Chapter Text
The dainty carriage crunched along the gravel of the Schuyler estate, bouncing unevenly in the potholes. Alexander was clumsily fixing his cravat, when in truth he was really just trying to hold onto something so nobody could see his hands shaking. John, Hercules, and Aaron had abstained from meeting Alexander’s lady, so George had dropped them into the town of Greenport.
“I will walk around the grounds while you go in, I’d hate to interrupt”, said Lafayette coolly.
Alexander glared at Lafayette, he’d wanted someone to accompany him. On his second thought, glancing at how grandly Lafayette had dressed, he decided the Marquis’s decision was inherently for the best. Juxtaposing himself against the stallion of a man Lafayette, he’d appear like a dilapidated hooligan.
“That’s pleasant, please do come in for some tea afterwards after your walk”, replied Alexander, feigning a demeanor of indifference. Lafayette merely nodded and got out of the carriage and began walking the grounds. Alexander and George were welcomed in by Philip Schuyler.
Philip Schuyler was elated over the fact one of his daughters had charmed a rich soldier. He was notorious for objectifying his daughters, treating them as some bridge into business. He’d schooled them on how to act elegantly. The Schuyler surname was already a catapult into the posh and wealthy scene, and their appearance and temperament was the pinnacle of their goodness.
“Do come in, Eliza is waiting in the drawing room. I hope your travels were most pleasant, the driveway is in rather a state”, remarked Philip. George and Philip engaged in polite conversation, both well aware of each other's social status.
Lafayette strolled languidly among the gondolas and endless flowers of the Schuyler estate. He wouldn’t want to admit he was lost, for that would ruin his image, but he appeared ever the confident demeanour of a regal soldier.
Peggy was reading on a swing deep in the garden. She’d expertly decided she’d rather not witness this “Alexander” ’s arrival, indifferent towards her sister’s transactional love affairs.
So she sat determinedly reading the “Power of Sympathy”, hoping to have some miraculous awakening about true love. Her father had already voiced his ideas for her marriage, explaining that there was a wealthy business bachelor. She’d rather become a servant than be forced to marry a soulless ludicrous beast such as that man. She resolved quietly in her mind she had best hide her journal from her father, the letters she’d written about the bachelor weren't exactly written in a kind manner.
Lafayette lingered among the bushes, spying a yellow dress in the near distance. His heart was in his mouth, although there was some giddy excitement coursing through his veins. In this present moment he realised, he was truly a madman. He straightened himself up and continued strolling, but this time, more purposefully towards a certain point.
Love was meant to be some mystical and passionate vision that was entrancing to both companies. It was something humans had done since ancient times. It was a primitive ache that humans yearned for, and was a way to quantify life, unlike some senseless paper and coins. Something that truly meant something. Something that truly drowned a person in such indescribable joy they are utterly devoted to the other person. Something that practically conjoins two people. Something that -
“Pardon me Madam, it appears I’m rather lost”.
Peggy’s head swung around so suddenly, her mind racing that there was some burglar who had come to beat and kidnap her. Her book slammed shut. All those worries evaporated almost immediately upon seeing the Frenchman. The Frenchman that had spoken so sincerely to her, danced with her.
“It’s no problem Sir, I beg your pardon, but are you Sir Lafayette?” inquired Peggy softly. Lafayette grinned, unable to contain his excitement that she’d remembered him.
“I am Lafayette, please no formalities, and are you Madam Peggy?” responded Lafayette, tilting his head knowingly. Peggy laughed and nodded.
“I assume you’re with Sir Alexander’s group, meeting my sister?”
“You’d be right, however I’ve strategically extracted myself from that conversation, I don’t wish to see Sir Alexander to combust” replied Lafayette wittily, maintaining a calm composure.
“You and I are very alike, I feared my sister would do the same, so that is why I’ve escaped so far”, replied Peggy.
Lafayette moved to stand in front of her on the white swing.There was a lovely nest of pastel coloured flowers around the swing, making it appear as some gigantic bouquet, and the prettiest of all flowers in the center. He put his hands behind his back, which was as straight as a ruler. Peggy smiled pleasantly at him.
“I do hope I’m not interrupting your reading, or daring escapade”, said Lafayette, smiling right back at her.
“You’re not, I was beginning to feel rather lonely, and your presence has certainly cured any of such feelings. I do wonder, however, how you found me? I thought my hiding was rather concealed.”
Lafayette internally panicked. He couldn’t say he’d purposefully gone on a walk to find her and spied her from bushes, that would truly cement his status as a madman. He decided to say an indifferent response to deter any suspicion.
“I was simply walking after parting from Alexander, to clear my head, and came upon you rather suddenly. I recognised you and couldn't repel the urge to converse with you”.
Peggy nodded, still she harboured deep inside her an essence of doubt.
“I do hope you found your walk enjoyable, Sir, the groundskeepers have made the garden simply wonderful.” responded Peggy.
“Yes, the gardens resemble that of the most regal in France. I found myself numerous times thinking I was in my home country.”
Peggy laughed at that. Lafayette hadn’t originally intended for that remark to earn such a reception, but let himself laugh as well.
“I see you’re reading, what book is it?” inquired Lafayette, trying to ignite the conversation. He feared she was simply being obligingly polite to him, and he wanted to reach her at a deeper level. The question was a desperate toss at fate, hoping she’d soliloquise and drive the present interaction into something more thoughtful and engaging.
She glanced briefly at the well-worn navy cover before replying. “The Power of Sympathy’, it’s a lovely book, one of my favourites”. She decided against explaining her intractable principles of love, even though she so desperately wanted to voice her tousled ideas. She remembered how he’d so admirably talked about his thoughts on war. She’d like to replicate him, but drowned out her thronging needs to the decision that she’d frame her ideas in an offending tone.
“I’m sure your recommendations are very valuable, I must read it when I am blessed with respite”, replied Lafayette. He glanced at his pocket watch, reading the time as getting late. He assumed Alexander’s meeting would soon end, and not before the sun had set.
“Madam Peggy, please allow me the honour to accompany you inside, it’s getting rather dark.” advised Lafayette. He was hoping she’d take his arm so sweetly like she’d done at the ball, and infect the entirety of his mind so that merely walking would prove difficult. She agreed and arose from the swing. He held out his arm hopefully.
“You’re very kind, Sir Lafayette, thank you very much” said Peggy sweetly. She gently put her hand in the crook of his arm.