Love & War (Alex & Eliza #2)(70)

Eliza did her best to cover for Alex. “He mentioned that you were being released on, released on recognizance,” she said, pulling the word out and hoping she was pronouncing it correctly. “I assume the, ah, recognizance is ours.”

“Thanks to your husband tirelessly providing me with commissions, and to his keen negotiating skills, I have been able to reduce and pay off my debts. But I am still without ready income, not to mention a place to stay. Your husband was gracious enough to offer me the use of your guest room for lodging, as well as your parlor for painting a few outstanding commissions—first of which will be his own portrait.” He smiled messily at John. “What about you, sir? A family portrait? Or perhaps just one of the little namesake?”

“My name is John Church,” John said testily. Clearly, he had been dealing with Earl’s drunkenness for some time. “Our son is named after my wife and sister-in-law’s illustrious father, General Philip Schuyler.”

“I’m a man of peace myself,” Ralph Earl said, refilling his glass and taking a healthy swig. “Are you sure don’t want some of this decoction? I don’t know what it is, but it is quite satisfying.”

“No, thank you,” Angelica said firmly. “I don’t usually drink before lunch.”

Eliza seized on the last word. “Lunch! I’ll have Rowena prepare you something!”

“Is that your maid?” Angelica said. “She let us in but then promptly ran off to market. She said her larder was nearly empty. We have been attended to by a very cheery lad, although I fear Mr. Earl has been giving him tipples of drink. I think he may have fallen asleep belowstairs.”

“Mr. Earl!” Eliza said, her indignation only half feigned. “Please tell me you have not been giving Simon honey wine to drink? He is but nine years old!”

“The lad said he wanted to be a footman. How on earth can he serve drink if he doesn’t know what he’s offering up?”

Eliza shook her head in exasperation and turned back to her sister. “At any rate, I gather that you have met our houseguest. And where are you and John staying?”

Angelica frowned. “Well, we had written Mr. Hamilton to see if we could perhaps stay here, but I gather from Rowena that you have just the one guest room?”

“Oh! Of course!” Eliza said. “To sleep under the same roof again! It would be so fun! But . . .” She turned and glanced at Earl, who was making goo-goo eyes at the baby, or perhaps at John—his focus was rather glazed. “It’s true, we have just one spare bedroom. There is Alex’s study, though. I’m sure we could procure a bedstead and mattress. But by tonight?” She shook her head in consternation. “When did you write Alex to say that you were coming?”

“It must be three weeks ago now.”

“Three weeks? The mail was spotty when the city was first liberated, but service has been reliable for the past month. How could he not have received it? You wrote to the Stone Street address? He has been so busy. Perhaps it escaped his attention.”

Angelica shrugged in confusion. “It sounds like his practice is going well then?”

“In a manner of speaking,” Eliza said to her sister. “He has more clients than he can handle, but he has yet to take a case to trial, and thus to secure a judgment. And until there are judgments, the payments are”—she waved a hand at Earl—“nominal.”

“A journeyman’s days are never easy,” John said from his chair. “But we all have faith in Alex’s ability. Be patient, Eliza,” he added more pointedly. “Angelica and I barely saw each other for the first three years of our marriage either. And now we return to London, where I aim to stand as a member of Parliament. With the war is over, it is imperative that America and Britain restore normal diplomatic and trade relations. We have too much in common to remain enemies.”

But Eliza barely heard the second half of John’s speech.

“Return to London?” She whirled to Angelica. “Is this true?”

Her sister nodded her head, a curious mixture of sadness and excitement on her face. “It was in John’s letter to Mr. Hamilton. We sail on the tenth.”

“The tenth? Of April? But that is less than a fortnight away! Two weeks, and then I may never—”

“Hush,” Angelica said. “You will see us again, on this side of the ocean and, if you are feeling intrepid, in the Old World as well. My husband may be British, but our son is American, and I mean for him to know the country of his birth.”

Eliza felt like she couldn’t stop shaking her head. The slouching form of Ralph Earl melted into his chair in one corner of the room, while in the other, her brother-in-law dandled her nephew on his knee.

“You must stay here then,” Eliza said. “I have to have as much time as possible with you. If only Peggy could be here as well!”

“We saw her before we left the Pastures, and we have had ample time with her these past few years. And Stephen promises to take her on a European tour sooner rather than later.”

Eliza glanced around the room in desperation, as if a door might suddenly appear, leading to a fully kitted-out extra bedroom.

“If only I’d known you were coming. I would have made arrangements!”

“Do not worry about it, Eliza. John and I can find an inn at which to stay.”