Aria's POV
I wake up to my father shaking me violently, and screaming in my face. Did Ezra complain about me? I wouldn't be surprised. We had a pretty awful time last night.
"Why are you still asleep, you spoiled brat? Your fiancé and his family are downstairs, and breakfast is on the table. We've been waiting for you!" Daddy shouts.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't know..." I start to ramble.
"Shut up." Daddy says before slapping me across the face forcefully.
The slap stings, and the moment his hand leaves my face, I burst into tears. Why does he think he can hit me? This isn't right.
"Stop crying. If your eyes get puffy, you'll look even uglier than you already are. Get dressed, and come downstairs as soon as possible. If you make us wait long, there will be consequences." He says before storming out of the bedroom, and slamming the door behind him.
As soon as my father leaves, more tears begin to fall. I try to hold them back, but it's nearly impossible. I look around the room, and realize that Charlotte has already laid one of my spring dresses on the couch.
I put on the dress and a necklace before walking downstairs to greet my future family. Everyone is sitting in the dining room, and chatting amongst themselves.
"Good morning, Aria. You look lovely today, dear." Brian says with a warm smile.
"Thank you." I say as I force a smile, and take a seat next to Ezra at the table.
Of all the Fitzgeralds, Brian is definitely my favorite. Unlike Daddy, he seems like a decent human being, and I would have liked him as a father. Ezra and Wes don't know how good they have it.
"Morning." Ezra says as he rests a hand on my shoulder.
I instinctively pull away, and a look of disappointment washes over Ezra's face. Doesn't he get the message by now? I don't want to be all lovey-dovey with him. I'm no fool.
"Aria, will you go outside and pick some berries to go with our breakfast?" Daddy asks me suddenly.
I nod, feeling grateful for the opportunity to leave the table. I hurry outside to the garden, and stop when I see a single red rose growing a barren bush. Momma always tended to the roses, and they died with her. It's a wonder that there are any left at all.
I'm about to pick the rose, but I stop myself right before I do the deed. If I pick the rose, it will die within days. If I leave it here, it will continue to grow. Maybe I can start tending to the roses. Momma would have liked that.
All of the sudden, a wave of sadness washes over me. It's so powerful, that I drop to my knees and begin to weep shamelessly. I'm such a disappointment.
"Momma, I'm sorry I let your flowers die." I say through my heavy sobs.
I obviously don't get a response, but I continue to apologize to her anyways.
"I'm sorry I have to marry Ezra. I know you don't want me to marry him, but I don't have any other choice... I'm so sorry Momma. I'm sorry I wasn't enough to make you happy. I sill miss you so much." I say as I begin to cry even harder.
I turn my head, when I hear footsteps approaching me. Oh no. What if it's Daddy? He'd beat me for crying in the garden while the Fitzgeralds are sitting in our dining room and waiting for the berries. A startled gasp escapes from my lips when I realize it's not Daddy. It's Ezra.
"Aria... Are you okay?" Ezra asks me gently.
How dare he come out here without warning, and pretend to care about me! He should have walked away when he saw me crying. That would have been the polite thing to do.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in the dining room." I say as I wipe the tears away with my white handkerchief.
"I was in the dining room, but when you didn't come back after a few minutes everyone got worried. My father sent me out here to make sure you were okay. Obviously you're not okay though because you're crying." Ezra says before taking a seat next to me in the green grass.
"I'm fine." I mutter as I avoid looking into his piercing blue eyes.
"That's not true. Something is wrong. Are you crying because you have to marry me?" Ezra asks as his voice softens.
Maybe a little. I don't want to marry a general because it makes me feel even worse about Momma's death. I can't tell Ezra though. It will make him angry, and I don't want him angry this early on in the relationship. I want to save the beatings for when I'm strong enough to take them.
"No. That's not it at all." I say as I shake my head slowly.
"I finally understand why you don't want a daughter. Everyone expects so much from girls. They're taught to smile, obey, and dedicate their lives to their husbands. Look at you! You're being forced to marry a man you don't even know..." Ezra starts to say.
I stare at my fiancé, with an absolute shocked expression on my face. I can't believe he's saying these things, and I'm even more surprised that he understands these things.
"Being a man is so much easier. Especially if you're a general like I am. All we have to do is fight wars, bring "honor" to our families, and then come home to our women, who have been keeping everything together for us. I am so happy I wasn't born a girl." Ezra says as he stares into my hazel eyes.
"Well, unlike me you got the luck of the draw. We should probably go back inside. Our parents are waiting..." I start to say.
"Not until you tell me." Ezra interrupts.
"Tell you what?" I ask with confusion in my voice.
"Why you're crying." Ezra responds.
"I miss my momma." I blurt out suddenly.
A startled look washes over Ezra's face, and I can tell he doesn't know how to respond. I should have just kept my mouth shut. I don't want him to tell my father I'm difficult.
"I-I'm sorry for your loss. I haven't lost a parent, but some of my best friends died in the war. Death is hard, even for someone who's been around it for years." Ezra says with a breathy sigh.
"I'm sorry about your friends." I say, feeling genuinely sad for Ezra.
"Don't apologize, darling. You weren't the one who started the fighting." Ezra says with a sad smile.
"We really should get back to breakfast. I don't want anyone to worry." I tell my fiancé seriously.
"Don't worry. We'll be back in no time." Ezra says before grabbing my hand, and walking me towards the house.
Line Break
When we get into the dinning hall, my dad glares at me shamelessly. Great. I've made him even more angry.
"Where have you two been?" My dad asks us furiously.
"It was my fault, Byron. I was enjoying your daughter's company so much that I got distracted and lost track of time. I'm sure you were worried about her." Ezra says as he gives my hand a gentle squeeze,
"It's fine, Ezra. I knew she was safe with you." My dad says as he begins to relax.
"Aria, your eyes are red. Have you been crying?" Dianne asks me softly.
How do I respond to this? I have no idea.
"Well, I um..." I start to ramble.
"Aria was just telling me how sad she is about her mother not being able to attend the wedding. She misses Ella a great deal." Ezra says as he stares right at my father.
My father will surely hit me for mentioning Momma to Ezra. I'm not exactly angry with my fiancé though. He was only trying to help.
"I'm sure your mother will there in spirit, sweetheart." Dianne says as a look of sympathy washes over her face.
"You know this, Aria. There is no reason to cry." My dad says with anger in his voice.
"Yes, Daddy. You're right." I say as I force a smile.
Ezra's POV
My family arrives at our New York estate by supper time. After we eat a delicious meal, my father sends Wes and Mother out of the room and asks to speak with me privately.
"What is this about, Father?" I ask him curiously.
"After spending an entire day with Byron and his daughter, I'm starting to reconsider our agreement." Father says with a breathy sigh.
For some reason, I can feel my heart sinking in my chest. Yes, Aria was rude and dismissive at first, but when I saw her in the rose garden, my opinion changed completely. She wasn't the stubborn woman I met in the parlor. No. She was just a scared, and afraid little girl. Aria misses her mother, and she's stuck living with Byron, who obviously treats her like a slave.
I was actually looking forward to marrying Aria. Not because I love her, but because I have the power to save her. Unlike her father, I'd treat Aria well. She'd be safe and comfortable living with me, and I'd help her realize her own worth.
"Why?" I ask my father softly.
"Aria is a lovely girl, but her father is another story. He used to be different, Ezra. At West Point he was so warm and compassionate, but now he's nothing but a drunken fool." My father says as he shakes his head slowly.
"Why does Byron matter? I'm marrying Aria, not him." I say as I cross my arms over my chest.
"I know, but do you really want that man being the grandfather of your children? You might not be marrying Byron, but he'll always be around. Holidays, birthdays, family gatherings..." My father starts to ramble.
"I can handle him." I interrupt.
"Ezra, can you see yourself loving Aria? That's the most important thing." Father says as his tone turns serious.
I don't know. I imagine my fondness for Aria will grow overtime, but will I ever truly love her? Can I make myself love her?
"Aria is different from any woman I've ever known. She's headstrong, and she speaks her mind even when she shouldn't. At times she's as cold as a winter morning, but there is a certain softness to her. It's much too soon to tell whether or not I'll love Aria, but I know I'll enjoy her companionship." I decide after thinking about it for a moment.
"Ezra, if her father was more respectable I'd advise you to take a chance, but I don't know if taking a chance on her is worth it in this situation. You're asking for a lot of problems with no guarantee of a reward." He tells me softly.
"I know, but I want to marry Aria." I tell him decisively.
"But why? You've already admitted that you don't love her, and there are plenty of other women who would be delighted to marry you." My father reminds me.
"I know, but Aria needs me. You didn't see the sadness in her eyes, Father. She is so filled with sorrow, and if she stays in that home it will only get worse." I tell him seriously.
"Ezra, if you don't marry Aria someone else will. She won't be stuck with her father forever." Father says as his voice softens.
"Imagine the sort of man Byron will marry her off to. I guarantee the man will be just as terrible as her father, and it will kill her. Maybe not right away, but eventually it will kill her." I say with a sad sigh.
"Ezra..." My father starts to say.
"Aria is my responsibility now. I have to save her." I say as I stare into my father's blue eyes.
"You're wrong. Aria isn't your responsibility. You do not owe your life to a girl you met yesterday!" My father exclaims.
"You don't understand, Father. I owed my life to my men on the battlefield, and I deserted them. I might not owe my life to Aria, but you've always told me that I owe my life to God. He pointed me in Aria's direction, and therefor she is my responsibility. I don't want to run away from a second responsibility." I explain to the older man.
"Son, God didn't point you in Aria's direction. Your mother and I did. I know you made a mistake in the war, but you don't have to keep punishing yourself for it." My father says as he rests a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm not punishing myself. I want to marry Aria. If I don't, I'm afraid I'll never forgive myself." I tell him truthfully.
"You're sure about this?" My father questions.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life." I say with a nod.
"Then it's settled. You'll marry Aria in two weeks. After the wedding you two will travel to Boston for your honeymoon. We're in the process of building your new estate, so you two will have to live with us for the first few months of your marriage. We'll give you plenty of privacy though because your mother is eager for grandchildren." My dad says with a slight smile.
"Thank you for understanding, Father. I promise I'll make you proud. I'll treat Aria as well as you treat Mother, and I'll give you plenty of grandchildren." I say before enveloping my father in a hug.
"You've already made me proud, Ezra. There has never been a better son. As for Aria, I'll take her under my wing. I'll love her as though she's my own daughter because she'll mean so much to you." My father says as a single tear rolls down his cheek.
"You have no idea how much that means to me." I say as tears begin to form in my own eyes.
"Yes I do. Now why don't you go to sleep for the night? We'll be discussing wedding plans in the morning, and you're going to need your strength." My father says with a twinkle in his blue eyes.
"Okay. Goodnight, Father." I say before springing to my feet, and walking to my bed chamber.
It's weird to think that Aria will be sharing this room with me in a matter of weeks. I wonder what sort of lover she'll be. I'll probably have to teach her the mechanics of love making since she's obviously still a virgin. I'll make the first time special for her though. I'll be gentle, and make it as painless as possible.
As I lay in the bed that Aria and I will be sharing in a few weeks, I can't help but wonder whether or not I've made a mistake. What if I end up hating Aria? It would be dishonorable to divorce her, so I'll be stuck with someone I don't love for the rest of my life.
An even scarier thought crosses through my mind. What if I love her, but she doesn't love me back? My friend Hardy married a beautiful woman named Mona, and he fell desperately in love with her. It's obvious that she doesn't love him, and I can see the pain in Hardy's eyes. She breaks his heart a little more everyday. I don't want a broken heart. I just want to be happy.
At West Point, we learned that anything is possible if you're willing to put the work in. Does that saying ring true in love? Can you make someone love you? Can you make yourself love someone? Hopefully I won't have to figure it out. I want my connection with Aria to be effortless. I won't have to put the work in because loving her will be as natural as breathing. This is how my father loves my mother, and this is how I want to love my future wife.
AN: What did you think of this chapter? Is Ezra making the right decision? How will him and Aria get along? The next chapter time jumps to after their wedding. Please review and tell me your thoughts!