Laurens, I like you a lot!

Chapter 9

After writing the letter and placing it by Eliza's things, I took my bag and briefcase out to the yard. Peggy was still waiting for me. We rode into town, and began to search for Angelica. The first place we stopped was Mulligan's place. He hadn't seen her around. Then, I remembered the little bar where everything began. I'm not supposed to tell anyone this, but that woman can be a drinker at times. We made it there and I tied Peggy up outside.

I opened the door, and sure enough, Angelica was sitting alone at the bar, both hands wrapped around a metal cup, her head bowed. I hopped up on the stool next to her and she turned away.

I put my hand on her shoulder and whispered, "Angelica."

"Alexander."

She seemed upset.

"Congratulations," she spat. "You have invented a new kind of stupid."

What?

"A 'damage you can never undo' kind of stupid."

What was she talking about?

"An 'open all the cages in the zoo' kind of stupid."

What on Earth?

"'Truly you didn't think this through?' kind of stupid."

"What are you talking about?"

"This is the second time you've cheated on her! I will not stand by and watch my sisters heart be broken in two, not by the man I loved, not by you."

Let's review: you took a rumor a few, maybe two, people knew and refuted it by sharing an affair of which no one has accused you. I begged you to take a break. You refused to."

She was right. I wish she wasn't, but she was.

"You're so scared of what your enemies will do to you, but you're the only enemy you ever seem to lose to. You know why Jefferson can do what he wants?"

Oh god, not him.

"He doesn't dignify school-yard taunts with a response. So yeah, congratulations!"

"Angelica.."

"You've redefined your legacy! Congratulations!"

Her eyes were cold, her stare unbroken as she filled my insides with hatred. My stomach began to turn and, before I could stop myself, I filled the blank space between us with words I'd immediately regret.

"It was an act of political sacrifice!"

"Sacrifice," she scoffed. "I languished in a loveless marriage in London, I lived only to read your letters. I look at you and think, 'God what have we done with our lives and what did it get us?' That doesn't wipe the years or tears away. I'm back in the city and I'm here to stay."

She stopped, her eyes somehow turning from stone into diamond, a glittering fortress growing stronger by the second.

"And you know what I'm here to do?"

"Angelica," I begged.

"I'm not here for you."

She pushed her mug away, her gaze finally breaking. She stood up and leaned against the counter, meeting my eyes again.

"I know my sister like I know my own mind. You will never find anyone as trusting or as kind, and a million years ago she said to me 'this one's mine'. So I stood by."

My heart began to hurt for her. Not only her, myself as well. Not that I was in a position to wallow in self-pity, but the wedding night is a happy yet painful thing to remember.

"Do you know why?"

I knew exactly why.

"I love my sister more than anything in this life. I will choose her happiness over mine every time, Eliza."

"Eliza," I said, my voice breaking. My eyes filled with tears as I began to think of her. She has done so much for me but all I've been able to repay her with is heartache and secret affairs.

Angelica point her finger at me, gritting her teeth, and said, "Is the best thing in our lives! So never lose sight of the fact that you have been blessed with the best wife. Congratulations! For the rest of your life, every sacrifice you make is for my sister. Give her the best life."

She stood up and walked over to the coat rack, grabbing a large black cloak. She wrapped it around her shoulders and opened the door, not once breaking my gaze. Light flooded in and the whole bar brightened up.

"Congratulations."

The door slammed in front of her and everything went dark again. The last thing I remember is crying at the bar and the bartender making me sleep on the street.