Infatuation (Jeggy)

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Requested by AbbieHerring9

Peggy sat at the edge of the ballroom watching her eldest sister hook her other sister up with some soldier they'd just met and had both apparently fallen head over heels in a matter of seconds. She'd never understood them, she'd play her part and be sympathetic for Angelica, but love doesn't just happen in seconds.

"Excuse me?" She looked up to see a cute boy with freckles, somebody was talking to her? Nobody talks to her! Not without being prompted that is. "I'm John Laurens, at your service." He held his hand out, "May I have this dance?" As if on cue the typical ballroom waltz began.

Peggy smiled and took his hand, "My name is Margarita Schuyler." She said as he lead her in a spin onto the dance floor, "But most people call me Peggy, Meg, or Meggy." She added, placing her free hand on his shoulder where it's supposed to be.

"I like Peggy," John said, smiling. Peggy knew he was talking about her name but she blushed anyway. What was this feeling? Her chest was warm and her stomach was fluttering? She knew she was contradicting what she said earlier about feelings such as love. But she rationalized her thoughts and sighed, she wasn't in love, she was just infatuated. Or, at least, that's what she told herself.

The two talked about their interests, dislikes, and family until the song ended. When John went to separate, Peggy hesitated and kept her hand in his a moment longer. Just long enough for him to notice but when he did she let go and picked her skirt up, hurrying away even as he called her name while her heart beat faster than she could talk.

That night after she'd changed into her night clothes and removed all the fancy party makeup, letting her hair fall down her back, she lied in bed without a wink of sleep. She'd felt something with John Laurens, she didn't know what, but she felt something. So when a week later Eliza began running around, squealing about Alexander every five seconds, she decided to consult Angelica. She'd hoped the feeling would disappear with time but a week has passed and it's still just as strong.

"Angie..." She found her sister in the garden but as Angelica went to ask what was up a familiar man stepped right in front of her, effectively voiding her from Angelica. Peggy held in a groan of annoyance and an eye roll, of course, Stephen Van Rensselaer III, her cousin and the man aspiring for her hand in marriage.

"Meg! I thought I'd find you here, the garden! What a proper place for a lady, don't you agree?" He smiled and forcefully linked their arms, "Join me for a walk?" Stephen didn't wait for her answer and began leading her down the path. Peggy knew better than to make him upset, she didn't want him to be upset anyway, so she followed. She knew what this would lead to, a proposal.

Peggy just nodded along and made polite conversation with Stephen, she didn't want to come off as rude so she even offered a compliment or two. Then, as she suspected, at the end of the walk he bent down on one knee, "Margarita." He began, "I know I've asked you countless times before but I implore you to reconsider. Please, marry me, you are the most agreeable woman for me, smart, well read, proper, not to mention beautiful, and I could treat you to a comfortable life with my vast treasury."

Peggy sighed and shook her head, "Although I'm flattered I...think I've given my heart to another." At least this time she had an excuse to refuse him, unlike all the other times when he found some fault in her reason for refusing him.

"Why?" Stephen asked with slight anger in his tone. Surprise was what overtook Peggy, why was he angry? She just didn't want to marry him! "I've been nice to you, I've loved you, I've given you things, I've been there for you, I've defended you, and yet you won't marry me! It doesn't make sense!" He got up from his knee and stomped his foot, "What does this other man have that I cannot give you?!" He yelled in her face causing Peggy to take a step back.

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