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More Hamliza! Requests open!

I should change this to my Hamliza book...

Set in the late sixteenth century or whenever Romeo and Juliet was set :P

So basically Romeo and Juliet up until the wedding, because it took me WAY too long to write this and I'm not ping any more.

I might make a part two though.

~Eliza's POV~

"Eliza, dear?" my mother called from her room across the hallway from mine.

"Yes?" I answered, poking my head in.

She held a parchment in her hands. "We've finally arranged a marriage for you!"

Ugh. Great.

I didn't want to get married for any reason other then love, not money or prestige or whatever my parents wanted out of a match for me.

"Um..." I said slowly. "That's great!"

TOTAL LIE

"Who is it?"

"A rich young man named John Andre," my mother responded.

"I don't know him," I said.

"I know," she said, rolling the paper back up. "But it's all settled now. Your wedding will be in a few months."

"When will I meet him?" I asked.

"He's coming to our masked ball tonight," my mother said. "I want you to get to know your future husband."

"Very well, mother," I said, before leaving.

Maybe he wouldn't be so bad...

A few hours later

Knock, knock

"Come in," I called, expecting it to be one of my maids coming to help me get dressed for tonight's ball.

I did not expect squealing. Or getting tackled in a hug.

I saw who it was. "Angelica!"

"Eliza!" she exclaimed back.

"And Peggy!" our youngest sister interrupted.

"Oh, shush," Angelica scolded playfully. "I'm the one who's been separated from you for months!"

A few years ago, Angelica had been married off to John Church, and they'd moved to England, so I hadn't seen her in a while.

"I didn't know you were coming!" I said.

"We're staying until your wedding," Angelica winked.

I giggled, but I still didn't like the idea of an arranged marriage to someone I hadn't even met.

"So," Peggy nudged me in the side. "Who's the lucky guy?"

I rolled my eyes. "Peggy, I don't even know him."

"Mother said it was John Andre," Angelica said.

"Ew," Peggy made a face. "That snob I see walking around town all haughty-like?"

"Yup," Angelica confirmed. "He's kinda a jerk. But he's a rich jerk. And that's all Mom and Dad care about."

Her voice had a sharp edge to it.

"Um..." I ventured. "How's your husband? Where is he anyway?"

"Oh!" Angelica smiled. "He's away on business, so I get to spend a few months without him!"

"Just like the old days," Peggy remarked.

"Yes!" Angelica cheered. "The single Schuyler sisters!"

"You have your gowns for tonight, right?" I asked.

"Yup," Peggy and Angelica said at the same time.

"That's starting soon, isn't it?" Peggy asked.

I nodded.

"I'm gonna go get ready then," Peggy said. "I'll see you two at the ball!"

She swept out of the room, leaving Angelica and me. Angelica turned to leave, but just as she was about to step out, she turned around.

"I know you like I know my own mind," she said. "You don't want to get married for Dad's ambitions. You want real love, don't you?"

I only wordlessly nodded.

"Well," she smiled. "Maybe try finding the right guy tonight." With that, she left.

What the heck does that mean? I thought. I'm technically engaged.

But as a few maids came by to help me get dressed, her words repeated themselves over and over.

The right guy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At the ball

When I finally went downstairs, the party was in full swing. Angelica was dazzling the room. Looks like months of no dancing had done absolutely nothing to her natural skills, judging by how she twirled and glided effortlessly.

Peggy was trying her best, dancing with one of Dad's friends. The Marquis de Lafayette, if I wasn't mistaken.

It was hard to tell who was who, as everyone's faces were concealed by ridiculously elaborate masks. I could only tell my sisters apart from the crowd by their signature ball gowns.

I scanned the room. There was one guy without a mask on, and before he did put it on I got a pretty good look into his eyes.

And my heart went BOOM

I shook my head, not taking a look at his mask so I could identify him later. Instead, I joined my sisters on the dance floor.

Which one was John Andre?

I whirled around the dance floor, results of years of dancing classes. As I finished up a dance with Hercules Mulligan (I could tell from his voice), someone tapped me on the shoulder.

I turned around to see a man a little taller then me and wearing a mask that covered his whole face except for his nose and his... eyes. Gods, he had beautiful eyes.

"H-hello," I stuttered.

What's wrong with you, Eliza???

He bowed gracefully. "May I have his dance, m'lady?"

I didn't say no, so soon I was gliding across the dance floor in the stranger's arms.

We ended up in the garden.

Wait... how did we end up in the garden?

Not that I'm complaining. The garden is easily the most beautiful spot in the Schuyler palace.

We were sitting on one of the intricately carved stone benches, surrounded by rose bushes.

"The stars are out," he noted.

I briefly looked up, but the tall trees obscured my view. From my own room, I could see them perfectly.

I reached for his mask. "Who are you, really?"

He let me remove his mask. "The name's Alexander Hamilton."

Hamilton. I knew that name. Dad was always rambling on and on about how terrible the Hamiltons were, despite how rich. He and James Hamilton were sworn enemies.

The clock struck eleven.

I hastily stood. "It's been a pleasure, Mr. Hamilton, but I must go."

He bowed one last time, and I ran back to my room to get ready for bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The stars really were bright tonight. After I had changed into my nightgown, I snuck out of bed to sit on the balcony above the garden.

Yeah, the stars are pretty, my brain thought. But where is Alexander?

Shut it, brain, I told it.

Alexander...

I said shut it!!!

As predicted, I lost that war.

There was a rustle in the tree closest to the balcony. I thought it was just a bird or maybe a stray cat, but then I heard a familiar voice.

"Eliza!"

"Alexander?"

He appeared on the tree branch pretty close to the balcony ledge. I helped him climb onto the balcony.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded.

"Shh," he scolded. "I'm not supposed to be here."

Then I heard a whole group of people shouting Alexander's name, and something about a Maria Reynolds?

I raised an eyebrow. "Who's Maria?"

"Nobody," he said quickly. "Look, I'm here because I couldn't stay away from you."

"I'm engaged," I blurted.

I wish I hadn't. His eyes hardened, before regaining their glint.

"Do you love him?" he questioned.

"I've never met him," I admitted.

"Typical," he said. "My sister was married off a few years ago. She never saw him until their wedding day."

"Oh..." I didn't want that kind of relationship for the rest of my life. "My sister was married... she seems to be doing well in England."

"The one I saw tonight?"

"Yes," I responded. "She's visiting while her husband's away on business."

"I see," he said. "Well, you don't know the man, so you don't have to marry him!"

"Yes I do!" I argued. "If I don't, my family will throw me out into the streets, make me a pauper."

Then he unexpectedly took my hand and dropped to one knee. "Marry me first, Eliza," he said with a slight smile.

"I'd love to..." I said. "When?"

"Tomorrow. You know the old Friar?"

"Of course."

"Meet me at his cell at nine. We'll get married."

I nodded and pulled him up from the ground.

"Kiss me," I whispered in his ear.

He didn't say anything, only did as I told him to. He held my face against his for as long as we both could before having to breathe. My cheeks were colored a deep red, and I took a few large gulps of air before kissing him again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day, I told my parents I'd be at the market, then slipped on an unassuming dress that had a veil that covered my face, which wasn't too uncommon among the women here. I bought a small bouquet of flowers, and then I made my way to the old Friar's place.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You may kiss the bride" the Friar said.

I didn't hesitate, briefly pressing my lips to Alexander's.

"We're married," he whispered in my ear. "Screw John Andre."

Long one! Yay!

I thought about making this a Philidosia chapter but by then I would've had to edit major parts and it just wasn't worth the while...

It would've made sense with the family rivalry thing

I'll make one soon though probably

Side note: my Hamilton review is up on my Musical Stuff book