Chapter Twenty-SixEliza
I had an exceptionally enjoyable afternoon with Maria and Jacob. Over tea and scones we chatted about Shakespeare and Mozart, funned about Jefferson and Monroe. The lovebirds brought an element of joy into my house I hadn't seen in ages. Their gay laughter and tender displays of affection made me realize how Alex and I had grown apart.
Of course he was making history while keeping his law practice alive, buried under work. But for our few hours at supper and abed each night, we breezed past each other on the stairs or in the hall. When we did converse, it was about the children, the house, or money. We hardly exchanged any words of love.
Our last amorous encounter gave us baby John. Since his birth, we hadn't lain together as man and wife. Falling exhausted into
