‘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 wasflirtingflirting. 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.
‘One is as a mark of respect to Teddy’s crew, who died on the mountain,’ Bobby whispered back. ‘And the other is for his family in Poland. It’s where his parents and sisters would be seated if they were here.’
