A groom’s woes
Hyacinths :
Love
Playfulness
Rebirth
Carnations :
Devotion
Fascination
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,
Nor shall death brag thou wand’rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to Time thou grow’st.
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
- Shakespeare
Everyone has their part to play. Shakespeare’s quote was something along the lines of “The world's a stage” or perhaps something like that. He wasn’t sure. Richard was never fond of those sappy plays, always thinking they were too fake to even be a prime example of a good love story. No, he was a knight, and he would craft his own story. One of perilous adventures and princesses. One of heartbreak and sorrow as well as love and blissful sleep. He was the perfect knight, and now he wondered if he was even deemed suitable for this sort of arrangement. Marrying one of the wealthier families of London’s society. The Moras were always one of those families, despite the sole heiress’s unsavory background. He would chuckle, bringing his hand to his lips and humming softly. He knew Miss Evelyn was one of a kind. He would look at her and not see someone he could manipulate and mold into a perfect pawn but a woman he could trust and understand. When they first met, he was skeptical. A woman freshly into her thirties and no one on her arm? It was a marvelous sight, and when she refused his advances? He knew that she would be a wonderful friend to scheme with. She would smile and giggle, tilting her head in a manner that was very curious, and it was only then that he would compare her to a peacock, and she’d try to correct him by saying she’d be a peahen instead, and when he shook his head and laughed, he’d quickly say, “No! No! I truly mean a peacock!” She would smile and roll her eyes before pulling away and going on her way to do whatever she had to do that day. When rumors started spreading about them courting one another, Evelyn was quick to deny them, but they were always shot back with a soft, “Oh, you don’t need to be so embarrassed! It’s about time!” Richard would see how uncomfortable she was with that and knew very well how much she was struggling.
She didn’t have any family left, none that Richard knew of at least. One night, after a few too many glasses of wine, Evelyn went into a long spiel about how she was an unfit bride. No one would ever truly love her the way she needed, and she wouldn’t be the bride everyone desired her to be. She wasn’t similar to any of the women that she surrounded herself with, no. She had a secret, and Richard supposed they were more close to kin than they were lovers due to the complexity of their shared secrets. Richard supposed he would ask her for her hand, not as a way a man would ask for someone’s love but as a favor. A sort of plan, if you will. They would act as if they were married and eventually produce an heir, even though Evelyn visibly paled when he mentioned that, through one or another. Hopefully through the means of adoption, he had quickly added, which earned a sigh of relief from the blonde. He hadn’t even thought of her in that sort of manner, and the idea made him queasy. Evelyn was quick to agree, wanting the men off of her back, and she knew that Richard would not find anyone of interest. Other than a certain author who they had met at a party a few months back. Richard flushed when she mentioned him and quickly denied everything, saying they were more like rivals than anything else. He couldn’t stand Mister Orpheus. He would say that it was just part of a game. Evelyn would roll her eyes and scoff before taking another drink of her wine. Richard was standing in front of a mirror, fixing his tie and smoothing back his hair. The tree outside of the window was budding with new flowers, a special time. So many people would love this time of year. It was spring, and that was when so much life came to be. Whether it be animals or plants, the world seemed to awaken from its hibernation.
Of course, Richard was more of a fan of winter. The sharp air cut through your skin like a sword swinging against the scales of a dragon, and the snow left a perfect backdrop for his performance. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, his tie a sharp green color. He hummed and glanced towards the door as the bells of a church filled the air. He walked out from the room and down the hallway with a smirk on his lips. He seemed rather relaxed as he walked, his hand resting in his pocket as he passed by someone leaning out of a window. He slowed down and turned, blinking a few times before his eyes softened and he smiled. “Ah, Mr. De Ross...” He would grin and walk to where he would be. Orpheus glanced up and laughed, “Of course... Why is it that I caught your eye instead of your bride? Surely she is waiting for you.” Richard would snort and cross his arms, “Evelyn is still getting ready most likely. I fear that it is not even time just yet. I just finished early.” He scoffed and shrugged as Orpheus raised an eyebrow and huffed. “Of course.” He would whisper before he turned his head away as Richard leaned next to him against the wood of the wall. Richard didn’t say anything for a few moments before he glanced towards Orpheus with a furrowed brow as he chuckled and sighed. “Are you sure about this?” Orpheus asked, frowning as he continued to look out of the window. He reached out and touched the flowers that rested on the stone of the windowsill, his fingers gently moving back and forth.
Richard didn’t say anything before he walked away. He paused in his walking a few steps away before he sighed, “As sure as I can be.” He walked up towards the door and pushed it open before promptly walking down the aisle and to the pew where the priest was waiting. He looked down at his hands and straightened his tie once more to make sure that it was perfect before he began to hear the music play. He turned towards the entrance of the church and felt his gaze soften. He couldn’t help but smile, and for once it didn’t feel forced. He couldn’t help but reach out for her hand, and when she took it, he squeezed it gently. He said his vows firmly and proudly, watching her gaze dart around the room. When they kissed, he could feel the tension in her jaw, and he was quick to pull away as they were declared man and wife. Could this truly be a day to celebrate? Or was it more a day to mourn? When they left the church and got into the carriage, he watched as she began to cry. He just sat there silently before pulling her into a hug, sighing. “It is okay, Miss Evelyn. We shall be alright.” He would whisper into her hair, kissing her head gently in a way that someone would comfort their friend. When they arrived at their house, Evelyn immediately left him to busy herself with getting undressed, and Richard was left alone in the foyer.Richard would go to his quarters and sit down, allowing himself to get undressed. It felt like a few hours later when Evelyn walked into the room and climbed into their supposedly shared bed. She didn’t say anything and just curled up. Richard sighed and lay down as well, closing his eyes and crossing his arms.
Of course, it didn’t take long for Evelyn to shoot up in bed and stare at him with a huff. “You need to go to the other bedroom.” She would say firmly, crossing her arms. “But, must I ask why?” He hummed, still half asleep. “You are taking up the entire bed, and your feet are cold, and you're taking up the blankets. So, I will not ask again.” Richard would laugh and turn around to face her, propping himself on his elbow and grinning. “Is that truly a way to speak to your husband, Mrs. Sterling?” He jested, which earned an annoyed look from her. He laughed and took her hand. “Of course. Allow me to leave.” He nodded and got up, grabbing his robe and bowing to her. Evelyn would scoff before smiling and lying back down. “Go.” She would say firmly, before curling up. Richard chuckled and walked off to the bedroom that had belonged to her. He supposed that his bed was more comfortable, but he wouldn’t be sure until he lay down. He would stare up at the ceiling, his hands resting on his stomach as he sighed. Would this plan truly work?