And Peggy

The wedding

Eliza was nervously bouncing up and down on the living room couch. Angelica and I were trying, without succeeding to comfort her.

"It'll be fine. He loves Alexander. He'll be happy to accept him into the family!" Angelica reasoned.

"But he hates the revolutionary's who do the protests in the streets! He didn't like Laurens!" Eliza wails and I scowl are her.
"It's true!"
I open my mouth to retort but Angelica gives me "a look" so I shut up.

"But that was before! He's a changed man!" Angelica soothes her, trying to coax a smile out of her.
"Yeah he likes John and Alex now!" I say.
Eliza cracks a nervous smile and we fall into silence, listening in on the conversation between Alex and father. Through the thick glass, I can hear snatches of conversation and see the two dining.

While father had acted joyous at the proposal at first, he still wasn't sure if he wanted Alex in the family. With all his past and lack of wealth and all.
Alex had completely overlooked fathers blessing before proposing to my sister. I guess they don't do that all the way across the sea?

I watch as daddy pours Alex a glass of wine and then himself before they both sit down to talk.

"Sir, I will love your daughter and I will make her happy for her whole life!" Alex declared boldly.
"But will you be able to provide for her? I know your roots Alexander." Father says menacingly.

Alex hangs his head in shame.
"Yes sir, I do not come from a wealthy family but with my soldiers pay, I should have enough to buy a small cottage in Harlem."

Father nods curtly, his expression giving nothing away. There is silence while both men ponder their choices and nibble on sandwiches.

"Very well, I can see that you love my daughter very much and will be able to support her throughout good times and bad. You have my blessing." 
Eliza squeals as father leans over the desk to shake Alex's hand. Angelica Eliza and I join hands and start galloping in a circle chanting.

"Eliza's getting married! Eliza's getting married!"
Alex turns to us, grinning from ear to ear. Eliza grins back. Among all the joy, I'm feeling slightly sad at the fact that my sister will be leaving us forever. It seemed like only yesterday that we were curled up in daddy's bed for story time.
"" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" Eliza and Alexander were out in the rotunda making wedding arrangements. Angelica and I were embroidering handkerchiefs in the living room, every now and then glancing at the happy couple.
"So, do you think they'll let us have special roles at the wedding?" Angelica asks.
"Well, of course! I mean we're the sisters of-"
but at that moment there is a knock at the door. Hannah stops stitching a dress and answers it. I crane my neck to see who it is but the person is blocked by Hannah's figure.
"Hello sir, how can I help you?" Hannah inquires.
"I'm here to see one of the Schuyler sisters," he mumbles distractedly. Hannah turns briefly in our direction and I see the figure standing on tip toe and craning his neck to see onto the house.
"Peggy!?" The man calls through the hallway. Then suddenly, it clicks. But... the voice sounds unnaturally urgent and panicked.
I slowly stand up and tread slowly over to the hallway. Standing in the door way is John Laurens, a look of panic on his face. It relaxes into a dimpled smile when he sees me. I lift up my dress and positively bolt towards him. I jump into his arms, my feet leaving the air as John spins me around before placing me back on the ground. I plant a kiss on his forehead then step back to take a look at him.
"What have they done to you?" I breathe.

His blue soldiers jacket is ripped and there are scars and wounds on his skin.
He looks himself up and down and then smiles weakly.
"British cannons. Our ships happened to pass each other and they shot at us. We lost half our men and supplies." John hangs his head sadly.
"If it weren't for a trade ship passing by, we probably would have starved to death on shards of boat."
I pull him into a fierce embrace, tears stinging my eyes as John strokes my hair.
We walk to the living room, Hannah and I assisting John with his faint limp.
"Where are the others? Lafayette and Hercules?" I ask gently.
"They've gone to the office to report the situation, they'll be here soon. Speaking of which, did she yes?" John asks and I cock my head to one side confused.
"Eliza, did she accept Alex's proposal?"
I smile and nod and point to the garden which the two are crossing, having heard John's entrance. John stands up when Alex enters and limps over to him. The two men engage in a man to man hug before John kisses Eliza's hand.
Only when John extends his hand does Alex realise that something is wrong.
"John, what happened?" He asks and so John recounts his story. When he is done, Alex gets up and heads towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Eliza asks.
"To report this to the office." He says briskly but as he moves to open the door, it flies open and two men stand there. Hercules Mulligan and Marquis De Lafayette.
"Already done!" They smirk and two more man hugs are exchanged.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: We are all gathered in the living room. Mother, father, Mulligan, Lafayette, Angelica and I. In the middle of the room stands Eliza and Alex arm in arm.
"Alright, so Eliza and I called this meeting to tell you all the special roles in our wedding that we would like you to fill." Before Eliza can speak, Hercules thrusts his hand in the air and starts waving it around desperately.
"Yes Hercules?" Alex asks all teacher like.
"Can I be flower man?" He asks.
"Uuh....."
"Of Course!" Eliza beams. We all hold back our laughter.
"Father, I would love for you to give me away!" Eliza turns to father and he raises his glass on accepting.
"John, I'll be honoured if you're my best man and Lafayette, groomsman." Alex turns to them. John laughs and nods his head jokingly while Lafayette whoops.
"Angelica, you'll be maid of honour and Peggy, you'll be bridesmaid." I swallow my disappointment over the fact that Angelica:
1) gets a more important role in the wedding than I do,
2) will be walking down the aisle with John.
Oh, well. It's just a wedding.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() The two weeks of planning rush by and soon it was the day of the wedding. It was being held at our house, Schuyler Mansion. There were tulle bows hanging on the walls and an arch on the platform were the two would be married.
Meanwhile Eliza was in our room, having a midlife crisis.
"Uh, why did I sign up for this? I'm not ready to move out of home yet! He doesn't love me! I mean why would he! I'm dumb and ugly and-"
"Hey, you are Elizabeth Schuyler. You are the smartest, prettiest, most independent woman I know and in half an hour, you will get married to the most talkative, amazing man and you will live a long, happy life together!" Angelica grips Eliza by the shoulders and starts shaking her silly to knock some sense into her.
I step out of the room to free myself from the drama. As I stare around at our transformed living room , John also comes out of fathers office where Alex and the boys are waiting. He smiles and strides up to me.
"Alex is officially freaking out!" He muses.
"Yeah, Eliza too. Self doubt and regretting her decisions."
"This may seem mean but I'll sort of be glad when the wedding's over and they're out of our hair."
I scoff in response.
"So you never plan on getting married and settling down?" I ask.
He grins and raises his eyebrows.
"Eh, if it was the right girl." He nudges me and I giggle.
"Can you all please take your seats? The wedding will commence shortly!"
"Well that's my cue." I plant a light kiss on John's cheek and whisk downstairs, careful not to tread on my dress. The same one that I wore at the Winters ball.
Some of the guests are already in their seats. Others are slowly dawdling over.
The couches in the living have been moved and replaced with lots of little chairs where the guests will sit.
I am waiting in the hallway for my cue when Lafayette soon joins me and I give him a bright smile (I sigh still feel bad about the Winters Ball) which he returns. Eventually Angelica, Eliza, John and Alexander join us in the hallway.
Alex strolls down the aisle to wait for his bride. Soon, I can hear the organ start it's piece so that's Angelica and John's cue.
They link arms and walk slowly and with purpose down the aisle. Once they reach the platform, they split and Angelica takes her seat to the left in the front row while John stands to the right side of the platform.