Philip Hamilton was a Hamilton through and through—sharp-witted, headstrong, and fiercely loyal to his family name. His father, Alexander Hamilton, had spent years locked in bitter political battles with Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Yet, in a twist of fate, Philip’s closest friends just so happened to be the children of these very men.

There was Theodosia Burr Alston, Aaron Burr’s brilliant and well-read daughter, who shared Philip’s love for debate and adventure. Then there was John Payne Todd, the charming yet reckless stepson of James Madison, always eager for mischief. And finally, Beverley Hemings, the quiet and observant young man widely believed to be Thomas Jefferson’s son with Sally Hemings, though few dared to speak it aloud.

The four of them formed an unlikely but inseparable bond, meeting whenever they could, away from the watchful eyes of their powerful families. For Philip, this meant sneaking out at night once his seven younger siblings were asleep. His father, always buried in his papers, rarely noticed his absence. His mother, exhausted from the day’s work, would be deep in slumber.

Dressed in dark clothes, Philip would slip through the streets of New York, heart pounding with excitement. Sometimes, they gathered at Theodosia’s home, where she read them poetry by candlelight. Other nights, they roamed the quiet city, whispering about politics, philosophy, and the futures their fathers were shaping—futures that would never belong to them.

Their friendship was a rebellion in itself, a secret shared only between them.