Authors note:

Um… WOW. FOUR updates. THREE days. This is getting crazy. Anyways, I'm going to Arizona tomorrow but I'll still try to get stuff up!! Happy reading!

Review!

Steph

Disclaimer: I did not own it last time, so therefore I do not own it this time. The end.

THE UNBREAKABLE PACT

Chapter four: The Reprimand

May 27, 1850

"Amelia Rosalie!"

I sank further back into my favorite chair in the library. Perhaps it was childish, but I wasn't really hiding. All mama had to do was come into the library and she would see me sitting here, plain as the day. Her footsteps echoed down the hall outside of the large oak doors and I resolutely picked my book up from my lap once more.

No more then a minute later, the doors flew opened and I looked up slowly.

"Amelia Rosalie!" Mama huffed and bustled towards me, her full skirts swishing. She stood in front of me with her hands of her hips. "For goodness sakes, child. Did you not hear me calling for you?"

"I am sorry, mama. I was just so enthralled with this new book you purchased for me." Of course it was a lie. But mama did not need to know that. There were only so many romantics books that I could read.

"Well," mama sighed. "Up with you now," she flourished her hands through the air.

I closed my book and set it down on the table besides my chair before slowly unfolding my legs from underneath me. Mama took a hold of my arm to quicken my rising.

"My dear, have I not told you to sit like a lady?" mama tsk-ed as I was ushered from the room.

"Yes, mama," I said.

"Even when no one is observing you," she continued, "you must act like a lady. Come now, I've taught you well." Mama moved swiftly through the halls and I followed close in her wake. She turned around once and, with slight impatience, waved at me to hurry. "Honestly, Amy, do dillydally along. You know that we are dining with the Baldwin's in only a few hours. Clair is going to help you ready yourself."

I sighed. "Must we go tonight, mama?"

Mama stopped abruptly and stared at me, not seeming to comprehend what I had just said. "Come again, Amelia?"

I swallowed. "I only mean that… I only meant to say that I am still rather tired from our trip into town this morning. I was only think that, perhaps, another night would be more pleasing to all," I concluded quietly.

Mama shifted her weight and her hands nestled themselves on her hips once more. My gaze faltered from hers and her stare grew in intensity. I clasped my hands behind my back and shifted my eyes to wall over her shoulder. Mama sighed and took my arm, taking us forwards once more.

Once we were within my rooms, mama moved me into Clair's waiting arms and I was whisked off behind the dressing screen. I lifted my arms as Clair unbuttoned the back of my dress. If I had expected mama to have nothing to say to me, I was proven sorely mistaken.

"It will do you well, my daughter," she began, her voice closed and measured, "to learn to restrain that sharp mouth of yours. No man wants such a free spirited woman for a wife. Men have other ways open to them to fill their needs, though wives are what is expected. But it will be your reputation that is ruined before his," mama chastised. My cheeks flushed bright at what mama was telling me. Clair silently continued her work in dressing me in a fresh pair of undergarments and her fingers now pulled on the strings of my corset. I was embarrassed that she had to hear this.

"It saddens me to have to tell you this, Amy," mama continued with a sigh. Her skirts rustled and I assumed she had sat down. "I had hoped to never speak of this, but I can see now that you must understand what I am trying to tell you."

I silently stepped out from behind the dressing screen and mama stood up. I clasped my hands and looked down at the floor as she crossed over to me. Her hands gripped my arms and she lifted my chin with a finger. Her blue eyes were worried and I instantly felt remorse for causing that worry.

"I could not bear it if my youngest daughter's marriage to such a fine young man ended in such disaster and scandal!" She took a deep breath before addressing me in a slightly calmer voice. "You have spirit, my dear, and everyone that knows you loves you for it. But you must learn. If you can learn only one thing from me," she continued, "then let it be this: in this day and age, a proper lady is expected to be seen and not heard."

My eyes darkened. "And what kind of life is that, mother?" I demanded.

Mama stepped away from me but only smiled softly. "In public, my dear daughter. But it is the woman whole control all matters of the house. The man may be the head of the house, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants. (a/n: muahaha, Big Fat Greek Wedding, love that movie!) Do you understand, Amy?"

I nodded meekly. "Yes, mama."

"Very good," mama said. She turned to Clair, who was folding and refolding my gown, clearly uncomfortable having to listen to mama. I didn't blame her. "Now," she said, looking at me once more, "think about what I've just told you and… oh, Clair! Do stop fidgeting with that gown so! You are positively going to flatten the lace!"

Clair dropped the gown and looked with the floor. "Begging your pardons, Missus Fleming."

Mama waved her hand. "Very well," she said. "Do make haste in readying yourself, aye?" mama peered at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, mama," I said once more.

"Chop, chop!" She clapped her hands as she excited the room, her voice floating behind her. "We daren't keep the Baldwin's waiting, my dear!"

I stared after my mother incredulously.

"Ugh!" I groaned as I sat in front of the dressing table, in only my undergarments, upon Clair's insistence. "You are lucky, Clair," I said, catching her eye in the mirror. "No one is making you marry such a loathsome man."

Clair blushed and looked down at my hair. "No, miss," she said. All was silent for several moments before Clair lightly cleared her throat and, as she pinned my hair in place, she said softly, "Begging your pardon, miss, if I speak to boldly, but…"

"Yes, Clair?" I gently prompted the elder girl.

"When I have… when I have been into town, I have heard mm-many people talking. I have never heard one fowl word spoken about your fianc… the young Mister Baldwin," she said, rushing through the last part.

I was silent for a moment. "Well then perhaps it is only me that he does not like!" I attempted to lighten the mood and Clair's obvious discomfort.

"I did not… what I mean to say is… I did not mean it like that, miss," Clair said quickly.

"Yes, I know," I said quickly. "Forgive me, please. I complain to much. Mama is right."

The room was silent as Clair finished her work on my hair and face. I was then ushered back behind the dressing screen where Clair helped me into the gown that mama had selected for the evening. It was a fine dress of deep purple with full skirts and creamy lace lining the chest, short, cap sleeves and the folds of the skirt. Mama said that purple was the color of royalty, but I just thought it smooshed my breasts up a bit too high.

I paused to look in the mirror once more on way out of the room. Mama would be proud. I hardly looked like me anymore. I was slowly being turned into the young lady that my parents fantasized about having as a younger daughter… only in appearances though. My nature would not be so easily changed, no matter what mama might think, I would not be polite to Mister Tyler. If he so chose to tell my parents about the book he caught me reading then he could just go and—

"Excuse me, miss, are you ready to proceed downstairs?" Clair spoke up, a black cloak folded over her arms.

"Yes," I said, lifting my chin. "Let's go."

I'd show everyone… especially Tyler.

a/n2: um… yeah. So it was really short but I've been—and still am—completely clueless as to what is going to happen during the dinner. I need to come up with a really good Amy and Ty tense situation… since it will be one of the last and all. That's why I went into the beginning being like this. It's short—really short—but it stands well on its own. Sorry if it's disappointing. Well, my updating streak will have to end for a few days but I'll try for more soon! Review!-Steph