This Twisted Game - A Hamilton Retelling

Aleyshan

Aleyshan entered her father's study, a large wood – panelled room with shelves of books on the left – hand side, a desk in the far – right corner, above which a large map was pinned to the corboards. The three large windows let in the waning afternoon light, casting patches of gold on the Parjuri carpet her mother had given him on their wedding day, rich gold blue and green patterened with leaves and flowers.

On one side of the desk was her father, on the other side, already sitting there, was her sister, Eliana.

'You called me, paapa?', she asked shutting the door behind her and approaching the table. She sank down into the chair beside Eliyana.

'How was it?', her sister asked, eyes shining, 'Were you nervous?'

Aleyshan ran a hand through her hair trying to loosen the bun the tension the coiled bun had built up in her roots, 'I am certain everyone there hates me'.

'Do not say that', said her father, 'They will come around to it eventually'.

She shrugged, massaging her temples, 'It must be so hard for them', she muttered, 'Poor boys – having to sit in the same room as a girl. Their dignity must be so tarnished'.

Eliyana giggled.

'Anyway', she said, 'What do you want to tell us, paapa?'

He drummed his fingers on the table, 'Recently, there have been rumours of prising against the Empire across our four colonies, most of them concentrated here, in our city. The majority of them are being created by young men. There is also concrete evidence of private dragoons being formed and training happening in the fields on the outskirts of the city'.

Eliyana's eyes widened, 'You mean we are approaching war?'

Their father put up a finger, 'Not quite. But tensions have been escalating for the last couple of weeks ever since there have been murmurs of indepence amongst the colonies. The rumours are only growing faster. As a someone invested in Britain's interests in the colonies, I do not wish to have any confusions arising, nor any bloodshed. These rebels will only turn the status quo for nothing. Though I do sympathise with some aspects of their beliefs, Britain is too powerful to be challenged.'

'Did you see what happened at the docks last week?' said Eliyan, leaning close to Aleyshan, 'They dressed up as the ribe and threw crates of tea over into the sea'.

It was true. Sometimes the rebels were getting out of hand, instigating confrotntations with British authortities that was elading ot more detah and violence. Recently a paper had begun ot be circulated in around New York that was gaining popularity, where an anonymous writer was lashing out against pro – imperialists, those who were against the rebels and this concept of revolution. Though she had to admit, the writer was not someone to be trifled with. His words were honed from wit and sarcasm the likes of which she had never seen.

'So', she said slowly, 'What do you want from us?'

Her father let out a deep breath, 'You know one of the reason why I chose King's and not Princeton for you, Aleyshan'.

'Because King's seems to be more of a hotbed for the rebellion?', said Eliyana.

'Exactly. So you can get your education while keeping an eye out for trouble and reporting back to me', he said, 'But that will not be enough to gain their trust. I want them to b comfortable with the Schuylers – though we are not that well – known, it is common knowledge that our business is aligned with the British. We need to make it seem to the revolutionaries that we are sympathetic to their cause.'

'And how will we do that?', asked Aleyshan.

I have received information that a soiree is being held at one of the grand estates in the southern part of this state', replied her father, 'and...'

'You want us to go!', gasped Eliyana excitedly, 'How thrilling'.

Aleyshan registered what her father her said. 'But surely the current government in New York would mistakenly assume that we are aligning ourselves with the rebels?', her father opened his mouth to answer, but she interrupted, 'But let me guess – they know of your plan'.

'Yes', he said nodding, then pulled out a simple printed sheet of paper form under a stack of documents.

'Here', he said, sliding it over to them, 'The details and the invitation'.

'How many people will be at the gathering?', she asked as Eliyana pored over the sheet.

'A few hundred'.

'And how are we to extract information from so many rebels?', asked Eliyana.

'No – we are just going there to introduce ourselves, Eliyana'.

'We are to be the walls, covered in floral paper but hollow inside, holding secrets?', she mused, grinning in delight, 'Or the snake hidden under the flower?'

Aleyshan rolled her eyes, 'You have gotten the poetry all wrong'.

'Pretty much what Eliyana has said. As you have seen, the dinner is tomorrow night, which is not too much time but take it as this – you are going to enjoy yourselves but keep your ears open. Understood?'

Eliyana snatched up the invitation, beaming, 'Understood, Paapa', then practically skipped to the door, 'Coming, Baji?'

'Give me a moment – I have to ask Paapa more questions'.

Eliyana nodded, and shut the door behind her. She could hear her running down the corridor in excitement.

'paapa, wat have you gotten us into?', she whispered incredulously, tuning back to him while trying to undo her bun. She winced as a strand of her tightened, pulling her scalp as she twisted her hair this way and that trying to extract it from the hold of the pins.

He looked at her, surprised, 'I thought you would be pleased'.

'I am pleased. It is just – don't you think Eli is a bit too young for this?', she asked, frowning, 'You do know that she is terrible at keeping secrets'.

'Ah – but that's why she will be good at this. She ahs a way with bringing everyone to her side'.

'Are you saying I am not?', she asked, pretending to be offended.

He smiled, reaching across the table to take her hand, 'All my children are different form each other. Especially you'. He turned her hand over so her palm was facing up, 'Do you think you can do it?'

'You mean practice without fainting? I think I can try. Should I do it tomorrow? I though this was only an initial venture into the rebel's camp'.

'It is', he said, 'But just in case something goes wrong, I want you to be ready', he paused, 'I'm sending Peggy with you as well'.

Her eyes widened in shock, 'No. No. Not her. She will ruin everything, Paapa!. She will talk too much and eat too much and',

'We wont tell her the real reason'.

'I am not taking her'.

He tilted his head, amused, 'the poor girl has not been anywhere this entire week, Aleyshan'.

'You want her away from the house because she is getting on your nerves'.

He rubbed a hand over his face, 'yes', he sighed.

'Alright I'll babysit her', she agreed grudgingly, rising from the chair and pushing it back so it screeched against the floor. She was is no mood to handle Peggy.

Her father came around and fiddled with her bun, 'Stand still. You have made a terrible mess of this', he muttered, gently pulling out pins and untangling strands of hair until it had all come undone. Her scalp felt like it had been pricked with a dozen needles, the wright of her hair gone now that it was loose against her back.

'Thank you, Paapa'.

He patted her head, 'No – thank you. I will not present this as anything else - You are doing this for me. And if at any moment you feel you cannot do this, turn around. Alright? I don't want you saying later on that it was all my fault'.

And that was when, as she stepped out of the study and closed the door behind her, she realised what a terrible decision she had made.