Chapter 27

George watched his son's carriage pull away from the house and trot down the road. He exhaled happily and continued to glare into the mirror.

'Come on George, there's no need to be so nervous chap. You have done this before.' He told himself. He clung tightly to his glass of whisky which was almost empty.

His eyes locked with his reflection in the mirror once again. The ability to think clearly escaped him and his tight grip on the expensive glass broke with no warning, causing it to slip from his grasp and clash on the floor. His bones suddenly turned frail and weak, he fell to his knees from the inability to stand. The only thing on his mind was pure fear and the upset he would cause if he didn't make it to his own wedding. His throat began to tighten and his desperation to breath became greater. He tried to call for help with everything he had but the only thing to escape his mouth were stale puffs of air. He began to lose the battle; his eyes could no longer stay open, not even for the love of Anne.

1 hour later...

'George? Are you in here? Anne is beside herself! She does not appreciate you being late like this and—' Mildred yelled aggressively. Her speech was cut short when she walked into the living room and saw that George was nothing but helpless.

'Heavens! What on Earth...' She screeched. She dashed over to him and checked his pulse, she felt nothing. She noticed the whisky glass that was on the floor next to him.

After pacing the room several times wondering what to do next, Mildred left the building. She ran down the street to the local hospital as fast as she could.

'Please, I need help! Go to the Winchester house, I think he's dead!' Mildred said trying to catch her breath. A few of the doctors ran out of the building and down to the Winchester house. She knew he was in good hands, her next thought was her best friend waiting at the church for the love of her life.

She got back into the carriage and told the driver to go back to the church as quickly as possible.

As soon as the carriage parked up, she burst through the church doors. Mildred went trotting in, trying to speed walk in her high heeled pumps. Everyone in the church turned around to look at her.

'Anne, oh Anne.' Mildred cried, Anne had never seen her quite so distressed.

'Mildred? What is it?' Anne asked.

'I'm sorry, I think he is dead!' Mildred called out, her bellowing echoing the whole church.

Anne felt her neatly put together bouquet of yellow and white roses drop viciously to the floor. She could not move, she could not blink. She was lost.

Mildred ran over to her and held her in her arms. The whole church gasped and began to gossip with a worried look on their faces.

'No. He cannot be dead, how is that possible? He was fine when I last saw him!' Anne cried, her words muddled and almost unrecognisable. Her feet could no longer support her and she was being held up by her best friend.

'I do not know what happened. I went in to see where he was and I found him there on the floor, unresponsive. I told the hospital, they are taking care of him.' Mildred explained.

'You just left him there alone? My poor love! He needs me! I have to go!' Anne said hysterically.

Wilma pushed passed the gossiping crowds to get to her distraught sister at the front of the church.

'Anne, listen to me. Forget about the wedding, these things can be rescheduled. We need to get you to the hospital, you need to know what is happening.' Wilma said with a panicked breath.

'His son. What about Sheldon? He needs to know!' Anne cried as Mildred began to guide her back down the church aisle.

'You must be careful in your condition, Anne. We will take care of everything that we can. Let us get you out of here.' Mildred said.

With Mildred and Wilma at either side, Anne was guided back to the carriage outside the church. People followed them out and watched as the carriage went back down the road. Some looked tearful, others looked surprised. Anne could not think of anything but whether George was dead or alive.

When they got to the hospital, Anne dragged her perfect wedding dress down the long corridors until she got to George's bedside.

'Are you a relation to this patient?' A doctor asked Anne as she approached his bed.

'Today is our wedding day, I was to become Mrs. Winchester but here he is, lying in hospital unable to look at me on what is supposed to be the happiest day of our lives.' Anne said through tearful eyes. The doctor gave her a flash of sympathy and looked away.

'I was the one who found him like this, will he live?' Mildred enquired.

'We do not know yet I am afraid. What I do know is that this man has suffered from an overdose of opium. Large amounts were found in his blood. If he does survive, he will be a very lucky man.' The doctor told them.

Anne fell backwards with shock, her sister and best friend managed to catch her before she crashed to the floor.

'He would not be selfish enough to take opium on our wedding day! He is against such things. How did this happen?' Anne asked.

'I am not sure, Miss. But we intend to find out. We are monitoring him by the hour.' The doctor responded. He then left George's bed and walked off down the corridor.

'Oh Anne. I do not know what to say. I am so terribly sorry that this has happened.' Wilma said, rubbing Anne's back gently.

'I am carrying this man's child and he will become my husband. He will get through this. I will make it my duty to find out who did this to him and they will pay. They will feel my wrath.' Anne said, revenge burning from her eyes.