A/N Not going to pair Angelica and who she talks to, I just wanted to show how much of a flirt he is. Also time period typical homophobia, and not sure how historically accurate these are. Let the winter's ball part 2 begin. Enjoy.
Angelica's POV
God where is Eliza? While she told Peggy she was excited, I could tell she didn't really want to come to this ball today. She really needs to find a husband, and soon. I swear if she's hiding in a corner again… Suddenly, there's a tap on my shoulder.
"Bonjour Mademoiselle." I turned around and saw a soldier greeting me. He was fairly tall and quite good looking. His french accent was quite prominent. This must be the Marquis.
"Hello General Lafayette." He blinks in surprise. At his questioning look I continue. "The French only sent over one soldier, and you're wearing a General's uniform." He smiles.
"You are quite intelligent, something you don't find in ladies now a days." Too bad I'm married, the Frenchman isn't a bad catch.
"I'm also quite married." I say it teasingly, but make sure to get the message across. His smile falters slightly, but not completely.
"I'm sorry Madam, I did not know. If I may ask, though, why are you not wearing a ring?" It's my turn to blink in surprise. Most don't notice that.
"Impressive observation." He mock bows. "And for your question, I often lose it at these large parties." Then I smirk, "But between you and me, it's rather funny to see how many people actually check to see a ring before just accepting that I'm married." He smiles, the bows in parting. That was quick.
"It was nice to meet you Ma'am. Shame you're married though." He winks and walks away, my eyes following him until he's out of sight. That was an experience. Back to task, find Eliza. My sister who's persistent on marrying someone she loves. And she wonders why she's that last one left. Shaking my head I spin around in a quick search and see her being led off the dance floor by a young man. A rather handsome young man, though a little short for my tastes. They are talking together, smiling. Maybe she's finally found the one. I can only hope that he's a financial match too. I head over to her and address her.
"Eliza, there you are. Father wanted to see you, but I guess it can wait." He just wanted to make sure you weren't in a corner. I glance at the young man, trying to to see if I recognize him. Nope. "And you are?"
"Alexander Hamilton." That sounds familiar. He smiles his best at me, trying to win over a friend of Eliza's a suspect. Let's see his face when he finds out I'm her sister. He continues, "Nice to meet you Miss…"
"Mrs. Church nee Schuyler." He blinks in surprise and straightens up. I smirk
"Schuyler?" Did I stutter?
"My sister." Eliza pipes up sheepishly. He spins towards her.
"You're a Schuyler?" My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. He didn't know? His smile falters a bit, so small I wouldn't have even noticed if I wasn't watching.
"You didn't tell him?" My voice must be incredulous. Eliza actually got someone without her name. Why am I even surprised at this.
"No I didn't. I'm sorry." She's talking more to Hamilton than me.
"No, it is ok. You go talk to your father, I'll meet you back here in ten minutes. I'd like to update my frends." He says.
"Ok." Eliza smiles and kisses Hamilton on the cheek. "See you again soon." And then walks away, with me following. Once he's out of hearing range, I start a conversation.
"Alexander Hamilton, huh." She nods, an excited smile on her face.
"He's perfect." He better be.
"Family?" She hesitates.
"It didn't come up." I groan and stop her.
"Eliza. I know you care about personality, but financials are unfortunately very important. We can't go to father now, you don't know the answer to any of his question" She sighs.
"You and Peggy both married rich, so if Alexander happens to be poor can't I just-"
"Eliza stop. I don't know." She can't get her hopes up. "Probably not." She shakes her head.
"We'll deal with this later. Let's go stall for ten minutes now, I guess." I have to do something first.
"Sure, but I have to go do something first. I'll be right with you." Let's go find a hopefully not poor man.
Alexander's POV
What have I gotten myself into? A Schuyler? Didn't I say in the beginning of the night that they would turn me down so fast. They need to all marry rich, the opposite of me. I shake my head, and speed towards my table with Burr and Lafayette. I plunk down on my seat, groan, and bury my head in my hands.
"Alexander?" Lafayette is the first one to speak. I grunt non committedly in response.
"What did you do?" Burr asks, resigned. That's right, he knew me in college. I put my head up.
"I didn't do anything, per say, just got myself into a… situation." They both raise their eyebrows expectantly. I sigh.
"Ok, so you both saw me head over to that table over there to talk to the lonely girl." They nod. "Ok, well we danced and I got permission to court her."
"But isn't that-" I cut Laf off.
"I thought so to, but it all went to shit when her sister came over."
"Who's her-" I cut Laf off again.
"Angelica Church nee Schuyler. Schuyler!"
"As in the insanely rich, way out of your league, slave owner Schuylers" Burr asks. How many Schuylers does he know?
"Yes, as in the insanely rich, way out of my league-" Wait. "They're slave owners?" Of course life. Go ahead and ruin the only match that would work for my heart even more.
"Yes, they are." Burr sighs. "Also, don't you think it's a little too soon?" John. Another reason I can't marry into a slaveholder family. That would make everything we ever did a lie. I groan again.
"Eliza and I came to an agreement before I knew she was a Schuyler. An untraditional one." I hesitate. "It would be an open marriage… for she is not into… anyone her father presents her and I'm never satisfied." There we go, now her being a sodomite as well doesn't need to come up.
"And you will most likely never find another woman that will agree to do that with you again and that's why her being a Schuyler is such a big deal." Burr concludes. I nod, morosely.
"That sucks, man." Laf adds helpfully. I roll my eyes. Suddenly a woman approaches us. Angelica Church.
"Hello gentlemen." She addresses us all, but she's only looking at me. I straighten up.
"Mrs. Church, good to see you again." Laf's eyes widen.
"You're Mrs. Church." He sputters out. I glance at him. Does he know her? She smirks.
"I never did tell you my name, did I, General Lafayette?" He snaps out of it and smiles.
"If I had known you were a Schuyler I might have tried harder. Married or not." Are you kidding me? You're married too, idiot.
"This whole night revolves around not recognizing Schuylers" I mutter. Apparently not quietly enough though, because Lafayette bursts out laughing and Angelica looks faintly amused. She raises her eyebrows at me, and I turn a little red.
"Sorry ma'am. You came here with a purpose, take a seat." She gracefully sits down, sitting prim and ladylike. It just makes her look that much more intimidating.
"You offered to court my sister." Okay, straight to the point.
"I did." And I would still like to, but I don't know if I can take that rejection right now.
"Before you knew she was a Schuyler."
"Yes. If I had known she was a Schuyler I don't think I would've offered." She looks confused.
"What?" I sigh.
"I assume you're here to ask me about my financial situation, considering it never came up in Eliza and I's conversation." She nods. "Well I'm an illegitimate orphan, dirt poor, and an immigrant, but I'm also Major General Washington's right hand man, a fast tracked graduate from King's college, and a certified genius." She blinks.
"Oh."
"Ya." She sighs.
"Okay, this puts us in a bit of a situation." I hear Burr snort quietly at the deja vu. "While you aren't currently wealthy, you're in a position to be able to become wealthy." I nod.
"So what does that mean in terms of my courting of Eliza. Is it a fruitless endeavour, or do I have a chance." She stares at me, gaze piercing. I stare right back, without flinching.
"Don't mess this up." I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. With a final nod, and maybe a wink in Lafayette's direction I wasn't paying attention, she gets up and walks away.
"Okay so we're doing this." Burr mutters, breaking the silence that had spread throughout the table. Lafayette snorts.
"So certified genius, what now." I glare at him.
"I had to sell myself, don't be rude Gilbert." This time Burr snorts. "Anyway, I'm supposed to meet her back back at our table.." I look around until I find a clock. Shit. "Right now." I jump out of my seat and speed walk to our table. Four seconds in and you've already messed this up Hamilton. Sighing, I spot our table and see Angelica waving goodbye to Eliza. She must've just updated Eliza. Once I arrive, I clear my throat and she looks up at me and smiles.
"Hello again Alex." I smile. Wordlessly, I gesture towards the seat beside her in question, and she nods her consent. I take a seat.
"Hi Eliza. I assume Mrs. Church just updated you on our situation."
"Yes, she did. We have a chance." Then she giggles a little. "You know with me, you can just call her Angelica." I shake my head and over exaggerate trembling.
"What if she hears me." I mock whisper in a 'terrified' voice. She laughs a little and lightly slaps me on the arm.
"She's not that scary." I look at her in disbelief. "Only when she in over protective mode." She admits.
"What mode do you think she's in when talking to her little sister's suitor."
"Oh." Then she gulps and looks at me with wide eyes. "Run." She whispers. We look at eachother with straight faces for about ten seconds before bursting out laughing. The small fact of their family slaves was slowly slipping out of my every passing second I spent with Eliza.
Eliza's POV
I've never had so much fun at a ball. Typically I have to fake smile and pretend that I liked the people around me, but not tonight. Alexander Hamilton bust into my life and changed everything I knew. He seemed to be having a good time too, only slipping into a slight sad mood every once and a while before shrugging it off. I'm not as perceptive as Angelica, but I could still tell something was off. I decided to bring to it up a later date, when we knew each other better. We danced and laughed the night away and as we were leaving I gave him permission to write me. Let the courtship begin. With a smile on my face, I walked with Angelica and Peggy to greet our father and tell him of our departure.
"Father, we are leaving the ball now. It's late, and we'd like to discuss the night before heading to bed." He smiled.
"Of course girls." Then he turned to me. "Did you meet any young men tonight, dear." I beamed, excited to finally please him with an affirmative answer.
"Yes Father. Lt. Col. Hamilton has asked to write me and I accepted." He had finally told me his rank while we were talking. The man my father was talking to seemed to perk up.
"Did he now?" The man asked amused. Is that funny to you?
"Yes, he did sir." I reply shortly. I feel Angelica elbow me and I turn to her, confused. She's been even ruder to strangers before.
"Oh, right. I haven't introduced you girls yet. Girls, this is Major General Washington. General, these are my daughters Angelica, Peggy, and Eliza." Oops, my bad. I just sassed Major General Washington. Nonetheless, I still curtsied politely with my sisters.
"Sir, I apologize for my tone-"
"It is quite alright Miss. I have Hamilton on my staff, I'm used to much worse." I hear Angelica quietly snort and I stifle a laugh. Only Alexander would sass Washington… knowingly, at least. My father laughs.
"Alright girls, go off and gossip. I'll see you at home later." We all curtsy quickly and rush off. Once out of ear shot we all burst out in giggles.
"Eliza, you just sassed General Washington." Peggy exclaims. My face turns red as I blush.
"My bad…" And we all laugh again.
A/N This chapter definitely had more comic relief than my other ones. I dunno why, maybe it's just the headspace I'm in now. Also, not sure where I'm going with Laf and Angelica. They'll probably just have a flirtatious relationship and nothing more. ALSO what's Alex gonna do about the slave situation? Stay tuned!