Hello everyone! I want to thank each and every one of you who read the first chapter and especially those who reviewed it. You all warm my heart with your kind words! I've enabled anonymous reviews, so you can comment even if you don't have an account. Note: I noticed a couple of errors in the first chapter so I made sure to proofread this one. However, it's 4am and I doubt I did a good job lol, so sorry if there are any. Enjoy chapter two! x

The sun peaked out of the horizon as Aria fell asleep the night of the engagement soireé from hell. Though the Montgomery family had resigned early after Maddie feigned ill (due to much begging on Aria's part), they'd stayed long enough for Aria to deem it as such.

Earlier that night.

The Montgomerys arrived fashionably late, as the most anticipated guests of the evening. Upon entering the grand hall, Aria saw right away that she was the most overdressed, despite the overly lavish dresses the other girls wore. She detected the gawking eyes and the not-so-discreet whispers but did not address them, knowing full well the bride-to-be was among them. She could only imagine Elizabeth's reaction to being upstaged by her nemesis on such an occasion. Aria felt horrible about it, but there was nothing she could do. Certain she'd be poisoned before the night was over, she made a mental note not to try any of the food. She set out to make the obligatory rounds, following in the shadows of her mother.

As one can imagine, Ella Montgomery was on a high that night, for the suitors were many and it appeared that her primary grievance- the fear of a spinster daughter-would be no longer. Young men, bright men, and tedious men alike pursued Aria, begging for a dance with the belle of the ball. At one point, Aria found herself in the arms of the infamous Ellison Werther, a man notorious for drinking his inheritance away. He was a forty year old bachelor and a disgrace to his family. Aria had no idea why he was there, but more importantly, why he had taken notice of a girl twenty-three years his junior. Her questions remained unrequited as Aria accepted his hand, powerless to say no.

As they danced, Aria frantically searched the hall for her mother or Maddie- anyone who could save her from this plight. But her eyes only met the vile ones of Elizabeth Orleans. Elizabeth stood near the corridor, surrounded by her little clique of socialites. The lot of them watched Aria and the drunkard, smiling in obvious satisfaction as Ellison moved in closer than acceptable, planting obscene slurs in her ear with drunken breath. It was Maddie who eventually came to her rescue, stomping on Ellison's left foot when no one was looking before whisking her sister away. Afterwards, the two made a beeline for the loos, only to be stopped by their niggling mother who introduced Aria to yet another law graduate of Yale. Aria had not a moment of peace after that. The only positive thing about the continuous series of Waltz and Ballroom dances she had to endure, was that she had hardly any time to think about Mr. Fitz.

Henceforth, it wasn't until later that night, after they'd headed home that Aria's thoughts drifted to her handsome tutor. She ran through a myriad of possibilities on who the woman and boy could be besides his wife and child. Before she knew it, it was dawn. She managed an hour's sleep until she awoke to warm sunlight tingling her skin.

After a hearty breakfast of rich pancakes with molasses, warm milk and Genevieve's famous French toast, Aria sat down to finish Sense and Sensibility. As she neared the last pages of the novel, a realization dawned on her: Mr. Fitz bore no ring. Not that it meant anything for her, obviously but it was nice to know he was still available. Even if she couldn't have him. Perhaps today she would even ask him about the boy and the woman, it would give them an opportunity to talk about life outside the library.

But Aria didn't get that chance because Mr. Fitz never came that day. She spent an entire two hours waiting for his arrival before retiring to the sitting room, where her mother and sister sat sewing. Aria contemplated sending William to find out if everything was alright but she knew her mother would never allow it.

As the three women worked on hemming handkerchiefs, Aria made a lighthearted comment about how incredibly tedious sewing was.

Her mother responded harshly, "A woman always carries out her duties, regardless of any aversion she may hold against them. You are much like your father, unaware of your place in society." She said with heavy disapproval.

Aria shared a look with Maddie, both unsure of what to say. At that moment, her father walked in with a glazed look in his eyes, passing them without a word, and walking out the door. Ella barely acknowledged his presence until after his departure, giving a murderous look to the door.

"Where is papa off to, mother?" Madeleine asked. "It's almost dinnertime."

"What your father does is none of your business, Madeleine." She said, adding in a darker tone, "And apparently none of mine."

Aria and her sister learned to keep their mouths closed after that, sewing in silence before lunch and bath. By mid evening, Aria felt her eyes droop with fatigue and decided to turn in early. She'd just closed her eyes when a commotion outside woke her up. Jumping out of bed, Aria ran to her window and almost recoiled after what she saw. Her father was repeatedly striking a man with his fist, shouting at him relentlessly. Clad in just a nightgown, Aria hurried down the stairs and outside in a state of panic. She had never seen her father like this.

"She's my daughter, you imbecile!"

"Father! FATHER! What are you doing?" She screamed as she ran towards him.

Her father stopped in midswing, as if suddenly realizing where he was.

"Aria?" He slurred uncertainly. She couldn't believe it. Her father was drunk.

"WILL!" Aria hollered in a shaky voice. She needed help, a girl of seventeen was hardly equipped to deal with a drunk father and an injured man. She couldn't even look at the man, thinking he would probably look ghastly, a sight she wasn't used to.

Will came bursting out the door at her call, and his eyes widened at the scene unveiling in front of him. In quick motion, he grabbed Byron and steadied him.

"Miss Aria, please go back to bed. I will take care of it from here." He said in a calm voice, making his way inside with her father.

"But what about the man?" Aria asked.

"I'll make sure he goes home. With a blank memory." He replied, already inside.

"Will!" She gasped in disbelief.

By then, the door had shut behind him and Aria was left alone with the man. She couldn't leave him in such a state, especially after what Will had said about making him forget what her father had done. He let out a little moan. Aria forced herself to look at him.

"Mr. Fitz?" She cried, bending down to where he lay on the ground. "Mr. Fitz!"

Though he was conscious, his bloody mouth prevented him from replying. Aria couldn't fathom her father hitting a tutor for he respected educators. Yet he had. And then she recalled what he'd been saying while doing it. She's my daughter, you imbecile! It couldn't be. Could her father somehow know about her infatuation with Mr. Fitz? Did he think it was the tutor's fault?

Aria tried not to think about it as she carefully wrapped her arms around his torso, trying to lift him up. This was the closest she'd been with any man but now was not the time to dwell on that. After attempting to lift him a couple of times, she gave up and called for Will.

When Will came out, he saw her tear-stricken face and immediately rushed over.

"He's my tutor, Will." She said in between sobs. "You have to help him."

"Miss Aria, it's not as serious as you think. This kind of thing happens all the time in downtown. I've seen it. He'll be fine." He assured her.

But Aria would have none of it. "Will, we need to get him inside, please! He needs to be treated by a doctor."

Will studied her face for a split second, and finally nodded. He could tell she really cared for this tutor of hers.

"He doesn't need a doctor Miss Aria, but I'll carry him upstairs to your room and we'll have Gene take a look, alright?" He said softly.

Aria nodded, wiping her tears away and Will carried Mr. Fitz in while Aria ran for the servants' quarters. She woke Genevieve and together, they scurried up to Aria's room.

Genevieve took one look at Mr. Fitz and began barking out orders.

"Will, get me some old cloths and ice from the kitchen. Miss Maddie, I'll need you to fetch some water from the pail in the washroom. Miss Aria, go put on a respectable dress."

Amidst everything that was happening, Aria hadn't noticed her little sister hovering in the doorway. Or that she was practically naked, wearing only a nightgown.

Fleeing to Maddie's room to change, Aria tried her best at putting on a pale green afternoon dress. She had some difficulty, for gowns were not made for individual donning. By the time she had managed to get it on and return to her room, everyone had left except for a much healthier looking Mr. Fitz, who remained lying on her bed.

He turned his head at the sound of her footsteps and gave her a crooked smile.

"You've put on some clothes, I see." He said with a wink.

The man's audacity never failed to sway her. Aria's eyes grew big and her mouth fell ajar.

"Yes." she finally managed to squeak out, still embarrassed.

"I've embarrassed you, haven't I? Sorry, I forget my place sometimes. It's a lot more relaxed, where I live."

He was obviously feeling much better. Aria walked to the bed and sat on the chair beside it.

"That's alright, your uncouth behavior is forgiven. Just ensure it doesn't happen again." Unless you really want it to, she thought naughtily.

"It look a lot more relaxed where you live." Aria said with a smile.

Mr. Fitz raised an eyebrow. "And you would know this how? Have you been off gallivanting after the tutor, Miss Aria?" He covered his uncouth mouth. "There I go again. My apologies."

Aria felt the redness on her cheeks but decided to have a little fun of her own.

"Perhaps I was, Mr. Fitz." She responded with a slight smirk before looking back to ensure no one had magically appeared at the door. If her mother caught her being this forward….

Mr. Fitz let out a deep chortle. He didn't seem shocked at all by her reply.

"I saw you the other night, from our carriage." Aria explained. "You were pushing a little boy on a swing."

"Ah, yes. That would be Jonah, my nephew. His fever was the reason I couldn't make it this morning. Come late afternoon, he was all better. Which was why I thought I'd better trek over here and ensure I still had a job. Only to be attacked by your father, of course. It appears he mistook me for someone named Ellison." Mr. Fitz chuckled lightly.

Aria inwardly sighing with relief as she did. Jonah was just his nephew and her father didn't know about her infatuation. The only question that remained was regarding the whole Ellison deal. But that she would save for her mother.

"Anyway, I think I've overstayed my welcome, Aria. I promised your maid that I would leave as soon as you came back." Mr. Fitz winced as he rose from her bed.

Aria reached out her hand, as if to stop the pain. "I can't let you go like this! Gene only said that because my mother would have a fright if she caught the tutor in my bed. But I'll have a chat with her right now, you sit tight."

"Aria-"

"Lie down, Mr. Fitz." She interrupted, gently pushing him down on the bed. He stared at her hands as they lowered his shoulders. This, this touch, he had not expected. Aria could see the blatant astonishment in his eyes and gave him a wicked smile before retreating to her mother's room.

Aria walked in to find her mother sewing in front of the vanity. Lately, it seemed that was all she ever did.

"Mother, I didn't know you were still awake."

Ella's head snapped up. Her face looked incredibly weary.

"Yes well, after that episode with your father, one can hardly sleep. Did William send the man home?"

So she knew about the incident. And had sat here sewing the whole time.

"Mr. Fitz is in no condition to go home. He must stay the night."

Ella got up from the rocking chair and shook her head decisively.

"Absolutely not. I will not-"

"Mother, listen." Aria said in a firm voice. "If Mr. Fitz was to go out now, people would see him and people would talk. Is that what you really want? A scandal?"

Her mother stared at her hard. When had her daughter become like this?

"Very well." She said at last. "He may sleep in one of the guest rooms until the early morn when he is to leave unnoticed. I would have him in the servants' quarters but your father would have a heart attack if an educator was treated with such disrespect."

"After what he did, mother?" Aria asked in disbelief. "That was disrespect in the greatest manner! And there is no excuse for it, regardless of whether or not his drunkard self misidentified my tutor as Ellison. Which is ridiculous in itself, because they look nothing alike."

Ella's eyes widened at Ellison's name. She grabbed Aria by the shoulders. "Who told you he thought it was Ellison? You must not tell anyone about that, Aria. Do you hear me? That man has already caused this family enough trouble."

"You're scaring me mother! What trouble did he cause?"

Ella stopped let go of Aria and straightened her posture. "The less you know about this, the less likely anyone else will hear. Do as you're asked and don't mention any of this to anyone. Do you understand?"

Aria knew it was pointless to argue at this point, and nodded. Closing the door behind her, she went back to her room.

"I'm back." She said in an overly cheerful voice. Mr. Fitz could sense the tension in her voice but pretended otherwise.

"And your face says you're delighted to see me." He replied with a smirk. It was as if he was always prepared with a witty response.

"Well, that and the fact that mother says you can stay." He lifted his head as she fluffed the pillows underneath. "I'll just move to another room, and you can stay in here. Will your family worry if you don't make it back tonight?"

"No, they'll just assume I've fallen asleep at some library or other. I tend to do that."

Aria shook her head smiling. "I reckon Jonah will miss you though. I could tell he really favours your company. His mother knows it too, I saw her smiling at you two from the verandah."

"His mother?" Mr. Fitz asked, confused. "You couldn't have seen his mother, Aria. My sister and her husband died in a carriage accident. As did my parents." He looked away suddenly, not wanting her to see the pain in his eyes.

"Oh no." Aria whispered, taking his hand in hers. "I'm so sorry." Mr. Fitz looked down at their conjoined hands, but she didn't let go. He tightened their grasp and looked back into her eyes.

"Thank you, Aria. It was a few years ago, but it's still fresh in my mind. I haven't really been able to mourn. Jonah needs me to stay strong."

Aria nodded with sympathy. "How did you manage all on your own?"

"Well, I had help from my friend's family. They took us in fortunately. There was a condition though." He added, his tone taking a harsh turn.

"What was that?" Aria asked, searching his eyes for clues.

Mr. Fitz faltered as he answered. "I was to marry their daughter, my childhood friend. That woman you saw the other night? That was Jacqueline…my fiancée."