"Where do you want me to start?" I asked nervous.
"Why don't you start from the beginning. After you were taken." Alexander said as I fiddled with my hands.
"Well… I woke up in a room with only a single candle on the window sill next to me. I sat up and rubbed my head as I got up and tried to pull on the door handle. It was locked as I realized that I wasn't in my room. I wasn't in Mount Vernon with my son… I was locked away in some room far from my child and my husband and that I was taken from those I love. I started to bang hard against the door as my chest heaved harder and hard… I was terrified. I couldn't get out. The door starting to open and jumped away from the door. Samuel Seabury walked in, he looked at me and closed the door and locked me in with him. "Ah you have finally awake my bride." Seabury said as he tried to touch my cheek and I jerked away from him. I kept telling him to let me go and he circled around me like I was a play thing to him. Then he said "Why? I would much rather have some time with my future wife. After all, come tomorrow evening my dear Elizabeth. You will be my wife and you will be submissive to me." And he came closer to me. I started to shake harder and harder as he pushed me to the bed and forced himself on top of me." I said as I froze when I heard myself screaming. I could hear him ripped my night dress off… Leaving me bare in front of him.
"Eliza?" Alexander asked breaking me out of my frozen state. "What happened next?" He asked careful as I shook my head.
"He grabbed me and my body was racking with tears. I screamed as he slapped me hard across the face. My screams fell silent as he punched me hard in the face knocking me unconscious. I woke up to my body hurting all over and a sheet being tossed over my bare body. I watched Seabury buckle his trousers and toss back on his robes. He brushed his sandy brown hair out of his eyes and his dark brown eyes bored into mine while he wore a sickly grin. That grin…" I said shaking as I felt a tear go down my face.
"Do you want to stop?" Alexander asked as I nodded.
"Yes please…" I said looking down and saw my knuckles were white from clutching onto the bedding.
"I'll blow out the candles. You climb into bed." Alexander said climbing out of bed as I nodded. I climbed into bed and started to fall into a dark sleep.
"I was standing in a meadow like the one at the old house before. I smiled as I heard Peggy laughing with Angelica. "Eliza, I made you something!" Peggy said handing me a large blue dyed flower crown. I giggled put it on. I smiled at the beautiful meadow and spun around in the flowers.
"Thank you Peggy." I said smiling at her as she grabbed my hand.
"Come on let's go to the river." Angelica said grabbed my wrist and I nodded. We ran into the woods and I got ahead.
"Come on Eliza slow down." Angelica called out and the scene turned from the beautiful meadow to a horrifying scene of bloody dead bodies when I reached the river bed alone. I covered my mouth in fear as I saw Seabury standing over the people I loved and pointed his gun at Angelica, she stood in the river bed shore as she opened her mouth to scream. "No!" I screamed as I watched him shoot her. I ran over to her and collapsed in the river water next to her as my skirt was drenched in water. I watched the clear water become red with her blood as I screamed in pain of watching her die in my arms. "No! No! Angelica!" I screamed as I felt someone grab my arms. I turned around and saw Seabury with his gun pointed at me. I pressed my forehead against the barrel of it. He looked at me with an odd glance.
"You want this to happen, don't you!" He said with a grin as I sobbed.
"You've taken everything from me. Why not my life." I said through my tears as the scene turned into just him and me.
"Take my gun then." He said tossing it to me. I put it to my temple and gasped for air. "Take your shot." He said with that same grin the first night he had me. I was shaking and I clicked the gun back. I fiddled with the trigger as I heard Seabury yelling at me off why I should apply the six pounds of pressure that will end my misery. "Your husband doesn't love. He will never love a whore like you." Seabury yelled as I heard a different voice before the boom.
"Wait!" Alexander yelled."
I bolted upright, sobbing. "Eliza?" Alexander asked as I heard him rustling and the room was filled with light as Alexander put the lit candle on our dresser. I sobbed into my hands as I felt him kneel at my side. "Eliza? What happened?" Alexander asked as I kept sobbing till I was out of air. "Eliza, take a breath." Alexander said as I struggled to breath. "Just breathe." Alexander said slowly as I took a small breath and looked at him. "It's okay Liza. Take another bed." Alexander said as I took a deep breath. "Okay, what happened?" Alexander asked as I shook my head.
"He…" I stuttered out as I felt myself shake viciously. I felt him barely touch my arm and I jerked away.
"Who is he? What happened Eliza?" He asked as I froze when the dream replayed in my mind.
"He killed everyone… I wanted… I wanted him to… I wanted him to kill me…" I said trying to get my words out as Alexander looked at me.
"It was Seabury, wasn't it?" He asked as I squeezed my eyes and nodded.
"Okay, Eliza. It's just a dream. Your safe now." Alexander said as he sat on my side of the bed. I felt him tug lightly on my arm and I fell into his embrace. I burrowed my head into his chest and cried softly. I felt him rub my back softly and mummer in my hair. I fell asleep in his arms. "Eliza my love. I need to go to work." Alexander said and kissed my forehead.
"No… Please don't go." I whined and looked up at him.
"I'm sorry my love but I need to work." Alexander said as I held onto him.
"Please don't go…" I said pleading as he squeezed his eyes shut.
"Okay, how about I go and get some work done first then at noon you, Philip and I go to the lake and have a picnic." Alexander said compromising.
"Alright then." I said giving him a small smile as he grinned at me.
"You know I love it when you smile." He said as I giggled with him kissing my forehead. "I am going to see if Philip is awake." Alexander said as I nodded. I got out bed and sat in my rocking chair. I watched the sunrise come up as I heard Alexander walk in with Philip clutching onto his teddy bear.
"Good morning my love." I said as I took him from Alexander and kissed his forehead.
"Well, I am going to go get ready. How about you go start making some breakfast." Alexander said as I nodded and put Philip on my bed. I grabbed my dressing gown and tied it around my waist. I grabbed my son and I walked downstairs. I put him in his chair and I started to cook bacon and eggs for Alexander and I as I put them on a plate contently.
"It smells amazing in here." Alexander said as I turned and looked at his face. He wore his favorite emerald green coat. I smiled at him softly and handed him a plate of food. "Thank you my love." He said taking it from and I gave Philip some food.
"Are Angelica and Peggy coming over today?" I asked hopefully as Alexander nodded.
"Yes they. They are coming over soon Eliza." Alexander said with a smile on his lips. We ate contently as I heard a knock on the door and slightly jumped. "It's alright, I'll go get it." Alexander said calming me down as I looked at him and nodded. I watched him walk out and started to clean up. I heard Angelica and Peggy's voices fill the room.
"Eliza?" Angelica asked shocked as I turned and I faced my sisters as I started to shake.
"I'll leave you ladies." Alexander said before walking out.
"Angelica?" I said shocked that was real. I started to laugh with joy as tears of joy ran down my face. I ran into their arms as I hugged onto them tightly.
"Elizabeth Schuyler don't you ever scare me like that again." Angelica said through her tears as she pecked my forehead repeatedly. I cried into her dress as Peggy held onto my waist and cried into my shoulder.
"I'm sorry Angie. I'm so sorry." I said crying into her chest as she brushed the back of my head.
"None of this is your fault my dear Eliza." Angelica said as I looked up at her.
"I missed you two so much." I said as I looked at them both.
"Oh Eliza. I have been dreaming of this day for the past few months." Angelica said holding me close as Peggy picked up Philip from his chair.
"I have too." I said as Peggy brought Philip over to me with him reaching out for me crying. "Come here little lamb." I said taking him cooing and wiping away his tears.
"Now, we need to catch up. I'll make us some tea." Angelica said as I let go of her and followed Peggy to the parlor.
"How is little Pippa?" I said sitting down in one of the chairs with Philip in my lap as Peggy smiled at me.
"She is adorable. Sweetest little thing." Peggy said gushing as I grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently.
"I cannot wait to see my little niece." I said while Angelica walked in with a tray of tea and biscuits. She sat in front of Peggy and I as I handed Philip a biscuit to nibble on.
"So how are you doing?" Angelica asked as I shrugged my shoulders.
"I really don't know to be honest." I said as Angelica poured me some tea.
"Is it nice being home?" Peggy asked trying to the silence.
"Of course. I'm home with my husband and son. I have you two. How are things with you two?" I asked as Philip wanted down. I put him by my feet as he gnawed on the biscuit happily.
"Well… I've been busy setting up for this ball that Washington is hosting. It's supposed to bring together the senate and the cabinet." Angelica said as Peggy spoke up.
"Hercules and I are busy at work in the shop." Peggy said cheerfully as Philip giggled and pulled on my dressing gown.
"Why don't we clean up and watch Philip you go get dressed." Angelica said as I nodded.
"Alright." I said nervously as Angelica looked concerned.
"It's alright Eliza. Philip will be fine." Angelica said soothing as I nodded and I walked up to Alexander and I's chambers and closing the doors. I looked in the dresser and saw my favorite teal dress. I ran my fingers over the satiny fabric and pulled it out. I changed into my teal dress and brushed off my skirt and slipped into my heels. I looked the mirror and put my hair into a loose ponytail. I walked downstairs and watched from the stairwell as Peggy played with Philip. I smiled at the two and walked to the kitchen where I saw Angelica cleaning the teapot.
"Peggy must be an amazing mother. Philip loves her." I said softly as Angelica turned and smiled at me.
"She is. Her little girl adores her and she has Hercules wrapped around her little finger." Angelica said as I giggled.
"So how are things with George?" I asked as Angelica smiled softly.
"Things are alright so far. He has been working non-stop as the president. But I expected that." Angelica said as I smiled at her.
"Well I take it that is going to be Alexander also." I said as she nodded.
"He works hard and most of the time its either he is writing or complaining about Thomas Jefferson." Angelica said as I laughed softly.
"He has never liked that man." I said as Peggy walked in with on her hip.
"There she is Philip." Peggy said as Philip reached out for me.
"Mama." He said as I covered my mouth shocked.
"Philip did you just say Mama?" I asked shocked as Peggy handed my son to me.
"Mama." He said again as tears of pride went down my face as I chuckled.
"Philip." I said pressing my lips on forehead. "Well, we should get going. I have to go deal with this stupid party." Angelica said kissing my forehead.
"I must get going too. I promise Hercules I would be back in time to help lay Pippa down for her nap." Peggy said as I nodded.
"I will see you soon?" I said worried as they nodded.
"Of course." Angelica said putting me at ease.
"I will see you soon." They said and walked out. I smiled at my son and put him in his high chair. "Are we going to see Papa soon." I said to him as he giggled as I tickled his stomach and laughed while he played with his cloth toys. I started to run around and gather things for Alexander and I's picnic for later. I finished just as the clock struck noon and picked up Philip and the basket. "Come along little lamb. Let's go see Papa." I said softly and I walked out ready to take on Manhattan.