For the Porkey Office on the Ministry of Magic Discord.
Peggy is distraught at the thought of Angelica moving to London. And while Eliza struggles to understand why—if Angelica belongs to anyone, after all, it's certainly not Peggy—she finds great solace in comforting her younger sister. At the very least, it's enough to distract from her own grief. Without the shadow of Angelica to stand behind, Eliza is sure she'll be lost, swallowed up by the great city of New York.
It's through blubbering tears that Peggy says, "If only Angelica had married Alexander. Then she wouldn't be leaving us."
"Pardon?"
Peggy looks up, her face ashen. Her crying stops immediately. Eliza's eyes are wide and her mouth agape. The hand that had been rubbing circles on the small of Peggy's back freezes.
"I just thought…" Peggy trails off. When she continues, it's slow and deliberate. It's also wholly unconvincing. "She met him first, didn't she? That's all I meant by it."
"You're being ridiculous," Eliza says firmly. She wills her voice not to shake. "You don't marry someone just because you met them first. You marry them for…" But Eliza doesn't know why you marry someone. She married Alexander for an infatuation. Alexander married her perhaps for lust and certainly for status. "...well, you marry them for love. Honestly, Peggy."
"Of course," Peggy says quickly. She uses the end of her sleeve to wipe her face. "And that's why he married you. I'm sorry, Eliza. I was just being silly. You and Alexander are so darling together. I never meant to imply..."
"I know. You're just upset," Eliza interrupts. Then, softly, she adds, "I wish she wasn't going too."
It's enough to set Peggy off again. Once again, the tears fall and the room is filled with her howls. And although Eliza truly will miss her sister, she's suddenly stricken by the thought that perhaps some separation won't be so bad. She'll have the room to become her own person. And Alexander—because she's seen the way he looks at her sister—might finally be able to focus on what's right in front of him.