Chapter 199 Old Mr Ingrams Request

• Paul and I dragged ourselves back into the hall, the great pleasure of all in attendance bringing us into a sombre mood. The air was thick with fragrance, and the gentle cadence of laughter wafted through the atmosphere, creating an engaging ambience. As the drinks flowed, the laughter grew louder.
• Anne, in her jubilance, called me a radiant bride, beckoning me to come forward and throw the bouquet. As I stood up, Paul assisted me, carefully arranging my dress around me. "Aim for your cousin Martha; she could do with the help," he whispered in my hair, adding an element of playfulness.
• I had to send him away, noting him as a distraction. With the bouquet cradled in my hands, I started picking at the petals, my eyes inadvertently fixed on Martha. The single ladies, hopeful and eager, gathered, yet my newfound obsession with Martha made me think I saw a twinkle in her eyes.