"Theodosia, I would like for your hand in marriage." Eacker said getting on one knee as I froze.
"W-what?" I stuttered as I turned to Papa. "I'm sorry. But I cannot accept this." I said starting to get startled as Eacker grabbed my hand. I jerked away and picked my skirt up ran out of the house as Papa yelled my name as I ignored his calls. I ran to the stable and went straight to Coal's stall. "Oh how the tide has changed." I said as I stroked his black snout. I led him out and hopped onto him and rode off, holding onto Coal's dark black mane. I kept my tears from streaming down my face as I rode into town and to the river bank. I got off Coal and looked at the running water as I inched towards it as I felt hot tears go down my face, I stopped myself and I turned around to face Coal and just fell forward into tears. I cried into my chest as Coal started to kneel down in front of me as I cried into his warm fur. I heard someone walk towards me as I wiped my tears away.
"Theo? God what are you doing here? It's getting dark outside and you are going to get yourself killed." Philip asked as I looked up at him as he looked at me shocked. "Are you alright?" He asked as I shook my head.
"Eacker… proposed to me…." I said through my tears as he fell to his knees shocked.
"What?" He asked confused as I nodded.
"I can't marry him Philip. That man only wants my father's status and money." I said as he pulled me close to him. "Why can't we tell people that we are doing this?" I asked after my tears stopped.
"Because your father and my father hate each other." Philip said as I shook my head.
"I hate hiding this from my father…" I said as Philip wiped my tears away.
"I know Theo. But if they knew anything then they would keep us apart." Philip said as I shook my head.
"I can't marry Eacker, Philip… I just can't." I said as I wrapped my arms around Philip's neck as he pulled me close to him.
"I know Theodosia." He said as he ran his fingers through my hair.
"If I marry him then I loss you." I said into his chest as he held me close to him.
"I won't let him take you. I promise you." Philip said as I felt him rub my back.
"I need to go home…" I said as he looked down at me.
"Theo?" Philip said as I looked up to him and our eyes locked. he looked to the side to see if anyone was there and then kissed me. I was startled and melted into his arms. I felt him run his fingers through my wild brown ringlets as I opened my eyes and looked into his golden-brown eyes and sighed contently as I pulled away.
"Wow…" I said shocked as he stood up and helped me stand up as he kissed me again. I felt him dipped me backwards as I gasped surprised as he put me back to normal as he pulled away. I giggled like a school girl as he got Coal to stand up.
"Go home and tell Eacker you won't marry him. I am willing to risk your father killing me if that means you becoming mine." Philip said brushing a stray brown curl out of my face as I touched his cheek gently he kissed my palm. I wanted to keep this moment for the rest of the night as I shook my head and pecked his lips once more.
"I must go. My papa will be worried." I said as I took a step back. Philip helped me onto Coal.
"Hurry home. Please be safe, Theodosia." Philip said as I nodded.
"I will." I said as I nudged Coal to move on. "Philip?" I asked as he looked at me.
"Meet me tonight at midnight, at our hide away?" I asked as he nodded. "I wouldn't miss it for the world." He said with a cheeky grin as I clicked my tongue and rode home. I saw the stable and rode into it and hopped down. I led Coal into his stall as I heard someone run toward me.
"Miss. Theodosia! Thank the Lord you are safe. Your father has been looking for you miss." Samson said as I sighed.
"I know… I'm sorry, I just needed some space." I said as I had trouble with the latch. "Here miss. I will take care of Coal." Samson said as I nodded.
"Thank you Samson." I said as I walked inside. I brushed some of the grass and mud off of my skirt as I walked inside. I walked inside and into the drawing room with my head hanging low as I saw Papa.
"Theodosia Burr, you scared the hell out of me!" Papa said as he got up from his chair and pulled me into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry Papa… I just needed some space…" I said as tears threatened to spill over.
"Mister. Eacker, is still here?" I asked as I pulled away.
"He is. Theo my dearest love. You need to marry this man. He offers you a good life." Papa said trying to reason with me as I shook my head.
"Papa, I don't love that man… I won't marry out someone I hardly know." I said shaking my head as Papa put his hands on my shoulder.
"Theodosia, you will get to know and love this man if you spend more time with him in this courtship." Papa said as I sighed.
"Papa, can I please think about it?" I asked as he nodded.
"Of course, my dear Theodosia. Now go prepare yourself for bed." Papa said as I nodded.
"Yes sir." I said as I gave him a small curtsy. "Goodnight Papa." I said as I walked out of the parlor and upstairs into my room. I hurried to room. I was greeted by my sleepy pup and patted him on the head. I started to undo my dress and slipped into my navy blue and brown dress as someone knocked on my door. I slipped on my robe over my dress and sat at my vanity. "Come in." I said as I took my hair down. I turned and saw Papa walk in with a bowl of stew.
"I thought I would bring you some dinner." Papa said as I nodded.
"Thank you Papa." I said as I kept brushing my hair out.
"Get some rest my dear Theo." Papa said as he kissed the top of my head.
"Good night Papa." I said as he walked out. I grabbed my lantern and lit it with the candle that was resting on my vanity. I got up and took off my robe and set it on my bed as I looked at the clock. It was close to midnight. I grabbed my cloak and the lantern as I slipped out of my heels and into a pair of flats. I pull out all of my candles and took a bit of my stew, I put my hood over my head and took a deep breath. I hurried out of the door and walked down the stairs quietly. I walked into the kitchen and unlatched the backdoor and opened it. I stepped outside into the darkness and closed the door softly and made sure it was firm. I took off into the night through the old fields in front of me. I followed the path I knew as a small child to the small shed that Philip and I found as children and made our own as I saw a light in the window and smiled. I knocked on the door and was greeted by Philip's smile and the warm lantern light the flooded the room. He pulled me inside and took the lantern from me and put it next to the one on the small table beside us. He kissed me softly and pushed my hood back to reveal my head as he cupped my cheeks softly.
"You're here." He said softly breaking the night.
"Of course." I said as I looked at him. I looked behind him and saw two chipped glasses and a bottle of champagne.
"You got us champagne?" I asked laughing softly as he nodded.
"Smuggled out of the house while I was leaving." Philip said proudly as I put my hands on his chest and laughed. "Your look so beautiful when you laugh my Juliet." Philip said as he cupped my cheek.
"Let's have a drink." I said as he nodded and opened the champagne. He poured me a glass as I raised it. "To us." I said softly as he raised his.
"To us." He said as I took a sip of mine and looked away as Philip touched my hand. "What is the matter Theo?" He asked as I looked down.
"My father is making me court Eacker… He says that I will learn to love him in time…" I said sadly as Philip put his glass down as I looked up.
"Run away with me?" Philp asked through me off as I chocked on my drink.
"What?" I asked shocked as he pulled out a ring. "Philip?!" I said shocked as he got onto one knee.
"Theodosia Burr, be my wife. Let's run away and we will have our own future without our parents bickering." Philip said as I covered my mouth as the stone in the middle of the ring shine brightly in the lantern light.
"Oh Philip… It's beautiful." I said softly as he took a deep breath. "But Philip… We can't just run from our problems. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you but I can't run away without telling my father. He nearly died when my mother passed away. If I leave then he will… Think about Angie, and your mother. They would be heartbroken." I said as he nodded.
"Then we need to tell my mother, she would help contain my father and yours' fury." Philip said as he grabbed my hand. I looked down at him and sighed.
"Philip. I will consider telling your mother about us… But we can't tell my Papa. Not yet." I said as he kissed my knuckles.
"Alright. But will you be my wife, when the time is right?" Philip asked as I nodded.
"Yes." I said as I fell onto him and kissed him over and over again as his hands fell to my waist. He slipped the ring onto my ringer finger as we kissed and lied on the old wood plank floor, I giggled as he held me close to him. I laid contently on his chest as he rubbed my back.
"Blow out the lantern please?" Philip said as I blew out the two lanterns and laid back contently on his chest as I closed my eyes.
"I can't believe that I will someday marry Theodosia Burr." Philip said chuckling as I smiled.
"Someday." I said as I felt him grab my backside and give it a light squeeze. "Philip!" I squealed as I smacked his sheets.
"Come on Theo let's strip down to our socks to celebrate." Philip said jokingly as I felt heat fill my face.
"No. Not till we are officially married." I said hitting his chest playful as he chuckled.
"Of course my future bride." He said as he kissed my forehead and I put my hand on his chest and dozed off, content with where I was and listened to Philip's heart beat and his soft snoozes as I fell asleep. I woke up to the sunrise starting to break into the window. I sat up and rubbed my eyes.
"Oh no… Philip wake up!" I said as he jolted up.
"What is it?" He asked groggily as I got off of him and put my cloak on and grabbed my lantern.
"It's morning, My Papa is going to kill me." I said as I fixed my dress as Philip got off the floor and fix his jacket.
"What are you going to tell him?" Philip asked as he picked up his lantern.
"I woke up early and went for a walk, if he even believes that." I said as he nodded. "I will write to you soon." Philip said as I gave him a quick parting kiss.
"Goodbye for now." I said as he squeezed my hand and I turned and walked out of the shed quickly. I hurried home and walked to my back door. I took off the ring that Philip gave me and put it in my cloak's inner pocket and walked in quietly.
"Theodosia Burr? What in the Lord's name are you doing coming back into this house?" Papa asked sternly as I looked down and cursed to myself as I fixed my posture and smiled at him.
"I woke up in the early hours of the morning and couldn't go back to sleep. I went for a walk." I said as he nodded.
"At least leave a note when you leave." Papa said as he pecked my forehead.
"I'm sorry Papa. Next time I will." I said as he nodded.
"Now, I have affairs to deal with. Please no trouble today." Papa said as I nodded.
"Of course Papa." I said as I pecked his cheek and walked away not realizing that trouble has now just started without me knowing.