[A.Ham]
One thing I had always disliked about Jefferson? He always feels the need to flaunt every single dollar he had. I never understood how he could throw such lavish parties and still be able to live comfortably. If he ran the country like he did his life, the nation would be bankrupt in an instant.
Anyway, Muda and I walked in behind Lafayette and Eliza, our entrances announced at the door. Muda clung to my arm, clearly new to this side of the party.
"Relax. I know it seems overwhelming, but it gets easier." I leaned down and whispered to her, and felt her nod. We walked into the ballroom, among the bodies and flowing gowns. Muda opened my hand, subtly speaking to me.
"Sir and Lady W?" She asked, glancing around the unfamiliar faces.
"They should be around here somewhere, they might find us before we find them." I replied, looking around as well. "Same with Mulligan and the pair we came with, who seem to have wandered off on their own. Shall we dance in the meantime?"
"I never danced before." She said, looking to the group of people moving in sync.
"Here, hold my hand, and I'll..." I held her hand, my other moved to pull her close by her waist, "hold your dress up with the other, and follow my steps. I'll go slow."
A few stumbles here and there, but a few songs later, she grew more comfortable with the rhythm and steps. Her nervous expression melted away into a look of delight.
"See, this isn't so bad." I laughed, dipping her as her giggles lifted into the air. So she liked to dance, good to know.
It was magical to see, and I could rhave done it all night just to keep the glow in her eyes, but the envelope began to weigh my pocket down. I knew I would need to find Jefferson to let me make an announcement. As the music came to another pause, I led my girl to a nearby table to let her relax for a moment, but a tap on the shoulder made me turn.
"May I step in?" Burr. Of course. "Just one dance with the beautiful belle of the ball." Muda's hand tightens on my arm, the nervousness returning to her eyes.
"One dance, only because I need to step away, then I will be back for her." I said, and untwined my arm from hers, leaning over to give her cheek a light kiss. "I promise I won't be long, my dearest." Muda, though reluctant, let go of me and places a hand in Burr's, disappearing into the moving mass of dancers with him. I knew Lafayette and Mulligan were around, and would be by her in a heartbeat should something happen.
I found Jefferson talking to Angelica... or more Angelica giving Jefferson a lesson on what equal means.
"Ah, Hamilton, so you did accept my invitation." Jefferson eagerly accepted the chance to take a break from Angelica's lecture, though no doubt she was in the right to.
"Unfortunately yes, but conditionally. Also, good evening, Angelica. You look lovely tonight, may I borrow him for a moment?" Angelica smiled to me, stepping away to get herself a drink.
"So, what could be so important that you came on a matter of business? It's a party, I'm sure you know how to have fun, Hamilton." Jefferson crossed his arms, looking skeptically over me.
"I just wished to make an announcement, while the crowd is here, if you'll allow me to interrupt the festivities for a short time. In return, I will see about pushing for small financial aid for France." The look on his face was one of shock, then amusement.
"Oh dear, what could be so important that it involves such a large bargain?" He chuckled.
"If you must know, not that it matters to you, I will be freeing Muda from slavery. She has been a blessing to me, and deserves more than her lot in life." Saying it aloud certainly felt different, but it made my heart swell with joy at the thought.
"Uh huh... free the slave and take her as your partner. How dumb." Jefferson sneered in disgust. "It's a slave for a reason."
"Again, not that it matters to you, she is mine. No concern to you." I growled. "Can I make the announcement or not?"
"Hm... let me do it for you, stand aside." Jefferson brushed right past me, walking up to the pseudo-stage set up with an orchestra. "Ladies and Gentlemen! Thank you for attending my party. I would like to take this moment to share a few opinions on thoughts that have been shared with me tonight." I already didn't like where this was going. "But, alas, this I cannot do alone. So, where is Hamilton's dear slave girl? She'll make a fine example for tonight's entertainment."
"Jefferson, leave my girl out of whatever you're-!" I moved to rush to the stage, but a larger figure behind me stopped me, and secured a grip on my arms.
"Hamilton, why are you here... I thought I told you not to come." They whispered. Madison.
"Madison, let me go this instant!"
"I can't, trust me, it's easier if you just let him do whatever he's thinking. She won't be hurt more than necessary." I fought hard, looking back to the stage where Burr brought my Muda forward, her eyes frantically searching the crowd.
"Muda, come here. You don't answer to him, you answer to me!" I called, the crowd separating between me and the stage. On the far side of the room, The Washingtons stood with Lafayette, Mulligan, and Eliza, Angelica joining them moments later.
"Ah ah ah, Hamilton, nonsense. Just good entertainment, tis all." Jefferson jeered, taking Muda's arm in one hand, drawing a knife from his waist pocket with the other. "Purely for educational purposes."
"I doubt that, don't touch her!" I yelled, groaning as Madison forced me go kneel in order to keep me back.
"Ignore him, the poor bastard is being a bit cranky. Anyway, it was posed to me by Miss Angelica Schuyler-Church that women, as well as men, are created equal. I say, men are just a little more equal than women. See, females have their purpose, like this one here who happens to fulfill that purpose perfectly." As he spoke, he used the knife to start cutting through the strings on the back of her corset, visible shivers running through my girl, my terrified angel. "She cooks. She cleans. She doesn't have an opinion. She doesn't voice her thoughts. She remains absolutely obedient to her Owner. Just like a woman should, no?" In the brief pause, the corset fell away, a startled whimper slipping Muda. "This one in particular is silent. Perfect, really. Maybe I should have kept her."
"Don't even think about it, you snake." I growled, trying my luck again to get free, but no success yet.
"Hush, the grownups are talking now." Jefferson shot in my direction before continuing, slowly popping the buttons along the back of Muda's dress. "As I was saying, the case was made that women should be considered equal as well. I disagree, as I believe under almost every dress and corset, every woman is like this wench. Why you ask? Let's put it this way. Hamilton was planning to free this girl from her status as a slave, and seems to have already gotten her comfortable without her collar." He released her arm, only to take hold of the braid in her hair, wrapping it once around his hand to tug her head back. "If we let this pathetic thing be a part of society, what would she add? She can barely read and write, she is mute, she only knows of work within a house. What use is she as anything but an object in slavery. True can be said for most women in this day."
"She's more than you could ever imagine and clearly above your level of understanding, so release her!!" I cried, frustration taking hold of me. Her dress fell in a pool at her feet, leaving her in her slip, shivering though I doubt from the cold.
"Didn't I ask you to hush? Madison, can you shut him up? I'm trying to speak. Knock him out or something so I can continue." Jefferson guided Muda forward by her hair, causing a pained cry to leave her lips. My efforts double at the sound, but all I heard behind me was a mumbled apology. I caught Muda's eye again, fear and concern laced in them, conflicting in her head, but panic overtook it all as I knew Madison was shifting behind me.
"WAIT!!"
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10/10/17
YOU ARE READING
Muda
Fanfiction"Jefferson, what's this?" I frowned, glancing over the chained woman standing beside him. "A peace offering, maybe a little incentive to stir on the compromises in the debate we had the other day." Thomas replied, as if it were obvious. "This is a...
