The Immigrant

Chapter 39| July 23 1800

The day was musky and grey. The chance of rain was uncertain as clouds hung dreary overhead. My head ached as my hands shook. I set my quill down, running my fingers through my hair as I took a deep breath. My breath caught as I began to cough heavily into my handkerchief as my chest reeled with pain. I took a shaky breath as the fit ceased. I dreaded the fact that I wasn't well. With so many papers to do, I couldn't bring myself to take a break. I peered outside the study as the house fell utterly silent. Theodoisa and Burr were upstate again for a couple of weeks, leaving me alone with stacks of work. I leaned back again as another fit of coughing rattled my body. I closed my eyes as I had my hand pressed against my chest.
I shook my head slowly as I looked down at my work. I let the house grow silent again as the only sound produced was the sound of my raspy breathing. In the midsts of the quiet, a knock sounded at the door. I looked up in surprise wondering who it might be. I got up from my desk as I walked over to the door trying to keep my heavy
breathing down. I opened the door to find Hamilton standing there his face content and always thinking. He smiled at me when I opened the door.
"Good afternoon Mr.Auditore." Hamilton greeted.
"Afternoon." I said my voice raspy and dry.
Hamilton looked at me, his face turning into a worried expression as he looked at my weaken state.
"Are you alright?" He asked with a frown.
I nodded as I cleared my throat that led to another fit of coughing.
"I'm fine, it's just a cough." I breathed with a small smile.
Hamilton didn't look satisfied as he looked at me closely.
"You don't seem to well." He said.
"I'm fine, trust me." I said shakily, a little annoyed with Hamilton's concern.
"What brings you here?" I added.
Hamilton took a short breath.
"Well I was wondering if Burr was around, I wanted to speak with him about a few plans I had in mind." Hamilton asked.
"I'm sorry, but Burr's upstate for a couple of weeks, but I can inform him that you be wanting to speak to him when he gets back?" I offered.
Hamilton gave me a small smile.
"Thank you for the offer but I'm afraid this plan will not last long and it might be to late when he gets hack." Hamilton sighed.
"My apologies." I rasped, a cough cutting me off.
"It's quite alright...are you sure you don't need anything for that cough, I know Eliza has some good antidotes and can really help your cough." Hamilton asked warmly.
I took a short breath as I looked at Hamilton annoyed.
"Like I said before, I'm fine." I said cooly.
Hamilton sighed as he looked down at his shoes.
"I can get worse and end up being your demise." Hamilton bit his lip.
I blinked as I frowned.
"Don't be a fool-" I spat but was cut off.
"Yellow Fever killed thousands, don't pretend that it won't kill more." Hamilton said flatly.
I sucked in a sharp breath as I nodded slowly exhaling.
"Alright." I said defeatedly.
"Please remember I'm doing this because I care about you, your health comes before you work." Hamilton said.
Who would of thought that would come from Hamilton?
"I'll send someone with the medicine soon." Hamilton added.
"For now please try to get some rest, I know that quill can be temping." He warned.
I nodded slightly.
"Thank you, I am sorry that I cannot be any help to you sir." I sighed.
Hamilton shook his head as he gave me a smile.
"Don't worry about it, I'll find a way." Hamilton chuckled.
I tried to laugh with him but was stopped with a fit of coughing.
"I better get that medicine quickly." Hamilton frowned.
"Thank you." I rasped as Hamilton gave me a nod before walking down the stairs.
I closed the door behind him as I looked around the empty house. My eyes felt heavy as my head ached with pain. I did really feel terrible then I was letting myself to believe. I ignored my papers in the study as I walked up the stairs and into my room. For the first time in forever my bed felt welcoming as I finally abled myself to lie down. I tried to ignore the nagging thoughts of my unfinished work as I slowly slipped into sleep, week and exhausted.

"Mama?" I called from father's office
The hallway to mothers room seemed to stretch endlessly as the candlelight casted eerie shapes on the wall.
"Shush mio figlio, your mother is very ill and we don't want to wake her." My father said quietly behind me as he frowned at maps that laid before him on his desk.
"Sì, I know." I murmured.
I sighed as I came up to my father as he reached down and pulled me onto his lap. I looked down at the various maps scattered on his desk.
"No attacks yet?" I asked.
My father sighed as he shook his head.
"None at the moment, but my regiment is on guard if something happens." My father explained.
My heart sank with the news.
"Leaving again pap?" I asked quietly.
My father sighed as he looked at me sadly.
"I'm afraid so Ezio, hopefully not for long." My father said.
"Ti amo." I murmured.
"Ti amo mio figlio." My father whispered back giving me a hug.

I was awoken by the sound of footsteps walking across the room. My eyes flashed open as Eliza Hamilton stood by my desk with a platter clutched in her hands. I blinked trying to recall why she was here. I slowly sat up as I looked over at Eliza with a troubled look.
"Ah, I see that you've finally awoken." Eliza said warmly.
"Yeah..." My voice trailed off as I looked around my room.
My skin felt clammy as my head throbbed with pain. My throat was sore and blistering as I coughed deeply, my chest crawled with pain.
"A pretty bad cough you have, no wonder Alexander sent me over with medicine." Eliza frowned as she looked down at me with concern.
"No worries, I think I have just the thing for your cough." Eliza said brightly as she set down a cup of tea next to my bed as the warm steam floated off the hot liquid.
"Thank you." I rasped as I cupped my hands around the drink.
I slowly took a sip of the tea as it warmed my throat with a sharp sense of lemon and garlic.
"Hmm." I hummed as I closed my eyes.
"It's wonderful, thank you." I gave Eliza a week smile.
Eliza nodded as she gave me a friendly smile, still her eyes glinted with slight dullness.
"Hopefully the tea will help, I have some extra lemon and garlic in the kitchen when you feel the need to get more." Eliza said.
I nodded slowly as I looked outside the dark window.
"Thank you again for this, I'm sorry for the inconvenience." I said apologetically.
"Please I'm happy to help." Eliza smiled.
With that Eliza slowly walked to the door.
"If you excuse me I must get back to my house to feed my children, take care Ezio, please rest up before you get back to work." Eliza sighed.
"I will, thank you Eliza." I smiled.
"You are welcome Ezio." Eliza said warmly before closing the door behind her.
I stared at the door until I heard her footsteps walked down the stairs and out the front door, leaving me once again in a empty house. I smiled as I closed my eyes. I cherished how generous Eliza Hamilton is. How she is willing to do anything for her family and friends. I slowly sipped away at the tea as my headache decreased and my throat was feeling better already. When done, I blew out the candle by my desk as I slowly fell back to sleep.

The summer days soon slid into fall. The leaves stared to change color as the cold winds blew up talk about the upcoming election next year. It was certain that Jefferson was a candidate and Adams ran again but falling. But if Jefferson succeeded, who was going to run against him? Talk from all over the states ruled up on who a likely candidate might be. Soon I would find out.