Theo did not respond. For a moment she hated Natalie. What right had anyone to be so blatantly sensual or so maddeningly pleased with her lot? She was ashamed of her annoyance, however, and patiently bore with Natalie's rhapsodies during the week in which they remained together at Charleston. It was disconcerting, though, to find that the Charlestonians took Natalie to their hearts in an impulsive, affectionate manner which they had never shown toward Theodosia. The young Sumters were exceedingly popular, while the young Alstons, though possessed of far greater wealth and position, were not.

I suppose it's my fault in some way, thought Theo wearily; everything always is, but I can't help it.

She was sorry to say good-bye to Natalie when the Sumters left for their home in Statesburgh, yet for once it was a relief to get back to the Waccamaw. She settled down for that winter of 1803–04. She was no longer actively unhappy. Her days passed quietly. There were small pleasures—new books from England, Gampy's Christmas party, and, as always, Aaron's letters.

In February Aaron became a candidate for Governor of New York State. He wrote of it to Theo in his most airy manner, adding in one place, 'Hamilton is intriguing for any candidate who can have a chance of success against me'. He would be, thought Theo angrily, when she read this, but as Aaron made no more mention of the campaign in his next letters, she thought little about it.

On May first, casually inserted into the middle of a chatty letter, he wrote one sentence, 'The election is lost by a great majority: tant mieux'. So that the affair seemed unimportant to her. There were always elections and political contests. If he failed this time—well, next time would be better.

She was far more interested in the plans they were again discussing for the annual trip to the North. Aaron, by borrowing another strategic amount, had managed to stave off his most urgent creditors. As always at the temporary release from money pinch his spirits soared. And he still retained possession of Richmond Hill. What, then, more delightful than that they should pass the summer there again, Theo and Gampy and himself!

But a little later he suddenly ceased to mention this project, and while his letters continued brightly affectionate, there lay over them a thin film of evasiveness. His plans, it seemed, were unsettled after all. Perhaps rather than go to Richmond Hill in June she had better spend the forepart of the summer with Natalie at Statesburgh. This puzzled her, but she decided that it must have to do with financial embarrassment as usual and did not press him.