I sat in the rocking chair, rocking Philip gently as I heard someone walk up the stairs. I put Philip back in his bassinet as my wiggly three-month-old baby giggled and was trying to grab at his feet as I covered him up with his blue and brown quilt. I laughed at my little boy as I heard someone clear their throat. "That must be my grandson." Someone said as I froze and turn to see my father standing in the door way.
"What… what are you doing here?" I asked scared as I picked Philip up and held him close to me.
"What. A father cannot see his daughter and his grandson. My, he looks like that demon spawn that you ran off. Sad to see my first grandchild is a bastard." Father said as I held Philip closer to my chest as I looked down at my baby as he looked back at me with curious eyes.
"My child is not a bastard. His father and I are married. How on earth did you find us here? This is Washington's private residence." I said as he chuckled.
"I have friends that have been keeping an eye on you and Angelica but Peggy is missing." Father said as he circled around me.
"Peggy is off living her own life." I said as I started to shake. "You need to leave please… You can't be here." I said nervously as Father looked at me.
"What did you say to me?" He asked lowly as I started to shake harder as Philip started to whimper. I started to him and I took a deep breath.
"Please leave. You are scaring my son." I said worried as he glared at me and then at Philip as my eyes filled with terror.
"You come with me and leave that child. You have a life filled with promise with Samuel Seabury in London." Father said as I shook my head.
"No… I have my life here." I said as Father glared.
"You will regret this!" He yelled as he threw the rocking chair and walked out as Philip started to wail at the sudden noise. I tried to soothe him as I heard people walking in.
"Eliza?" Alexander called out as I didn't acknowledge him as I kept trying soothe him as Alexander appeared in the doorway.
"Oh Lord, what happened?" Alexander asked as he picked up the chair and walked over to us.
"He… He…" I stuttered as Alexander took Philip out of my arms gently as he finally settled down and was placed in his bassinet. Alexander walked over to me slowly and sat me on own bed as Philip started to stir.
"I should." I started to say but Alexander shook his head and knelt in front of me.
"Who is 'He'?" Alexander asked slowly as I saw Angie and George in the door way.
"Angie… Daddy knows we are here… He knows that I have Philip and wants me to leave everything I have here." I said as Angelica covered her mouth shocked.
"How did he get in the house?" George asked carefully.
"I don't know. I remember locking the doors when you left." I said while Alexander touched my hands gently.
"It's okay Eliza. Your safe, he is never going to hurt you." Alexander said as he looked me in the eyes. I took a deep breath as I realized it was true. I nodded my head and he took my hands. "Come along let's go get something to eat and let little Philip sleep." Alexander said as I bit my lip and we walked out of the room together and I closed the door tightly. I started to walk down the stairs nervously as I felt my heart beating out of my chest. "How about I got make you some tea." Alexander said, I giggled.
"It's alright, I will make it." I said pecking his cheek and walked to the kitchen as I started to make a pot of tea as Angelica walked in. I started to make my tea as I started to shake as Angie touched my arm as I jerked.
"Eliza." Angelica said as she gently took the tea pot from me and I looked at her.
"Go sit down, I'll make us some tea." She said as I nodded and I walked out of the kitchen and stopped. I heard Washington and Alexander talking, and I stood by the wall to listen in.
"I need you at this convention. I know that Angelica going to visit Peggy because of her child being born and with what happened with your wife. You are needing you there." Washington said as I heard Alexander take deep breath. "It is what is best for our nation." Washington said as I walked back to the kitchen.
"Peggy had her baby?" I asked, Angelica nodded.
"Yes. A healthy little girl named Elizabeth Philippa. I know that me leaving to go help her is horrible timing, I can tell her my trip is shorten." Angelica said as I shook my head.
"No, go visit my niece for me. I know that you have too. And I know that I can't go because of Philip. I promise you will be fine." I said as she nodded and handed me tea. I took a sip and I put my cup down.
"So where is George and Alexander going?" I asked as she sighed.
"The Constitutional Convention. Tomorrow they are going to take me to Manhattan, then they are going to swing back to pick up things up here and then they will head off to Philadelphia." Angie explained as I nodded.
"Are you sure you are okay with this?" Angelica asked, I nodded.
"Of course." I said as she rubbed her arm gently. I heard Philip upstairs crying as I put my cup down. "Philip must be hunger." I said as Angie nodded.
"I'll clean up." Angelica said. I nodded and I kissed her cheek.
"I'll be right back." I said and walked upstairs and I walked inside our room and I picked up my crying boy as I started to rock him and I put him back down as he cooed at me. "Now love, are you hunger?" I asked as I pick up my nursing covering as I put it over my chest and unbutton the front of dress. I put my nursing covering on as I slide off my shift and picked my hungry son as I put him under the cover as he took my breast and started to eat contently as I sat on the rocking chair. I rocked softly as someone knocked on my door. "Come in." I said as I fixed my covering as Alexander walked in and closed the door.
"Someone must be hungry." Alexander said as I nodded. "He is happy." I said as I smiled at him.
"So… I was asked to be at the constitutional convention." Alexander said as I nodded.
"I heard and I am happy for you." I said and he nodded.
"Are you sure?" I asked as he nodded.
"I am. I promise we will be back when you are gone." I said as he smiled and kissed me on the lips gently.
"Let me make myself more decent then I will start making dinner." I said as he nodded. "Of course my love." He said as I got up and put my full son in his bassinet. I fixed my dress and I took off my nursing cover. I brushed my skirt off and walked over to Alexander and I pulled him into a loving kiss.
"Come on, let me have Philip." I said as Alexander shook his head wrinkling his nose playfully. I laughed and looked at the boys.
"Let me and my son have some time together." Alexander said, I smiled at my two boys and we walked downstairs.
"Angie do you want some help making dinner?" I asked as I walked in. "Of course." I said as she nodded. "Of course." She said as I walked in and we started to cook.
"So are you excited about meeting little Elizabeth Philippa?" I asked as Angie smiled.
"Of course. In the letter that Peggy sent to me. She says that instead of calling her Elizabeth, they call her Little Pippa so they don't confuse you and her." Angie said as I awed. "Oh that is too precious." I said as I finished dinner.
"Dinner is served." I called out as I walked out and saw Washington holding Philip. "You are actually holding the baby." I said shocked as he nodded.
"Well, he is my nephew after all." George said as I took my little boy from him after I put dinner on the table.
"Let me put him upstairs." I said and took him upstairs so that he could sleep contently in his bassinet.
"I'll be back soon little one." I said as I kissed his forehead.
"Eliza are you sure you will be alright?" Angelica asked me. She was brushing off her travel peach skirt and looked at me worried while I watched Alexander and George were waiting patiently, I nodded.
"I promise I will be fine. Good and see baby Pippa for me." I said while George helped her into the carriage. I blew her a kiss as Alexander ran over to me.
"I will be back before the sun rises." He said as I nodded.
"Alright." I said and gave him a swift kiss on the lips. I waved to them as I watched them ride off while the sun began to set. I walked in and locked the door up tightly, I took a deep breath and I walked into the parlor where Philip was playing in his bed with his small toys. "Little one." I said giggling as I watched him play with his feet as I picked him up and kissed her forehead. "Let me go eat then we will go to sleep." I said and then put him down. I started to walk to the kitchen to heat some leftover stew from lunch for myself and quickly cleaned up after I ate my dinner. I blew out all the candles before I grabbed my sleeping boy and walked upstairs to his small nursery. I laid him down as I locked the windows in his room and looked over at my sleeping boy. "Goodnight my little Philip. Momma loves you." I said as I kissed his forehead gently and walked out of his room and went to my room to ready myself for bed. I blew out all off my candles and went to bed. I woke up to the smelling of smoke and the room feeling too hot. I sat up and saw that the curtains in our room were engulfed in flames. I jumped out of bed and ran out into the hallway as I was stopped by the fire growing larger. I heard Philip shrieking in his room and I held my night dress close to me. I managed to get to Philip's room and dodged a falling beam. I fell to the ground and pulled myself up as I felt my eye starting to water and burn from the heavy smoke. I grabbed my son and started to try escape. How could this happen? I made sure all my candles were blown out and that all the fireplace were out before bed. I couldn't open the door and started to yell out as I felt my skin burn from the heat as I throw open the door and fell down the steps and I gasped for air. I could barely stand as I held Philip close to my chest and my vison was blurry. I fell to knees as I heard horses galloping towards us. I felt someone viscously rip Philip out of my arms while he screamed. "No! My baby!" I screamed, trying to run to him as I felt someone slap me to the ground.
"Don't hurt the child." My father said while I rubbed my eyes and saw that my father was holding a torch while I saw Samuel Seabury placing my son in a small basket and my father grabbed my arm and I pulled away from him.
"No! Let me go!" I screamed. I felt someone smack me hard in the back of the head. I fell to the ground and my world was dark. I heard Philip wailing as I tried to get up but I couldn't go and comfort my son. I felt someone pick me up and put me on a horse. I felt pain throbbing in my skull as I tried to move but was pinned down to the horse as the horses started to move. "Please… Let me go…" I whimpered as someone pull my hair to silence me. I fell silence. The war might have been won but this is a battle that I am not ready for.
End Of Book One
Hello Hello Hello! This is the end of the first book of the War Not Won Series. I hope you like this and will read the next one. I am starting to work on it and I hope you will read it and will follow this story of Eliza and her battle of fighting to come back to her son and her husband.