Free to put her arms around him, free to do what she’d only ever dreamed of doing all these years, she found herself rooted to the spot.
A lump caught in her throat.
Could this truly be happening to her? Had she been so downtrodden that she could barely acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, a little joy might make itself into her hard, cautious and neverendingly patient world?
Angus was the first to speak. ‘I got your letter, and I-I hope you don’t mind that I came.’
His eyes, tentative and yet warm, gazed into hers and seemed to reach down, deep down into her heart. That long lost feeling of love wound back through her, like a warm golden beam relighting the arteries, beating down the cobwebs that had built up over the years, bringing back to life parts of her that had been given up for dead.
Her breathing shallow and fast, she said, ‘I can’t believe you’re here.’
Tentatively, he reached his hand towards hers, and the moment he touched her, the sheer heat of him flowed through her. ‘I couldn’t wait to see you.’
As tears came to her eyes, she said, ‘It’s the same for me.’
Angus pulled her aside, and they began to walk down a quiet lane where they could have some privacy.
There, he stopped and took her hands in his. ‘I wondered whether you hadn’t told me to come because you didn’t want to see me.’
She shook her head. ‘I needed time to myself, to settle us both into Betty’s house, to start divorce proceedings with Frank. You see, I didn’t want my leaving him to have anything to do with you – it’s not, you see. It’s about me.’ She paused to collect her thoughts. ‘I found out the extent that Frank’s been taking advantage of me, and I’ve been putting up with it because of a misplaced loyalty. I fell into the trap of being loyal and generous, grateful, when I should have seen that he was manipulating me, always reminding me of what I owed him.’
She took a deep breath and then carried on. ‘Then I had my new job as an assistant dresser, a position I’ve always wanted. Yet once I was there, all I could think of was how my life was draining away from me, that I was putting up with life rather than living it. Even though it was the best job going, with more money, too, it wasn’t enough to solve my problems.’ Then her face lit up, and with a small laugh she said, ‘And then there was Miranda, springing onto the scene with her new ways and modern ideas about women being independent. When I met you again, it shifted my entire past around – instead of being abandoned, I felt loved and capable of love.’
He took her hands in his and pressed them gently. ‘If only I’d have known. I can’t believe you ever were made to feel unloved.’
She sighed. ‘At least it’s over now. Once I realized Frank’s true colours, I knew I had to fight to get me and Annabel away from him.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I deserve more than Frank, and I need more than a good job in the palace. I need my freedom.’
‘What are you going to do next?’ he said carefully.
‘Once my divorce has come through, Annabel and I will be free to move to the countryside, back to where I belong, with nature and animals and fresh air. I need to go back to my roots in order to know where to go forward.’
He squeezed her hands reassuringly. ‘Come and live with me, Caroline. You know how I feel. You’re the only woman I have ever loved – will ever love. And now that I know you have my daughter, I want you to be part of my life. We can be the family that was always meant to be.’
She stood speechless as he sank down onto one knee, his pressure on her hand warm and firm.
As his smile met hers, inside she felt an eruption of joy, taking her back to another time, another place. ‘Dearest Caroline, when I asked you this question fourteen years ago, you said you had to wait until your father could conduct the ceremony. I have never regretted anything more than the way I stood by and let that happen.’ He brought out a familiar blue ring box. ‘Please, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
As it had so many years before, a tidal wave of emotion crashed through her, only this time it was greater, washing away the debris, clearing her head as it began to spin. ‘Oh yes, Angus! Yes yes yes! Of course I’ll marry you!’
He stood up, and slowly, carefully, their lips met. The kiss she’d never allowed herself to imagine was like a heady whirl, starting softly and slowly, but soon cascading into a full embrace as he pulled her against him, his hold so firm that he would never let her go.
EPILOGUE
...
CAMDEN TOWN HALL,LONDON
November 1953
THE FRIENDS WERE ALL BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.AFTER THEmonths that Miranda had been away, there were Betty, Lucy and Hilda, laughing as they took their seats, and Shirley was there, too, she and Vernon slipping into the row behind. ‘What a wonderful day! Who’d have thought it, that they’d get married so soon.’
‘They had to wait for Caroline’s divorce, although it was easier than she’d imagined. All she wanted to keep from her last marriage was Annabel, and Frank gave her up in the end.’ Betty patted her hands together in silent gratitude.
The registrar and his assistants took their places at the front, and the small gathering hushed as they waited for the ceremony to begin.
‘Has Caroline already given up her job?’ Miranda whispered to Lucy.
‘As soon as her divorce was finalized, she handed in her notice. Everyone in the palace was shocked, as you can imagine, but Caroline said that the queen was lovely about it. Even though she isn’t a fan of divorce, she acknowledges that it has its uses. She offered Caroline a position in Balmoral, since she and Annabel plan to move there.’
