I sat at my vanity as Mandy helped braid my hair and pin it back as I looked into the mirror at my reflection. "You look very beautiful Miss. Theodosia." Mandy said softly as I turned to face her.
"Thank you Mandy." I said touching her hand as I got up and held onto my bed as Mandy helped tie my chemise and my stay, I started to my fix my corset as she helped lift the white ruffled dress from the floor and buttoned it behind me. I felt the white cream colored fabric as I looked at the patterns that were traced into the fabric as I fixed the ruffles that lined my bodice and the top of my breast. I slipped into my pair of newly sewn heels as I fiddled with the heavy engagement ring that sits on my ring finger that Eacker gave to me. It's different than the one that Philip gave me. I closed my eyes as I put on Mama's locket and started to do my make-up as someone knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Mandy asked as I heard my Papa on the other side of the door.
"It's me." Papa said as Mandy opened the door and my Papa walked in with a box tied with a faded red ribbon.
"What is that Papa?" I asked as he looked at me with an expression of pride.
"My dear Theodosia, you look just like your mother in her wedding dress the day we got married. I have something I want to give to you." Papa said as he put the box on my bed. I untied the ribbon and opened the lid to reveal a long tulle veil. I pulled out the veil and felt my heart burst.
"Oh Papa. It's beautiful. Where on earth did you find this?" I asked as Mandy helped me put it on. I saw a letter at the bottom of box with my name on it. "Who is this from?" I asked as I pulled it out.
"Open it." Papa said as I sat on my bed and opened the letter.
"Dearest Theodosia,
I remember the day you were born that you came out kicking and screaming. You had your father's eyes and my name. When you came into this world you cried and it broke our hearts. We dedicated every day to you. Domestic life was never quite your father's style but when you smiled at him. You knocked him out he fell apart and he always said he was so smart. I would remember waking up at night and the bed being cold because of him not the bed but in your nursery comforting your cries as he rocked you back to sleep. He said that you will come of age with our young nation that he bled and fight for you, he'd make it right for you. If he lay a strong enough foundation. He will pass it on to you, He was going to give the world to you and you'll someday blow us all away. As I write this letter to you. It is winter time and you and your serving maid Mandy are playing together in the snow with your father's stable boy Samson. I look out the window and smile at you while you toss the white snow in the air and by the time you are reading this letter. You are getting married and I am no longer with you. Oh, how I wished I could be there with your father helping you prepare to marry your true love. I always knew that you would get your fairy tale ending just like in the stories I read to you as a child. You also loved those stories and said that someday your prince will come and that you would be the one saving him from a fiery dragon not him saving you. I hope that you are not some damsel in distressed my dearest Theo. I am proud of the person that you have become my dear even though when I passed on, you were the age of eleven. My dearest Theodosia, I hope that the man you marry loves you as much as you love him. I love you with all my heart my dear.
Forever in your heart
~Mama"
I read as teas filled my eyes. I wiped them away and wrapped my arms around my Papa's neck.
"Please don't cry my dear." Papa said rubbing my back as I wiped my tears away.
"I'm fine Papa. But this was the last letter that Mama ever wrote to me before she got sick." I said as he nodded.
"She wanted the best for you Theo. She made me promise that you would have the best education." Papa said cupping my cheek under my veil as I touched his hand.
"Thank you Papa." I said as he patted my cheek and took a step back.
"Now, Samson is pulling the carriage to the front of the house." Papa said as I nodded.
"Alright." I said taking a nervous breath. Papa walked out as the door closed, I turned to face Mandy. "Mandy my friend. Why are you so pensive?" I asked as she looked down.
"It's nothing Miss. It's not my place to say anything ill on your wedding day." Mandy said as I put my hand on her shoulder.
"Mandy, please you are my closet companion." I said as she shook her head.
"You shouldn't marry Mister. Eacker for my sake Miss. Theo." Mandy said as I shook my head.
"Mandy." I said sadly as she touched my check.
"Please Miss." Mandy said as I took a deep breath.
"Come on." I said as she helped me pick up my skirt. I walked out of my bedroom and down the stairs. I walked out the door and got into the carriage as Papa helped me get in. I smiled nervously as I sat across from my father. I folded my hands neatly in my lap as we started to ride to the church. I looked out the window and saw people walking into the church. I saw Angelica waiting for me in the front as the carriage pulled to the front. I got out with the help of Papa as Angelica hurried over to me wearing her peach colored maid of honor gown as she hugged me.
"You look beautiful Theo." Angelica gushed as I blushed.
"Is your brother here?" I asked nervous as she nodded.
"Theo why did you break off what you and Philip had?" Angie asked as I looked down.
"My Papa was going to kick out Mandy and her family if I didn't make peace with marrying Eacker. I knew that if I didn't break off what I had with Philip… That I could never make peace and Mandy would be fired." I said softly as Angelica looked at me.
"Oh Theo…" Angelica said sadly as I heard the wedding march play.
"Time to face the music." I said as she nodded and handed me my bouquet of purple and white Posies, Anemones and Roses. I smelled the flowers and took my Papa's arm. I sighed as we walked into the church, everyone stood up as the organ started to play and I heard people murmur and chat quietly as we walked down the aisle towards the church altar where Eacker stood at the front boastfully as Papa kissed my cheek and gave me away to him as he sat at the front.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocence, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprise, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained." The minster said as Eacker looked at me and I gave him a false smile before my eyes fell to the floor. "Who gives this Woman to be married to this Man?" The priest asked as Papa raised his hand.
"I do Father." Papa said as the priest nodded.
"Now Mister. George Eacker, will you have this Woman to be your wedded Wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep her only unto her, so long as you both shall live?" The Priest asked as Eacker looked at me at me with a smirk concealed smile and looked back at the priest
"I will." Eacker said as the priest turned to face me.
"Now Miss. Theodosia Burr, will you have this Man to be your wedded Husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep him only unto him, so long as you both shall live?" The priest asked me as my eyes widen and my chest started to heave.
"I... I…" I stuttering as I felt everyone's eyes on me.
"I... d-do." I stuttered out as the Priest nodded.
"Does anyone object to this union of this two people. Speak now or forever hold your peace." The priest said as I closed my eyes and heard someone stand up.
"I object to this union." Someone said as I turned and saw Philip standing in the middle of the aisle. I covered my mouth shocked as Eacker looked enraged.
"What on earth?!" Papa said standing up as Philip walked towards the front of the church.
"Theodosia Burr, you do not belong to that man. This man will never love or care for you in the way I do. Eacker does not understand what a beautiful, stubborn, prefect person you are. I cannot stand to the side and watch you marry this man because he wants you for your father position. I have wanted to marry you since I first saw you again with your brown curls and your wide smile. You always had this way of lighting up a room. Theodosia Burr, I love you and I will never stop loving you till the day I die. Please don't marry Eacker for your father. You don't even have to marry me but please marry because you love what every lucky fool is lucky enough to have you trust him with your heart." Philip said as I looked at him shocked and took a step away from Eacker. I didn't listen to chatter around me but stood in front of Philip and wrapped my arms around his neck and pushed back the front of my veil and kissed him in front of everyone. My father, his father, his mother and the rest of the guests as madness broke out. Philip's wrapped around my waist as I looked up at him.
"You are that lucky fool." I said as Eacker grabbed my arm, jerking me away from Philip.
"You are making a mistake." Eacker said spitting onto my face as I pulled away from Eacker and glared at him.
"The only mistake I ever made was thinking I was going to marry you." I said as Philip put his hands on my hips protectively as Eacker stormed out of the church. Papa looked at me shocked as Philip took his hands off my waist and grabbed my arm and lead me to the carriage. He pointed inside the carriage and I got in. I lowered my head as Papa got in silently and motioned for Samson to drive us home. We sat in tense silence as we arrived home.
"You are to change and then we are going to have a conversation." Papa said as I nodded quickly and he helped me got out. I hurried inside to my room as Mandy walked upstairs to me.
"Miss. Theodosia? What on earth is going on? Aren't you supposed to be with Mister. Eacker?" Mandy asked as I took the veil off.
"Something changed." I said as she helped me undo my dress.
"What is it Miss?" She asked confused as I stepped out of my dress and stood in my chemise as she untied my corset and I finally breathed. I slipped into one of my favorite yellow and white striped dress. I unpinned my hair as the curls fell like a dark brown waterfall and I wiped my make-up away. I slipped out of my heels and into my pair of flats as I faced Mandy with small smile.
"Mandy, Philip did something at the wedding that changed everything." I said excited as she smiled.
"Of miss, that's amazing." Mandy said as I took a deep breath. "I need to hurry. My father is wanting to have a conversation." I said as I brushed my hands nervously as I walked down the stairs and into the parlor nervously as Papa took a swing from his glass of what seemed to be brandy.
"Sit." Papa said as I sat on the couch in front of him. "I want the truth on everything. Explain to me why I just witnessed at that church?" Papa said trying to keep his temper under control.
"I took control of my life… Papa I never wanted to marry Eacker. He is a horrible man that would have provided for me financially but he would never love me the way that Philip does… I could never love that man the way I love Philip." I said as Papa put his hand up.
"Why does Hamilton's son love you. You two hardly spend any time together?" Papa asked as I looked down.
"We spend more time then you actually think… He and I write to each other often through Angelica. I would send my notes to Angelica for Philip and she would send me Philip's notes through her to me… Or we would meet at the clock tower and exchange notes and just talk… But…" I said trailing off as his eyes widen.
"But. What?" Papa asked as I looked down.
"A few weeks ago I snuck out to meet him at our childhood hideout in the woods. He proposed to me and we fell asleep together in the woods the night I said that I woke up early and went for a walk. I was… sort of coming back from seeing him in the woods…" I said as Papa's face became irate.
"You lied to me about who you see! Who you are with! You sneak out of my home without my knowledge!" Papa yelled as I looked down. "You are lucky I don't force you to marry Eacker! Why didn't you tell me that you loved this boy!?" Papa yelled as I fiddled with my hand.
"Because you hated Mister. Hamilton. You told me to stay away from his son. How would you have reacted if I told you that I loved this boy?" I asked as he took a seat in front of me.
"I would have put aside my differences with Hamilton if I would have made you happy Theo." Papa said as I shook my head.
"No, you wouldn't Papa. I know you too well." I said as he shook his head.
"I am sorry that I lied to you. I hated myself for lying to you Papa. I told Philip that I hated lying to you. We were going to tell Mrs. Hamilton then slowly introduce it to you. But then Mister. Hamilton and his Reynolds Affairs then Eacker slapped and falsely accused Mandy then the wedding. I did break it off with Philip, because I knew that if I didn't break it off with him that I couldn't make peace with marrying Eacker to make sure that Mandy and her family stayed." I said as Papa nodded.
"Theo, even if you didn't marry Eacker. Mandy would have stayed. Her mother has been here ever since your mother and I have been married." Papa said as I looked down.
"Papa, do you approve of me continuing to see Philip?" I asked as he nodded.
"If Alexander agrees with Philip seeing you. Then I shall make my peace with Philip for your sake" Papa said as my face lit up and I smiled at him.
"Oh Papa, thank you so much!" I said wrapping my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.