I stood on the porch as the sun started to fade. I watch Alexander and Laurens bring out the geared-up horses and I fiddled with a letter that I had in my hand for Alexander as he looked over at me and walked over to me. "Hey, you alright?" He asked worried as I nodded.
"I want you to have this… Incase this battle doesn't go so well." I said as he took it from me.
"I'll be fine Eliza. I promise." He said as he put his hand on my arm.
"Alexander I'm worried…" I said as he looked at me.
"Let's go take a walk before I leave." He said as he took my hand and I nodded. I walked with him into the back field as we walked hand and hand together. "Eliza, I have something I must confess to you." Alexander said as I looked at him.
"What is it Alexander?" I said as he looked down.
"Last night I overheard you and Angelica talking last night about myself and General Washington." He said as I looked at him shocked.
"You spied on us?" I asked shocked as he looked down.
"I was walking to my room and I overheard you talking about me and Washington…" He said as I remembered what Angie and I were talking about.
"Oh please tell me you didn't hear all of it." I said embarrassed as he nodded.
"I would like to know that happiness I bring." He said as I blushed.
"Oh Alexander, it would be inappropriate." I said as he tugged on my hand. "Please Eliza. I want to know." He said as I shook my head. "I wrote it all down in the letter." I said as he opened it and looked down at the letter.
"Alexander, How I wished I knew how to write this to you. I want to write how much you make me happy. I don't know how I can tell a man I have barely know for two weeks that when he looks me in the eyes then sky is the limit. You are so kind and were willing to risk your life to save me and my sisters. You and your friends are more of a family then my real family is to me. Angelica, Peggy and myself owe you men so much and I do not know how I could pay you back for all you have done. Alexander… I am helpless and I have never been the type to try and be adventurous but you make me want to fight back. I don't know if you feel the same way and if you don't feel the same then please throw this letter into the fire and forget I wrote this. But if you do feel the same way about me that I feel then when this war is over then maybe we could explore this. You make me helpless and I want that to change with you.
~ Eliza" He read aloud as he looked up at me.
"Eliza…" He said shocked as I looked down, bright red as he raised my face to meet mine as I considered his brown eyes. "I make you feel helpless?" He asked as I adverted my eyes. "Eliza?" He asked worried as I heard Laurens calling for him.
"I…" I stuttered as Laurens called for Alexander again as he looked at me. He shook his head and then kissed me on the lips. I was shocked at the at the surprise kiss and wrapped my arms around his neck as he pulled away.
"After this battle. I will come back. I swear and then I will make you no longer feel helpless." Alexander said as I blushed and nodded. "I have to go." He said as I sighed. We walked back together as Laurens rolled his eyes. "Finally you show up." He said as I smiled at Alexander as he squeezed my hand. "Lafayette has a confidante that will bring you and your sisters supplies. He'll bring food, firewood, and some fabric and books to keep you busy." Alexander explained as I nodded. "He'll knock and leave the box on the porch." Alexander said as I looked at him.
"Okay, please be careful. All of you." I said as they all nodded.
"I promise." Alexander said as I heard Washington and Angelica walked out of the house.
"We will be back soon. Stay safe." George said as I turned and saw him and Angelica close to each other. I watched Hercules and Peggy talk as Laurens and Lafayette were on their horses. "Let's ride." George said as he walked away from Angelica and got onto his horse as Alexander looked back at me.
"I'll be back soon." He said as I nodded. I put my hand on my chest and watched them ride off into the fading light. We waited till they were out of sight.
"Let's go back inside." Angelica said as she put her hand on my shoulder. I nodded and we walked back in. I closed and locked the door as Peggy and Angelica started to light candles as I sighed.
"Eliza?" Angelica asked as I turned and faced her.
"Yes?" I asked as she looked at me worried.
"I'm taking it that you told Alexander about your feelings?" Angelica asked as I nodded. "How did it go?" Angelica asked as I bit my lip.
"It went okay." I said as Angelica patted my shoulder.
"Well, things are going swimmingly. Seems like all potential interests are for you two." Angelica said as Peggy blushed as she crossed her arms.
"What about you and General Washington?" Peggy pointed out as she and I giggled as Angelica rolled her eyes.
"That is nothing." Angie said as I shook my head.
"I dunno. You two were awfully close when he left today." I said as she covered her mouth and pushed me playfully.
"What about you and Alexander. You two disappeared while they were getting ready to leave." Angelica said as I shook my head and I started to cook up some dinner.
"So what happened?" She asked as I ignored her.
"Come on Eliza, spill the beans." Peggy said as I ignored their pleas and served them dinner.
"All that happened was we talk." I said as I sat down with them on the sofa. Angelica put her plate on the floor and got up to tend to the fire.
"I'll close the curtains." Peggy said as she got up and close the curtains.
"Eliza. I hardly believe you two just talked. Something had to have happened." Angelica said as I took a bite of my bread and shook my head.
"I'm not getting into this right now." I said as I finished my dinner and got up.
"Eliza? Do you think that they are okay?" Peggy asked as we finished unpacking the box that was left for us from Lafayette confidante. I pulled out four news books and added the to the book shelf.
"I think they are fine Pegs. They must be fighting hard, hardly any Brits come around anymore." I said as Angelica walked out of the kitchen.
"Angelica? Do you think we could go to the village?" I asked as she looked at me and shook her head no. "Absolutely not. We have spent forever not getting ourselves killed. We cannot go into that town with Seabury in charge." Angelica said as I looked at her.
"Please Angie. One visit couldn't possible hurt? We could go and stop by the book shop and the bakery. Pick up some treats. Just make sure we avoid Seabury." I said as Angelica shook her head.
"We don't have any money. How could we possible pay for anything?" She asked as Peggy cleared her throat.
"Well, Hercules has some money." She said as we looked at her confused.
"What do you mean?" I asked as she looked down.
"I found it when I was cleaning his room and he said that its some money for me and him if we ever decide to get marry." She said as she blushed.
"Wait! Married?!" Angelica and I exclaimed.
"Yes… He and I haven't really talking about it that much." She said as she held onto a dark yellow roll of fabric.
"Well. That boy better live so that Angelica can kill him." I said laughing as Angelica shook her head laughing. "Angie can we please go to the village. Just a for a bit." I asked as she looked down.
"Fine, but for a little bit. We will go early in the morning but hurry back before high noon." Angelica said as Peggy and I squealed in delight as we hugged her tightly. "Now that means go find your best dresses and shoes to wear tomorrow." Angie said as we ran upstairs and pulled out our fanciest dresses as I held my fancy teal colored dress close to me.
"Eliza, I can't believe that we get to go explore the town tomorrow." Peggy said as she brushed her bright yellow dress off and placed her white heels on it as I placed mine with my dress as Angelica walked in.
"Get ready for bed now. We have to be up early." She said as she started to lay out her dark pink dress and I took off my dress and got ready for bed. I put my night gown on as I climbed into bed.
"Good night." I said as I feel asleep. I woke up to Peggy shaking me awake as I rolled over. "Go away." I muttered as I rolled away.
"Come on Eliza. We are going into town!" Peggy exclaimed as I shot up. "That's right!" I exclaimed as I feel over my two feet and landed onto of my dress. I slide off my night dress and put on my shift and chemise as I slide my dress on. I put on my heels on as I walked downstairs with Peggy as I saw Angelica put two plates of eggs and ham as I kissed her cheek as I took my plate.
"Go get ready." I said as I digged into my food. Angelica hurried upstairs as Peggy and I ate contently.
"I will go grab the money and then we can go the town." Peggy said as she got up and handed me her plate. I walked to the kitchen and blew out the stove as I washed off the plates.
"Alright, let's hurry." I said as I walked out and saw Angelica with a large basket and Peggy with a small bag.
"Come on now. Make sure you have your cloaks on." Angelica said motherly as Peggy and I throw on the cloaks that we have made while the men were out in their battles. We all walked out of the house. Angelica locked the door and put the key in her basket. We started to walk into the now very busy town.
"Oh Angelica, look! They are all ready for Christmas." I said as I tugged on her arm.
"I see, now let's go and buy some warm beard and treats along with some newer books." Angie said as we wander into a warm bakery.
"How can I help you girls today?" An old woman asked as Peggy pulled out some money and handed it to Angie.
"We would like two loafs of bread and a dozen cookies please ma'am." Angie said as she paid the woman.
"Of course dears. I've never seen you girls before." She said as she handed Angelica two loafs of bread and started to pile a dozen cookies together neatly.
"Our aunt asked us to get her some bread and sweets. She's rather ill and asked us to do some errands for her." Angelica said lying as she handed me the loafs of bread.
"Oh poor dear. Well, here you ladies go. Merry Christmas." The old woman said sweetly as we walked out into the cold. We listened to carolers singing hymns as we walked into a book store. We wondered around looking at the old books as I wandered off into a different part of the store.
"Who are you?" A man around our age asked stopping me in one of the aisles of book.
"Um…" I said shocked as Angelica finally found me.
"Liza, we need to hurry." Angelica said looking at me as I nodded.
"I must be going." I said as I fixed my hood and we walked out into the brisk December cold. We started to walk back home as we heard the whip crack. "Oh no…" I said as I saw soldiers. We were herded to the town square as we watched prisoners be chained up to the post.
"Angie…" Peggy whimpered when the first man was pulled off the post and the next was chained up as Angelica rubbed Peggy's arm as I looked up from the ground and saw Samuel Seabury with a young scared woman who had her head down and a red cloak over her head.
"It's okay love…" Angelica whispered as Peggy whimpered quietly while the sound of the whip filled the air. We managed to escape from the town square and walked back home in silence. Angelica unlocked the door and we walked in. Angelica locked the door and Peggy ran upstairs as Angelica put the basket down.
"I'll go see if she is alright. Put the things in the kitchen." Angelica said as she walked upstairs and I picked up the basket and walked to the kitchen. I pulled out the loafs of bread and the bag of cookies on the counter as Angelica came downstairs. "Well, she isn't in our room." Angelica said as I looked at her worried.
"I know where she is." I said as I walked upstairs and into Mulligan and Lafayette room. I saw Peggy, sitting on Hercules bed, holding onto one of Mulligans beanies as she wiped her face with her hand. "Peggy?" I said trying not to startle her.
"Yes?" She asked looking at me as I walked over to her.
"What's wrong?" I asked her as I knelt in front of her.
"I miss Hercules… and those people don't deserve to be whipped… I just wish that those people didn't get hurt and that the people we love don't get hurt either." Peggy said as I brushed one of her tears away.
"I'm sorry Pegs." I said as she sniffed.
"I miss them too. I miss Alexander and them so much but I know that they will come back." I said as I patted her hand softly.
"Come on let's go make you a pot of tea and then we will sew a bit?" I said as she nodded and she got up along with me.
"Do you think I can keep his hat for right now?" Peggy asked as I nodded and we walked out together downstairs as Angelica walked out with a plate of cookies and a kettle of tea.
"Here I will go grab the fabric." I said as I walked back upstairs and I grabbed the roll of dark yellow fabric. I walked back downstairs and I handed the fabric back to Peggy and we all sat down to sew.