Your Interest At Heart

Chapter 11: Night's End

While we were still at the pub, Eliza and I arm wrestled out fiance's. Samuel let me win, and Alexander took pride in gently heaving Eliza's hand down. During the arm wrestle, Samuel did a good job of pretending I was stronger than him. But afterwards, he laughed. So I guess he's still stronger than me.

And now we're walking down the streets of New York City. Alexander was one drink away from being drunk. Samuel, me, and my sister were barely on the verge of tipsy. My fiance stood at my side, holding my hand, as his eyes swept the streets for danger. There was a small group at the other side of the road that had spotted us and were slowly sidling over. Samuel moved to the other side of me in order to fulfill my father's orders. He protectively squeezed my hand as we walked.

"Hey!" One of the men called. Alexander nodded at Eliza, making eye contact with Samuel. My fiance then took both mine and Eliza's hands and stood in front of us in an effort to keep us both safe. I watched as Alexander met the men halfway across the road. It was three huge men against one average sized man. And Alexander had the cockiness of three men.

"What're you doin' out here on a night like this with ladies?" The man at the front asked, crossing his arms and peering directly at me. I shrunk a bit behind Samuel. He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. I looked up at him to see his jaw clenching as he glared at the men.

"Engagement parties." Alexander told them gruffly. He looked to be trying to avoid trouble.

"Oh, good!" One of the other men clapped in mock excitement. "Who's engaged?"

"All of us." Alexander raised a brow.

"Fantastic." The leader took a step forward. "So they belong to you."

"I wouldn't say th—" Alex started, but was cut off.

"I'll trade you that one in exchange for you not getting beaten up." He offered, pointing at me. A shudder ran through me and Samuel stiffened. He squeezed my hand harder. Eliza brushed up against me.

"Stay safe." She breathed, staring at her fiance.

"Absolutely not." Alexander shook his head.

"Now, I don't remember giving you a choice." He took yet another step towards Alexander. When he did this, he nodded to one of the other men, who walked to us. Samuel froze and Alexander tried to stop him, but the leader grabbed him. Alexander swung a fist that connected dead center of the man's face. The other lackey went at Alexander, who narrowly dodged most of the blows.

As soon as the man got close, Samuel gently shoved both me and Eliza back and punched the man with all his might. The man stumbled back, blood dribbling out if his nose. Samuel grimaced and cradled his fist.

"Listen fella, I've got direct orders to fetch the girl." He growled sidling back over. Samuel flexed to try and make himself look bigger. It didn't really work all that well.

"You're not touching my fiancée." Samuel snarled.

"I'm afraid that's beyond your control." He then slammed into Samuel, causing me to cry out. Eliza held my arm. Samuel grunted and pummeled the man with punches. Eliza was flicking between the staring at the fight that was going on between Alexander and the others.

Samuel was winning, but since Alex was outnumbered, he was losing. He was careful not to receive any blows to where anyone could see for the wedding.

Suddenly, I heard commotion from the barber shop behind Eliza and I. A horde of angry-looking men rushed out and swarmed the attackers. Four women ushered Eliza and I inside, but we were reluctant to go. Samuel had a small cut on the sleeve of his blue coat.

The women sat us down and examined us.

"Are you alright?" A blonde woman asked. We both nodded, peering out the window to watch. The men who came to our aid dramatically turned the tables, as the predators were losing horribly. After just a few moments of the fight, they retreated into an alley. Then the barber men brought our fiances inside, taking off Samuel's coat. It now had a little blood stain on it. As soon as an opening from the men, Samuel and Alexander bolted to Eliza and I. Samuel cupped my face in his hands.

"Are you okay?" He asked frantically, eyes flicked all across my face. "Did they hurt you at all?"

The bloody cut on his arm caught my eye.

"Did they have a knife?" I demanded, picking up the cup of water one of the woman had given me, took off my black scarf (I had taken it with me) and gingerly dabbed it wound with water. It wasn't bleeding anymore, which meant it wasn't deep. Once I had gotten the blood off, I tied my scarf around it. The entire time, the cluster of people stared. Then they finally spoke.

"What are your names?" The blonde woman asked. We all introduced ourselves and thanked them for the help.

"We're just getting home from an engagement celebration." Alexander told them.

"Oh!" A woman with black hair squealed. "Who's engaged?"

"We all are." Samuel told them, fiddling with the scarf tied around his arm. I took the stressed hand and held it to keep him from unraveling it.

"Really?" A man with brown hair widened his eyes.

"I proposed to Bianca tonight, and Alexander and Eliza got engaged a few weeks ago." Samuel explained.

"When are the weddings?" The blonde woman asked, leaning forward in her seat.

"Ours is next week." Eliza told them, looked at Alexander, who was standing just beside her seat.

"We, uh, we haven't started planning yet." I told them.

"Do you need any ice?" A younger ginger boy asked, looking at Alexander and Samuel. I nodded, but Samuel shook his head. Alexander nodded a well, feeling a bruise on his arm. He managed not to get any blows to his face. Samuel had a purpling bruise forming on his knuckles, probably from the first punch. The boy nodded and gave them both ice. I put some into the scarf, wrapping it into the cloth so it wasn't too cold for him. He held a bit of ice to his knuckles, fumbling a bit from the cold. Alexander and Eliza iced his own bruises.

"We should be going." Eliza smiled at them politely.

"Of course." A black haired man nodded.

"Thank you." I chimed as we walked out.

"Let's go see York, Seabury." Alexander suggested.

"Perfect!" Samuel's eyes lit up.

"Father never did give us a curfew." I shrugged. Eliza nodded, and we went to Samuel's house. York yapped excitedly from all the attention. While petting the dog, Eliza said something to me.

"It is a dog!" She admitted, ruffling York's ears.

"What did you think he was?" Samuel cocked his head. Eliza cleared her throat awkwardly. Samuel's face drained of color. "Oh!"

Alexander laughed.

"She thought by dog, you meant...?" He looked at me.

(I am physically unable to cuss.)

I nodded. Alexander was still laughing. By now, York had jumped on his and laid down on my future brother in-law.