Hold on to your Dreams

by Beryl Matthews

  After the introductions, Alex left at once with Mr Botha, and Gertrude faced her friends, who were grinning in delight. They pounced on her, wanting to hug and congratulate her.

  ‘Isn’t this exciting!’ Millie exclaimed. ‘Just wait till everyone hears the good news.’

  ‘Don’t say anything, please. Alex hasn’t asked my parents yet. It wouldn’t be right for them to find out before this evening.’

  ‘Of course,’ Millie agreed. ‘This must be done properly.’

  They all went their separate ways then. Gertrude had promised the children a visit to the Ocean Sprite, so that’s where they would go, even though her mind was in a whirl.

  Johnny was bouncing along, as happy as he could be. ‘May told Lord off for being away so long, and he promised not to do it again. He was surprised at how good she talks now, and we told him you’d been teaching her. He was ever so pleased.’

  And she was ecstatic. Alex had walked off the ship and asked her to marry him. It was like a dream come true.

  The welcome he had received on his return had been astonishing. After losing his family he’d felt like a piece of driftwood, floating around and alone, but now he had a larger family than he could ever have dreamt possible. He hadn’t intended to ask Gertie to marry him just yet. He’d planned to do it later when all the excitement had died down, but he’d taken one look at her, and it had just seemed the right time. David had been right when he’d said she had changed. He had fallen in love with a bright, intelligent girl, but on the dock and smiling at him was a woman. The harsh struggles of the past months had made her stronger and more confident, and given her a greater understanding of the realities of life. There was so much they could accomplish together. He wanted her for his wife more than ever, and couldn’t waste any more time. She’d accepted him with a simple yes, and that was the only word he’d wanted to hear. For the moment anyway. There were three more words he wanted her to say to him.

  He’d been delighted to find out that David and Miriam also planned to marry. A lot had happened while he’d been away, and as Fred wisely said, things have a habit of working out for the best.

  The trip to South Africa had been long and embarked upon with no more than a feeling that he needed to go. That was as close as he got to a reckless act, but it had been worth it. Edward and his friend now had the prospect of a decent future, and he was sure that would be welcomed by his family. Even Sutton, he suspected, would be relieved.

  For the rest of the day, he moved from task to task. The business of the South African property was dealt with first, and Mr Botha delivered to his daughter’s house. Then he went along to inspect the Ocean Sprite and talk to the men. The progress they had made was remarkable, and she was already beginning to show a glimpse of the majestic ship she used to be. He spent some time looking at the work going on, and praising the men, with a special word for Fred, who was working with enthusiasm, love and skill. Alex was very impressed.

  After that he went to David’s office, where there was work piled up for him to look through.

  Before going to see Gertie’s parents, he chose a ring from his mother’s collection, deciding on one set with emeralds and diamonds. He was sure she would like that. It had been his mother’s own engagement ring.

  ‘What time did Alex say he’d be here?’ Hanna asked her niece.

  ‘Around seven.’ Gertrude continued to fuss with the flower arrangement for the table. She couldn’t say anything about the proposal until he’d spoken with her parents, but her aunt clearly suspected something was happening.

  ‘Is David coming as well?’

  ‘No, he’s dining with the Chesters. Do you think the centre display is all right?’

  ‘It’s lovely, so do stop fiddling with it and tell me what’s going on. You’re far too nervous for this to be just a small dinner party.’

  ‘I—’ the sound of a carriage arriving outside put a stop to the conversation. Her aunt’s continued questions were wearing her down. ‘Ah, here he is.’

  She rushed to greet him, and as he bent to kiss her cheek, she whispered, ‘I haven’t told them. Mother and Father are in the sitting room. I’ll keep Aunt Hanna out here.’

  ‘Suspicious, is she?’

  ‘Very.’

  ‘Then I’d better see your parents at once.’ He turned and smiled. ‘Hello Hanna, you look stunning, as usual.’

  ‘And you’re looking pleased with yourself.’

  ‘I have a great deal to be happy about. Now, if you will excuse me, I have news for Gertie’s parents.’

  They watched him go into the sitting room and close the door firmly behind him.

  ‘Hmm, I wonder what news that could be?’

  Gertrude said nothing.

  Half an hour later, Sutton called them into the sitting room. Her father was smiling broadly and her mother was dabbing at her tears.

  ‘Well?’ Hanna demanded.

  ‘We have given our approval for Alex and Gertie to marry.’

  ‘That’s wonderful. And about time too! Congratulations.’ Hanna nodded her approval.

  Taking a small box from his pocket, Alex removed the ring and slipped it on Gertrude’s finger. ‘Ah, it fits perfectly.’

  ‘It’s beautiful.’ She gazed at it for a few moments, and then smiled up at him. ‘It reminds me of your eyes.’

  ‘I’m flattered,’ he laughed, slipping a hand around her shoulder and easing her closer.

  ‘And we have more good news.’ Florence’s tears had dried now and she was quite composed again. ‘Tell them, Alexander.’

  He then told them the whole story about his visit to South Africa, and by the time he’d finished, Gertrude was stunned. He’d gone all that way to help her brother!

  ‘You’ve given Edward hope for the future.’ Her voice was husky with emotion. ‘I do love you so much.’

  At that moment the dinner gong sounded, and during the meal, Florence was intent on making plans for the wedding. ‘You haven’t given us a date yet.’

  Before suggestions could be made, Alex said firmly, ‘The second week in September. I’m going to take Gertie away somewhere special for a honeymoon. The riding school opens in August, and we must be here for that.’

  ‘But that’s less than two months away.’ Florence was horrified. ‘We’ll never be able to arrange it in time.’

  ‘Yes we will.’ Hanna declared. ‘All we need to do is set our minds to it. Don’t you agree, Gertie?’

  ‘We’ll do it easily, Mother, don’t you worry.’ She was in complete agreement with Alex. ‘We don’t want to wait any longer.’

  ‘That’s settled then.’ Sutton raised his glass. ‘The second week in September it is.’

  They all drank to that.

  ‘Oh dear,’ Florence said, but still looked happy about the early wedding. ‘Who will you ask to attend you, Gertrude?’

  ‘I thought May, Johnny and Millie.’

  Florence looked very doubtful. ‘What do you think about that, Alexander?’

  His mouth twitched. ‘It should make for an interesting wedding. David will be my best man, so what about asking Miriam to be one of your attendants as well, darling?’

  ‘That would be lovely. Do you think she would?’

  ‘I’m sure she’d like that very much. That only leaves Fred. We must involve him as well, so he could help seat the guests in the church.’

  ‘Good.’ Hanna smiled encouragingly at Florence, who was still rather flustered. ‘The arrangements are under way already. I told you there’s nothing to worry about, Florence.’

  After dinner, Alex and Gertrude left the family in deep discussion about the plans for the wedding, and slipped away for a quiet moment together. It was a beautiful evening as they wandered through the garden.

  ‘Was going away part of your campaign?’ she asked. ‘Because it wasn’t necessary. I knew I loved you before you left.’

  ‘I did think it might help my cause if you missed me, but I also went to help your broth
er, and the soldier in me wanted to see what it was like out there.’ He turned her to face him. ‘But as soon as I saw you on the dock, I knew it was the right time to ask you to marry me.’

  She slipped her arms around him and held tight, remembering Fred and Millie’s words about holding on to your dreams. David’s had come true; she didn’t know what her brother wished for, but at least he now had a chance; and she knew Fred and Millie would keep their dream of living in the country alive.

  And when Alex kissed her she knew they had been right, because dreams can come true.

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  About the Author

  BERYL MATTHEWS was born in London but now lives in a small village in Hampshire. As a young girl her ambition was to become a professional singer, but the need to earn a wage drove her into an office, where she worked her way up from tea girl to credit controller. She grew up in a family who loved reading, and books have always been an important part of her life. She had always weaved stories in her head, but never written them down. After retiring she joined a Writers’ Circle in hopes of fulfilling her dream of becoming a published author. With her first book published at the age of seventy-one, she has since written sixteen novels.

  By Beryl Matthews

  Hold on to Your Dreams

  The Forgotten Family

  Battles Lost and Won

  Diamonds in the Dust

  A Flight of Golden Wings

  The Uncertain Years

  Copyright

  Allison & Busby Limited

  12 Fitzroy Mews

  London W1T 6DW

  allisonandbusby.com

  First published in Great Britain by Allison & Busby in 2009.

  This ebook edition published in Great Britain by Allison & Busby in 2015.

  Copyright © 2009 by BERYL MATTHEWS

  The moral right of the author is hereby asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All characters and events in this publication other than those clearly in the public domain are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent buyer.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  ISBN 978-0-7490-1828-3

  ALSO BY BERYL MATTHEWS