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Amelia yawned as she padded down the wooden staircase of Matthew's home. The hardwood floor was cold and she wrapped her robe around herself tightly for warmth.

"Good morning, sunshine!" Matthew called brightly to her from the dining room table. Amelia groaned back at him, rubbing her eyes. "Coffee." She growled making a grabbing motion in the direction of the pot in the middle of the table as she took her seat.

"I'm afraid that's tea, dear sister." He said with a grin. He always took fiendish amusement in her morning grumpiness. "You'll have to ask Toris." He chirped, referring to his only servant, a mild Lithuanian man. Amelia threw her head back and moaned. "Toooris." She whined, beckoning him from the kitchen where he was preparing the morning pancakes. Toris was her friend, so she never really asked him for much, but coffee was a serious matter.

"Coffee, Miss Amelia?" Toris asked, peeking his head into the room with a knowing smile.

"Yes, please." She replied rubbing her temples. "And drop the Miss." She added sticking her tongue out at him. He returned shortly with her coffee, which she sucked down black.

"Better?" Toris asked when he resurfaced with pancakes. "Much." Amelia replied cheerfully. "Thanks, Toris." She said accepting her pancakes and drowning them in syrup. He took his place across from Matthew at the table as Amelia began to shovel in her breakfast. She loved pancakes almost as much as Matthew, so she didn't mind eating them every morning.

"Did you have fun last night?" Matthew asked her, dressing his own pancakes.

"Yeah, I got to dance a lot!" She replied, munching happily. "Lord Francis knows a lot of interesting people."

"Don't talk with your mouth full." Matthew chastised in a way that sounded like more of a suggestion than a mandate. "Mr. Kirkland seemed to take a liking to you." He added smirking.

"Ha!" She called out with a snort. "He's so ridiculous. Great dancer though." She took another large bite of pancake. "He's so stuffy that it's almost funny." She added chuckling fondly.

"It almost sounds like you've taken a liking to him as well." Matthew teased, taking a sip of his tea with raised eyebrows."

"No!" She shouted defensively, earning an amused laugh from both her brother and Toris. "You didn't dance at all last night, did you?" She shot back at him. Toris' eyes flickered between the siblings as if he were watching a tennis match unfold as Matthew sighed and wordlessly cut into his pancakes.

"Come on, Mattie! You didn't even try!" She accused pointing her fork at him.

"I did too." He muttered not meeting her eyes.

"Did you even ask anyone to dance?" She asked him sternly. Matthew opened and closed his mouth floundering for a response when the doorbell rang.

Toris scurried to the door hurriedly. "Who would be calling at this hour?" Matthew asked incredulously. It was only nine in the morning, and Matthew almost never had company over.

"A Mr. Kirkland for you, Amelia." Toris announced, barely suppressing a laugh. Amelia's eyes widened in confusion and horror. What the hell is he doing here? She thought, flustered.

"What did you do?" Matthew asked, throwing his hands up in disbelief. I don't think I did anything wrong…did I offend him? Even if I did, why would he come to the house about it? She shrugged at her brother, genuinely confused.

"You're not even dressed!" Matthew hissed at her. He ran his hands through his hair, frazzled

"Shit." She swore, looking down at her robe and nightie.

"Language!" He pleaded at her, wincing. "No, come back!" He begged, not wanting to have to talk to Mr. Kirkland.

"Stall for me!" She called back already halfway up the stairs.

"What? No!" Matthew protested hopelessly, smacking his forehead. "Send him in, Toris." He finished, defeated as Amelia disappeared up the stairs.

She slammed the door of her room and threw open her armoire. Violently, she tugged out the first thing she could reach, a navy blue frock, and she stripped and redressed hastily. She ran a comb through her short blonde curls, cursing as she pulled out the knots, and with a final check in the mirror she exited her room feeling queasy. I hope I didn't get Mattie in trouble. She thought guiltily. She had been quite brazen with Mr. Kirkland who was more influential in society than Matthew, but she thought it was all in good fun. Besides, that was how she behaved most of the time, and she had never received anything more severe than mild disapproval from most men.

Mr. Kirkland was standing with Matthew in silence in the dining room as Amelia descended the staircase. Matthew was looking toward the ceiling as if he were asking God why he was made to suffer this awkward situation, while Mr. Kirkland removed a bit of fuzz from his tail coat and flicked it on to the hardwood floor.

"Good morning, Mr. Kirkland." She greeted him with a curtsy. She eyed the verdant-eyed blonde with distrust as he bowed back.

"Good morning, Miss Jones." He responded with a slight smile. He didn't seem angry like she had anticipated. "May I speak to you in private?" He asked her gently. Her eyes flickered to Matthew momentarily who seemed to realize something as he was staring at Mr. Kirkland open-mouthed. Amelia however, was still thoroughly confused.

"Yeah, I guess." She responded slowly. Matthew exited the room wordlessly and she stood alone with Mr. Kirkland, feeling uncomfortable.

"Miss Jones," the slender man began again, straightening slightly. "I had a wonderful evening with you last night." He said quickly.

"Really?" She asked eyebrows raised. This was not what she had expected.

"Yes really," he responded flashing her a genuine smile. He looked quite nice when he smiled, she reflected. For a silly man, that is. So he had fun. But why was he here? "I've-"

"What brings you here, Mr. Kirkland?" She asked, curiosity getting the better of her as she accidentally cut him off.

"As I was saying," he began again, clearing his throat noisily. "I've been thinking about you since last night," He said taking a step towards her. She took a step back, but behind her was only wall. She didn't like where this was headed. She also didn't like being ignored. "I've decided that you are a fine woman." He said, taking another step forward.

"You've…decided?" She asked incredulously, feeling her cheeks redden with anger.

"Miss Jones," he said softly, getting down on one knee. Amelia was horrified. She tried to back up again, forgetting she was against the wall. "It will please you to know that I've selected you to be my bride."

"Excuse me?" She retorted, shaking with rage. "It does not please me-"

"You will have the luxury of living at my estate, bearing my family name, as well as my children."

"Mr. Kirkland." She interrupted with as much patience as she could muster.

"And of course, you may have any luxuries you desire. Within reason that is." He added with a chuckle. "You won't be forced to live as modestly as you do now."

"Mr. Kirkland!" She demanded more forcefully, not suffering the insult to Matthew lightly. "Do not talk about my brother-"

"And furthermore, I will allow you full control over planning the ceremony as I know women love that sort of thing."

"Arthur!" She shouted at him, fists clenched. The use of his first name finally caught his attention and he looked up at her expectantly.

"I don't know you. And now I don't care to." She began deadly quiet. "How dare you come into our home and start insulting us?" She yelled shrilly.

"Insulting?" Arthur asked confused. "You should be honored!"

"Honored?" She practically screamed at him, losing any control she had over her temper. "How dare you assume that I would marry you." She spat at him. "How could I possibly love someone who I barely know?" She accused. "For that matter, how could you?"

"Marriage isn't about love, it's about utility." He responded calmly, getting up and brushing off his knees. "Is this how they teach you to treat your betters in America?" He sneered, obviously angered by her rejection. But the comment about her homeland sent her even further over the edge. "Is it true that little girls are raised by savages in the New World?" He asked with mock innocence.

"I'd rather be raised by savages than be an unfeeling troll like you." She said evenly, returning to her quiet rage. "Get out." She whispered pointing towards the door. Arthur didn't have to be asked twice.

"Good day, Miss Jones." He said bowing stiffly, taking his leave. As soon as the door shut behind him, Matthew burst into the room.

"You let him leave?" He asked her dumbfounded, gesturing towards the door.

"How dare he-" Amelia began again, seething.

"Yes, yes, he's repulsive." Matthew agreed in an attempt to placate her. "Why don't you sit down and finish your pancakes? We need to talk." She was still hungry, she realized eying her unfinished breakfast and there had never been a time that food didn't calm her down at least a little.

"Listen Amelia," Matthew began gently as she hacked at her pancakes as if they were the ones who upset her. "Mr. Kirkland was right about one thing."

"Like hell he was." She grumbled taking an aggressive bite of pancake. "Were you listening through the door?" She asked suspiciously.

"Maybe." He replied not meeting her eyes. "That's not important." He began again folding his hands on the heavy oak table. "Kirkland could give you a way better life than I could." He said firm yet sad. "Though I'm not poor like the bastard seems to believe." He added grinding his teeth. "I just don't have a fraction of the money that he does, and he comes from a long-established English family."

"Do you think I care about that?" Amelia asked her brother, a little hurt.

"It's not about that, Amelia." He said seriously. "All of my money is from stocks I bought with my army earnings." He explained. "If the indigo crop goes south in Canada, then all of this will be gone and I won't be able to support us." He said gesturing to his modest home. "Kirkland's from old money. He doesn't have to worry about that and he's willing to support you." He finished seriously.

"You're my brother, Mattie. I'd rather be a poor old maid living with you than with that vile Englishman." She said with a pout.

"Who said I'd let you mooch off of me that long?" He said teasingly.

"Oh shut up, I'm a joy to be around." She replied haughtily. She shoved his shoulder playfully, feeling just a little bit better.

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