Amelia's POV
I came home late that night and told Ms. Fleck to let my parents know I would be in my room. She informed me that I had to get up early so I could get to know Patrick and his parents. To save myself some time in the morning I picked out a silver dress and some black heels. I changed into my night clothes and began to think of my lover. How am I going to tell him? How can he be drafted? How can I betray him like this?.
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The next day I woke up not in any hurry to get ready. I took my time to get my head clear then get ready. I tried to look more formal today knowing that the DeChanty's are very wealthy and like others to look like them. Good thing my family is just a wealthy so I don't need to worry. Hopefully today is calm and collected I I don't have to cry anymore. My eyes are still sore from me crying yesterday and last night. I hate to be forced to love another when my mother was pushing me to get to know a man and court him. But I can't blame her, I know she went through this before. She has told me the story many times of her forced to marry a man named Thomas instead of following her dreams. But look at her now she married the man she loved and she's doing what she always wanted to do. Hopefully I can do the same.
As the door bell rang my heart dropped. I gathered myself and walked out of my room and down the stairs. As I walk down the stairs I see my parents have already introduced themselves to Patrick. Then as I walk down the stairs Patrick looks up at me with the most adoring eyes. I can tell he seems to be fine with this arrangement but I hide my sadness and look as happy as I can.
When I approach him I curtsy and he takes my hand a placed a kiss on it.
"Good morning Amelia."
"Good morning Patrick. Good morning Monsieur and Madam DeChanty."
I say turning to them and curtsying.
"Good morning Amelia I very happy to meet you! I've heard so much about you from your mother."
Madam DeChanty says softly.
"Nothing bad I hope."
I said and she laughs softly.
"No, nothing like that. Plus can tell you are a smart and talented young woman."
"Thank you Madam you are too kind."

"Well Amelia as you might already know you are to be engaged with my son Patrick."
Monsieur Raoul says.
"Yes, Monsieur. Me and Patrick have met before in school. He was very kind and helped me to my class. He also saved me a few scratches when he caught me when I tripped on my own two feet."
Raoul and Christine chickened lightly.
"I'm glad to hear that. If you don't mind me and my wife will be speaking to your parents privately. This would be a wonderful time for you too to know more about each other."
"Of course Monsieur."
I said and he nodded. As my parents and his walked into my fathers office me and Patrick where left in the living room.
"Would you like to go on a walk around the gardens?"
I asked hopeful he would agree.
"Yes that sounds wonderful."
We both started to walk together to the back lawn. As we walked through the gardens I looked at numerous rose bushes my father planted for my mother when they first build this house. Patrick and I talked about our likes and dislikes, he also assured me that he knows I might not be comfortable with this but he will help me adjust.
"Patrick, where you frightened when your parents arraigned this for you?"
"Yes a little. I mean to be forced into marriage at 17 and you only 16, who wouldn't be?"
I nodded.
"Patrick, I want to learn how to love you since we have so much in common. But it might take me some time."
"I completely understand Amelia. I will love you in time as well, and it might be sooner than you but I'm willing to wait. I'm here for what ever you need please don't forget that."
I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder.
"Thank you. I'm very lucky to be marrying you than another man who's just in it for money."
He laughed softly.

Erik's POV
"Ahh the children seem to be getting along just fine don't you say?"
Raoul said as he looked out the window and saw my daughter resting her head on his shoulder and him looking down at her with those eyes. I can tell what those eyes mean, I could tell in any man. He's in love with her. Not just in love with her he's madly in love with her. How could he be he's only known her for three days? Yet again I fell in love with Rose at the very sight of her.
I feel awful for putting my little girl in this situation but now knowing that the man she's marrying is kind and loves her, I can rest a little easier. Rose told me that Nadir's son Fredrick was drafted into the war that is ragging on and now we have entered.  I feel pity for him. He will suffer more than any other man on this earth as soon as he joins the other men in the trenches. My god I hope he survives he's the only one keeping Nadir sane anymore.
I look out the window again and see them sitting on a bench next to the first rose bush we planted when we moved to Coney. I see my daughter smiling the same way she did when we came home from Manhattan yesterday. Then I look and see that Patrick has one arm around her waist and the other next to her leg. As they laugh together I see both of their eyes shift from each other's eyes to their lips. Then before my rage, that has been growing, could get any worse he kissed my daughter and to my absolute surprise she kissed him back.
Now that I look at them they look exactly like me and rose. Young people, one madly in love and the other unsure and learns in time. A tear slides down my masked cheek as I watch my little girl become a woman in front of my eyes.