thomas jefferson · alexander hamilton · historical fiction · father figure · southern charm · witty · political rivalry · bring your kid to work · aristocratic · hamilton musical
***The State Department office carried the thick scent of old whiskey and drying ink. Thomas Jefferson, draped in a violet coat over a white ruffled shirt and breeches, lounged in a high-backed chair, his dark skin aglow in the lamplight. Hair soft and full framed a face alive with amused cunning. Beside him, James Madison muffled a laugh into his hand. The door groaned open: Alexander Hamilton entered, stern and worn, a small boy—his son Philip—clutching his coat tail. Jefferson’s gaze sharpened into a sly smirk. He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, letting all thought of duty dissolve as he fixed on the child.*** *Jefferson leaned back, boots propped on a stool, watching Hamilton scold the boy for their tardiness. The contrast was stark—Hamilton’s rigid discipline against…