Gilly didn’t want William to make a speech just yet and she was glad to be presented with a plate of delicious food by Jago. It put off the moment when, basically, she had to give up hope. Although she couldn’t really eat the food, she played around with it.
She had just put a pepper stuffed with goats cheese, and, it transpired, a bit of chilli, into her mouth when she saw some movement by the entrance of the marquee.
It was Martin, Cressida and Ismene. Martin was wearing a suit, Cressida was wearing a very body-con gun-metal dress with a fascinator to match and Gilly’s only granddaughter was dressed in the kind of smocked dress Gilly would have refused to wearwhenshewas a child. She thought her heart would overflow with happiness. Issi waved at her. Gilly waved back.
Martin and Cressida made their way across the marquee, through the people who still hadn’t sat down with their plates of food.
‘Sorry we’re late, Mum,’ said Martin. ‘There was a lot of traffic.’ He only met her eyes for a second or two but that was enough. He was here. Gilly swallowed back tears of joy.
‘That top looks lovely on you,’ said Cressida. ‘It brings out the colour of your eyes.’
‘You look lovely too,’ said Gilly. ‘But then you always do.’
‘Are there chocolate brownies, Gilly?’ asked her granddaughter.
‘Yes. I did them specially for you, but they’re in the kitchen. In the tin. I didn’t want everyone to have them.’
The little girl sighed. ‘Thank you. Mummy says I can eat whatever I like today.’
‘William,’ said Martin, with a nod.
‘Martin,’ said William.
‘We’d better find somewhere to sit,’ said Cressida, ‘and get something to eat.’
‘There are some lovely salads,’ said Gilly.
‘I know,’ said Cressida. She smiled, really quite warmly. It was like being smiled at by a glacier – a bit unnerving.
‘We can do the speeches now,’ said Gilly happily when she’d seen Martin and Cressida find seats. Issi had gone into the house, probably to find the chocolate brownies. Gilly had made them in the vain hope she would get to eat them. And now she was.
‘Will you go first?’ said William.
‘Are you making a speech, Mum?’ Helena sounded surprised.
Gilly hadn’t planned one before but now she got to her feet. ‘It’s my house, I should welcome our guests.’
William tinged a glass, the conversation died away.
‘Hello, everyone,’ she said. ‘I won’t keep you long. I just want to welcome you and thank you for coming. This party is just a bit of a celebration and it’s lovely to have you all here with us.’ She took a sip of champagne. ‘In case you’re wondering what we’re celebrating exactly, well – it’s that gliding has become my hobby.’ There were cheers from the gliding-club contingent. ‘As that may seem a bit surprising to most of you, as it was a surprise to me, we thought we should mark it with a party. Now I think William wants to say something.’
William got up. ‘Strangely, although I am delighted Gilly has taken to gliding, I think we’re here to celebrate something slightly different, although no less momentous.’
‘Did we go to the church service? I can’t remember,’ said one of William’s aunts.
‘William and Gilly are very modern,’ said Daphne in a stage whisper, ‘I don’t think they’re getting married.’
‘Oh, that’s very sad,’ said the first aunt. ‘I wouldn’t have worn a hat if I’d known. I bought it specially.’
William cleared his throat loudly. ‘Just to set your minds at rest, beloved aunts and honorary aunts, I do have a ring in my pocket …’
Gilly gasped. Somehow, with everything else she had on her mind, this hadn’t occurred to her.
‘Although I had intended to ask Gilly if she would do me the honour of becoming my wife in private.’ He leaned in and whispered in her ear. ‘I’m so sorry. Just say yes now for the sake of the aunts. I’ll get Daphne to explain later if you don’t want to marry me.’
‘It’s all right, William, I do want to marry you,’ Gilly whispered back, having just realised it was true.
Assuming Gilly’s answer had been positive the aunts began chanting, ‘Show the ring, show the ring.’
