Love & War (Alex & Eliza #2)(3)
“Unless he gets promoted like Papa,” Eliza said, finally finding her voice. “In which case, I’ll call him General Hamilton. And you never answered my question. Will John be joining us this evening?”
“I believe so. He accompanied your colonel and Papa when they went into town this morning to attend to some work of his own, and told me he expects to finish by early evening. And Stephen?” Angelica continued, turning to Peggy. “Will your young man be there as well?”
“He said he is bringing half the Rensselaer cousins with him,” Peggy replied with a nod, though she didn’t sound happy about it.
“Is Mother Rensselaer still refusing to allow him to propose?” Eliza asked.
“I’m afraid so.” Peggy sighed. “She says he is too young, but I don’t believe it. When we first began courting, she was eager for us to marry immediately, but after what happened with Papa, she grew noticeably less enthusiastic. It’s almost as if she thinks I am after him for his money!”
It was true that the Schuyler fortune wasn’t what it once was. Four years ago, General Schuyler had been unceremoniously replaced by Horatio Gates as commander of the northern army, at about the same time that the Schuylers’ Saratoga country estate was burned to the ground by British forces, destroying the better part of the Schuylers’ income. Between the loss of funds and the cost of rebuilding, it had been a lean couple of years. But the family coffers had begun to recover at last, especially after Angelica’s and Eliza’s marriages. John Barker Church, Angelica’s husband, had a booming business in trade, and Alexander Hamilton, though far from rich, was well provided for by the Continental army, and everyone said he had a bright, indeed limitless, future ahead of him.
Alas, that did not seem enough for the snooty Rensselaers.
“She is being absurd!” Eliza scoffed now. “It is Stephen who chased you. Why, that boy has been in love with you since he was in short pants!”
“Oh, has he started wearing trousers at last?” Angelica quipped, to a swat from Peggy.
Eliza laughed, then patted her younger sister’s hand. “The Rensselaers wouldn’t dare forever object to joining their family with ours. We are already cousins on Mama’s side, and for all their money and land, they haven’t nearly the prestige we do.” She sighed. “Well, it sounds like dinner will be a full house. I look forward to seeing all three of our lads in the same room. It’s so rare these days.”
“I know!” Angelica said. “And soon enough the war will be over and you will be moving to New York City or Philadelphia or, heaven forbid, Virginia. John has been talking about returning to England, and I’m sure Stephen will want to build Peggy a house on some plantation-size corner of his vast holdings. This may be the last time we’re all together for who knows how long!”
“Well then, let’s make it the best party ever!” Eliza said. She stood up and grabbed a pie from the cooling rack, placing it in a basket. “And now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take Mama a snack. Peggy, please don’t wear the crimson silk Stephen gave you,” she joked. “I cannot bear to be eclipsed by your radiance yet again.”
“Ha!” Angelica laughed. “Telling Peggy not to dress up is like telling a goldfinch not to shine. Face it, Eliza, you’re going to have to cinch tonight.”
“And put on a wig!” Peggy added with a laugh. “Dot was teasing mine up for an hour last night, and it is at least three feet high!”
Eliza groaned, dreading the pinch of a corset and the itchiness of a wig, then reached for one last berry.
Springtime! In Albany! Not even the thought of all the painstaking effort that would go into looking presentable could ruin her day.
2
Allies and Conspirators
Schuylkill Tavern
Albany, New York
April 1781
Colonel Alexander Hamilton leaned against the nearby open window and drew in a few deep breaths. Both his father-in-law, General Philip Schuyler, and his brother-in-law, John Barker Church, were inveterate smokers, and after four hours, the small room in the back of Schuylkill Tavern was suffused with smoke. He desperately needed some fresh air. Yet the atmosphere outside was hardly more pleasant than that in the room. The tavern’s back side (all puns intended) opened onto a narrow, muddy alley into which the local innkeepers regularly tossed their garbage and scraps, not to mention the contents of their guests’ chamber pots. But as long as Alex inhaled through his mouth rather than his nose, he was all right. At any rate, he was at least not tempted to retch.
He scolded himself for complaining, for surely the price of inhaling a little smoke was nothing compared to now being part of Eliza’s family—the Schuylers were one of the oldest and most prestigious clans in all of New York to be sure—but more important, Alex had been folded right into the middle of its loving arms. The family was even throwing him a good-bye party tonight before his imminent return to duty. Speaking of loving, the last six months had been the very definition of wedded bliss, as yearning for Eliza from afar did not hold a candle to the very happy reality of being her husband. Just the thought of his dear chestnut-tressed maid brought a warm smile to his face. He couldn’t wait to see her later that evening.