Their father had learned of the Schuylers' trip downtown.

"Please, daddy?" Peggy whined. "You cannot just stop us from attending."

"On, the contrary, I most certainly can," Phillip Schuyler said, casually, turning a page in his newspaper. "The Winter's Ball is for daughters who behave."

The man stared pointedly at his eldest, who scowled fiercely but was clearly at a loss, Elizabeth realized. "Father, we promise not to go into Manhattan anymore, but please let us go to the ball."

"Hm," he murmured, turning another page. "I recall you saying a very similar thing the time I threatened to sell your horse."

"It is not as if my dresses were terribly damaged by the hedge," Angel protested. "Plus, that is different!"

Eliza grimaced. Her gowns never looked their best after her older sister's ventures into the neighbor's yard.

"Is it really?" Mr. Schuyler asked dubiously, scanning the headline for something that didn't have to do with the war. "How do I know you will not sneak off to Manhattan again?"

Peggy frowned, suddenly deep in thought. That was how her mind worked: she could be carrying out a conversation with someone and suddenly transition into what the older two often called her 'philosophical state.' Then the girl looked up brightly. "We will swear a sister's promise!"

Schuyler raised his eyebrows. "And what might that be?"

Margaret held up her hand in pledge, raising another to her heart. "I, Margarita Schuyler, promise to forever be an honest young lady for the benefit of my family and friends. There. Now I must be honest."

Phillip Schuyler looked mildly amused. The look on his face told Eliza that he knew Peggy had made up the entire thing on the spot, but he didn't say anything and instead looked expectantly at Angelica and Eliza. "Well?"

Angel rolled her eyes, but repeated the oath, followed by Eliza.

"Alright," their father concluded purposefully. "I will hold you to that." And then he folded his paper, stood up, and left the room.

"Are we going to keep the oath?" Elizabeth asked her sisters.

Angelica frowned. "If we do not, and he finds out, he will never trust us again."

"True," Peggy agreed solemnly. 

"So we keep it," Eliza said. "And we go to the ball."

Angel nodded. "Good. Now come to my bedroom in half an hour. I want us to try on our dresses."