"The earth has a curious way of keeping balance."
Friar Hercules returned from the field into the church, with a basket full of herbs, plants, and stones. He pulled out a small delicate flower, and examined it carefully.
"In this small flower, there is both poison and powerful medicine. If you smell it, it will heal your whole body. But if you taste it, you will certainly die. Everything has the same two opposite elements, herbs and men - good and evil. Don't you agree, Thomas?"
"How did you know I was here?"
Jefferson asked, stepping out of the shadows.
Hercules smiled. "Not many people visit me here. I know when they do, good sir."
Thomas sighed, taking a seat at Hercules' table while the Friar worked with his herbs.
"Why are you here so early in the morning? Somethings wrong if you're getting out of bed this early. Worried men don't get any sleep. Tell me, Thomas, did you get any rest last night?" Hercules interrogates him.
"No, I did not. I enjoyed a sweeter rest than sleep." Thomas replied, a dreamy smile on his face.
A thought occurred to Hercules, and he gasped. "My god! You weren't with Maria, were you?"
"With Maria? No, Friar. I have forgotten that name, for she only brought me sorrow." Thomas replied earnestly.
"That's good." Hercules breathed a sigh of relief. "But where have you been, then?"
Thomas grinned. "I'll tell you before you ask me again. Someone wounded me with love, and was wounded with love by me. You can cure us both, Friar! I carry no hatred, my request will benefit both myself and my enemy."
"Speak clearly, Thomas. Your jumbled confession can only receive a jumbled solution." Hercules said.
"I'm in love with Lord Washington's daughter." Thomas admitted. "I love her, and she loves me. We're bound to each other in every way, save marriage. I'll explain everything later, but I'm begging you: marry us today!"
Hercules had to take a seat as he processed all this information. "This is such a drastic change! Did you give up on Maria? Whom you loved so much? You loved her just yesterday, and now you've changed your mind? Thomas, you can't expect women to be faithful when men are so unreliable."
"You scolded me often for loving Maria." Thomas argued.
"I scolded you for obsessing over her, not loving her, Thomas." Hercules sighed.
"You told me to get rid of my love for her!"
"I didn't tell you to get rid of your love for her, and replace her with another." Hercules shook his head.
Thomas replied in a softer tone. "Maria didn't love me. Y/N returns my love. Please, my good Friar, do as I ask. Marry Y/N and I."
"I will help you with this secret wedding." Hercules finally agreed. "But only because this marriage may be able to turn the hatred between your two marriages to love."
"Then quick, let's go!" Thomas said with excitement.
Hercules shook his head in disappointment. "Be smart and go slowly. Those who rush stumble and fall."
•••
"Where is Thomas? Did he not go home last night?" Asked James Madison.
Burr shook his head. "Not to his father's. I asked a servant."
"Why, that girl Maria is going to torment him forever." Madison said.
"Lafayette, Lord Washington's nephew, sent a letter to Lord Jefferson's house." Burr sighed.
Madison grimaced. "A challenge to a duel, no doubt. Thomas will certainly answer the challenge."
"Those fools." Burr said. "I would never get into a duel."
"Poor Thomas. Already dead, pierced through the heart by Cupid's arrow. Is he even man enough to fight Lafayette?" Madison mused.
Burr raised an eyebrow. "Why? What's with Lafayette?"
"He's only the greatest fighter in Verona! He does everything by the book. He takes the proper breaks: one, two, and the third in your heart! Lafayette is a gentleman from the finest school of fencing in France. He knows passado - the forward thrust - the punto reverso- the backhand thrust - and the hai - the thrust that goes straight through." Madison gave an example of each thrust as he named them.
At that moment Thomas showed up in the town square.
"Thomas!" Burr called. "Thomas, we're over here!"
Thomas saw them and walked over to his two friends.
"Hey Thomas. You faked us out pretty good last night." Madison chuckled.
"I don't know what you mean, good sir." Thomas said with a shrug.
Meanwhile, the Schuyler sisters had made their way downtown. Y/N had asked them to go into town and seek out Thomas to deliver a message.
Thomas, Madison, and Burr eyed the Schuylers as they passed through town. Burr smirked, and gave the men a smirk as if to say, 'watch this'.
Burr approached the eldest Schuyler and began.
"Excuse me, miss, I know it's not funny, but your perfume smells like your daddy's got money. Why you slummin' in the city in your fancy heels, you searching for an urchin who can give you ideals?"
Angelica made a face, turning away from him. "Burr, you disgust me."
"Ah, so you've discussed me." Burr grinned. "I'm a trust fund, baby, you can trust me."
Angelica's face could only be described as disgusted.
"I've been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine, so men say that I'm intense or I'm insane. You want a revolution? I want a revelation." Angelica announced.
Eliza, Peggy, Madison, and Thomas all looked thoroughly amused. Burr on the other hand looked quite embarrassed.
"So listen to my declaration: we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal." Eliza and Peggy had joined in with their sister.
Angelica placed her hands on her hips. "And when I meet Thomas Jefferson?"
"Sorry to interrupt you, miss, but I think I'm the man you're looking for. Thomas Jefferson, at your service." He said, giving her a bow.
"If you are the Thomas I am looking for, sir," Angelica eyed him suspiciously, "Then I'd like a word with you."
"Thomas." Madison interjected. "Will you not come to your father's to dine with us?"
Thomas waved him off. "You go with Burr. I'll follow afterwards."
Begrudgingly, Madison and Burr left.
"Now, Mr. Jefferson, may we talk?" Angelica asked.
Thomas nodded, offering Angelica his arm. "Of course, m'lady."
Thomas led Angelica away from her sisters, sitting them down on the edge of the fountain.
"My lady Y/N asked me do deliver a message to you, but first let me say something." Angelica said firmly. "If you are trying to trick my lady, it would be an outrageous crime. She is young and sweet, doing any evil thing to her would be very poor behavior."
"Please, miss, I swear to you–"
"You have a good heart, Thomas. I'll be sure to tell her that." Angelica sighed.
"What will you tell her? You're not listening to me."
"Sir, I'll tell Y/N you wish to propose to her. Which I think is quite the gentlemanly thing to do..." Angelica admitted.
"Thank you, ma'am. Tell Y/N to meet me at the abbey this afternoon. Friar Mulligan will marry us." Thomas grinned.
"This afternoon, sir?" Angelica asked. "She'll be there."