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+---- Thread: [Complete] [CW] The Wedding [Churches, Abbey, and Schools] (/showthread.php?tid=241)
The Wedding [Churches, Abbey, and Schools] - Alice Appleton - 03-09-2020
[Content warning: Child marriage]
Alice barely slept at all. She and Anne clung on to each other as tightly as they could, this last night that they were together. Alice could not even remember not having her sister by her side. But tomorrow night, Anne would sleep alone in the bed for the first time in her life, and Alice would be far away from the comforting warmth of her sister and from anything familiar, at the mercy of a man she barely knew.
At last, she dozed off. For a moment, she thought she had woken up, but when she stepped out of bed and opened the door to the other room, father and her brothers were not there. Mother was sitting in a chair by the fire, knitting. She looked up and smiled warmly at her daughter. Alice rushed over, sat down on her knees, and rested her head on her mother’s lap. And mother gently caressed her face and hair with those loving, comforting hands Alice had missed so much. She was at peace, just sitting there, taking in her mother’s care for what seemed to be hours.
But slowly mother’s loving caresses became Anne’s, and Alice opened her eyes and knew that she was no longer a child. There was no way back. But she imagined that that precious part of her, the loving and joyful part, was safe and secure with mother in her dream, where things were good and nobody could touch it. In dreams she would visit it, for her dreams would still be her own. Her dreams would be her living, and her living would be like a dream, and then maybe she would endure.
Indeed, unlike her sister, Alice did not cry when Anne helped her dress and did her hair. Though her sister’s tears were usually enough to bring on her own, Alice sat there calmly. “You’ll be alright, Anne.”
The family arrived at the chapel on foot. Alice wore a simple, lilac dress, which was her best dress. Anne had tied her sister’s hair up in the best up-do she could do, and Tobias had purchased her a veil. Although it was relatively simple, it was still finer than anything she had ever worn or possessed. But as it was, the only thing she liked about it was that it seemed to put distance between her and the world around her.
Rose was already waiting by the chapel, and the minister soon turned up and he let them in. Father had a grim look on his face. Alice knew he didn’t like this, but was doing it for her wellbeing. She knew she was very fortunate.
RE: The Wedding - Elijah Crane - 03-09-2020
Elijah wasn't certain if he should arrive after the trouble he'd caused. It was far more insulting though if he didn't show and he wanted to be supportive of Alice though this wasn't very much what she had wanted.
He fidgeted with his fingers as he sat silently and waited for it to begin. He almost sat beside Rose, but he had no knowledge on weddings and so wasn't certain it would give the right idea if he had. So he sat alone to watch and take part. He carefully avoided looking at Tobias. While he had been over all kind, he couldn't help but not trust the man he didn't know.
RE: The Wedding - Benny Green - 03-09-2020
He knew about the wedding, it had been whispered and he was in close quarters with Rose since they loved in the same home. A little asking about was all it needed for him to find the place and time.
Without a word, he settled into a seat behind Rose and grinned, leaning back relaxed in his seat.
RE: The Wedding - Tobias Appleton - 03-09-2020
It was a practical, sensible arrangement. Alice needed someone to claim the child and offer her a home. He needed a child and someone to make his lonely home a home again. But it was also not more than that, and he wouldn't mind the ceremony to be over quickly. He barely knew the girl. This felt like a circus.
Alice looked shy and frightened, her father and the constable worried, and though her sister Anne tried to control herself, she was clearly near tears. Her other siblings just watched quietly. Alice's oldest sister and her family were there, as well as a young man he didn't know and some fishing girls. None of Tobias' friends of family were there. He had told Bess not to bother. The wedding was a formality, and he was far more grateful for her promise to help the maid prepare an evening meal for them, than he would have been if she had joined him here.
Though he usually listened attentively to the Bible reading and the sermon, he barely paid attention now. He hadn't even registered which passage had been read. He sat quietly next to Alice, not looking at her, though he sensed how occasionally she would tilt her head lightly to look up at him, before quickly looking down again.
When the time came for giving their vows and exchanging rings, they both stood.
RE: The Wedding - Somniac - 03-09-2020
The circus was coming in in the form of six women in pretty but dirt-flecked black dresses who threw open the doors with flowers in their arms, and a man sniffling as he waved for the horse cart to come closer.
They paused in the doorway, each holding a bouqet of mostly white roses with a red one stark in the middle.
"Sorry for your-" one woman started habitually, cleared her throat, and then said, "where can we find the Wards?"
RE: The Wedding - Benny Green - 03-10-2020
Benny perked up and grinned. He leaned forward and whispered into Rose's ear. "Its getting interesting now. You know 'em?"
RE: The Wedding - Rose Willaby - 03-10-2020
Rose had been gritting through the ceremony. She knew that her sister had no choice, given her state, and that the marriage was an advantageous one. What fishing lass ended up marrying someone with property? And yet all of this felt wrong. Maggie had been Alice's age when she had gotten married, maybe a few month younger. But she had loved the man, and she had been so much more mature than Alice was. Rose's heart ached for her sister.
When the service was disrupted she turned, only to find Benny sitting right behind her. She glared at him when she heard what he whispered. Did he think thing whole thing entertaining? "What are you doing here?" She hissed back. But she turned her eyes towards what seemed to be a funeral procession.
RE: The Wedding - Benjamin Ward - 03-10-2020
Ben felt sick with anxiety for Alice. But it had to be done. In he long term, his daughter would benefit greatly from this marriage. And even if it would not make her happy, it would at least give her and her child financial security. And so when the girl had started having cold feet last night, Ben had been relentless. Admittedly, he was very relieved that she had no longer protested this morning and didn't cause trouble now. The ceremony was awkward enough.
Ben turned his head when he heard the disruption. Shortly, his eyes landed on Benny, whom he hadn't seen before, and narrowed. But then he stood up and addressed the newcomers:
"Right here. What's this about? You're disrupting a wedding."
RE: The Wedding - Elijah Crane - 03-10-2020
Elijah realized the newcomers weren't welcome and seemed like this was going to be trouble. He stood as well and stepped closer to the women who'd come in. "I am sorry but he's right. You are interrupting a wedding. If you have something to discuss, it can happen afterwards. Please, sit quietly or go outside to wait."
RE: The Wedding - Benny Green - 03-10-2020
Benny grinned as he watched the others as it was making the boring ceremony mildly interesting before looking back at Rose. "What? I had heard you guys mentioning a wedding. I wanted to come. Figured it wouldn't hurt to have an extra body in a seat, right? I haven't done a thing, so don't look at me like I'm going to cause trouble. If I wanted to, I'd have done it.'