‘At the doctor’s,’ Bobby said, as quietly as possible. ‘But everything’s fine. It was a storm in a teacup in the end. Just my silly brain getting worked up over nothing.’ Bobby pressed her sister’s hand. ‘Charlie and I are going to have something to announce at dinner though. Be ready, all right?’
‘You’re announcing it today?’
‘Yes. It’s time.’
A hush fell on the congregation as the organ began to play.
Bobby glanced around the Wesleyan chapel. It was significantly smaller than St Peter’s, the Anglican church, but quite a crowd had been packed in. The Jessops were a large clan and half the pews were taken up with Andy’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His second wife Ginny was there as well, of course, damp-eyed as she waited for her step-granddaughter to appear.
Topsy had naturally been invited – she always did receive an invitation to village weddings, as lady of the manor. She was sitting with Jolka and Mrs Hobbes. Teddy, whose wheelchair would struggle to fit into the small space, was at home enjoying a visit from Piotr and young Tommy.
The chapel quickly became so crowded that it was standing room only. Gil was well-liked in Silverdale, his job as postman bringing him a wide circle of friends. The groom was grinning in a dazed manner by the altar, as if he still couldn’t believe his luck.
Ernie and Sandy, both fleeting objects of Mabs Jessop’s affection, had been invited too. Bobby caught Ernie’s eye and smiled. She hoped he would understand what this meant – that all was OK with the baby after all. He smiled back. Bobby vowed to seek him out during the reception, and speak to him about what she and Charlie had discussed.
It was a simple wedding, but emotional. The recent death of Andy seemed to hover over the event.
Mabs sounded choked as she said her vows. It was clear she had developed a real love for the man she was marrying. Gil beamed like a man whose horse had come in at a hundred toone, leaving no one in doubt that this was the happiest day of his life.
After the service, everyone proceeded to the church hall by St Peter’s for a lunch of ham sandwiches and lemonade. The hall belonged to the Anglicans, but they didn’t begrudge a loan to any local Methodists with a wedding, christening or funeral to observe.
‘We’d better not stay long,’ Mary whispered to Bobby after they’d congratulated the new Mr and Mrs Capstick. ‘I’ve the roast to get on. I did suggest to the childer we might have a light supper, since they’d be filling their tummies with jelly and blancmange this afternoon, but they wouldn’t hear of missing Sunday dinner. Honestly, you’d have thought I was suggesting starving them to death.’
‘I’m on their side. Best meal of the week,’ Bobby said. ‘Besides, it’s nice to have the family together on Sundays.’
‘Aye, there is that.’ Mary smiled. ‘I remember when family meant only me, Reg and young Charlie, when he deigned to give us his company. Now the kitchen barely holds us all. Everything seemed to change when I talked my Reg into taking on some city lass who turned up sobbing and covered in coal dust one afternoon.’
Bobby smiled too. ‘I imagine you’re sorry you ever persuaded him.’
‘I’d love to tease you, Bobby, but that’s a fib too big,’ Mary said, giving her a squeeze.
Bobby flinched at the arm around her well-rounded abdomen, but Mary didn’t seem to notice anything amiss. Her gaze had drifted to Jess and Florrie, who had skipped the sandwiches and were queuing with hungry expressions for the sweet things.
While Gil and Mabs’s wedding feast couldn’t compare with the spread when Topsy had married Teddy the year before, they had still done themselves proud. Silverdale folk were alwaysgenerous when a couple were to be wed. There was even a cake: small but rich-looking, with real sugar icing.
‘Where on earth did they get that?’ Bobby asked Mary.
‘I think it was Topsy’s present. As for the sweet things, they’ll have come from the two Canadians, I expect. Their rations seem a mite more generous than we civilians get.’ Mary shook her head at Jess trying to fit a whole jam tart into her mouth. ‘All this and she still wants a dinner. I’d better make sure they don’t wolf down their food. Their father’s obviously too busy with his lady friend to keep an eye on them.’ She bustled off.
There was still that note of disapproval when Mary regarded the captain and Miss Simpson, who was his guest for the reception. Bobby had wondered if her friend might warm to the woman now she had shown herself to be a steady sort, but apparently not.
She was as keen as Mary to make this a short stay. She wouldn’t be able to relax until she and Charlie had broken their news to the family. As long as they were all here, there was a risk that someone would let the secret slip. Bobby knew she could trust Jolka and Ernie, but a couple of the gossipy neighbours who had spotted her being driven around in the doctor’s car were also here.
There were a few people she wanted to speak to before leaving though. One of them, Ginny Jessop, was standing alone gazing out of the window. Bobby approached her.
‘How are you feeling, Mrs Jessop?’ she asked gently, resting a hand on the old lady’s shoulder.
‘Oh. Miss Bancroft.’ Ginny pulled her eyes from the window. ‘I’m sorry, I must’ve been away wi’ t’ fairies.’ She shook her head impatiently. ‘Miss Bancroft, now what am I on about? It’s Mrs Atherton, isn’t it? How long is it you’ll be married now?’
‘Coming up to nine months.’
‘As long as that already!’ Ginny’s gaze drifted to the window again, which looked out on the fells rising up into a steely Dales sky. ‘Time does seem to run faster the older you get,’ she said dreamily.
‘How are you feeling?’ Bobby repeated. ‘It must be an emotional day for you.’
‘It is.’ Ginny smiled in Mabs’s direction. The young bride was holding her husband’s hand and beaming as she received the hearty congratulations of their many friends. ‘But a proud one. Andy would be proud enough to burst if he were here. He had a soft spot for that little lass out of all on ’em, wayward as she could be.’
‘I’m sure he is here.’
