"Alice, you know why I prompted Hamish to marry you, besides achieving a strong alliance within the company? Good genes! Good genes from good breeding. I have the fear of having ugly grandchildren! I look at you and see so much need for proper breaking in, but with your facial structure, financial background and your wit with your studies. I can overlook your bothersome phases and mold you into -."
Alice was distracted by rustling in the bushes, while Mrs. Ascot moved further down the topic to Hamish's peckish eating habits. Curiosity overcame Alice as she excused herself from Mrs. Ascot to run after the woodland creature. The manicured ledges and bushes zigzag through the immense garden adding to the woodland creature's stealth.
It was at a secluded part of the garden where vines dangled low from the arches, giving shade from the heat and dark enough corners to do dirty deeds. A dirty deed indeed was what she spotted: two figures were locked in a passionate embrace. One figure happened to be her sister's husband, Lowe. The other figure was not her sister. They seemed so lost in their own world that Alice had to call out to him.
"Oh why hello there, Alice. I was just having a meeting with Patty, my secretary." His oily commercial voice drawled, commonly used in swaying clients into a lie. Composing himself, he moved over to hide the view of Patty. Pulling out a handkerchief, he started to wipe the excess lipstick and sweat. Alice looked at him with pure disdain.
"Was it a very intimate meeting? That required her to check your teeth for cavities with her tongue?" Alice angrily scoffed.
Lowe stepped forward imposing his height over her, deciding the best tact was to intimidate. "Think of your sister, Alice. She'll be distraught; she wouldn't trust me over what you think you saw."
"ALICE! There you are!" Hamish cried taking wide strides across the tamed lawn to reach her rigid shape. Nodding to Lowe and then grasping her arm, Alice barely had a moment to close her mouth by the brisk pace set by Hamish.
Upon reaching the gazebo without any delay, Hamish went down on one knee and enclosed his hands around hers. Alice's eyes flitted about noticing professional photographers at vantage points, Mr. and Mrs. Ascot at the frontline while her mother edged in the scene with her sister, and caterpillar crawling closer as if waiting among the guests with bated breath.
"Alice," Hamish repeated as he drew his spine up, bringing her attention back to him ", will you be my wife?" He proudly asked, more than anything from elation of knowing there will be no more nagging from his mother or the board and to be the one to break in the elusive, Alice Kingsleigh. Soon to be Alice Ascot, he added mentally. His smile drooped a millimeter when her reply did not arrive promptly after being asked.
Alice broke away from him, taking in a gulp of air before beginning "Well, I know people want us marry for the gene pool, for financial gain in their monopoly game, and for stability." She looked around once more noticing a hedge shake violently losing its leaves as a rabbit in a blue petticoat jumped out checking his pocket watch, "this all so much to take in. I need a moment!"