"Fred?! What are you doing here?!", I gasp.

"Asking you to marry me", he repeats.

"But I already answered! Fred, I don't understand...shouldn't you be in London? What about your business?"

"But your aunt...she told me to follow you, she told me about the man you're being forced to marry by your impoverished family..."

"Her what!?", Marmee barks.

"My aunt huh?", I growl. "Where is she?"

"Now Amy, hold your temper", Father advises.

"I don't understand, aren't you already married to Laurie?", Marmee asks.

My head falls in my hands. Everyone is yelling and pointing and glaring at me at once.

"I need to speak to Mr. Vaugh, alone." I start to drag him out of the room.

"Not yet", I hear.

"Aunt March, how could you do such a despicable thing as lie to Mr. Vaugh and try to destroy my marriage?!', I yell at her.

"Your marriage?", he asks, "I don't..."

"Everyone just stop, I need to speak to...", I say.

"Speak to me first, Amy, speak to me first", Aunt March hisses.

"Oh I'd be glad to", I growl back.

I pull her off down the hall as my father yells after me to be careful with her because she's frail.

"Aunt March, I'm married! I know you don't like it. I know you would have preferred I married Fred. But it's over. I am married and we both know it...", I yell. "I can't believe you would do this. Are you crazy? You dragged a man thousands of miles away from his home and business. I think you should be supervised, Aunt March, from now on. I'm married!"

"Oh Amy, you're not married!", she hisses back, "You stupid child! I say I was never there, so you officially have no witness. You're not Catholic, everyone would have reason to doubt the Notre Dame story when your father could simply have married you here. And most importantly, you have not consummated your marriage...you are not LEGALLY married until you do so..."

I hold up a hand. "Was that what this week was all about? Keeping me from sharing a bed with my husband until Fred showed up?" She doesn't deny it.

"Amy, I have your best interests at heart. Getting out of this is the easiest thing in the world. There is no evidence the ceremony took place, and you are untouched. I made sure the town knows it. They aren't going to understand why two healthy attractive young married people have not shared a marriage bed in well over a month. People will think he has a physical problem...or worse. If he wants to keep his reputation, and this is where his grandfather's business is, he will agree in moments there was no actual marriage, so as a lady, he could not share a bed with you. It was a flirtation that almost went too far, but didn't. That's the story. A few words and you're free. Your father can marry you to Fred Vaugh, and we'll put this whole sordid mess behind us. Listen, Amy, I was in love once myself, but I saw the error of my ways thanks to my own family. You'll thank me."

"Is this what it's all about? You had your heart broken so now you have to break mine?", I sob.

Not a word from her, she just stands up straighter.

"Dry your tears, girl. If you want to inherit my fortune, this is the price, and it isn't a harsh one. You'll enjoy being married to Fred. You were going to marry him anyway! Now you have an even better reason. A wildly rich powerful couple in London, you'll have the power to do anything you like, to make and break social lives, the whole city will bend to you, emulate you, as if you were royalty. You'll live a life only a few ever have had. You'll have the life I always wanted", she says. "Think of it. Don't tell me you don't dream of living like a queen, and you can if you marry Fred Vaughn and inherit my fortune."

LAURIE POV

"Evening, Marches, where is the blushing bride?", I ask coming through the front door. They're all staring at me like I have three heads.

"Oh Laurie no, you were sober. You hadn't touched it in months Amy said", I hear Marmee say quietly and the words shatter my heart. I've let them all down.

It's then I notice the 6 foot tall, well-dressed, rakishly handsome, obviously wealthy, gentleman presently on his knees.

"You're Fred Vaugh!", I shout, taking off my silk vest and tossing it on a chair. "I recognize you!"

He stands up. "Oh I see, YOU'RE the man who wants to marry Amy? Well I won't allow it. DRUNK! Drunk at your own wedding. I won't have it. I won't allow you to besmirch the honor of that sweet, innocent girl!", he barks back at me.

"Boy, she did a number on you", I laugh, and expect her sisters to join in, but it's silent and no one will meet my eyes.

"She's MY wife, maybe you missed that part, but we're married, she's MY wife, now get back on your little boat and go back to Frenchy France..." I stumble and Jo catches me.

She drags me outside as they all start to shout at each other.