The Immigrant

Chapter 25| January 3 1799

I merrily walked down the street with a smile on my face. With the strenuous weeks down at City Hall with my hand growing numb, I finally had some time free for once. The air was cold and crisp, snow piled up on houses as carts rolled down the icy road.
I made my way over to the Hamilton's residence. Eliza kindly invited Burr and I over for lunch, but Burr reluctantly didn't go because of his work.
With the chopper age of twenty, my looks grew to be a very handsome young man comments by strangers who caught my eye down the street:
I finally make it to the Hamilton house as it stood in the glistening snow as I walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. There was some shuffling inside as Eliza head poked out into the frosty air.
"Ezio Auditore, its good to see your face!" She said brightly.
"Mrs.Hamilton." I said with a bow.
"Please come in." She said holding the door for me.
I thanked her as I made my way inside and into the living room. The fire crackled warmly as the piano glistened in the corner, beckoning me to play it. Eliza walked around me.
"Lunch will be served in a moment." Eliza said with a smile.
I looked over at the dinning room table as I sighed.
"I'm very sorry, I wish I brought something...it just never crossed my mind." I said apologetically knowing how much work Eliza puts into these meals.
"You're quite alright, I'm sure we have plenty to go around by itself." Eliza hummed.
Eliza turned back to the kitchen.
"If you excuse me." She said with a small curtsy as she rushed into the kitchen.
I smiled after her. Eliza was so sweat, si caring, a motherly angel.
Suddenly Hamilton's office door swung open as a very tired Hamilton stepped out taking a deep breath. He looked over at me with a slight smile, his glasses sliding down his nose as he pushed them up.
"Good afternoon Ezio." He said greeting me.
"As to you as well." I replied with a smile.
Hamilton looked over his shoulder as his open office door.
"I'm glad you could make it, seeing how busy you are." He said turning around with a nervous glance.
The smile on my face dimmed as I read Hamilton's expression.
"Is everything alright?" I asked.
Hamilton's eyes flashed back to me.
"It's just work..." He trailed off.
His face looked pale as I knew something was wrong. My eyes filled with concern.
"Are you sure?" I asked my eyes narrowing.
Hamilton nodded trying to hide his weaken state. I gave a sigh as I thought of a new conversation.
"Have you heard anything about Lafayette?" The thought crossed my mind.
Hamilton blinked as he slowly shook his head.
"I assume he's still alive." Hamilton gave a slight laugh.
"I haven't heard from him for a couple of years, you know how he tends to forget to write sometimes, or maybe that's his excuse for his lacking of spelling." Hamilton chucked.
We both laughed at that, seeing how Lafayette grew up to be more of a fighter than a writer.
Eliza walked up behind us.
"Lunch is served." She said plainly.
I nodded. Eliza looked at Hamilton with a cold stare as she turned to us and walked into the dinning room.
I turned to Hamilton as he sighed, his head low as he followed me into the room. I sat down across from Eliza as Hamilton sat at the head of the table. Eliza gave a huff as she noticed Philip wasn't at the table.
"Philip sweetie, lunch is served." She called, stepping out of the room.
"Coming ma." His voice called from upstairs.
I looked at the array of food. Once again Eliza made a wonderful meal. There was footsteps approaching the dinning room as I ruffled Philip came into the room.
"Sorry, I was dealing with a stubborn Alex who wouldn't do his work." Philip sighed.
Philip eyed me as he gave me a cheerful smile as he plopped down next to me.
We dug into the feast as I savored every bite. Eliza, Philip and I were caught in a bright conversation as Alexander remained quiet durning the whole meal, his focus somewhere else.
"Ezio, I was wondering if you could do me a favor for me?" Eliza asked with a smile.
I swallowed a pice of food before responding.
"What ever you need Mrs.Hamilton." I replied.
Eliza eyes brightened as she carried on.
" I know you're very busy, but I was wondering amongst your spare time if you could check on someone for me?" Eliza said shyly.
I looked at her with a confused expression.
"And who may it be?" I asked.
She gave me a warm smile.
"Her name is Peggy Schuyler, my youngest sister...I know it my be out of your way but she's been growing very sick and since I'm tied up with my own children and Angelica is all the way in London." She sighed.
I gave her a kind smile.
"I'll check on her." I said my voice warm.
Eliza eyes looked brightly at me.
"Oh thank you, I've been worrying about her so much, she's been ill and all alone for weeks now with her husband overseas, I would just feel terrible if I didn't have if not myself to go a visit her." Eliza said greatly.
I gave a small laugh.
"After we're done eating, I'll give you her address and send her a letter of your arrival." Eliza spoke quickly.
I looked over at Philip who gave me a small shove. I looked over at Alexander as he kept staring into oblivion, a pang of worry crawled through my chest as I looked at him.
Stuffed we parted the table. Alexander snuck back into his office while Philip got ready to go to school to finish up an essay that afternoon.
I helped Eliza clean as she rambled on about her sister Peggy.
"She's young but a star, it seems like nothing can get in her way." Eliza gave a laugh of amusement.
"She seems like a nice person." I commented.
Once we were done cleaning up she snatched some paper from a drawer by the fireplace and scratched down all the information I needed to know.
"Her residence is just west of Albany about a full day trip from here." Eliza explained.
"I'll send you with some medicine that will hopefully decease her illness."
"If you can just three days will be perfect, she just needs some company." Eliza sighed a little hesitantly.
I gave her a reassuring smile.
"I can do that." I said warmly.
Eliza smiled as she gave me the paper and a basket.
"Good luck Ezio, write a report on her health if you can, I just worry about her so much at times." Eliza said giving me a hug.
"I sure can Mrs.Hamilton." I smiled.
We said our goodbyes as I retreated from the steps of the house and back into the street.
I cursed as snow fell hard against my face as I walked back to Burr's.
My hands grew numb as I finally reached the door. I walk in, my face burned with cold as the house was warm and pleasant.
From the corner of my eye I saw Theodoisa walk quickly into the kitchen, keeping her head low and not making eye contact. I stared at her with a slight glint of sorrow but still angry at what she did. From the study Burr stepped out as he stretched, his eyes gave a look of amusement when he saw my frozen state.
"There's winter for you." He chuffed.
I rolled my eyes as he walked over towards me.
"What's that in your hand?" He asked looking at the basket.
"Oh, its medicine, i'm going up to Albany for a couple of days to check on one of the Schuyler sisters, Peggy." I explained.
Burr's eyes narrowed.
"That's a shame that she's fallen ill, I guess it's for the best." He murmured.
"You'll need a carriage for your travels, there's no way I'm letting you ride a horse in this weather." Burr ordered, pointing outside at the swirling snow.
"Yes sir." I said.
Burr looked down at me with a raised brow.
"When are you leaving?" He asked.
I sighed as I thought about my plans down at City Hall.
"Tomorrow morning if I can." I replied.
" I don't have any plans down at City Hall for a while since the New Year, and Adams and Jefferson are both tied up in their own affairs." I added.
Burr crossed his arms a he nodded.
"I see, I'll get the carriage ready for you." Burr grumbled as he walked into his the study closing the door.
"Thank you sir." I called.
The house fell silent again. I could hear rustling of papers in the kitchen along with whimpering crying.
My heart dropped as I took a few steps closer to the kitchen. Theodoisa sat at the table as she was reading some letters that were clutched in his shaking hand as tears rolled down her face. I looked at her with concern as I took a deep breath.
"What's wrong?" I asked quietly trying not to startle the shaken Theodoisa.
She looked up at me with fearful eyes.
"Please don't come closer." She said shakily adverting her eyes to the papers.
I took a deep breath as I looked down at one of the letters on the table. On the bottom it had my signature, these were all the letters I wrote to Theodoisa when she was I London. It pained me that she kept them, that she didn't throw away our memories and regards when her eyes wandered to another lover.
"Theodoisa.." I breathed as I picked up one of the letters.
She looked up at me with a worried look.
"I...I kept them so I could remember that I could leave a little place in my heart for you even though I'm engaged with another...I...I still care about you." Theodoisa sighed.
I looked down at Theodoisa, my heart lurched with guilt. After all what as happened she still cared about me.
"I'm sorry." I breathed.
Theodoisa looked back at me with widened eyes. She was shocked that I forgave her. Theodoisa stood up as she looked at me with tears running down her face. I slowly pulled her into a tight embrace as she cried into my shoulder.
"I'm sorry I ever doubted you." I murmured.
We stood there for a few moments as I let her calm down, now she only sniffed as she regained her composure. We broke apart as she looked at me with a small smile.
"Thank you." She breathed as she collected the papers on the table holding them tightly to her chest.
I have her a comforting smile as she left the room without another word. I looked on after her, happy and relived we were friends again.
I shivered as a cold draft blew through the house. The fire crackled as it didn't do to much to warm the house. I glanced outside to see a blanket of snow as it pilled up on the glass pane.
I walked up the stairs and into my room. I gave a depleting groan as I looked at the stacks of paper on my desk. I wondered if I would ever be free of work. I sighed as I lit my bedside candle as I sat down in my chair pulling it up to the desk. I picked up my quill as I stared to write the last of the documents that were suppose to be turned in by weeks end. It grew dark as I kept writing, pausing for a brief moment as I waited to feel my hand again. Once I was done, I put them into a folder. I put on my heavy black coat as I walked down the stairs and into the cold snowy air. The snow blew all around as I walked through the street. My chin was tucked under my coat collar as the icy wind stung my face. About four more inches of snow blew in the streets as my feet began to sting with frostbite as my thick black boots didn't do much against the cold.
I finally made it to the City Hall as I walked inside. The hall was open for the past few days, cabinet members of the Adams Administration were in the hall to draft some finally documents to the capital. Some that I passed looked at me with questionable glances as I realized I probably looked like a mess with my hair frozen up and face red with cold. I walked down to my office to put a seal on the folder. I took a deep sigh as I walked to the mailing room and dropped off the documents to be sent to the capital.
I walked out of the hall and into the cold night.
My body ached as I walked up the stairs and into my room. Just then I remembered my trip tomorrow. I sighed as I began to pack everything I needed, along with the medicine Eliza sent with me. I took out the folded note with Mrs.Schuyler's address as I tucked it away in my coat pocket as I finished packing.