Today, Tomorrow, Forever: A Hamilton Story

A Winter's Ball

         Eliza POV
I'm sitting at the lavish mirror in the room I share with Angelica and Peggy when, speak of the devil, my two sisters come running into the room, stifling giggles with their hands. Oh, what now? "Eliza," Peggy said, jumping up and down,"You've got to come downstairs." They walked over to me and pulled me out of my chair. "What is this all about?" I said, glancing at Angelica.
            "You'll see," she said, pulling me down the hall, Peggy in tow. They open the door to the parlor, and there stands our dear father, holding a sealed envelope. He held it out to us, and we reached for it at once. We carefully open it and start to read.
To the Schuyler family:
             You are cordially invited to the first annual winter's ball of Morristown, New Jersey where I am currently stationed with my aides.
                 Your obedient servant,
                                 George Washington
             Angelica squeezed me and Peggy's hands and said,"Oh, can we go Papa?" He chuckled at us, his eyes smiling. "Of course you girls may go." We shrieked with delight as we hugged him the ran to our room

          The Night of the Ball,Morristown,NJ
        We step out of the carriage, and we see that the Washingtons have come to greet us. "Catherine and Phillip," the General said, greeting my mother and father. Martha spoke,"Yes, how good of you to bring the girls." She said, giving each of us a peck on the cheek. Martha looked right at me as she said to us, "Go in girls! Have fun!" So, we gathered our things and went inside while our parents and the Washingtons carried on their conversation.
            Angelica, in her extravagant pink dress, lead the way. I followed her in my flowing light blue dress. And Peggy struggled to keep up in her spritely yellow dress, her cheeks flushed. Angelica, always the leader, pushed the door open with unwavering confidence. The music ended on the last song, and as the next song started, Angelica ran off with her intended, John Church, and Peggy was dancing beautifully with the newly arrived Frenchman, Marquis de Lafayette.
              Just then, General Washington came up to me, one of his aides following behind him. "Miss Schuyler, allow me to introduce my aide-de-camp, my son, Alexander Hamilton." Colonel Hamilton, a handsome redhead, gave me a flashing smile, then turned to the General. "I swear, if you call me 'son' one more time......" he said sarcastically, playfully glaring at Washington. The music was reaching its peak as Colonel Hamilton bowed to me and said, "Would you do me the honor, Miss Schuyler, of dancing with me?"
             I couldn't help but smile. "It would be my pleasure, Colonel Hamilton." He lead me onto the dance floor as the band struck up a lively tune. As we danced I said,"You must call me Eliza, everyone does." He grinned and replied," Then you must call me Alexander."
           We danced and danced through one waltz after another. " If you'll be staying in Morristown long," Alexander said," I'd be honored to see you again, Eliza." I didn't know what to say, surely he couldn't be by me as I was by him. "It would be my pleasure, Alexander." I said, curtsying to him as he bowed to me. Just then, Peggy and Angelica came over to us. Time to go. "Until next time, Colonel Hamilton." I said, bringing back the formality around my sisters.
           They waved at Alexander, giggling as we left the ballroom. When we had gotten safely to our carriage, Angelica piped up, "That one? He's a definite heartbreaker, Eliza," she said knowingly. "I think he's handsome." Peggy said, blushing. Angelica suddenly got quite serious. "All I'm saying is, be careful with that one. He'll do what it takes to survive." I'm not sure what she meant by that. All I could think of was when Alexander and I would meet again.

        The Sky's the Limit- Eliza's POV
         We had just sat down to dinner with our cousins from Rennselaerwyk when there was a faint knock at the door. My father answered it, and there stood the General with Colonel Hamilton. "We don't mean to intrude, General Schuyler, but we were passing through with nowhere to go and we thought we'd stop by and busy with old friends."
           My mother rose from her seat. "You and Colonel Hamilton are welcome here anytime." She said, addressing General Washington. My parents insisted they stay for dinner and through the night, as a heavy snow was starting to fall. My heart fluttered as Alexander sat down at my left. I hadn't seen him in months, and I wondered how they'd ended up here in Albany.
            We talked the entire evening. When dinner was finished, we retired to the library where a roaring fire seemed most inviting. The men talked about War plans, my mother and aunt were engaged in a conversation about the servants, and Angelica and Peggy were chatting away with our cousins. That left me alone to talk to Alexander. Just as I was racking my brain for what to say, Alexander turned to me.
           "I had hoped to see you again, Eliza. So when the General told me we'd be stopping by The Pastures on our way to Philadelphia, I couldn't be happier." He said, his eyes glistening in the firelight. "I had hoped to see you again, too." I said demurely. I couldn't think of anything else to say. Why does he do this to me? By now, everyone else had left the library, and we were alone.
             "Eliza." He whispered. "Yes?" I asked. He answered me with a gentle kiss. He'd written me love letters before, but this was different. When we broke apart he took hold of my hands and said, "Eliza, will you marry me? I love you! I'm just an orphan, immigrant bastard with nothing. But if you married me Eliza, I'd have everything." I couldn't believe it. He actually loved me. "Of course I'll marry you, Alexander. I.....I love you."
He cupped his hands around my face and stroked both of my cheeks with his thumbs. I closed my eyes at his touch, savoring every moment. He kissed me, and I kissed him back, with a greater need than before. He moved his hand down my neck where it came to rest on my collarbone. Sensing what he was asking for I pushed him away,a hurt look in my eyes.
"What's wrong?" Alexander asked, confused. "I'm not that type of girl, Alexander." I whispered. I lowered my voice even more. "Alexander, how many women have you been with?" I asked, blushing a deep scarlet. "Is that what's bothering you?" Alexander asked, hurt. "I know it's silly, I don't really know about this sort of thing." Alexander reached down to hold my hand. I had my eyes lowered, I was so embarrassed at how foolish I'd just acted. Alexander used his other hand to delicately lift my chin.
"Is that what's troubling you, darling? Those girls are a thing of the past, puppets used for satisfying pleasure. Eliza, you are a real woman, a woman who had satisfied the need of my heart." As he said this, he gathered he into his arms and whispered,"I love you Eliza, and no one else."

Helpless-Eliza's POV
I was enveloped in the comforting warmth of my mother's wedding dress as Angelica and Peggy pulled the gown over my head. My stomach was twisting into knots. I couldn't believe how nervous I was! My mother, with tears in her eyes, put both of her hands on my shoulders and said,"You look beautiful, Eliza."
I stared at my reflection. I didn't recognize the woman that stared back at me. Angelica hugged me and Peggy squeezed my hand. Our father walked into the room, the military medals that decorated his dress uniform shining in the afternoon light. "My darling Elizabeth." General Schuyler said as he took my arm. "Oh Papa," I said, starting to tear up.   
            The Wedding-Eliza's POV
      On the arm of my father I made my way down the candlelit hallway. At the end of it lay the man I loved, and who loved me in return. The white French doors opened to reveal the pleasant yellow parlor. The General stood there, his chest puffed up with pride. My mother stood to the right of the room, her eyes glistening with the beginnings of tears.
      And there in the middle of the room stood before me the most handsome, kind, and brave man in all of Creation, and I was to be his bride! The ceremony performed by our beloved Dutch priest was all a blur until it came time to exchange our vows.
      Alexander held my hands tighter while those piercing blue eyes of his danced as he spoke: "When I first arrived here in America, I had even less than nothing. Until I met you. Elizabeth Schuyler, you have made me more than I ever hoped to be, and I will be better than I am, for you, our family, and our country.
       No man can hold a more esteemed position than he who is your husband. And I hope to prove that to you today, tomorrow, and forever." My heart burst with all that he had said, this broken man had found comfort and solace in me and I only hoped I could refrain from kissing him until after the I Does.
       I began to speak through the overwhelming lump in my throat: "I will never forget the time you asked me to dance my first night in Morristown. You dazzled me with your wit, your humor, and your ideas for our new nation. I am the one who is honored to call myself yours, today, tomorrow, and forever."