The Day of the Wedding…
Neither Eliza nor William had heard anything new from Tilly or Rupert in the remaining days following up to the wedding. Eliza had actually been prepared to help Tilly with the wedding arrangements but, when she had run into Herr Hildegard one afternoon, he had told her that Tilly and Rupert had wanted a small wedding and there hadn't been much planning to do.
Now the day of the wedding had finally come and Eliza and William walked into the church. The echoing sound of Mrs. Parker's voice reached them from the front of the church, she was standing there with Tilly, Rupert, and Herr Hildegard, "My dear Tilly, this is most wonderful! I thought I would never see this day come!"
Eliza stopped, stunned, upon hearing Mrs. Parker's comment. William looked over at her, "Lizzie?" "I… I've never seen Mrs. Parker smile." Eliza hesitated, "I'm not sure I ever want to again…" William choked on the laugh that got caught in his throat.
"Ah! Meez Scarlet, Inspector! Thank you for coming. This is most exciting, Tilly finally marrying Mr. Parker! It is vonderful!" Herr Hildergard said as he approached them, having spotted them coming inside. "Ve are looking forward to your vedding next! Oh! Excuse me, Tilly is calling for me!" He hurried off as quickly as he had come over to them.
Eliza scowled, "Our wedding?" William chuckled, "Don't let him upset you, at least now you have once less thing to worry about, Tilly should be leaving you alone!" Eliza sighed. William took her hand and led her to a pew at the front to sit in.
Mrs. Parker came over and noticed the two of them still holding hands, "It would seem Miss Scarlet, that everything has worked out for the best in the end. Tilly will make an excellent wife for Rupert." The unsaid, much better than you ever would have been, left hanging in the air between them. Eliza smiled sweetly at her, "I am truly glad you are happy." Mrs. Parker scowled at her and left them.
William squeezed Eliza's hand, "Sit down Lizzie, ignore her." Eliza sat, but was still frowning. William leaned over, "I know it's not important to you, but I think you'll make a wonderful wife one day, when you're ready." Eliza didn't respond for a while then softly said, "Thank you William."
They sat silently, still holding hands watching as a few more people filtered in, mostly friends of Ruperts. Everyone began to take their places.
The priesttook his place at the front of the church, Tilly and Rupert standing across from each other. It seemed as though both of them wanted the ceremony to be over with as soon as possible and were mainly having it to please their families.
Rupert was sweating buckets, trying not to wipe at his face. Tilly was calm and serene, seemingly unconcerned.
"This is the least romantic affair I've ever been to." William whispered into Eliza's ear. She bit her lip to stop herself from smiling. "I think Rupert is going to pass out at any moment now…" He said, and Eliza couldn't help but snigger. Mrs. Parker turned around to glare at her, which only caused Eliza to almost laugh more.
Before Mrs. Parker could admonish Eliza even further, there was a loud bang as the church doors were flung open and a man strode down the aisle. "Tilly! TILLY! You must NOT marry that man!" Johann was striding up the aisle, determination etched on his face.
"Go avay Johann!" Tilly cried out at him, "Vy are you here?" Johann pushed Rupert aside and grabbed Tilly by the forearms. "ich liebe dich Tilly!" He said, tears streaming down his face. "Do not marry that man!" He said gesturing to Rupert, who looked like he wanted to run away. Then Johann had a thought, "Do you love him?" He asked, sounding defeated. Tilly crossed her arms, "Of course not. But he is simple man. And wealthy." Rupert scowled at her comment but she did have a point, so he kept his mouth shut. Johann's eyes lit up with hope.
Before Johann could make his case again there was a shout from the aisle, "Brother! The siren has called to you yet again! Witch!" Günter spat towards Tilly, storming up to the altar.
William stiffened next to Eliza. She saw him move to reach for his gun. "Will!" She hissed in his ear, "You can't shoot him! Put that away!" She put his arm over his. He turned to look at Eliza and narrowed his eyes, "Fine, but if something happens, I'm going to arrest all of them!" That gave him an idea. "Should I threaten to arrest them?" He asked Eliza. She shook her head, "No, let me go up there, perhaps I can mediate."
She looked around at the small amount of guests who had come to the wedding and sighed, "I'm probably the only person here who could be considered a friend to Tilly." She was about to stand but William stopped her. "I am not letting you go up there alone, I'm coming too. No gun, I promise." He said as he saw her face. Reluctantly she nodded and they stood and walked up the aisle together.
"Tilly, are you alright?" Eliza asked, seeing that Tilly's usual facade of annoyance had now started to look slightly afraid. Günter eyed William and glared at Eliza, "So now you and your husband are meddling in our affairs too? Stay out of this, it does not concern you."
The comment rankled Eliza, "Tilly is my friend, you cannot come to her wedding and harass her in this way." Günter took a step closer to Eliza, William immediately blocked him by stepping in front of her. "You should control your wife better, Sir. Tell her to mind her own business and take her away." Günter said waving his hand dismissively.
William's face turned purple with rage, "Tilly and Rupert are our good friends and if they wish to marry, you have no right to come and interrupt. Now go, before I have you arrested for disrupting the peace."
Johann put his hand on Günter's shoulder, "Brother, you see, you are the reason Tilly does not wish to be with me." Tilly stomped her foot, "Do not speak for me Johann! That is not the only reason. You do not respect me. I did everything for you, everything you ask, if I vant to do as I vish you say, oh, no, Tilly, you can't my family vould not like that. You must be good and quiet voman. I do not want that, that is vy I do not vish to marry you!" She threw her bouquet at him in anger, it hit him in the chest and fell to the ground.
"So you vish to marry this man instead? He does not speak at all!" Johann said, starting to get angry. Rupert opened his mouth once again to say something but then thought better of it and took a slight step back. Johann noticed his movement and faced him, "Vill you be good husband to Tilly? Do you love her?" He said in desperation.
Rupert shrugged then cleared his throat, "Sir, it is true we are marrying out of convenience for us both, we have our reasons, but I can tell you one thing, I do know what it is like to have family overpower you and squelch your voice and I would never do that to Tilly." He chuckled ruefully, "I don't think I could, even if I tried."
Tilly looked at Rupert surprised and smiled slightly. Günter gave a loud guffaw, "Well, do you know that your wife is not innocent? She has been with my brother?" Before Rupert could respond Johann pulled back his arm and punched his brother in the nose. "Verdammter Scheiß!" Günter cried out, covering his bleeding nose with his hands.
Then, all hell broke loose. Günter let out a roar of rage and moved to attack Johann, but William jumped in between them and Günter's momentum sent them both crashing to the ground and rolling down the altar steps. There was a thunk as the back of William's head hit the edge of one of the steps. "William!" Eliza cried out, doing her best to run over to him without tripping over her gown.
"Sie ist mein!" Johann shouted, now deciding to fight Rupert since his brother was otherwise detained. Rupert held his hands up, "I… I don't speak German!" He said. His eyes widened in fear as Johann went to punch him. Instinctively he ducked, and to everyone's horror, Tilly had been standing behind him and got punched in the eye.
"Verdammt du idiot!" She cried out in pain. "Tilly!" Rupert said, standing to help her. Her face full or rage she pushed him aside and kicked Johann in the groin. "AUTSCH!" He yelled, tears streaming dow his face as he fell to his knees, then in agony, tipped over and rolled onto his side whimpering.
"Tilly, are you badly hurt?" Rupert asked genuinely concerned. She looked at him, "I am alright. I…" Before she could finish her sentence they heard Eliza's voice, "DO NOT TOUCH HIM!" Günter was holding William by the front of his shirt and had drawn his arm back to punch him in the face. Eliza grabbed the first thing she had spotted and whacked Günter over the head with it. It had been Tilly's dropped bouquet. Dazed and sneezing, Günter released William and fell off of him.
William was trying to stand, but he was feeling dizzy. He sat up slowly instead and looked over at Günter. Eliza was kneeling on him, hitting him repeatedly with the bouquet. Günter had his arms up, trying to protect his face from the flowers and petals but he kept sneezing. Finally he managed to shove Eliza off of him and crawl off into the pews.
William meanwhile had managed to slide himself behind Eliza just in time and catch her as she tipped over backwards onto her behind. "Oof!" They both said. William wrapped his arms around her, Eliza, leaning against his chest, looked up at him. "Will! Are you alright?" She asked, reaching an arm up behind her to stroke his cheek. His eyes were starting to refocus and he hesitantly nodded, "I… I think so…"
Eliza turned around to kneel in front of him and touch the back of his head. He winced. "Sorry!" She said apologetically, "I think you hit your head." She smiled at him and gently ran her fingers through his hair, bringing his face closer to hers. William smiled back at her and leaned forward slightly, their noses almost touching.
"Yes!" Tilly shouted. Eliza and William, startled, broke apart and turned to look at Tilly and Rupert. They were holding hands, smiling at each other. Eliza stood, helping William to his feet. She kept her arm around his waist and he had an arm over his shoulder, just in case he started to feel woozy again.
"Are you still planning on getting married then?" Eliza asked. Tilly nodded, "Yes, Rupert does not care about my previous er… indiscretions? And I do not care if he vishes to travel. It vill be good, ve will leave each other alone. That is vat ve both want." She said this last part to Johann, who was still kneeling on the floor, hands between his legs.
Herr Hildegard meanwhile was reprimanding Günter in rapid fire German. Günter was kneeling in front of Herr Hildegard, head bowed, accepting whatever Herr Hildegard was telling him. He nodded and stood, he left a wide berth between him and Eliza and William and skirted around Tilly and Rupert to pull his brother to his feet.
Johann rose, still in obvious pain, Günter spoke to him, and with a defeated look, Johann nodded. He hesitantly approached Tilly and Rupert, "I am sorry Tilly. I finally understand that you do not vish to marry me, I vill no longer bother you. I vish you both much happiness." He bowed to them both and turned to leave. Günter shot them a glare and then followed his brother out.
"Eliza, Villiam, thank you for helping me." Tilly said, "I know ve did not have good friendship, I hope that vill change." Eliza smiled, "So do I." To Tilly's surprise Eliza stepped forward and hugged her warmly. Then Eliza turned to Rupert and hugged him too. "Thank you Eliza, Tilly and I are quite understanding of each other's situations, and neither of us minds." He said quickly into her ear. Eliza nodded and smiled. William nodded at them both and offered Eliza his arm to escort her back to her seat.
The priest peeked out from behind the altar, where he had been hiding, "Do you two still wish to be wed?" He asked, confused about the whole situation. "Yes!" Rupert and Tilly said simultaneously.
Much to everyone's relief the wedding resumed with no further issues and it was quite late when Eliza and William were finally able to return home.
William sat down heavily on the settee with a sigh. He rubbed the back of his head, it was still rather painful but he didn't want Eliza worrying about him. Eliza came into the drawing room and knelt on the settee next to him. She placed something cold against the back of his head.
"Ach, what is that?" William asked then paused, "It actually feels quite good." Eliza smiled, "I chopped some ice out of the icebox and placed it in a napkin. Is it too cold?" "No, it's nice." William said, but he was enjoying more the fact that Eliza was taking care of him than the actual ice.
"Crazy day, eh?" William said. "Yes, I'm glad it was all sorted. They'll certainly have an interesting marriage. Marrying someone to be left alone…" Eliza said and wrinkled her nose in confusion. William chuckled, "Aye, seems a bit pointless in some ways. I plan on loving my wife so much that I want to argue with her." William said offhand but holding Eliza's gaze. Eliza laughed, "What does that mean?" William shrugged, "You wouldn't spend your time arguing with someone you don't love. It shows you care about them." Eliza pondered William's odd comment. She thought over their arguments, most of them stemming from their worry for the other.
"Hmm… Anyway, we should go to bed, you should get some rest." Eliza said. William nodded and started to follow Eliza upstairs. "I'll wake you in a couple of hours." Eliza called back to William, who was behind her. "Why?" He asked confused. "In case you have a concussion. I believe I'm supposed to wake you every two hours." She explained.
"Don't you dare! I'll never get any sleep!" William called up at her. Eliza stopped at the top of the landing, William a few steps beneath her. They were eye to eye. "Don't argue with me on this William!" Eliza said smirking. "Oh, I'll argue with you. Dinnae wake me!" William said.
Eliza reached out one finger and touched his cheek, "Remember what you had just said about arguing…" She said in a sing-songy voice. "Ach, me and my big mouth… Fine wake me…" Then he gave a sly grin, "You do know I sleep in the nude, right?" "Will!" Eliza said slapping his arm lightly. "Fine, I won't wake you. Good night!" She said, turning her back on him and heading to her room.
William chuckled, then his face fell, I should have let her wake me… that might have ended up making for an interesting night… He sighed at his stupidity and went to bed.