Edward Forrest duly gave her to Richard and both bride and groom answered all the questions as though they were in another world. Too soon they were walking back up the aisle and it seemed to hit them only at that stage that they were married "for better or for worse".
There was not a large gathering, probably about fifty people. After all in the party were duly kissed and congratulated they all moved to the Bucks Head for luncheon, Ricky escorting Jenny to the new double seated buggy that he had bought for her. Joe, who took over from old Tom, was smartly dressed in fine new clothes and he proudly drove the married couple to the reception behind a lovely pair of grey horses.
There was a wonderful meal set out with food as only country folk can provide. With hams, beef and mutton from Rocklea and Claremont and all sorts of salad vegetables. Early peaches and apricots and every kind of sweetmeat one could think of. All very suitable for an Australian summer luncheon.
There were a few speeches, perhaps not really speeches but words that several of the men felt they must say. Toasts drunk and then while Jenny changed into travelling clothes people chatted happily for many had travelled far and saw friends only occasionally.
Jenny came out from changing amid much admiration and applause. She was dressed in a deep green. A silk dress with a coat of sturdier material of matching tones to protect her from the dust of the dirt roads. Her hat was much smaller than the bridal one and was anchored safely with a gauzy veil again of matching green.
Ricky handed her into the vehicle and climbed in beside her. They waved until they were out of sight of all their friends. Jenny looked at Ricky, and he to her, sharing a smile that almost said, "Well done. But now that's over let's get on with it."
After a few miles they came upon a man waiting in a sulky. Joe hailed him and pulled up. He hopped down and handed the reins to Ricky. "All right, Mr English? Will I leave you now?"
"Yes, Joe. All well, I can manage now. Thank you, you did your job well," said Ricky.
"Take care, Mr Rick, they are still pretty fresh, and are pulling a bit." Joe looked at Jenny. "Sorry, Mrs English," he said and then looked at Ricky, "Keep your mind on them, Mr Rick, we don't want to have any accidents."
"Stop fussing, Joe, you're as bad as old Tom. Believe you me I do not want any harm to come to Mrs English. I'll be very careful. Thanks again and goodbye."
Joe watched the buggy disappear from sight and climbed into the sulky. "Hope they're all right, Bill. I don't think Mr Rick is thinking of anything but his missus."
Ricky went on for a while and then pulled up again. "This is where I kiss my wife, young lady. I don't know how I have waited all this time." He performed the delightful task to their mutual enjoyment and set off again in a much freer frame of mind.
"How long will it take to get to Emu Plains, Rick?" asked Jenny.
"I don't know exactly but I want to drive as carefully as I can, but these fellows are wanting a gallop and are pulling my arms like mad. These roads are not the best but we'll get there, I promise you, well before dinner and in time to freshen up."
They were hot and dusty and very tired by the time they crossed the Nepean River and headed across Emu Plains to their friend's house. The Armitage's were in England and suggested that Ricky and Jenny spend their honeymoon there while they were away. The staff was in situ and were most welcoming to the young couple.
The housekeeper greeted them with a "Tch, tch, Mrs English, you are all dusty on your lovely clothes. Emmy can show you to your rooms and bring water for you to wash. I'll send up tea right away for I daresay you need it."
"Thank you, Mrs Bush, I think we do. We stopped and had some refreshment on the way but I really need hot tea."
Mrs Bush called to the men to bring up the trunks, called Emmy to show the guests their rooms and bustled off to get tea and everything else that was needed.
Their bedroom was huge and faced the lovely blue mountains. There was a lovely smell of orange blossom in the air and a cool breeze came in through the open window. Jenny leaned out of the window to catch the breeze and laughed gaily as Ricky came up behind her and put his arms around her.
"You are all mine, now, my darling, darling Jenny. Oh, I love you, I love you so much it jolly well hurts."
She turned round in his arms and put hers round his neck. "I love you, too, Mr Richard English and I am so happy that I could sing for absolute joy. Do you think anyone has ever loved as we do?" she laughed.
"I suppose so, but it is hard to believe," came the muffled reply as Ricky kissed his wife thoroughly.
They had an idyllic two weeks in that lovely place, often taking the buggy to have a picnic on the river bank. They gave up taking the greys on short runs for they were too frisky to want to wait for such dallying, but Ricky had the men take them for smart runs to keep them from being too fresh on the way home.
They had decided to spend their first Christmas in their own home and so started the long 36 mile journey home early one morning before it became too hot.. They stopped at Parramatta for a long spell and lunch. Ricky had ordered a room so that Jenny could have a rest and freshen up. He expected to make the rest of the journey by the cool of the evening, but a cool change arrived early with some light showers and so the rest of the trip was made in comparative comfort. Nevertheless they were very pleased to get home.
As they pulled up Joe came to take the horses. "Everything all right, Mr English?
The horses go well?"
"Yes, everything is fine, Joe. They are very sweet goers, but very tired. It has been a long day but we took it slowly. Take them off and send our luggage up," said Ricky.
Ricky walked over to where Jenny was waiting and before the startled eyes of Mrs Breen, the new housekeeper, he swept her up into his arms and carried her into the house. Jenny laughed gaily and Mrs Breen joined in. "Welcome home, Mr and Mrs English," she said. "I hope you find everything to your liking."
"I'm sure we will," said Jenny between giggles. Then, looking around her noticed all the lovely flowers and the place looking so shining that it was startling. "Oh, Mrs Breen, the place looks lovely. Look at all the flowers. Look Ricky, aren't they beautiful?"
"They certainly are. Where did you get them all, Mrs Breen. Whose garden has been robbed?" he asked.
"Well, I had bought plenty myself Mr Rick, but that Edie Keen turned up with armloads. As though I wouldn't have enough," she said, and laughed. "I am sure she thinks I can't look after you both well enough. I told her to go home and look after her Mr Will and Mr Tad's family. I must admit, ma'am, she has been a great help though and was quite pleased with the result of our efforts."
"It's just as well you are friends," said Jenny, "for we might have had a battle on our hands."
"Yes, I am sure she would have tried to run both houses if she hadn't been able to persuade me to come. Even now she keeps a close watch over all I do."
"Come on Jenny, let's go up. You must have a rest before dinner and you must be very tired. Tea, I think, in our room, please, Mrs Breen"
"I'll send it right up, sir."
"I daresay we'll have to come down to earth Jen, now that we are home," said Rick as they walked upstairs. " I wonder how Will's romance is going. Not as good as ours." He squeezed her waist a little.
"Well, not yet, Ricky. But if I know anything about Dimity it soon will be. She is very taken with him. I could see that when they first met."
"Could you, love? All I could see that night was you," said Ricky. "I must admit that Will was furthest from my mind."
"And so it should have been, sir, on the night of our engagement." With that she flicked his tie and ran upstairs before he could catch her.
Will was filled with a great deal of apprehension as he rang the door bell of the Roger house. But he was received with courtesy by the stiff footman. He was surprised that he was shown in to the study. And further surprised when he found Dimity's father looking as friendly as he had been before he knew Will's intentions. This made Will fe
el a little more confident and he greeted him with careful courtesy.
"I have called you in here, Mr English, before the other guests arrive to speak to you about the situation we find ourselves in. I have asked you to dine with us only because we have considered that you may have the opportunity of social intercourse with us and to speak with our daughter in our presence." Roger said, pompously.
"Thank you, sir, you are most kind," said poor Will.
"I expect you to keep to that and not ask our daughter to meet you elsewhere. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, indeed, sir," said Will. "You may trust me to treat Miss Roger with the utmost respect, and I appreciate your kindness in allowing me to come tonight."
"Very well, then, see that I find no fault in your behaviour," was the curt reply.
Will began to boil inside his tight collar but kept a tight rein on his feelings. He was not used to being spoken to like this but tried to think of the end goal and not this silly little man's opinion of him.
Mr Roger then led him to the sitting room where two other guests were there with Mrs Roger. She greeted him coldly but politely and he moved to the couple, Ben and Isabel Grant whom he knew quite well. Soon four others joined the party and then Miss Dimity made her entrance. She was dressed in lovely pale daffodil which suited her brownness very well. She was careful to greet each guest in the same way and throughout the evening was the perfect daughter of the house.
Will wondered whether he would ever get to know her at this rate but on the whole enjoyed the evening. His hosts unbent somewhat as the night progressed but he was careful to not let his top quality manners slip one little bit. He was very pleased that the guests were friends of his and Ricky and he wondered whether Dimity had a hand in their choosing, for he didn't think that any of them were particular friends of the Rogers, and this proved to be so for the Grants took him home in their carriage and told him as much.
Will needn't have worried for Dimity often came to see Amabel and so he was able to see her without her mother's watchful eye. He was careful to never give one moment's concern, but Dimity appeared to give him some slight encouragement and he was content. Amabel gave him more to be happy about for she confided to him that Dimity had told her that she had her parents well in hand and that all would turn out well.
Will dined at their home several times before Christmas wondering about their plans to go to England. There had been no further mention of it and the date had passed when they were due to leave, but he didn't feel he could ask and so decided to just trust to luck that they had changed their minds, which indeed they had. For Amabel was able to give him the news that they had put off their trip until well into the new year. He thought this was a good sign.
He was very pleased with Dimity, and so indeed was Amabel, for she had been concerned that Dimity would turn out to be a wily miss and wondered whether her fostering of the friendship was the right thing, but she was pleased to report to Tad that Dimity was being very well behaved and not trying to be anything but a sensible girl who wished to know a man better. She felt confident that the romance was a good thing.
Ricky and Jenny spent Christmas in their new home and asked Will to join them, but much to his pleasure the Rogers asked him to their home so he asked Ricky and Jenny to excuse him. Tad and Amabel and of course, Henry, spent the festive season with the Landons. So Ricky suggested to Jenny that they ask the Forrests to all come up and sample their skills in being hosts in their own home. Jenny was quite excited when they accepted and so planning for Christmas had to be enlarged quite a lot.
By the end of January Will found that the Rogers were relaxing in their vigilance of his friendship with Dimity and he began to feel that he was at last getting somewhere. One day he was waylaid by Roger and asked whether he was still of a mind about his precious girl.
"Yes, sir, I certainly am," came the ardent reply.
"Well," Roger said, "Mrs Roger and I plan to go ahead with our plans for England and as our daughter does not wish to accompany us we will now accept your suit, if that is agreeable to our daughter."
"Oh, sir. Thank you. Oh, I am overwhelmed, sir. Thank you." Will took his future father-in-law by the hand. "When may I speak, please, Mr Roger?"
"I believe she is in the sitting room, and you may go in."
Will tried not to hurry but bowed courteously and left with a broad smile on his face. He found his love, as her father had said, and she stood up, amazed at his presence, for she had apparently no knowledge of him being in the house.
"Mr English!" Dimity said with astonishment. "I had no idea you were here. I must tell Papa you are here."
"He knows, Miss Roger. I have already spoken to him, he gave me permission to come and speak with you."
Dimity looked up at him. "He did? Are you sure?" she asked.
"He certainly did and gave me permission to address you and ask you to be my wife. Oh, please Dimity, will you marry me, please? I want to more than anything."
Will took her in his arms and kissed her ardently and found that she was responding just as he had dreamed she would. "Will you, my darling girl? Please say you will."
"Yes, I do so want to. Oh-h-h." She put her face up to be kissed again and again.
After a respectable time Mr Roger made his appearance and found the couple sitting demurely, side by side, discussing wedding plans. "So you young things have decided to make a match of it?" he said.
Dimity flew to him. "Oh, papa, I am so happy. Thank you so much, I must tell Mama."
"She is coming down, pet. She won't be surprised, for we decided together that apparently only Mr English would make you happy, and we want our puss to be happy."
“Are you going to be content to leave her in my care, Mr Roger? If you do, I assure you I will take great care of her" said Will.
"Here is Mrs Roger now, we can all discuss it together. Come in, dear, these two young things are arranging dates. Come in and wish them happy."
Mrs Roger came in, tears streaming down her face, "Oh Dimity, I want you to be so happy, dear, but I can't bear to think of leaving you in this place."
"Cheer up, Mama. You may come back one day and you will find me a settled matron." Turning to her father she said, "Papa, do you really want to go? Please can't you stay? I am sure you will like it once you get used to it."
"Yes, sir, couldn't you stay?" put in Will. "I am sure Dimity will miss you a great deal and she will want to be near her mother so."
At this there was a fresh burst of weeping from Mrs Roger. "Dry those tears, dear for I have a plan," said the man. "I would suggest that the marriage takes place as soon as we can decently arrange it and then we go off to England, to return once my business is arranged, later in the year. How would that be?"
There were cries of approval from all three and so then they fell to making plans for these events. It was amazing how quickly the Rogers were willing to go along with Will's plans. He was so startled that it took him a while to sort out what he did want. He wondered what made such a change of heart in this couple and put it down to the iron will of his beloved, whom up until now showed very little signs of having such a one. Right in the back of his mind he wondered about this little brown lass of his and chuckled at the thought of the tussles he would have with her in the future, but in the way of youth, was sure he could handle whatever came.
It was a changed and happy Will who went home that day to tell Tad and then later Ricky what had befallen him. To tell them that his wedding day would be very soon and that he was the happiest man alive. Will's two brothers laughed and told him that they knew the feeling.
The wedding indeed, took place six weeks later when the weather was cooling a little. It was a very quiet affair for the Rogers did not have many friends, but the whole thing was done in the finest of styles for once they had made their mind up to accept Will then nothing was too good for him. Will, in fact, found their generosity embarrassing and found he had to put his foot down about accepting their larg
esse. This had amazed Mr Roger who told Will candidly that he did not expect refusal. "Will, my boy, I see more every day what a disservice I have done you over the months, for I thought you would wish to accept everything I could give you, and I might add that that is a considerable amount. But I find you reluctant to accept even the merest thing. I am gratified, but I wish you would accept."
"But sir, I would not have offered for Dimity if I hadn't felt I could support her. I may not be able to shower her with jewels and other such things, but if she truly loves me I am sure I can make her happy with what I can give her. I can support her well, sir, and I shall do so, even more, as time goes on."
"But, lad, will you not allow us to buy you a house?"
"No, thank you, sir. We will be happy in the house I am providing. Both my brothers have their own and the house we have been very happy in will suit us for some time to come."
"But isn't one brother still living there with his family?"
"Yes, at the moment he is, but will be moving in to his new home very soon and this will allow us to have the whole house to ourselves. Mrs Keen, the housekeeper and staff will remain with us and look after our needs very well."
"Well, if Dimity is happy with the arrangements then we will have to accept that, my boy. We will speak about this again when we return from England."
Will and Dimity were married at St James Church. Dimity looking very sweet in a white velvet gown with a lovely matching bonnet. The reception, which was certainly in grand style, was held at the Royale. All sorts of exotic food had been procured from goodness knows where and the thirty or so guests felt it had been the most luxurious meal they had ever been asked to partake. The young couple spent their marriage holiday at Rocklea as Tad and Amabel had, for this lovely place spelt romance to all three couples, and Will could not think of a better place to take his bride.
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