“Stay with me, Philip.” It was as if the young had awoken her own longings.
“Are you sure? Are you ready? Are you strong enough?”
“I won’t know if I don’t try,” she said, almost in a whisper. He helped her undress, she showered as he sat in her chair by the window. Once she was in bed he had a hasty shower himself and then slid between the sheets to lie close to the woman he loved.
At first, they just held each other. The warmth and feel of his arms around her comforted and strengthened her. He felt her still fragile body but sensed her indomitable inner strength. They lay, almost drifting off to sleep, then, as they relaxed, their longings grew and finally, tenderly, he loved her as she had never been loved before. She responded to his every touch – her body seeming to come alive as if by the sensitivity of his lovemaking. Finally, they relaxed again, kissing each other in loving appreciation. He left her and returned to his own room. His head buzzing. Now is the time, he thought, to make marriage plans.
A week had passed. Liz was on Coco, Sparrow on Guinness and Philip on Black Beauty. Sparrow’s skills had come on apace and she longed to have Liz in the water swimming with the horses. The sand was still difficult for Liz to walk on, so the horses were the obvious way to the sea. It was pleasant in the early morning, the sun just rising as the three horses made their way slowly along the beach. No canters today – just a steady even pace before heading towards the sea.
This time it was Liz who screamed with delight as the water slowly moved up her body. Finally, she slipped into the sea and into Philip’s arms. Together they moved their legs to keep afloat and, her smile, Philip thought, if it could be bottled, was pure gold.
Sparrow swam around to see if all was well and felt she had interrupted a lovers’ idyll. They were so immersed in each other they seemed to have forgotten she was there too. She swam away and climbed on Guinness’s back heading slowly for the shore.
Liz didn’t need her anymore. She felt a pang of regret muted only by the knowledge that she had Aarav, but what was she to do with her life. She turned, Liz and Philip had remounted and were following her out of the sea, she sensed they were alone in their private world, and with her new confidence on horseback, pushed Guinness into a canter along the beach towards home, leaving the lovers on their own.
They talked about their wedding – Jack would be best man and Jamie would give the bride away. At least, Liz suggested, they should be asked if they would like to accept their proposed roles. Father Julian would take the ceremony. The guests would be limited to close family and local friends and staff. A marquee in the garden and an evening wedding. Aarav would arrange a superb banquet. It was all perfectly straightforward and Christmas would be the ideal time.
*
A Christmas wedding, Aarav and Sparrow thought, would be perfect. By then the alterations on the top floor would be completed. Aarav was a Christian so he wanted Father Julian to take the service. Aarav’s brother would be best man and just friends and staff would be invited. Sarah was to come over to be the bridesmaid. Yes a Christmas wedding would be perfect.
Later that evening, Sparrow asked Liz if she could talk to her privately. She began by saying she felt she was no longer needed in her nursing capacity at Villa O’Mal, but that she would try and find work at the local hospital. Meanwhile, she and Aarav wanted to get married at Christmas and she gave their reasons.
She was surprised and a bit taken aback when Liz laughed and clapped her hands in apparent glee. “It’s so funny,” she said, still laughing happily. “We, Sir Philip and I, have decided exactly the same thing. Why don’t we have a double wedding?” Liz spoke without thinking. What would Philip think? her mind was saying, while the smile on her face became a little fixed. “Oh Liz, that would be wonderful – I’m sure Aarav will agree.”
“Let’s talk to our men and let them decide to agree,” Liz suggested carefully. Sparrow nodded understandingly. “What a good idea,” she answered. So that is how it was left.
Surprisingly, both men agreed, so wedding plans were at the forefront of every conversation. Meanwhile, Sparrow visited the hospital and had been welcomed with open arms. The pay compared with her current salary was a joke but she lived free and Aarav had a good wage and the accommodation of course.
Sparrow was impressed with her bank account, for the first time she had been able to save and she felt confident that she would be able to have a beautiful wedding gown and purchase some new things for “the flat” as it was already being called.
As it was to be a joint wedding Aarav would not be doing the catering, but instead, Liz’s friends, the manager and his wife at the Taj Hotel, insisted the Taj would be honoured to do the catering.
Sarah had written to Sparrow, saying she would be thrilled to be the bridesmaid. Liz’s sister and agent were coming. Kathy also said she insisted on being a bridesmaid. Ronnie and Tim were on the moderate guest list and Jack and Jamie apparently couldn’t wait for Christmas. Jack had settled in well at Cambridge and Jamie would be leaving school before long.
Liz and Sparrow had numerous discussions and fittings with the tailor who had made Liz’s dresses for the embassy functions which seemed a lifetime away, and both women loved their own and each other’s choices. It was, after all, only two months away.
Invitations were sent out and, although the wedding was modest, Philip felt they should include one or two obligatory Foreign Office ones and, on the off chance, also sent one to Julia who was these days as much a friend as the Prime Minister. She had recently written to Philip requesting that he become a sort of roving Ambassador. Spending time in troubled spots – acting as a mediator to endeavour to prevent local situations of tension exploding into something more dangerous.
After some serious conversations with Liz, Philip decided to accept. He felt he needed the mental stimulation even though sometimes it would mean they would be apart. For her part, Liz thought it would provide her with the opportunity she needed to get on with her writing, which due to the accident had suffered somewhat of late.
Wedding gifts started to arrive and, after some serious debate, Liz and Philip decided on a generous cheque for Sparrow and Aarav, enough for them to buy their own home when, and if, they wanted to. As Liz said, they may well at some point have a family and the upstairs apartment would not be suitable in the long term.
Liz and Philip wanted for nothing, but the thoughtfulness of some of the gifts that came their way was touching. A new saddle and bridle for Black Beauty – who really lived up to his name these days. It was a gift from the management team at the Taj Hotel. The boys had clubbed together and commissioned Ashok to arrange for a beach shelter with chairs and table for when their father and Liz wanted to watch the sunsets and sunrises after they had ridden, or just to walk to at times for a peaceful “away from it all” venue.
Julia announced she was going “batty” trying to tie in attending their wedding with a visit to Pakistan to meet the new Premier.
Liz and Sparrow talked endlessly about fabrics and design and decided their dresses must complement each other. With very different figures their dresses would be personal to each of them but they decided they would both wear cream silk. The bridegrooms would wear lightweight dinner jackets and women guests would wear long summery gowns as there was to be dancing.
The boys arrived from England. Liz welcomed her soon to be sons with her usual affection and Philip, so relaxed these days, hugged them both warmly.
The wedding day finally arrived. The previous weeks had seen major changes to the top floor and now an attractive apartment with a luxuriously appointed kitchen and bathroom, a sitting/dining room and bedroom existed where once a series of rooms stood, for the most part unused.
To say that Sparrow and Aarav were surprised by the generosity of the cheque was an understatement and already Aarav was talking about building their own home in a few years, just as Liz had
surmised.
Liz was getting steadier on her feet, hardly ever using her wheelchair. She was nervous about the walk down the aisle but she would have Jamie to lean on and was determined to walk to where Philip would be waiting. Father Julian had talked to both couples at length about the service and it was decided to do it in two parts – Sparrow and Aarav getting married first, followed by Liz and Philip. This would mean a shorter time at the altar steps and also give each bride the personal pleasure of walking down the aisle alone.
The day dawned, Liz had breakfast in bed, brought by a beaming Anjali. The day was to be spent being pampered. Both brides were to have a massage, pedicure and manicure. Their hair would be washed and arranged, and finally at five p.m. the dresses would be put on.
The men, for their part, were banished and rightly decided to go their own ways. Philip, Ronnie, Tim and the boys went to the golf club. After nine holes, Philip used the gym and had a massage. Then he sat with his sons and the other two, talking, eating a light lunch and then, finally, being taken to the Taj hotel, where he had been assigned a room so that there was no risk in him bumping into his bride.
He finally met his sons at the bar for a quick drink before Jamie shot off with Ashok, who had come to collect him and take him back to Villa O’Mal. Liz, supported by Anjali, walked carefully down the stairs. Jamie, waiting for her at the foot of the stairs, whistled as he saw her. “Oh, you look wonderful,” he said, feeling very proud that he and Jack had helped to bring Liz into their father’s life.
Her shining black hair had grown back and it hung, as it always had, completely hiding the nearly faded scar. The cream dress skimmed her body – showing her slender frame. Several oleander flowers formed a small posy and, as she reached the foot of the stairs, Jamie leaned towards her and kissed her cheek. “Wow, Mother dear. I’d marry you myself if Dad would let me.”
“How nice,” said Liz with a happy smile.
The car, with Ashok driving carefully, trying hard to avoid the inevitable bumps, arrived only five minutes late at the church. Sparrow, already there and ready for her walk up the aisle, gave a relieved smile. “You are not going to believe it Liz – I was here early!”
“Are our men here?”
“Yes, bless them, looking a lot more nervous than us.” Liz sank gratefully into a chair that had been placed strategically for her use.
The music began and Sparrow walked slowly and gracefully down the aisle with Ronnie acting as her escort. The ceremony began and finished, and a beamingly happy Sparrow, now accompanied by a proud and happy-looking Aarav, walked back down the aisle to where Liz still sat.
Now, it was her turn. Jamie could feel her trembling. He squeezed the arm that was resting on his. “Come on Liz, you can do it.” Liz gave him a tremulous smile as the music began playing. Philip, waiting at the front of the church, watched a shade anxiously. She had walked this far and more, but today, with the added emotion, he felt his heart missed a beat knowing how hard she would be trying.
She walked slowly and carefully – looking ahead to the man she loved. He was willing her to walk to him. She couldn’t, she couldn’t – her legs began to weaken. Jamie felt her weight on his arm and released his arm so that he could put it around her waist. There was a pause, every eye seemed to be on her, willing her forward again. She took a deep breath, removed Jamie’s arm, and started to move forward again. There was a collective breath of relief from the congregation of guests as she arrived at the altar steps. Philip smiled, he loved her so much and felt so proud of her. He held out his hand and she took it, squeezing it as she did.
“I did it,” she said. “I am here to marry you at last.”
I do hope you have enjoyed reading my fourth book The Portuguese House.
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The Portuguese House Page 26