This is a story about Phillip Carlyle and Elizabeth Gray - a close friend of Anne's who joins the circus with her. Elizabeth and Phillip instantly attracted to one another. However, Elizabeth knows her place in society and questions whether or not P...
I sent Lettie and Anne to take Lizzy to try on her dress, while the rest of us got to work trying to turn the circus into a wedding.
Several performers had begun to move chairs over to the centre of the room, making a clear isle in which had been swept free from dirt and dust.
W.D, after getting changed into his suit, had a vase of yellow flowers, sunflowers, on the floor at his feet, along with some smaller white flowers. He was meticulously pulling flowers out of the water, one by one, and wiring their stems together. His brow knotted in concentration.
"Are you making a bouquet?" I asked.
"Yes." He said, pausing momentarily to talk. "Lizzy mentioned one time that her favourite flowers were sunflowers so I went and got some from the market the other day." W.D returned to lacing the steams. He held the cluster in one hand and turned it a few different directions, before plucking out a white daisy and adding it to the mix.
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I turned away and glance at the performance area. It was already transformed - flowers and garlands and fabric bows draped over every surface. Candles spreading around the area, lighting the way down the isle.
As a few of the performers and Barnum, brought the arch we had constructed while they girls were out with Lizzy. On our first attempt to place the arch up right, it toppled over causing a loud crash to echo through out the tent.
Anne ran out a few moments later, to check out what to commotion was. Once I explained that they arch had just fallen over, she commented on how beautiful, and chaotic, the surroundings were.
"Anne!" I exclaimed as she walked away. "We need another twenty minutes or so. Can you keep her distracted for that long?"
She nodded in response and she quickly went back to check on Lizzy as I ran in the opposite direction to get changed into the suit Barnum had brought in for me.
***
I waited, anxiously at the end of the isle. Anticipating when Lizzy would come out. Barnum was going to conduct the wedding ceremony and W.D stood beside me., being my best man. Charity had brought in an amazing cake, with frosting and everything which Lizzy's loves.
It was all going to plan.
Lettie came out from the dressing room, signalling that Caroline and Helen were going to bring Lizzy out shortly. I gave the cue for the band to play some string music loud enough to fill the whole tent without being too overpowering.
""What's going on?" I could hear Lizzy question as Caroline and Helen pulled her out into the open. Anne and Charity following closely behind.
Anne handed Lizzy the boquet of flowers as she took a hesitant step forwards, in awe of her surroundings and she connected the dots. Giving me a heartfelt smile when she did.
"What have you done?"
Everyone stared with close -lipped secretive smiles.
Shaking her head, Lizzy took Anne arm while the two young girls, who had gotten dressed into their little gowns extremely quickly, walked down in front of her. Throwing flowers onto the ground. Lizzy began to walk slowly with Anne, trying to ensure that she would not trip over he dress. Once she arrived at the end of the isle Lizzy stood opposite to myself.
"What," She breathed, cluchting the bouquet, "is this?".
"You are the most beautiful sight I have ever laid eyes on"
Lizzy cocked her head. "And you look like you're about to get married." There was blatant amusement in her tone.
My eyes dipped once to the ground, but I couldn't stop smiling. I took her hands in my so that the palms of our hands engulfed the wrapped around flower stems.
"Lizzy," I said, "I know how frustrated you've been with the...attention our wedding has brought and how much you hate what it was turning into. And on our wedding day, all I want is for you to be happy and content. I don't want you thinking about reporters or photographers. You didn't sign up for any of that, and it isn't fair to you. So...I though...I wondered if you might marry me now, here, instead."
Lizzy tore her gaze from him and let it wander to everyone else in the room. "You were all in on this."
"Phillip had the idea a couple of days ago," said Anne, "when he noticed you were getting...upset about the media."
Lizzy blinked tears from her eyes. "I....this is.. it's perfect, but I think you might have forgotten one important element." She turned back to me. "There's no officiant here. Who's going to marry us?"
I grinned as I glanced at Barnum. Lizzy followed the look.
"I've never done it before, however I can do it now and then you can elope in front of a church." He suggested. "Nevertheless it will be perfectly legitimate and binding."
I took a step closer to Lizzy. "So? Will you marry me?"
