And Peggy

There's a lake I know

"Bye Tia! Look after Tiger for me!" I yell from the carriage, waving furiously.

Stephan smiles at me, amused at my immaturity.

"This is going to be. So. Much. Fun!"

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As we pulled up at Schuyler mansion, there was a crowd waiting to receive us. Two children flounce the carriage.

"Aunty Peg! Uncle Stephan!" Kitty Schuyler Church jumps at me.

"Happy birthday, my sweet girl. You've grown so much since I last saw you. We've brought a gift for you."

Stephan exits the carriage with a box in his hand. He hands the box to Kitty who opens it promptly and gasps in wonder. Inside are a pair of buckled leather shoes.
While Kitty rushes inside to try them on, Phillip Schuyler Church steps forward. He puffs out his chest and holds out his hand with a determined expression on his face. I match his serious face and shake his hand with formality.
"It's simply spiffing to see you on this fine day, general."

Phillip cracks a smile and I ruffle his hair before he runs off after his sister. Angelica chuckles.

Father strides up to me and embraces me, mother follows suit. Stephan lurks behind me.

Finally I have a clear view of my sisters. They squeal and nearly suffocate me as they bury in a group hug.

"Ange, how's the luxury life in London?" I tease.
"It's alright. It's no New York though. There are so many buildings and no countryside!"

"And Eliza, where's Alex?"
Eliza sighs before saying "He had to stay in Harlem for work. The cabinet battle with Jefferson shook him, hard."

"He wouldn't even come after he found out that I was coming!" Angelica chips in.

"Oh, yes Ange. Because we all know how much you influence his decisions." I scoff.

There is a small giggle from behind us. I turn and half hidden by the mansion's big door,is a small boy in a blue-grey coat with curly, long, dark hair.

"Well you must be Phillip!" I exclaim.

The boy looks at his feet as I approach him. I kneel down so that I am at eye level with him.

"I'm Aunty Peggy. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Your mother talks about you all the time!" I say as he casts a bashful smile at his mother and runs over to her, hiding behind her dress but smiling shyly at me.

"He's shy." Eliza confirms unnecessarily.

As I step inside the house, Hannah bustles over to me.
"How's the new home, dear? Haven't replaced me, have you?"

"Of course not!" I laugh. "Tia is polite but she's a bit old school and she has none of your humour!"
Stephan passes with a disapproving sniff.

That night, Amelia makes quiche. It is such a relief to devour a dish without a dash of cinnamon or a weird exotic leaf.

Angelica's, Eliza's and my bedroom is just how we left it. My bed feels so small compared to the one at Rensselaer manor.

It is so good to be home.

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The first three days of the holiday are simply blissful. The sky is deep blue and there isn't a cloud in sight. All three days we go out on the lake.