To Freedom: A John Laurens Love Story

Chapter Seven: Soldier Boys Trippin' Over Themselves to Win Our Praise

Persephone's POV

I was quick to grab Emma, and for such a small woman I was surprised I was able to not stumble. Laurens, Mulligan, Lafayette, Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy all quickly rushed over. John took Emma from me and I gave a soft "thank you" in response.

"She just had a little too much to drink," I explained.

The boys all nodded, understanding.

"I didn't think women drank that much," Peggy murmured.

"That's what happens when you don't have a man to dance with, " Eliza explained.

"Well that's unfortunate because I don't need a man," Emma said, struggling but failing to get out of John's arms. At some point during Peggy and Eliza's short conversation the author gave me water and I splashed it on Emma's face to wake her up.

"Says the one who was dancing with the man carrying her," I added, laughing.

"Shut up," Emma said, now standing. "We still need to give women rights and free all the slaves. And, as I have said previously, a man would just distract me from that. Besides, men are all for slavery and against women anyway."

I raised an amused brow as all four men started to disagree, especially John.

Emma looked confused and then surprised. "Wait... You're all abolitionists?" she asked. "Would you be in on my plan to stab out the eyes of everyone who owns slaves? And then free all the slaves and have, like, a slave revolution?"

I nodded with a slightly concerned look. "I'd love to have a slave revolution, but I'd prefer not to stab the eyes out of slave owners because you'd have Mr. Philip in the mix of it. And other people who are polite and take good care of slaves."

"And General Washington," Alexander piped in.

I looked over at Hercules with an Is he obsessed with Washington or something? look, and received a slight nod in reply.

"But they're still slaves," Emma argued.

"I agree with Emma," John said, putting his hand on her shoulder. Emma proceeded to push it off.

"Now, you guys still have the night to dance away. I'm going to stand here and not drink anything," Emma said.

I raised an eyebrow but shrugged it off. The Schuyler Sisters and I took to the dance floor, Eliza with Alexander, Peggy with Hercules, and me with Marie-Joseph Something Something Something Lafayette, and we danced the night away.

(Angelica and John were watching Alexander and Eliza dance but that's irrelevant.)