Your Interest At Heart

Chapter 15: Bianca's Wedding

We danced for the rest of the wedding, but Samuel had to leave to meet his family. And so, Peggy and I talked at the food table.

And now, I'm getting ready for my own wedding.

~Alexander's POV~

I walked into the room that Seabury was supposed to be getting ready in, but found him sitting on the bed and staring at the wall.

"Seabury?" I asked cautiously, clicking the door shut. He jumped and looked at me, eyes wide.

Please don't go crazy on me at my little sister's wedding.

"Cold feet." He muttered.

"Nonononono, not now." I shook my head and sat beside him.

"My... My father gave me orders not to get married." He explained shakily, not making eye contact. "They're here and I don't know what they're gonna do."

"Are you saying that they might stir trouble?" I raised an eyebrow. He nodded vigorously.

"My father will kill me." He shuddered.

"Seabury, you're in a house full of war vets. Or men who are going into war." I reminded him.

"I didn't tell him that I'm fighting." Samuel admitted. "My sisters—if I die— would blame Bianca."

"You're not going to die." I told him sternly. "I had to promise Bianca to make sure of that."

"You did?" He still hasn't looked at me.

"Yes." I nodded. "Usually it's the bride who gets the cold feet."

"Why now?" He demanded into his hands.

"Listen, Samuel." I grabbed his arm. "Right now, your sisters are helping Bianca get ready to marry their older brother."

"Abigail and Richelle?" He finally looked at me.

"And Peggy, Angelica, Eliza, and Mrs. Catharine." I added. "Your sisters didn't care about Bianca being American. They care that you're going to marry her."

"Did Abigail bring a dog?" He asked suddenly.

"She did, actually." I cocked my head.

"York and her dog are from the same litter." He explained. "We decided to name them after cities. York and Paris."

"That's cute." I smiled. "You have to get ready."

"I know." He stood up. This was when the rest of the groomsmen came in.

"Samuel!" A British man I didn't know exclaimed, wrapping Samuel into a bear hug.

"Caleb." Samuel said in relief.

"Father's going to kill you." Caleb told his brother sincerely. Samuel's face drained of color.

"I just called him down!" I threw my hands into the air in frustration.

~Bianca's POV~

"Perfect." Mother congratulated herself. Abigail and Richelle were talking.

"I can't believe Samuel's getting married!" Richelle fanned at imaginary tears. I smiled at them.

I don't think they hate me.

Mother began listing who goes first and with who. I go last with Father. When it was my turn, Father peeked into the room and linked arms with me. We then walked down the same aisle Eliza had.

Samuel stood at the end. All the groomsmen and bridesmaids were all there, too. Heads turned to see us walking down.

"Slow down." Father whispered. "It's not every day you get to walk down the aisle."

"I know." I nodded, slowing my pace. When we got there, Father sat down beside Mother.

The minister gave his speech, and we both said our do's.

"I prenounce you man and wife." The minister grinned. "Kiss the bride."

Samuel gently pressed his lips against mine. People cheered.

We then moved into the dance, where Samuel and I were supposed to dance on the big deck. I felt their eyes boring into my back as we did. Afterwards, couples flooded onto the deck. Mother had told us both very specifically to stay on the dance floor until she gives us some kind of signal to branch off.

After a few more dances, Mother hissed in my ear.

"You're good." I smiled at Samuel in relief. We both carefully snuck back inside the house.

"That was tiring." I sighed. He nodded in agreement.

"It was a lot of dancing." He looked at me. "But, guess what?"

"What?" I glanced at him. Instead of fluffy, his hair was combed neatly.

"I have a wife!" He exclaimed excitedly.

"I have a husband!" I squealed, hugging him.

"You also have a dog." Samuel reminded me. The hug ended an instant before he said this.

"I do?" I looked at him.

"York is both of ours now." He grinned. "Plus, he loves you."

"I've never had a dog before." My brows furrowed.

"He's not high maintenance." Samuel shrugged. "How were my sisters? Did they behave?"

"They're not six." I laughed. "They were good. I don't think they hated me."

"How can anyone hate you?" He asked, not making eye-contact.

"I'll do you one better: how did Alexander hate you?" I looked around my grandparents house.

"I have a question." Samuel said hesitantly. I nodded for him to go ahead. "Why did you decide to talk to me in town that first time?"

Oh, boy. I thought to myself. This is going to be an interesting story.

"We went into town to walk around." I began. "Peggy said that you were cute."

"What did you say?" He looked at me.

"I said 'dibs'." I admitted with a sheepish grin.

"You said 'dibs'?" He laughed, looking at the floor.

"Plus, you looked upset!" I objected, feeling a blush creep up onto my face.

"Dibs?" Samuel wiped an imaginary tear.

"Don't judge me!" I squeaked.

"I'm not!" He threw his hands up in surrender. Suddenly, the black door flung open.