Maria fixed her hair and straightened her apron. Lafayette was coming home, victorious, from winning the war. She fixed his favorite meal with Mrs. Todd's help. Though, she wasn't on the premises as much because she had a son to care for since her husband was also out to war. So Andrew came in every once in a while and helped with house work. Even if it wasn't too applicable for a young man, it couldn't hurt for him to learn how to do a few things.
"You look very pretty Ms. Maria." Andrew said sweetly.
"Thank you Andrew! Oh, I got something for you when I went into town today." Maria reached into the pockets of her apron and pulled out a cookie wrapped in paper to keep it fresh. "Here you go." She said as she handed it to him.
"Thank you, Ms. Maria!" Andrew hugged her and scampered off.
Mrs. Todd chuckled as she walked over to Maria.
"You're good with him." She said fondly. "You'll make a fine mother one day."
"Thank you," Maria smiled.
"Maria!" A voice rang out.
It was Henry.
"Yes?" She asked, peering around the corner.
"I have a lovely red rose for you!" He said as he handed her a scarlet bloom.
"Oh my... It's beautiful." She said as she took it and put it in her hair.
He was French also and came with Lafayette to continue working and was going back to France with him. So was Gabriel, who was currently out picking up Lafayette. Mrs. Todd was
"Where are you planning on going, dear?" Mrs. Todd asked Maria.
She sighed.
"Well, there's nothing here for me here. So I'm going to France. It's a free ticket for a fresh start."
Anxiety rose in Maria over the action, though. Even though the only world she knew was filled with pain, she was scared of leaving it. That funny, isn't it? Even if something is a living hell, if we never knew anything else, we're scared to move to greener grasses.
They heard a carriage pull up and Maria lit up. She ran out and expected to see a smiling and shining Marquis. But the sight she saw was not that.
His face was solemn and his once twinkling eyes, were dull. His hair was unkempt and he didn't have the energetic vide he once had. Mrs. Todd was frowning deeply at the sight of him. Her suspicions had come true.
Gilbert came to the door.
"Bonjour, Mrs. Todd." The Frenchman greeted lifelessly.
Maria was slightly hurt when he didn't address.
After a while Maria served him his dinner, but he barely ate it before he walked out and started to head to his room. Maria finally decided to talk to him.
"I decided to go back to France with you." Maria said softly.
Gilbert stopped in his tracks.
"Oh, so I'll have a tramp with me."
Maria's heart sunk as the thought of James fist and that being screamed at her.
"Excuse me?"
"I fought with Alexander Hamilton you fox." Gilbert hissed. "You robbed his life. His wife was pregnant with his son when you ruined his life, you tramp."
Maria felt tears threatening to fall.
"I never-"
"Never thought it through? That's because your too busy ruining people in the most low way you digesting woman!" Gilbert hissed leaving Maria sobbing.
She ran out of the house, ignoring the concerned questions from Henry. She ran into the woods, in the dark, and collapsed under a tree.
Maria sobbed into her skirts when a voiced called softly from the dark.
"Whats a pretty thing like you doing out here?"