‘It’s so sad that they won’t see him married. I don’t suppose they know it’s happening, do they?’
‘No. The poor man doesn’t know if they’re still in Poland, or even if they’re alive. I hope there can be a reunion one day.’
Lilian eased herself with difficulty into a pew beside Tony while Bobby took her place at the front next to the matron of honour, Mrs Hobbes.
‘Afternoon.’ She nodded to the goose on Mrs Hobbes’s lap. ‘And hello, Norman. You look dapper today.’
Norman was wearing a pale blue ribbon around his neck on which was threaded the wedding ring. He looked none too pleased about his role as page boy, but out of respect for the occasion he forewent his usual honk. His wife Jemima was unable to attend, as she kept watch over the couple’s first clutch of eggs.
Not long afterwards the groom arrived, being wheeled down the aisle by Piotr, the best man. Teddy was in a black morning suit and top hat which Bobby assumed had been loaned from among Topsy’s acquaintances, or possibly by Archie, the original groom. Piotr, of course, was in his RAF uniform. He winked at Bobby as he passed by, and she smiled back. It was nearly two months since she had last seen her friend, who had finished operational training and been placed on active service with an all-Polish bomber squadron. His wife Jolka was present too, sitting with their young son Tommy. The toddler looked to be in a petulant mood, and Jolka soothed and bounced him as she watched her husband proudly.
Bobby could see many of her friends in the congregation, now she took the time to look around: Anglicans, Catholics and Methodists alike coming together to celebrate the nuptials.
Chip and Sandy, Ernie’s Canadian comrades, sat near the front with some airmen from the hospital who were mobile enough to attend. These were to make up the guard of honour, and the convalescents had been given special permission to cast off their hospital blues and don service dress for the occasion. Little Gil Capstick was present too, blushing as he sat beside Mabs Jessop, who, according to popular rumour, he had long been sweet on. There was Louisa Clough, the postmistress, and her husband Wilfred. There was Stanley Henderson and Arthur Egerton, two men who had been part of the rescue party that had brought Teddy and Piotr down from Great Bowside. And—
Bobby squinted, then beamed with pleasure. Sitting near the back of the church were two people she hadn’t expected to see – another love story she had played a key part in, and one of the first friends she had made in Silverdale. It was Andy Jessop and his wife Ginny, smiling placidly as they held hands. Andy was well into his eighties, nearly blind now, and lived high up in the fells in his ancient farmhouse at Newby Top. It would never have occurred to Bobby he would be able to make it down to the village for the wedding, but whether by motorcycle or mule, he had managed it. She waved energetically at the elderly couple, and Ginny waved back before whispering to Andy to tell him who was there.
Everyone, it seemed, was smiling – everyone except the groom. He looked rather solemn as he regarded the empty pews dedicated to his absent family and fallen comrades. His expression kindled, however, as the organist struck up the wedding march and he prepared to receive his bride.
From where Bobby was seated, she could see only the unmarked side of Teddy’s face: not the one that had beenso badly burned the night his plane had crashed. He looked very handsome, with his golden curls, delicate features and the sensitive, almost poetic expression in his dark eye – the other had been left without sight as a result of his injuries. She felt a touch of pride as she watched him preparing to marry the woman he loved. Bobby had been a part of that. She had helped to save his life, and overcome the depression of spirits that had nearly persuaded him to walk away from Topsy forever.
She had few positive feelings associated with that night on the mountain: only horror at the sight of the bodies in the plane, and guilt that she hadn’t been able to save the men who had died up there. But now she would have this: the memory of Teddy’s face, glowing with happiness as his story finally got its happy ending.
All eyes turned to the door as the bride entered on the arm of her cousin Archie. He smiled placidly on the assembled company, seemingly happy enough at the change in places between himself and Teddy. The sun shone through the stained-glass windows, creating a carpet of coloured light to guide them to the pulpit.
Bobby suspected that her sister, seated a few rows behind her, would shed an envious tear at the sight of Topsy’s dress. It was a sumptuous dove-breasted cream silk, with a full skirt and a bodice panelled with lace – not at all old-fashioned thanks to Mrs Hobbes’s skill with a needle. There was no train, but a fine lace veil trimmed with a coronet of white hothouse roses fluttered behind the bride. A bouquet of the same flowers was clutched in her hands. Bobby felt quite star-struck, watching this beautiful stranger who was one of her closest friends, and almost blushed when the bride threw a smile her way.
‘Oh, isn’t she lovely?’ Bobby breathed to Mrs Hobbes. ‘Look at Teddy. He’s crying.’
Mrs Hobbes pursed her lips as she watched Topsy walk down the aisle, beaming and nodding at her guests on both sides. ‘NowI knew she’d do this. Time and again she’s been told to stay solemn and look straight ahead. And she would refuse to wear the veil down.’
‘It’s better like this. Look how happy everyone is.’
‘Yes,’ she said in a choked voice. ‘You’re right, Bobby. Let the young people do it their way. I’m sure it’s all the same to God.’
Bobby shuffled to look at Mrs Hobbes, who was smiling now even while tears trickled down her cheeks. Topsy had no memory of her real mother, who had died when she was a baby, so the eccentric nanny was the only one she had ever known.
‘How does it feel?’ Bobby whispered.
Mrs Hobbes sighed. ‘I do miss that little girl I raised, as mischievous and wayward as she could be. But I’m proud to know the woman she is. Never prouder than today.’
The music stopped when Archie and Topsy reached the pulpit. Archie kissed his cousin on the cheek and whispered a few words to her before taking his seat.
The vicar nodded to Bobby and Mrs Hobbes, who stood to flank Topsy while Piotr did the same at Teddy’s side. Norman was led up too. He glared at the vicar, to whom he seemed to have taken a dislike. Perhaps he thought the capacious white surplice indicated that this was a type of large gander, here to challenge his masculine authority.
‘Oh! Do wait,’ Topsy said, as the vicar opened his mouth to begin. The next moment she was hoisting her beautiful dress up so she could kneel on the cold flags level with Teddy.
‘That’s better,’ she said, beaming around the congregation. ‘It wouldn’t do to begin married life all unequal, would it? I want us to start as we mean to go on: facing life side by side.’
There was a ripple of laughter around the church, and a few dabbed eyes as well. Teddy looked moved, and reached out to press Topsy’s hand.
Bobby found she had little to do as maid of honour but stand beside her friend, and occasionally give Norman a cautionary nudge with her toe when he looked tempted to nibble on the vicar’s surplice. She was glad nothing more was demanded of her. Watching Teddy and Topsy say their vows, their faces filled with happiness and love, she found herself rather wobbly. For a worrying moment she even thought she might faint, but she managed to summon her strength. The emotion of the moment the lovers were joined very nearly overwhelmed her. She couldn’t help picturing herself standing where Topsy knelt, Charlie beside her as they promised before God to love and cherish one another, always. But would that picture ever become a reality?
Chapter 27
After the ceremony, the men of the RAF and RCAF held their sabres in an arch above the church door, looking no less gallant for the fact that a number of the wounded men were forced to support themselves with sticks. Topsy wheeled Teddy through as the happy couple, laughing and blushing, were showered with rice and hot pennies by cheering villagers.
It felt like everyone who hadn’t been at the ceremony had come out to cheer Mrs Tadeusz Nowak, formerly Lady Honoria Sumner-Walsh, into married life. Both bride and groom were well liked in the village. Silverdale took a lot of pride in ‘Her Ladyship’, as Bobby knew they would always refer to Topsy in spite of changes to her name and title, who was admired for her generosity, her willingness to muck in and her absence of condescending airs. Teddy, too, had been adopted by the village as one of their own since the night he had been carried down almost dead from Great Bowside. Bobby had never seen such a crowd, nor heard such a racket.
