Godfathers Alternate Ending

"I am sorry, my boy. I don´t have the time to talk with you right now but Elizabeth for sure has. She´s outside in the back."

He suppresses a rolling with the eyes and replies instead with a simple "Yes, Sir." That annoying brat that´s the ward of his godfather. Every year in summer it´s the same. When, back then in school already, the Academy is closed through the summer he stays at his godfathers place. And little Lizzie. Well, at least he can have verbal fights with her. On the other hand it wouldn´t be a real summer without annoying her and being annoyed by her. And who knows when he´ll have the chance again, after being shipped to the colonies in fall.

He does as his godfather said. Going to the back of the house, crossing the garden and

Also her maid told her right away as soon as he set foot onto her fathers grounds. So she isn´t surprised seeing him standing above her as she looks up, still in full attire from the Academy.

"Thank you, John." She narrows her eyes because of the sun, shielding them with one hand.

"Since when do you start with nice words?" Without waiting for her permission he sits down next to her between the flowers, warm from the shining sun, where she spread her brushes and water

"I´ll be shipped to the colonies in fall."

She stops and turns her gaze at him. "Father wants to marry me off in winter."

"What?" Immediately he sits up straight and takes the hat away. "To whom? Since when? I mean... I thought he granted you the privilege to... do what you pleases."

She shrugs with her shoulders, turning her eyes back onto her drawing. "He fears he might die before I am secured for the rest of my life."

"Well... you wouldn´t have to worry for a house and money... I... can understand his intention. One from the Navy, I guess?" He admits that this news slightly shocked him. The thought she might be married one day never crossed his mind. He only always saw her wild and free and imagined her like this for always.

"He talkes of men and names I don´t know."

"How do you feel?" By how he knows her she probably threw a fit and threatened someone with a lot of pain.

She puts the brush down and taking a few breaths. "I am scared," she whispers, allowing herself for once to show weakness in front of him. "I don´t want to marry a stranger. Someone so old. I don´t want to marry at all. I don´t want someone to control every breath I take, my whole