Chapter 26
The sun shone as Athertons, Scotts and Parrys walked to the church to celebrate a coupling that, although it had been less than a year since the two people involved had first met, still felt too long in coming.
Tony walked with Reg and Rob, seemingly anxious to make a good impression as he chatted and cracked jokes.
Mary shepherded Florrie and Jessie, endeavouring to make sure they didn’t soil their best clothes by indulging in their favourite pastime of jumping in puddles.
Bobby, meanwhile, took the opportunity to have a little quiet conversation with her sister.
‘It’s strange, isn’t it?’ she said dreamily to Lilian.
‘What?’
‘Well, this. Ten months ago, I saw a plane crash into a mountain. When we found Teddy, he was so broken, his breathing so weak, I daren’t let myself believe he’d survive the night. And now I’m to be maid of honour on his wedding day.’
‘They’ve had quite the love story, those two, haven’t they?’ Lilian said with an appreciative sigh.
‘And with the best of endings. It looked shaky for a while. Teddy was so determined Topsy could have a better life without him. It feels odd to think she could have been marrying Archie today.’
‘Her cousin won’t be coming, I suppose.’
Bobby laughed. ‘What, didn’t I tell you? Archie’s to give her away.’
Lilian blinked. ‘You’re joking! After she ditched him?’
‘It was a little more complicated than that. Archie played his part as much as any of us in bringing them together. Anyhow, he’s thrilled for them.’
‘A true happily ever after,’ Lilian said, simpering. ‘Let’s hope you’ll get yours soon too, Bobby. 1942 seems to be the year for weddings.’
Bobby nudged her, nodding in Tony’s direction. ‘Speaking of which, how’s life for the newlyweds?’
Lilian smiled at her husband, who was now deep in conversation with Reg. He caught her eye and smiled a little bashfully back.
‘He’s really trying, bless him,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to count any chickens. It is early days still. But now we’re out of that awful suffocating house of his mother’s, it finally feels like we’ve got the chance to be happy.’ She coloured slightly. ‘He said he loved me last night.’
‘He’s said it before, hasn’t he?’
‘Yes, but this felt different. Before, I felt like he said it because he knew he ought to. But this time, when he was holding me and looking into my eyes the way men do in films… it felt real, Bobby.’
‘Did you say it back?’
‘Not yet. I couldn’t say it unless I was really sure I felt it. But if things keep on as they are… then soon, I hope.’ She smiled softly. ‘I never would have believed Tony Scott could be the one for me, but adversity makes for strange bedfellows, as they say – sometimes quite literally.’
‘I suppose it does.’
Lilian squeezed her sister’s arm. ‘I know you’re worrying about leaving, Bob, but you honestly don’t need to. We’re all in the best place for us.’
‘You’ll write, won’t you?’
‘Of course, every week.’
Bobby lowered her voice. ‘How did Dad pass the night?’
‘He asked for a drink after tea,’ Lilian said quietly. ‘I fetched it, obviously. I know it’s always worse if we try to keep it from him once he’s asked for it. Anyway, it at least knocked him out. There was some whimpering in the early morning, but I soon got him quiet.’
‘Did Tony hear?’
‘No, he slept through. I’ve tried to prepare him. It can only be a matter of time until Dad has one of his fits.’ Lilian sighed. ‘Dad’s still struggling with the pregnancy. He can hardly bear to look at me now I’m big.’
‘He’ll come around.’
‘I hope it’s soon, that’s all.’
Daffodils lined the path to the church, its stained-glass windows sparkling like precious gemstones in the sun.
Bobby could see the vicar at the door, greeting people as they arrived.
There were to be a small number of guests: mostly friends from the village and the airmen’s hospital at Sumner House.
Topsy’s grander acquaintances – friends of her father’s, the young people she knew from schooldays and the fashionable men who always seemed to hang around her – had been told that there was little room in the church, but they would be welcome in the church hall afterwards.
This was an excuse, of course, in deference to Teddy’s feelings. He had allowed his bride to do as she wished when it came to the reception, but had begged that the ceremony itself would be as intimate as possible.
‘I suppose I’ll be back here next month for your wedding,’ Lilian observed. ‘You might have to push the pews a little further apart for me by then.’
‘Assuming the WAAF approve my leave.’ Bobby sighed. ‘Lil, I’m worried.’
‘I told you, there’s no need. We’ll be all right.’
‘Not about you. It’s Charlie. I didn’t want to say anything to Mary, but it isn’t just this week I haven’t had a letter. It’s been over a fortnight. He never normally goes so long without writing.’
Lilian shrugged. ‘They’ll be caught in the post. How many times when I was in Greenwich have you had letters from weeks back arrive all at the same time?’
‘Well, a few, but—’
‘Letters from military do seem to get held up more frequently than civilian post. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.’
‘I hope not, but if Charlie’s letters to me have gone missing, why should one have turned up at Moorside? Surely if one gets lost on the way, they all should.’
‘Not necessarily.’
‘Still, I can’t help worrying. I wish I could speak to him. Perhaps it’s nothing, but I’d like to hear him tell me everything’s all right between us.’
Lilian raised an eyebrow. ‘Any reason it shouldn’t be?’
Bobby rubbed her cheek. ‘Not that I can think of.’
‘He hasn’t cooled off?’
‘Not at all. In fact he’s been fonder than ever, although he can have some dark moods these days.’ She paused. ‘I did wonder though…’
‘What?’
‘Something happened, Lil. Well, technically nothing happened, but it’s been on my mind. My conscience says I ought to tell Charlie, and yet it seems so unfair to give him another thing to worry about. I shouldn’t confess things that’ll upset him to ease my own selfish conscience, should I?’
‘Bobby, what are you gibbering about?’ Lilian asked. ‘You want to tell Charlie about a thing that didn’t happen?’
‘It sort of happened. It felt like it happened, but then afterwards it seemed so foolish that I persuaded myself it was nothing.’ Bobby took Lilian’s elbow to hold her back, lowering her voice. ‘There was something… something with Ernie King.’
‘No! That good-looking Canadian?’
‘Yes, him.’
‘I told you he had his eye on you, didn’t I?’
Bobby massaged her temples. ‘He can’t have. I mean, it’s just so unlikely. He’s got girls chasing him all over the place, and I was sure it was Topsy he wanted. Well, why wouldn’t he?’
‘What did he do? Get fresh? Did he kiss you?’
Bobby would have liked to have heard a little more sympathy in her sister’s tone, rather than the obvious relish for gossip. Still, Lilian took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
‘Nothing like that,’ Bobby said. ‘We slipped on the ice when we were walking home one night and I landed on top of him.’
‘You didn’t! Then what happened?’
‘Like I said: nothing. He was a gentleman, as always. Didn’t even touch me. But there was… a look.’
Lilian laughed. ‘You’re letting a guilty conscience eat you up over a look?’
‘I know, it’s silly. Still, it felt like it meant something at the time, and I was worried I might have encouraged him without realising it. I couldn’t believe he’d ever see me that way so I never told him off when he flirted.’
‘A little innocent flirting between friends is harmless,’ Lilian said with a shrug. ‘Good for the ego, when your young man isn’t around to pay you compliments. It’s hardly a torrid affair, Bobby.’
‘But I never meant to flirt back! I mean, Ernie talks that way to everyone,’ Bobby said, somewhat defensively. ‘I didn’t think it was flirting flirting. I thought he was just being courteous.’
‘Where is he now?’
‘Cambridge. They packed him off to be an instructor while he heals from an injury.’
‘And has he written to you? Taken any steps towards actual, unambiguous courting?’
‘No. Teddy’s his correspondent. Ernie asks after me, but he does that for all his friends in Silverdale.’
‘Then you’ve done everything right,’ Lilian said. ‘It sounds innocent enough, in spite of this so-called look. Nothing to get Charlie upset. I don’t think you ought to feel obliged to confess when there was no substance to it.’
‘That was what I thought, but then his letters stopped out of the blue. I was worried someone might have been whispering gossip in his ear.’
‘What gossip could there be? All right, so Ernie can be a flirt, but you said he does that with everyone.’
‘Yes, but gossip has a way of making mountains from molehills. If I only had a letter so I knew everything was still right between us…’
They were right by the church now. Lil patted Bobby’s arm.
‘It’ll be nothing,’ she said. ‘I’ll keep an eye on your post and send any letters straight to you at Ryland Moor, all right? I bet there’ll be three or four together next week.’
‘I hope you’re right.’ Bobby smiled at her, feeling marginally better, although she knew she wouldn’t feel fully reassured until she saw Charlie’s writing telling her once again that he loved her. ‘Thanks, Lil. I wish you were coming with me, so I’d have someone to talk me out of my barmy notions.’
The young vicar nodded as they reached the door of the church.
‘Good afternoon, ladies. We’re not having a bride and a groom’s side today, since the groom’s family are of course unable to attend, but the couple have asked that the two front left pews be kept empty.
Otherwise, please sit wherever you wish. ’
‘Um, I’m the maid of honour,’ Bobby said. ‘I think I’m supposed to sit somewhere special, aren’t I?’
‘Ah, yes. In that case, take a seat at the front on the right.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Why are the front left pews to be kept empty?’ Lilian whispered as they went in.