Sorry for the delay, but I've been sick the last couple days. And to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of this chapter. I just can't seem to get it to flow right.

This is a very dialogue-heavy chapter.

I hope you like it at least a little bit...

~TH~

February 1798

Eliza

Eliza stared blankly at the fireplace in front of her. She wasn't completely sure how long it had been since her husband had left. All she knew was that she never meant for any of it to happen.

Then her daughter, Angelica, had come out of her room. A worried look had been in her eyes as she asked, "Is Papa coming back?"

Her mother's voice had caught in her throat. "I-I don't know."

"He left."

"Yes, sweetheart."

"Why?" there was a long pause. "Was it because of Mr Jamison?"

Eliza had eyed her thirteen-year-old daughter carefully. "Why, why would you think that?"

"He kissed your hand."

"What?!"

"When Mr Jamison came to the house, after Papa had gone to work when he was sick, he kissed your hand."

"Angelica-"

"And sometimes you get letters. They're from him, right?'

"Angelica, please-"

"And Papa yelled. But it wasn't at you. He told someone to get out of the house. It had to be Mr Jamison because I looked out the window and he was the only one there. Then Papa left."

Eliza hadn't been able to stop the tears flowing from her eyes. Then William had cried. "Go tend to your brother."

"But-"

"He's started crying again."

Angelica had given a hurt look before nodding. "Yes, mother."

And now Eliza found herself curled onto the settee, unable to form a valid thought.

Alexander was gone and never coming back.

No, he wouldn't abandon the children.

He still loved her.

If she could only explain-

A knock at the door brought her out of her thoughts. She was tempted to ignore the caller. But what if it was Alexander?

What if something bad had happened?

Mustering her strength, she opened the door.

"Angelica?"

"Sister," she practically pushed her way into the sitting room. "I've heard you've had quite a day."

"What- what have you heard?" Gossip? Already? It hadn't even been a full twenty-four hours.

Angelica sat in a tall backed chair, inviting Eliza to sit across from her. She didn't look pleased.

"Alexander walked out on you."

"What?"

"I heard he picked up a few of his things and left. Something about a mistress and you finding out. So he left."

Eliza's mouth opened in shock. "N-no! Where did you hear that?"

"Then it's not true?"

"No!"

"But Alexander did walk out."

"Well yes, but-"

"If not a mistress, then what was his reasoning?" Her eyes bore into her sisters.

Eliza found herself wilting into her chair. "I, he never said he wasn't coming back."

"Then you had a fight?"

"I suppose-"

"What about?"

"Angelica, what is your purpose in this?"

Her sister sighed. "I need to know if Alexander was overreacting or not."

"Have you seen him? What did he-"

"What happened Eliza."

"I-it was a mistake."

"What was?"

"Jamison," her voice came out so incredibly small that she feared her sister didn't even hear her.

"What about him."

Angelica knew, Eliza didn't know how, but she knew. "We were..." she squeezed her eyes shut, "We, we..."

"Were together?"

"No!"

Her sister raised an eyebrow.

"Well, yes, in a way. We only ever kissed. And it was only twice!"

"But Alexander walked in."

"Yes!"

"And the first time was my house."

"What? How could you possibly...?"

Angelica pulled out a tightly folded piece of paper, handing it over to her sister.

Eliza's eyes widened at the words. "Where did you get this?"

"Alexander left it at my house."

"At your... why was he...?"

"He was acquiring my husband as a Second. It seems he intends to duel. I can only imagine with whom that would be."

The sarcasm in her sister's tone stung. She supposed she deserved it. She glanced down at her hands.

"Eliza, I need an honest answer from you."

The younger sister looked up, meeting Angelica's eyes. "Do you love Jamison."

"No." She stated firmly. "I don't love him."

"You love Alexander?"

"Yes."

"Then why did you kiss Ezra?"

"I didn't, he-"

"But you went along with it. Twice. You returned his letters and allowed him into your bedroom when your husband was away."

"I didn't allow him to-"

"Then your husband just happened to walk in at the exact moment he leaned in for the kiss?"

"No-"

"Then you allowed him to kiss you."

"Yes! No... I don't know! Why are you doing this?" The tears she thought she could keep at bay were back.

Angelica sighed, "Because you need to see that you were in the wrong. I need you to understand that you have hurt Alexander to the extent that nothing may ever be okay again. Even if he does come back, it will never be the same."

The older sister moved so she was crouching directly in front of Eliza. "And I need you to know that regardless of all of that, I will still be here for you. Always."

Eliza brought her hand up to her mouth to stifle a sob.

"Now," Angelica rose to her feet and reached out her hands to her sister. "Let's get you cleaned up before the children get home."

~H~

Angelica stayed the night, stating that Eliza was in no state of mind to run a household. Neither were truly surprised when Alexander did not return home.

The children, however, were confused. Angelica took the two oldest children and briefly explained what had happened. That their father was upset, but it wasn't their fault in any way. Both children seemed to know more than they let on, but didn't challenge their aunt.

Eliza felt like a mess. She was hurt and confused. But she knew it was her fault. She could have easily shut down Jamison from the beginning. It hurt even more knowing that if it hadn't been for the letter, she might have been able to talk to Alexander. If her husband hadn't found out that there was more than just the one kiss, from a letter no less, then maybe...

A knock came at the door. Eliza tensed.

"I'll get it." Angelica rose from her seat across from the fire, discarding her needlework as she went.

After a moment, Eliza heard the door open.

"John?"

Eliza's eyes widened and she rushed to the door. "John? What happened? Did Alexander-"

"Mrs Hamilton, please, may we go into the parlour?" Church looked uneasy, as if he was bringing bad news.

Angelica took her sister by the arm, helping her into a seated position. "No," Eliza whispered, "please, no. He, he can't be, no."

Eliza was vaguely aware that the Churches had left the room.

He was dead. He had to be dead. Her husband was dead. Why else would John be here? He had been killed in a duel over her. What did that mean for Jamison? Would he come after her? She wouldn't accept. She didn't care what it meant for her and the children. She would not let her husband's murderer take advantage of the situation. She should have pushed him away a long time ago. Angelica would support her in this. Her sister loved Alexander nearly as much as she did.

"Eliza," her sister's voice was gentle. "John needs to speak with you."

Angelica took a seat beside her sister on the settee and John sat across from them.

"Mrs Hamilton," he started, sounding unsure. "I come from your husband-"

"Is he dead?" Eliza choked out. She had to know. She couldn't take this uncertainty anymore.

He glanced at Angelica. "No, he, um, he never went through with the duel."

An overwhelming sense of relief flooded her only to be overcome with a new fear. "Then..."

"Alexander sent me with this." he placed a large stack of papers in her lap.

Eliza looked at the top page. "A divorce?" her voice broke. "He's filing for a divorce?"

"Yes," Church said apologetically. "Everything is right there. He was extremely... thorough."

Her hands shook as she glanced through the sheets.

"But... he leaves me... everything?" Eliza didn't understand. Why would he give everything to her? She was the offending party.

John pressed his lips together. "Did you see the listed reason for divorce?"

After an unsure glance at her brother-in-law, she searched the legal document. When she found the words she couldn't believe it. "Financial incapabilities?" Her head shot up, "It says that the divorce was filed because he could no longer provide."

"Yes." John looked just as displeased as she was, "His main goal when creating the documents was to ensure you were not implemented in a negative way." He paused, " And that you could easily remarry once the divorce was finalized."

"No." Eliza handed the papers back. "I won't sign them."

John looked relieved.

The fire was back in Eliza's eyes. "I refuse to sign them until I can at least speak to Alexander. That is my right, is it not?"

"It is." Church smiled, rising from his chair. "But, before I take you to him, I need to know. Do you feel that Alexander hasn't provided for you?"

"No!" Eliza was horrified at the very idea. "I'm more inclined to say that he works too hard. It was just something he put down to not incriminate. He doesn't actually believe that."

The look John gave her contradicted her words.

"He does? But, why?"

"I believe you need to speak with him for yourself. I believe and sincerely hope that Jamison put words in your mouth. That he was willing to use whatever lies it took to be able to... have you."

Eliza's eyes darkened, "What did he say?"

"As I said, it is not my place to say. Angelica?"

"I'll remain here with the children." The anger simmering behind her calm facade suggested it was better for everyone involved that she stay behind.

"Take me to my husband." Eliza stood and led Church out the door.

~TH~

So... Yeah... definitely let me know what you think... even if it's bad. 

I really didn't know how to write Eliza in this chapter. She's always so... perfect that her not being perfect is... hard to write...

Anyway...

Until next week!

God bless,
Jamie