Hamilton scoots a little onto the bed, only realizing by the crumpling sound that he has crushed the little letter. He is pleased to see that Burr has read it, and worried that it is responsible for his reluctance.
"I believe you have made a sad error," says Hamilton, after a moment, and, strangely, his tone is light, and fond. "I think it is one of two possible -- no, three, so I will hazard a guess.
"First, I see her, not yet recovered from the flush of a newborn, ssh, Theo," stroking her little back, "so very small, and I see you, with your pallor... Perhaps you fear for her health, which must be so fragile. In this, you have made an understandable error in your calculations. For she is half your get -- more than, since your blood beats in her tiny heart -- and even if she had but an eighth part of your will and determination, she could shrug off British bullets without care. You, who forged your way to Quebec and back, who carried a child through hardship, deprivation, and snowstorm, through blood and pain. And, look," as Theo wails anew, "she is like to surpass her Mama in oratory. I think we do have the first lady lawyer of New York here, with us. I thought you seemed weak and small when we first met -- perhaps it was my fear of how others saw me, of course -- but you have proven me an idiot a thousand times over."
He tentatively shifts, to see if Aaron will let him settle his arm around those narrow shoulders, bring the both of them into his embrace.
"Second," he says, "you may think that she prefers me. In this, you could not be more wrong. She adores you boundlessly. When she sleeps between us, she always turns towards you. Your scent is enough to soothe her. I am but an interloper, though a beloved one -- it seemed, when I read aloud a letter to General Washington yesterday, that she turned her face towards me as though she knew the tones of my voice, and I'm afraid my heartbeat has been aflutter since, and has not yet recovered."
A breath. "And third," he says, "you have not counted on my willingness to employ base and corrupt bribery to gain your goodwill." He produces, from his pocket, a bit of that maple candy, and tentatively offers it. Despite the almost silly tones he is employing, he is tentative, and worried, for he knows Aaron must already adore this child, and what good is he as a mate if he cannot fix what difficulty Aaron is having?
no subject
"I believe you have made a sad error," says Hamilton, after a moment, and, strangely, his tone is light, and fond. "I think it is one of two possible -- no, three, so I will hazard a guess.
"First, I see her, not yet recovered from the flush of a newborn, ssh, Theo," stroking her little back, "so very small, and I see you, with your pallor... Perhaps you fear for her health, which must be so fragile. In this, you have made an understandable error in your calculations. For she is half your get -- more than, since your blood beats in her tiny heart -- and even if she had but an eighth part of your will and determination, she could shrug off British bullets without care. You, who forged your way to Quebec and back, who carried a child through hardship, deprivation, and snowstorm, through blood and pain. And, look," as Theo wails anew, "she is like to surpass her Mama in oratory. I think we do have the first lady lawyer of New York here, with us. I thought you seemed weak and small when we first met -- perhaps it was my fear of how others saw me, of course -- but you have proven me an idiot a thousand times over."
He tentatively shifts, to see if Aaron will let him settle his arm around those narrow shoulders, bring the both of them into his embrace.
"Second," he says, "you may think that she prefers me. In this, you could not be more wrong. She adores you boundlessly. When she sleeps between us, she always turns towards you. Your scent is enough to soothe her. I am but an interloper, though a beloved one -- it seemed, when I read aloud a letter to General Washington yesterday, that she turned her face towards me as though she knew the tones of my voice, and I'm afraid my heartbeat has been aflutter since, and has not yet recovered."
A breath. "And third," he says, "you have not counted on my willingness to employ base and corrupt bribery to gain your goodwill." He produces, from his pocket, a bit of that maple candy, and tentatively offers it. Despite the almost silly tones he is employing, he is tentative, and worried, for he knows Aaron must already adore this child, and what good is he as a mate if he cannot fix what difficulty Aaron is having?