandy said as she curtsied and I dismissed her. As the door closed I untied the cloth and opened the letter.
"Theo,
I do hope you are feeling better. I thank God that I saved you in time from that river. It is taking every piece of me not to kill Eacker for nearly getting you killed. I have doing some thinking about the last letter you sent me. What if you and I were to run away from this and get married. Then we will be together and then we shall tell our parents of our love. Please my Juliet. Think of it. A secret engagement. Soon you will be my future bride. Whether your father gives you to me or you run away with me.
Yours Fondly
~ P. Ham"
I held the letter close to me and gasped at the message it contained. "Philip wants to marry me." I said in my mind. I put the letter neatly in my box that was now filled to the brim with our letters. I heard someone knock on my door. "One moment." I said as I fixed the box. Mandy walked in as I stood in front of my fire place.
"Mister. Eacker would like to speak to you in the parlor." Mandy said as I nodded.
"Thank you Mandy." I said as I dismissed her and walked out as Figgie followed me down the stairs. I saw Eacker standing in parlor as Papa waited for me at the foot of the stairs.
"Miss. Burr, are you feeling well?" Eacker asked pretending to care.
"I am well Mister. Eacker thank you." I said trying to contain my bitterness.
"Mister. Eacker has officially asked for your hand in marriage." Papa said as my eyes widen.
"W-what?" I stuttered out as I clenched my fists.
"Theodosia, I would like for your hand in marriage." Eacker said getting on one knee as I froze.