Hello Hello Hello! I know that I said that I would update but I want to post this before I do start the update schedule because this is going to make people happy! Enough with this little note. Happy Reading!
Elizabeth Hamilton née Schuyler POV
I winced as the seamstress stuck me with her needle. "Hold still you, foolish girl." She said roughly as she kept stuck me repeatedly with her needle. "Mister Seabury, I can't finish her skirt if the girl keeps moving." She complained and Seabury grabbed my arm roughly.
"Elizabeth you better behave yourself. We might be in public but I will still punish you." He said whispering in my ear as painful memories from his reprimanding flooded my mind. I didn't move fast enough in the kitchen "Slap". I talked back "Slap". I didn't look him in the eye "Slap". I put my hand to my very bruised cheek and held back my tears.
"Yes sir…" I said quietly and held still while the seamstress finished my dress.
"Alright, all finished sir." She said and started to pack up her things.
"Thank you. I will see to it that you are paid." Seabury said as Seabury grabbed my arm roughly and I walked pulled out of the shop. He helped me in the carriage. I sat in my spot and looked down at my hands. "You are being quiet reluctantly today. May I remind you that I am a very important figure here in London, you will show me respect!" He said roughly pinning me by my throat in the carriage. I whimpered as he let go and we arrived back at his residence. "Go make yourself useful and work in the kitchen. I have business to attend to." He said helping me out of the carriage. I walked inside and went to the warm kitchen.
"Good afternoon ma'am. Can I help you with something?" The serving girl Emile asked as I nodded.
"Where can I find a recipe book. I was going to try and do some baking." I said and the young girl nodded.
"Of course ma'am. I'll go grab a book for you. My mum keeps them locked up tight after what happened with Master Seabury's first wife Miss. Maria." She said as I looked her confused.
"What do you mean? What happened to his first wife?" I asked and she looked down.
"She tried to run away but when Master Seabury caught her and he had a fit. Miss Maria through my mum's cook books at him and managed to get away. I haven't heard anything of her since." Emile said as she grabbed a key and grabbed an old tattered book. I smiled at her gently and took it from her.
"Thank Emile." I said and went back to the kitchen and opened it. I found a recipe for sugar cookies and started to bake contently.
"Where is Elizabeth!" Seabury yelled as he stormed into the kitchen.
"I'm right here sir." I said softly as he looked at me.
"I see you are doing something other than being stubborn for once." He said as he swiped a cookie off the hot tray.
"Be careful. They just came out of the oven." I said as he took a bite.
"These taste decent." He said as he grabbed my wrist. "Emile!" Seabury yelled as Emile perked up like an obedient kitten.
"Yes sir?" She asked as Seabury soften his glance and tone towards the young girl.
"Find your mother and clean up this mess." He said while he started to pull me out of the kitchen and into his office. "I have a present for you to wear for our wedding next week." He said as I shivered. He pulled a box out of his desk and handed it to me. I opened it with my hand shaking as I gasped.
"How… How did you find this?" I asked shocked as I pulled out my mother's diamond necklace.
"Your father brought it to me. He will be walking down the aisle with you tomorrow." He said as I sat down in a chair behind me and marveled at the old silver and diamond encrusted chain. I touched the large pendant that hung on the middle of a row of smaller pendants that hung.
"My mother wore this to my first winter's ball when I was a child. I haven't seen this since she passed away…" I said shocked and Seabury looked at me smugly.
"Now it will look beautiful on your neck at our wedding and on our wedding tour around Paris. Of course, only the parts that are not ransacked by peasants." He said when my ears perked up.
"Paris you said?" I asked feeling hope grow in my stomach and a backup plan growing in my mind.
"Of course. The city of love will make some emotions towards me grow." He said as I nodded.
"Thank you Samuel for the necklace. It does mean a great deal to me." I said standing up and pecking his cheek. "If you don't mind I will be retiring to my chambers now." I said walking out and going to my room. I closed the door and sighed happily. "I just play the part of the dotting house wife and then. I will find a way to let him go and find Lafayette if I get caught by Seabury when I run after the wedding. I know Lafayette is in France with his wife. He never shut up about her in our letters. I remember his address and wrote it down a piece of paper and hide it as Seabury w
alked in.
"Are you feeling hunger my love?" He asked and I shook my head. "I'm sorry Samuel but I am feeling a bit ill. It must be nerves for next week. I'm going to retire for the night." I said and he nodded.
"Alright then." He said and walked out of my room without a fuss. I heard the door click signaling that it was locked and I started to ready myself for bed. I am getting away from him before anything was too serious." I thought to myself and blew out my candle. I put my mother's necklace on the desk behind me and went to bed.
"I will not give up on us Alexander. I will come home." I said as I feel asleep.
Alexander Hamilton's POV
I walked out my office and fiddled with the small bracelet from Eliza in my hands. I sighed as I brushed the ashes that were still encrusted on it. After the convention Washington paid men to go back to the plantation and scavenge through the rubble to find anything left. They found Eliza's bracelet and Philip's quilt in our room. It was the only things left of ours, Washington had managed to save a portrait of his first wife Martha. Other than those three objects, there was nothing left. I walked up to Jefferson as he stood talking to Madison. "Jefferson may I have a word?" I asked as Jefferson looked at me.
"What is it that you want Hamilton." He asked with his southern drawl sticking out.
"I prefer a word in private." I said gritting my teeth at the thought of asking my arch-nemesis to help me get back the one person in my life that is more important to me than anything in my life.
"Alright then fine. Madison, I will see you later." Jefferson said and walked with me into my office. "What is it that you want Hamilton." He said sitting in one of my office chairs.
"I need to ask a favor of you." I said sitting at my desk and put bracelet on the desk.
"What is that?" He asked as I took a deep breath.
"That is the bracelet that belongs to my wife." I said explaining as he picked it up. "Why is it covered in ash?" He asked confused and I looked down.
"Before Washington and I went to the Constitutional Convention. We drove my sister-in-law, Angelica, to visit her younger sister. We went back to gather some more supplies at Washington estate and when we got back the estate was burnt to the ground. My wife and my son were in the house. My son made it out but Eliza was taken by Samuel Seabury and her father. There was a note attached in the bottom of the basket. I never noticed it till we got to the house where Angelica was staying. I read it in private and it said that she was no longer mine… She was taken to London and is going to be forced to marry him. I would like for you to go to England and try and get her back." I said as Jefferson nodded.
"I don't know Hamilton." Jefferson said as I looked at him.
"Jefferson. Seabury has the woman I love." I said as Jefferson shook his head.
"I will take it into consideration. I will be leaving now. Good day Mister. Hamilton." Jefferson said and walked out. I sighed angered when Jefferson closed my door. I put Eliza's bracelet back in my drawer and sighed. I started to work more on my debt plan into the night as someone knocked on my door. "Enter." I said not looking up from my work.
"Are you going to be coming home anytime soon? Philip misses you." Eliza said with her voice wafting through the air was I looked up and saw her.
"Eliza?" I asked as she walked in, almost floated in carrying our little boy. "What are you doing here?" I asked in disbelief as I got up from my chair.
"I'm here to get my overworked husband." She said touching my cheek as I smiled and melted at her touch. She giggled and the scene started to fade.
"No! Eliza wait stay! Don't let this end!" I said panicked as someone shook me awake.
"Alexander wake up." Angelica said as my head shot up with paper sticking to my face as I rubbed my eyes. "Did you fall asleep?" She asked as I nodded.
"I had a dream about Eliza. She was here…" I said softly as Angelica sighed.
"We are going to get her back soon Alexander. I promise." Angelica said and I got up.
"I know and I am doing everything in my power to get her back." I said as she nodded.
"Come along, I need to go see if George is ready to go." Angelica said while I grabbed my coat.
"I'll head home. I'll see you then." I said pecking her cheek affectionally and walking out. I started to walk home to Hercules tailor shop and walked in.
"Ah Alexander. I take it you are here for my nephew." Hercules said looking up fixing a coat.
"I am. I'm going to take him home." I said as he nodded.
"Peggy is upstairs with him and Pippa." He said as I patted him on the shoulder.
"Thank you." I said and walked upstairs.
"Alexander!" Peggy said surprised as she jumped up from her chair.
"I'm here to take Philip home." I said as she nodded.
"He's asleep in Angelica's room." Peggy said as she walked out the parlor and walked back in with Philip in her arms.
"Hello my boy." I said taking him from her arms.
"He is really sleepy. Should go down in a bit." Peggy said as I nodded.
"Thank you Peggy." I said as I wrapped him tightly in his quilt and my son smiled at me and tried to reach for me. "I'll see you tomorrow." I said as she waved goodbye and I walked out of the small house and started my way home. I walked into Eliza and I's new home. I walked into the empty house and walked Philip upstairs to his nursery. I put my fussy boy into his bed and covered him up with the quilt that I sprayed Eliza's perfume on it slightly to remind Philip of his mother. "Goodnight my son. I'll bring your momma home to you and I soon." I said as I pecked his forehead.
Elizabeth Hamilton née Schuyler POV
I looked at my reflection the large mirror and felt my heart starting to break. I stood in shocked as I watched two of the maids in the house fluff out my overly big white skirt and tighten my corset to the point that I couldn't breathe. I touched my mother's necklace and wanted to cry. "Are you alright ma'am?" Emile asked as I shook my head and gave a false smile.
"I'm fine Emile." I said while she handed me an overly large bouquet. I fingered the small paper money I had hided inside of it. I sighed as my father walked in.
"Are you ready to go Elizabeth?" He asked as I felt myself shaking. "Let's go Elizabeth." Father said as I nodded and he grabbed my arm roughly to pull me out of the house. I started to shake in fear of the events to come. He pulled me to a carriage and he helped me get in. I pulled my veil over my eyes to hide my silent tears as we rode to the church. We arrived and I looked out the wedding. I started to shake violently as I got out of the carriage. I tried to take a deep breath and I took my father's arm reluctantly as we started to walk towards the church.
"Daddy…. Please don't make me do this…" I said pleading with him as I stopped in my tracked. He turned to face me.
"You will marry him Elizabeth. You have no option." Father said jerking me and I let out a small cry. "Let's go." He said as I cried softly when the wedding march played. "Come on let's go." Father said roughly and we walked down the aisle slowly. Seabury stood in front smirking at me when my father gave me away to him. Seabury took my wrist and pulled me close to him.
"You don't say I do and I will make sure that demon spawn you call a son is dead by morning." Seabury said as he let go of my wrist and I gulped. The priest took a deep breath and then opened his bible.
"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 Seabury grinned smugly at me in pride as I could barely look him in the face. I wanted to cry and run away but he had a tight grip on both of my wrists. "Now Mister. Samuel Seabury. 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 Seabury looked at me with a wide, wicked smile plastered on his face and looked back at the priest.
"I do." He said as the priest turned to face me who was shaking in fear with silent tears running down my face.
"Now Miss. Elizabeth Schuyler, 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 I froze. I couldn't say yes to him. I love Alexander and he was going to find me.
"I…" I stuttering out and the priest smiled at me softly and I looked at Seabury with wide eyes of fear as he jerked my wrist slightly to scare me into answer. "I do…" I muttered quietly. The priest nodded and closed his bible.
"By the power vested in me by the power of God. I pronounce thee man and wife. You may now kiss your bride." The priest said as Seabury pulled me close to him and kissed me hard on the lips as I curled my hands into fists as he pulled away from me and I felt him pry my hand opened slip a ring onto my finger. I pulled away from him as I felt my heart completely break into two… Seabury grabbed my hand and pulled me back up the aisle. I can't do this. I need to take my chance. I saw the docks nearby. I could run to through the town and find shelter somewhere. I pulled away from Seabury and took off running. I lifted my skirt and start to run hard and fast away from Seabury. I felt him on my tail and him reach out to touch my veil. He pulled it off my head and my curls fell out from the pins that held them and into my face. I heard everyone yelling as I got myself jumbled into the crowds of busy London square. I needed to find an inn and collect myself. I held tightly onto my bouquet as I found an inn.
"Can I help you miss?" The innkeeper asked as I shut the door.
"Do you have a room available?" I asked hopeful as he looked at me up and down.
"Are you alright miss?" He asked concerned as I shook my head.
"No… Please I need help." I said as he nodded slowly.
"Alright. Let me put my sign saying we are closed then you need to tell me what is going on." He said as I nodded. He walked out from behind his bar and locked the door up tight.
"Helen could you come out for a minute?" The man asked as an older woman walked out from a kitchen. She looked at me shocked then at the inn keeper.
"Hugh, who is she?" She asked worried as the innkeeper walked over her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"This is…" He said as I realized I didn't give my name.
"My name is Eliza." I said quickly. He nodded and introduced himself and his wife.
"Helen, this is Eliza and she needs helps. By the looks of it she is running off from a wedding." He said as I nodded.
"That's only the beginning." I said as he sat me down at a table and his wife brought a warm cup of broth.
"Alright then what is the whole story?" Helen asked as I nodded.
"Well… My full name is Elizabeth Hamilton. I was taken from my husband and child. I am from Manhattan in New York. Samuel Seabury and my father who was against me marrying my husband. They took me away and burned down my home. I want to go back home to America… Well, Samuel Seabury forced me into marriage to him… He is a cruel man that was horribly abusive to me… When the wedding ended earlier this hour… I took off running. I need to seek passage on a ship that is New York bound." I said as Helen touched my hand.
"Oh poor dear. I am so sorry to hear. Well, I am sure we can off you a room and I think I have something else for you to where beside that wedding dress." She said as I nodded.
"Thank you so much. I can work for you will I figure out how to seek passage to Manhattan and write to my husband that I am alright." I said as they nodded.
"Alright then you can stay in the spare room we use for guests and work as a bar maid." Hugh said as Helen got up.
"Why don't you come with me. I think I have an old dress that will suit you nicely." She said and lead me upstairs. I followed her in a large roomy bedroom as she started to rumble through a chest. She pulled out a simple light purplish-blue dress. "This should fit you." She said handing it to me.
"Oh thank you so much. You and your husband are such kind people." I said as she smiled.
"Let me should you to your quarters so that you can get changed." She said as I nodded. She led me out of the room and to a smaller room. "Here you go dear." She said and I smiled at her.
"Thank you so much. I owe you my life." I said gushing and she walked out.
"It's nothing my dear. Get changed and meet me in the kitchen." She said and closed the door behind her. I started to unfasten my dress fastens and slipped out of my layers of petticoats and skirts and loosed my corset slightly to breath. I took off my mother's necklace and couldn't bare to look at it. I slipped on the purple dress and brushed the wrinkles off the plain fabric and smiled at my reflection. I hurried and ran to the kitchen where Helen was pulling out a chicken. "Do you know how to bake?" She asked as I nodded. "Start making something sweet to sale." She said handing me a cook book. I started to bake my favorite sugar cookies and pulled them out of the oven as Hugh walked in.
"Seabury and his men just stopped by… they are looking for a woman named Elizabeth Schuyler…" He said as I looked at him fearfully. "He saw you with your back turned and I told him that it was my daughter in law Betsy. He bought and left." Hugh said as I sighed relived.
"Thank you so much. I will find a way to repay you." I said as Helen took a bite of one of my cookies.
"Oh these cookies are divine!" She exclaimed as she finished cutting the chicken and putting it to three different plates.
"Thank you." I said softly as I let them cool. I followed Helen out of the kitchen with two plates of chicken, potatoes and chicken broth. I sat down in front of the couple as we joined hands. After a quick pray we started to eat.
"How old is your son Eliza?" Helen asked as I smiled at the thought of my little boy.
"He was three months old when I was taken. I've been here for almost four months now. So, he should be about seven months old. He is the most precious thing. He takes his father. Looks and all." I said gushing over my boy.
"Oh he sounds darling. What is his name?" She asked as I sighed contently.
"Philip." I said as Hugh continued eating.
"Do you and Hugh have any children?" I asked curious as Helen nodded.
"We have a son who is your age. Lives in Liverpool with his wife Eleanor, and our youngest son is off studying in America." She said as I smiled at her.
"You two must be proud of them." I said as Hugh nodded.
"I am going to give you a parenting tip on sons. Never forget that they are always trying to make you proud of them." He said as I took his plate and Helen's plate to the kitchen with mine to start cleaning up. "Eliza? Would you like a piece of paper and some write to your husband?" Hugh asked as I looked at him and nearly dropped the plates. I nodded quickly as he smiled. "I'll go leave some on your desk." He said as I finished the plates. I cleaned up the kitchen quickly blew out the candles. I walked upstairs quietly and went to my quarters. I closed my door quietly and locked it tightly. I walked over to the desk with my candle in hand as I smiled at the paper and ink. I sat at the desk and put the candle in front of me. I picked up a quill and dipped it in the black ink pot.
"My dearest, Alexander
How I long for you and our son so much that it hurts to breath or move. In my four-month ordeal with Seabury I have managed to keep strong for you. I have missed you and because of the cruelness of Samuel Seabury I have nearly given up. But I saw my chance and ran from him. I have found shelter in an inn where a very kind couple to me in and protected me from Seabury and his men. I hope that Philip is alright… That night when the estate was burnt down Seabury and my father were responsible for it and left Philip alone near the burning house. I have prayed every night hoping that you have found him and that he was safe. I've missed you and my sisters so much and I promise that you that I am trying to arrange passage on a ship going back to Manhattan. I love and miss you my love. Soon I won't be an ocean away from you and Philip.
Your loving wife
~ Eliza Hamilton"
I finished my letter and smiled as the ink dried. I got out of my chair and blew out the candle while I unfastened my purple dress and untied my corset. I brushed off my dirty, bloody shift that Seabury has forced me to wear every night since I have arrived in England. I climbed into bed happily that I was safe from Seabury.