Well this is the penultimate chapter. I actually don’t like this chapter much but I thought I’d better finish it off for my one reader *thanks Kate* Hay xxx

Convening over the last few days her feelings and thoughts towards the very near future, they just seemed to jumble around her mind as living in the Manor seemed only to become more constricted. Had she not been out of the house all week, she was kept inside with either Abigail or Anton, like they were watching her guard like some erratic prisoner. She felt swamped with emotion, stress that she couldn’t let go of and everytime she went to step outside, someone was lurking in her shadow.

The affection she had been receiving from Anton, the small little gifts and pleasing gestures were all lovely for her; the honourable smile, adoring attitude, gentle touch, she couldn’t ask for more except a little bit of space. Anton didn’t trust her; Louise knew that, so how on Earth could she even go into a relationship if this was an issue? Without trust there was no means of a relationship, and without a relationship there was only freedom, so why didn’t Louise have it?

Strolling in, the sun of that morning making an appearance, a ray of hope tried emitting itself through her window, only to be repelled out by the cloud taking over her face. This was the morning she had been dreading. This was the morning she couldn’t put off. This was the morning that was here now.

Swiping the covers off to reveal her bare legs, she shuddered at the cold and the realisation of what was ahead of her. Opening the wardrobe door and staring groggily at the discourteous dress that she would be forced to wear, she closed it abruptly after, wishing she’d never woken up. Today wasn’t going to be pleasant, but when in the Aphex Manor, nothing ever was.

"Oh Louise! You are awake! I am so glad! We can get started immediately now Anton has gone." Abigail chuckled, bursting in through that morning, already sending out the orders. "Come along Christie! It is your job to make sure Louise is looking good too."

"Good morning Louise." Christie smiled weakly while Louise looked on, a little dazed.

This wasn’t happening to her, she told herself. Just a dream was all she kept playing through her mind, a dream that she couldn’t wake up from, a nightmare. It was merely a world where she was sleeping, a world where things were happening beyond her control, because in real life she never anticipated this and in real life she wouldn’t stand for it.

"Louise! Stop dreaming. Chop chop! In the shower, now. We have to be at the church in a few hours time." Abigail told, hauling at the wardrobe door and tugging at the white, delectation.

Trailing slowly in, becoming a robot rather than a person, she closed the door behind her slowly facing her back against it. Sighing, she wiped away the loose tear before stepping in the shower and letting the cool water try and take away her angst. There was no way out now, not with Abigail present.

Emerging with a bathrobe wrapped around her, she towel dried her hair on the way out, confronting just Christie on her way.

"Where’s Abigail?" Louise whispered.

"Don’t worry. She’s gone downstairs to sort something quick out and I’ve been left here to do your hair." Christie smiled.

"Oh thank god." Louise cheered almost, dropping the towel.

"Lou, are you sure you wanna be doing this?" She asked as Louise sat down on the stool. "I mean, over the last few days I’ve not seen you smile once. You’re obviously not happy."

"Well that doesn’t matter." Louise lied. "I’m marrying Anton and that’s that."

"But you don’t want to. Why are you? Louise, you can’t go on like this!"

"Well what else have I got? I have nothing else!" Louise cried. "Mark took that money, he didn’t want me and no matter how much I just wanna be back there with him, I know its not gonna happen!" She exclaimed. "He made his choice and now I have to make mine…"

"Louise, you know it’s not like that. You know-"

"Know what, Christie dear?" Abigail asked, trotting back in through the door. "What is there to know?"

"Oh, I erm… Louise was just wondering how she was going to wear her hair. She wanted to er… know…" Christie babbled.

"Well Louise, I thought you knew." Abigail sighed. "Come on, we have to be prepared for this wedding if we want to make it the best!" She encouraged.

"Yes… well I… I just wanted to make sure." Louise said dryly but Abigail still soaking it up.

"Hurry along then Christie. We haven’t got all day! We have a wedding to get to, arrange." Abigail beamed. "Oh, I am so excited about this whole thing! It makes me think of my wedding day to my Arthur. It was just perfect." She relished. "You will very soon be officially part of this family. How wonderful!"

Looking to the mirror for help, it just bounced back that frown, the gloom that wouldn’t allow any light to beam back. Mirrors had always been around the Manor, so why was it only now they were reciprocating the truth?

Pinned back, pulling taught like the restraint about to go on her life, she carefully zipped up the back of the dress as best as she could, letting it pull tight around her body. Glancing over her figure before gazing into the mirror, she felt the tears well up wanting to stain the harsh white as it stung her eyes so sorely. This was so pure, innocent, virtuous, whereas she felt alienated wearing it, destroying it, spoiling it. She wasn’t ready to get married; the black shreds she saw being ripped in the dress were telling her so, but no strong arms could pull her out. Black gashes were in the dress and black tears wanted to fall, but even this ounce of depravity wasn’t enough to extract that determination; loneliness looked far worse.

"Louise dear! Are you ready? Come along! The car is waiting." Abigail called in through the door.

"Yeah… I- I am just… coming…" Louise announced, shedding away the last of those tears.

Smoothing her hands down the bodice of the dress, running her fingers over the sparkling intricate detail, she reached the lacy bottom, its soft, faint touch like clouds, dreams. Rising above the dreams and gazing up at the ceiling, she felt it want to cave in under her, trap her as the future looked only to do so. Marriage was a step forward, a leap in love, but what if you weren’t? What if your vows were taken under circumstances, rather then feeling?

"Louise! Come on! They are waiting!" Abigail shouted, her impatience acting.

Heaving everything she had with her, sauntering slowly, she turned the handle before being faced with the sun of all sun’s; the smile she couldn’t crush.

"Oh Louise… Louise…" Abigail said, amazed as she brought her hands together. "Anton will be blown away."

Smiling perfidiously, Louise glanced down where Abigail’s face brought back her attention.

"We best go, come on." Abigail smiled. "Be careful when you go down those stairs. Christie, Christie, you help her."

Following behind, holding the veil carefully, she trailed in Louise’s footsteps as her heart thundered along the hall. Not only were nerves taking control, but so was her true self, each battling away, wanting to win. Yet in this contest, there was no winner: Anton wouldn’t be getting his faithful, in love fiancé, and Louise wouldn’t be getting the happiness and love she strived for.

Reaching the door, her bouquet of flowers being handed to her, she smiled graciously as Abigail stomped proudly to the car. Turning to face Christie, she forged looking happy, hoping to assure the one person she knew she couldn’t lie to.

"You don’t have to do this Louise," Christie whispered.

"Yes I do," Louise answered quietly before leaving the manor, as she knew it, single.

Preparing the small table in the hallway, tidying up and moving tiny necessities, the dread that was building up inside as she thought about concise moments made her feel sick. Louise was making the biggest mistake of her life, and not even she had the courage to stop it.

Knocking loudly at the door, that nausea feeling jumping straight back down in horror at someone knowing the feelings she had, she wandered warily over, a little unsure of whom to expect. Had Louise came back?

"I know I shouldn’t be calling but I need to know w-"

"Mark?" Christie said to herself, opening the door. "Mark!"

"Do I know you…?" Mark asked slowly, a little confused as three other guys stood around him.

"I’m Christie! Louise’s maid… friend! Oh my god! You have to go! Now!" Christie shouted, joy escaping through her words.

"What? No! I can’t! Not until I see Louise! I have to t-"

"Mark she needs you! You have to go! To the church! Now!" Christie instructed.

"Church? What? Why?" Mark questioned.

"It’s Louise! She’s going to marry Anton! You have to go quick! She doesn’t want to! I know she doesn’t but she thinks she hasn’t got a choice! Mark! Go!" Christie ordered.

"Oh my god… I… we have to go! What church? Where?" Mark frantically asked, not knowing where to look.

"I’ll come with you," Christie invited. "Come on!"