I started to walk around the garden as Philip ran with his tiny water can to help me water the garden. "Mama!" He shrieked excited as I watched him pour water all over the pea plants. I put my hand on my growing baby bump and watched my sixteen-month-old son water the plants.
"Come along Philip let's go make lunch and go see Papa." I said and he took off running to the house. I walked slowly and I heard Philip babbling.
"Uncle Georgie!" He yelled excited as I walked in and saw George holding Philip.
"George what a lovely and unexpected visit." I said laughing as he nodded.
"I knocked and it was opened. Sorry for the intrusion." He said and I shook my head.
"You are my brother in law George you are perfectly fine." I said with a chuckle as Philip pulled on George's face.
"He is quite rambunctious." George said setting Philip down to the floor and he took off running out of the kitchen.
"Now what is going on?" I asked while I started to cut bread and meat.
"I was coming to ask if you would host a dinner for Secretary of State, the Vice President and his wife, Myself and Angelica. It's alright if you can't because it will cause stress." George said as I shook my head.
"I wouldn't mind. I can ask Peggy to take Philip for a night. Is this a make Alexander play nice with Secretary of State, the Vice President kind of dinner?" I asked with a smile.
"Yes it." George said chuckling.
"Well I would be happy to help. When is it?" I asked while I walked over to the cupboard to grab a head of cheese.
"It's at the end of this week." He said as I nodded.
"Alright then. I will ask Peggy if she could watch Philip while I go out shopping." I said and he smiled at me.
"Thank you so much Eliza." He said brushing off his black coat.
"Is he getting along better with Jefferson?" I asked while I loaded the basket of food to take to Alexander.
"He is at least attempting." George said as I nodded.
"That's good to hear." I said happily before tossing an apple in the basket.
"Well I should be off. I have a country to run and I also need to make sure Jefferson and Hamilton didn't kill each other." He said as I waved him good bye.
"Philip say good bye to Uncle George." I called out as I heard his tiny voice ring out.
"Bye Bye!" He shrieked before I heard the door close.
"Come along Philip. Let's have lunch." I called out before starting to make lunch.
"Alexander I expect you to be on your best behavior tonight." I said as I pulled the chicken out of the oven. He helped me as it started to fall from my hands he helped me put in on top of stove before I went to grab the apple pie to put in the oven.
"I will as long as they don't instigate." He said before I shot him a glare, he jumped back and nodded. "Yes dear." He said looking down timidly before I pulled down plates and wine glasses.
"I need to go change make sure that the potatoes are mashed and the pie is in the oven." I said pecking his cheek and putting the pie in his hands before I hurried upstairs. I pulled out the gold and white maternity dress that Hercules made me before changing into it and fixing my hair and lip paint. I heard someone knocking on the door. I walked downstairs to see Angelica and George walking in ahead of the shorter man and his wife from the state's ball. "Mister. President, Mister. Vice President." Alexander said formally when I joined next to him.
"This is my wife Elizabeth. Eliza, this is Vice President John Adams and his wife Abigail." Alexander said almost biting his tongue about the Vice President.
"Welcome to our home." I said with a gracious smile.
"Your home is quite lovely." Said Mrs. Adams in a lofty high voice. I smiled at her and looked at her greying dark brown hair pulled back into stiff bun and her dark blue dress fell gently like a blue water fall before smiling.
"Thank you, dinner will be served soon." I said before Angelica follows me to the kitchen.
"You should be out in the parlor with the others." I whispered as she shook her head.
"I've had enough small talk with Abigail Adams to last me a life time. Plus, I need to make sure you are feeling better. Anymore morning sickness?" She asked whispering back.
"Not anymore. The doctor says I should have the baby by the end of September." I said excited for my new little baby to be her in 5 months when I heard the door again. "I should go get that." I said hurrying over to the foyer and opened it to reveal Jefferson with a small girl, who seemed to barely over the age of sixteen, behind him holding a glass dish with noodles covered in cheese. "Mister Jefferson welcome to my home." I said letting him in along with the young girl followed. "
This is my salve Sally." Thomas said introducing the salve girl when I went stiff. Alexander and I share very harsh views of slavery and were completely against it.
"I see you also brought noodles covered in cheese." I said trying to mask my disgust of the dish and of him bringing a slave into my home.
"It is the most delightful dish I've ever had. It is cooked macaroni noodles mixed with different cheeses that melt with the noodles and then topped with cheese. I learned it from the French while I was there as the ambassador." He said rambling on about it.
"Well I am sure it will be delicious Mr. Jefferson." I said with a smile.
"Where would you like me to put the tray ma'am?" The young slave girl asked timidly as I smiled at her.
"The kitchen would be fine dear." I said gently and she hurried. "The others are in the parlor. Dinner will be served shortly." I said to him and I hurried to the kitchen to start serving food. Angelica helped me with the plates and wine glasses while I listened to Alexander and Jefferson starting to bicker. "Alexander." I called out as I heard him get up.
"Yes?" He asked as I shot him a look. "Help me with setting dinner please?" I asked trying to help him get out of dealing with Jefferson. His slave girl helped set the wine glasses on the table before looking at me.
"Is there anything I can do ma'am?" She asked as I saw her stiffen when Alexander walked in.
"No Sally thank you." I said while she curtsies and hurried out of the room. I walked over to the parlor and folded my hands in my lap. "Dinner is served." I announced and everyone got up to followed me to the dining room. I started to serve dinner while everyone sat down.
"May I just say Elizabeth this chicken is superb." Mrs. Adams said as I sat down next to Alexander at the head of the long dining room table.
"Well thank you Mrs. Adams." I said before we said grace. We started to eat while Alexander and George engaged in politics.
"Can we please not discuss politics at the dinner table?" Angelica asked as she looked at George and he nodded before Jefferson chuckled.
"You Schuyler women are very controlling of your husbands." He said as Angelica and myself stiffened.
"I beg your pardon?" I asked trying to control my anger, Alexander touched my hand.
"Do indulge us Mister. Jefferson about your comment." Angelica said through her teeth as George put a hand on her arm.
"It's nothing just that men are by nature supposed to be in control of their women." Jefferson said before I glared at him and stood up giving myself a head rush and Angelica stood up worried before shooting an evil look at Jefferson.
"We are no man's property. I am my husband's wife and his equal." I said before I brushed off my skirt. "Now if you would excuse me, I am going to go check on the pie for dessert." I said before walking away angered. I grabbed my oven mitts and I started to pull the apple and spice pie before I started to whisk whipped heavy cream in a large bowl as I muttered to myself.
"You are muttering." I heard someone said behind me before I felt a familiar embrace wrap me in his arms.
"That arrogant man is a toadstool." I whispered angered as I felt Alexander rub my baby bump.
"I know Eliza but you can't let him get to you because then you will get yourself and our baby sick." Alexander said kissing the nape of my neck. I finished whipping before I grabbed the dessert plates.
"Can you cut the pie while I start to boil water for tea while you gentlemen go to your study to talk about politics." I asked quietly.
"Of course." He said before kissing my neck once more before letting go of me. I walked slowly to my tea set before grabbing the kettle to boil water. I helped Alexander serve the pie and I hurried back to the kitchen in time to pour the boiling water into the silver plated tea pot that Alexander purchased for our anniversary. I put berry and camellia tea bags in the tea pot while I walked back out. "Gentleman why don't we go to my study to talk and such while the ladies go to the parlor for tea." Alexander said before Angelica and Mrs. Adams follow me to the parlor.
"So Mrs. Adams do you have any children?" I asked pouring her a cup of tea.
"I do, Two daughters and three sons." She said as I nodded while I served Angelica her team.
"How old are they?" I asked while I took a sip of my tea.
"Abby is our eldest and is seventeen, our eldest son is John Quincey is fifteen, Susan is fourteen, Charles is twelve and our youngest son Thomas is ten. Unfortunately… we had a stillborn daughter Elizabeth five years ago." She said as I felt my heart break.
"My condolences." I said sadly as Angelica was quiet which was unusually.
"Well I do hear you have a one-year-old son and you are expecting." She said with a small smile.
"Yes. I am excited to have another little baby." I said as Angelica smiled at me. "Angelica you are very quiet tonight." I said as I looked up at my older sister.
"I'm sorry I am just feeling ill." She said as I looked at her worried.
"Anything serious?" I asked when she shook her head no.
"No, just a horrible headache." She said as I reach out and I squeezed her hand. She smiled at me as I heard someone clear their throats.
"Shall we be heading home Angelica?" George asked as Angelica got up and nodded. She pecked my cheek and smiled at me.
"I'll see you tomorrow to go shopping with Peggy." She said while Adams collected his wife. Jefferson and his slave girl hurried out the door. I started to clean up as Alexander helped me.
"Why don't you go clean up and I will go get Philip." Alexander said and I nodded silent. "Eliza is something wrong?" He asked and I nodded.
"I just… I'm worried Alexander." I said as he looked at me worried.
"What are you worried about?" He asked gently.
"What if I lose our baby?" I asked scared and his face dropped.
"Eliza? What do you mean by that? You won't lose our baby." He said as he pulled me into his arms and stroked the back of my head.
"I just know it could happen and I don't want it to happen, I just am scared…" I said looking up at him.
"Liza you won't I swear." He said kissing my forehead. I nodded and sighed "I should get cleaning up." I said and he nodded.
"I will go get Philip." He said as I kissed his lips gently and nodded.
"Okay." I said before I started to go the kitchen and I cleaned up the kitchen from dinner. I scrub the dishes off before I felt a flutter in my stomach as I jumped and nearly dropped the plate. I felt my baby kick for the first time and I covered my mouth in shock. I heard the door open as I finished putting the plates and bowls up in the cabinet. Alexander walks into the kitchen with Philip asleep with his head on his Papa's shoulder. I smiled at my boys and kissed my son's sleeping forehead and smiled up at my husband. "Guess who I felt kick?" I whispered excited as his eyes widen.
"Really?!" He whispered back and I nodded.
"Our baby is a fighter." I said while he tucked Philip into his bed. He grabbed my hand and we walked to our room.
"She is just like her mama." Alexander said as I started to unlace my dress.
"She?" I asked with a smile.
"I like to think the baby is a girl." Alexander said sheepishly before I peeked his lips and smiled up at him.
"I do too." I said and he pulled me close and rubbed my stomach and smiled before going to his knees to be leveled at my stomach.
"Hello little baby." He said talking to my stomach. I laughed as he chuckled.
"Now you need to keep kicking your mama because that will just prove to her that she has nothing to be worrying about." He said as I realized my husband was right and I looked down at him with a smile and the feeling that everything would be okay.