Brides of Penhally Bay - Vol 2

by Various Authors

  They drove across the moors again. Maddy wasn’t really interested in a new evening dress. She looked a mess, her head was half-shaved and covered in bandages. She couldn’t wear an evening dress looking like this. But Kate’s enthusiasm was infectious and so she decided she’d enjoy the trip out.

  Angie was tall, thin, serious and dedicated. She worked from the ground floor of a large house. There were lots of fabric samples on view, patterns and pictures on the wall. She looked at Kate with a critical eye and said, ‘You’ve got the perfect figure for a long dress. Just enough fullness, enough curves in the right places.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Maddy, wondering if she’d been complimented.

  ‘Have you any style in mind?’

  Maddy hadn’t. ‘I’m not sure,’ she said. Then, not wanting to disappoint anyone, she said, ‘I’m not quite myself, you know. But in general I like flowing lines and an absolute minimum of decoration. And not too low-cut.’

  ‘Hint but not state,’ Angie said approvingly. ‘Look at these patterns here.’

  It was fun, the three of them looking through the patterns. But eventually Maddy decided on one, and the other two agreed that it would be a perfect choice. It was simple but elegant. Maddy’s mood changed a little. She wanted to wear this dress.

  ‘Now fabric and colour,’ said Angie. ‘I’ve got some swatches here.’ She looked at Maddy’s face with the same considering expression and said, ‘You’ve an autumn colouring. Look at these shades, warm with a touch of darkness.’

  Maddy looked. And eventually she decided on a heavy bronze silk-linen mixture. Because it was a mixture there was a subtle change in colour as she moved. It matched her hazel eyes beautifully and would go well with her hair. When her hair was on show.

  She thought there had been times in the past when she would have loved this. But now wasn’t the time. It would be nice to have the dress, but when could she wear it? Who would be her partner?

  Now she had to stand in the middle of the floor with her arms outstretched as Angie took her measurements. It didn’t take long. Then Angie stood back with a satisfied expression and said, ‘That’s all I need for now. And I gather this is to be an express job? I’ll have it ready for fitting in a couple of days.’

  Maddy looked at her in bewilderment. ‘That fast? It usually takes weeks.’

  ‘Only if you hang about,’ said Angie.

  Maddy was getting better, and every day now she felt stronger. Ed phoned each night and they chatted about what he had done, how she was feeling. But he never asked her about her future plans and she never told him. He didn’t mention marriage again, and she didn’t bring up the subject either. Perhaps he had given up the idea completely. Had decided to accept what she said?

  That thought made her feel strangely unsettled.

  After two days she was called for by Kate and taken to Kate’s home. Another lovely cottage, but with the little extras that Maddy had thought that Ed’s cottage lacked. This was a home.

  Angie was waiting there. ‘Take your dress off and stand in the middle of the floor, please,’ she said.

  Maddy did as she was told, standing still as the bronze silk was carefully lowered over her head. Angie walked round her, pulled at a sleeve, adjusted the hang at the back. ‘Not bad,’ she muttered. ‘Just a bit of alteration.’ Like all dressmakers she put pins in her mouth then started to take in here, let out there. And then eventually Maddy was told, ‘Now you can turn and look at yourself.’

  Kate had brought a full-length mirror into the room. Maddy did as she was told. And she thought she looked wonderful. The dress was simple, elegant. It brought out her figure and enhanced her colouring. But the bandages on her head spoiled the overall effect.

  ‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Kate said. ‘Don’t. The bandages will go, your hair will grow again.’

  Maddy smiled ruefully. ‘I know. It’s a truly gorgeous dress and the cut is absolutely wonderful.’ She meant it. But she couldn’t sound too enthusiastic. When would she need an evening dress? Never in the foreseeable future.

  So the week passed and she continued to improve. Nick came in, said how pleased he was with her progress. But he didn’t mention his job offer again and she wondered why.

  The dressing on her head was now much less obvious and she could feel the faint itching that said that her hair was beginning to grow again. But she still felt a mess. Who could possibly fancy a woman with half her head shaved?

  She now went out every afternoon or evening with Kate. Although there was a difference in ages, they had become firm friends. She thought that working with Kate would be fun. But that would mean working with Ed. And she couldn’t do that. Not if they didn’t…And she hadn’t found a job she fancied either. What was she to do?

  Then it was the night before Ed was due to come back. She was both dreading and looking forward to seeing him. She had missed him so much! But she had also decided that Ed could not be held to a promise that he had made so thoughtlessly. What could she say to him?

  Kate picked her up later that evening. ‘Your dress has arrived,’ she said as they drove down into Penhally. ‘I’ve been desperate to see you in it, so we’ll have a fitting at once. Angie asked if she could have a photograph of you in it.’

  ‘Not with my hair like this,’ Maddy said.

  The car slowed, and Kate turned off the engine. Maddy peered out of the window and blinked. ‘This isn’t your house,’ she said, her voice rising. ‘It’s Ed’s cottage. What are we doing here?’

  ‘Slight chance of plan,’ Kate said briskly. ‘Not important. You’re still going to try the dress on. Now, out you get.’ She helped Maddy from the car.

  ‘But it’s Ed’s cottage!’ Then she noticed there was a light on inside. ‘Is Ed in there?’

  ‘Let’s go and find out.’ There was a conspiratorial smile on Kate’s face.

  Maddy was instantly suspicious. ‘I’m being set up here, aren’t I?’

  ‘I’m your friend, Maddy! No way would I set you up!’ Kate didn’t knock on the door, just pushed it open and then pushed Maddy into the cottage. ‘I forgot something,’ Kate went on. ‘I’ll have to fetch it. I’ll be back in a quarter of an hour.’ And she was gone.

  Maddy stood there and looked at Ed. He was dressed in a white T-shirt and dark blue chinos. She had missed him so much. She had spent most of the past week thinking about him, remembering him, visualising him and his body and his smile…Now she saw him and there was a slight shock. He was more wonderful than she had thought. She just couldn’t move.

  He came over to her, put his hands on her shoulders and drew her to him. Gently, tentatively, he kissed her on the lips. Maddy waited a moment. It was all she could do. Then she threw her arms round him, pulled him to her and gave him the kiss that she knew he wanted. And that she wanted to give.

  After ageless minutes they parted and he led her to the couch. He put his arm round her shoulder, she leaned against his chest. It was so warm and comfortable there! As if it was meant to be.

  ‘I should be angry with you,’ she mumbled, ‘angry with you and Kate. You tricked me. Right now I’m too happy to be angry but I might get angry later.’ Then she shook her head. ‘Why am I talking this rubbish? First, why are you back early?’

  He shrugged. ‘Tomorrow is the plenary session. That means that people talk, argue and get nothing except the pleasure of hearing their own voices. I decided I had much better things to do here. I didn’t want to spend an extra day without you so I came home.’

  He eased her head away from him, stared at her. ‘I want to look at you. You look so much better. How do you feel?’

  ‘I’m not fully well but I’m getting there.’ Then she had to be honest. ‘I’m better just for seeing you. But—’

  He held up his hand. ‘No need for buts. Just sit here with me and I’ll hold you and kiss you.’

  ‘Seems a good idea for now. But there will be buts.’ She didn’t know how it was possible. She felt both at peace wi
th the world and excited by it. Certainly she was happy. Later there might be the need to talk, to make decisions, to suffer even. But not yet. Surely she was entitled to a few minutes of worry-free happiness?

  It seemed a short quarter of an hour, but when a knock came at the door she glanced at the clock she saw that, in fact, it had been nearer half an hour.

  ‘Better let her in,’ said Ed, and stole one last kiss before going to the door.

  Kate came into the room, clutching a large purple paper bag. ‘Girl stuff,’ she said to Ed. ‘You wander off somewhere and wait. We’ll call you when we need you. Did you get a mirror, like I asked you?’

  He went to the side of the room, turned round a large sheet of wood propped against the wall. On the other side was a full-length mirror. ‘I took the door off my wardrobe,’ he said. ‘If you want anything, I’ll be in the kitchen.’

  ‘And don’t peek!’ Kate called after him.

  Getting the dress was very nice, Maddy supposed, and she had to try it on. But she’d rather just be with Ed. Still, a lot of time and work had gone into this. She pulled off the dress she was wearing and hoped Ed was not peeking. Her underwear was decidedly practical.

  Kate stood behind her. She put her arms over her head. There was a rustling sound and then the fabric slipped over her head and downwards. When the dress was sitting loosely on her shoulders she looked down in amazement. This was not the bronze silk she had ordered, tried on. This was a much lighter colour—ivory. What was happening? She felt Kate zip up the back, pull at the shoulders and waist. She heard her mumble that it really needed a slip—but for now it didn’t look too bad.

  There was a tremor in Kate’s voice. ‘Maddy, you can look at yourself now,’ she said. ‘Ed! Come on out.’

  Ed came out of the kitchen and Maddy stared at herself in the mirror. This wasn’t the bronze dress she had been measured and fitted for. This was an ivory dress in raw silk. She realised that it was exactly the same pattern as the bronze dress had been, and it fitted her just as well and it was just as…well, more beautiful. But this wasn’t an evening dress, it looked like a…‘This is a wedding dress!’ she burst out.

  ‘Well, so it is,’ said Kate. ‘How strange.’ She and Ed exchanged complicit glances.

  Maddy felt…What did she feel? A maelstrom of emotions.

  ‘You planned this between you!’ she cried. ‘You got me a wedding dress when I hadn’t asked for one.’

  ‘It wasn’t Kate, it was all me,’ said Ed quietly. ‘It’s all my fault. Kate had doubts—but I had hopes.’

  ‘You got me a wedding dress! By deception!’

  ‘True. Do you like it?’

  She didn’t know what to think, to feel. So in the end, after a long silence, she answered honestly, ‘I couldn’t think of anything more wonderful. If I was going to get married, that is.’

  ‘Ah,’ said Ed. ‘Well, now we have to have a little talk.’

  Maddy was still too dumbfounded to say anything. But from behind her she heard Kate say, ‘You know, I really want to stay here and listen. But reluctantly I’m going to go. Ed, you can take her back to the nursing-home later. Maddy, will you phone me some time tonight. Please?’

  It seemed the smallest of her problems but she said, ‘Who will help me out of this dress?’

  ‘I will,’ said Ed. ‘It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.’

  ‘No,’ Kate put in. ‘This is a woman’s job. Back into the kitchen for a moment.’ As she unzipped Maddy she said, ‘It works just as well in raw silk as in the other fabric, doesn’t it? And I knew you liked ivory because you said so when we were watching Rowenna’s wedding.’

  ‘What about the bronze dress?’

  ‘You’ve got that as well. For your next ball.’

  Maddy thought it odd but she felt reluctant to take off this glorious ivory dress and put back on her rather ordinary blue one. But she needed to feel ordinary for a while. Still, she looked sadly at Kate who was carefully packing the dress back in the purple bag. ‘Kate, I can’t cope with all this. I don’t know what I’m doing, whether to be blazing angry or tearfully happy. I just don’t know.’

  ‘That’s your problem now. I’m out of things.’ She kissed Maddy on the cheek. ‘Just one bit of advice that life has taught me. If you find the man that you need, grab him at once. And don’t forget my phone call. Bye!’ And she was gone.

  Ed came back into the room, carrying two mugs. ‘I occupied myself by making us tea,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t just stand still, I felt a bit…nervous about things.’

  ‘So you should. Ed, how could you…? Why did you…? It’s a wedding dress. Why a wedding dress?’

  ‘It was my idea. I was talking to Kate on the phone and she told me about the evening dress. I thought, if one dress—why not two? Kate told me how you liked the colour ivory and how you liked raw silk. And about the style looking so good on you. Kate was doubtful but I persuaded her. I commissioned an extra dress. A wedding dress.’

  ‘Just in case I needed it?’

  ‘In case you needed it. And I’m afraid there’s more.’

  ‘More? How could there be? What more?’

  ‘Let’s start with one thing. You said you loved me?’

  Maddy felt she was being drawn into something. But she found that she didn’t really mind. Just where was Ed taking her? She answered his question honestly. ‘Yes, I did say I loved you. Mind you, I thought I might be going to die. It does make a difference.’ But after an internal struggle she told him the absolute truth. ‘I still do love you.’

  ‘Good. And I told you I loved you and I wanted to marry you. But you thought I might have changed my mind. You thought I had said it in a moment of high emotion and I might want to rethink it. You thought I felt trapped. Right?’

  Well, it was sort of what she’d thought. ‘I thought you might feel trapped,’ she agreed.

  He grinned, then leaned over her and kissed her. When he took hold of her hands she could feel the tension there. ‘Maddy, I told you there was more. The more is…I trapped you back. I’ve got you a wedding dress. I know the groom isn’t supposed to see the bride’s dress until the ceremony but I decided to ignore that. I was breaking lots of other rules.’

  From his pocket he took out the little leather box that she remembered. ‘Here’s the engagement ring I offered you.’ He put it on the table in front of her. ‘In a moment I want you to put it on. I phoned the local vicar, he’s a friend of mine. He’s booked us the church for the very end of May. I’ve circulated the information to everyone who knows us and told them to keep the date free.’

  He smiled, but she could tell that there was hope and fear as well as confidence there. ‘Maddy, you have to marry me. All the arrangements are made. You’re trapped just as you imagine I was trapped. And we do love each other so much.’

  He opened the little leather box, took out the ring and offered it to her. ‘Will you marry me, Maddy Granger?’

  She still hesitated. Could she marry a man like this? A man so determined? Then she saw the depth of his love in his eyes, an emotion that matched her own. ‘Of course I’ll marry you,’ she whispered softly, reaching out a hand to stroke his beloved face.

  He placed the ring on her finger, then pulled her into his arms and kissed her, a kiss that seemed to last an eternity. When he finally broke the spell, Maddy whimpered in protest and snuggled deeper into his chest.

  ‘I think Kate is waiting for your phone call, my love.’ He smiled.

  EPILOGUE

  IT WAS a wonderful wedding. Even the weather was right, warm but not too hot. The bride wore an ivory raw silk dress. She wore a veil, her head was covered with a little cap. Few people realised how artfully her hair had been arranged to look entirely normal. After the ceremony three girls asked Maddy for the name of her dressmaker.

  The groom wore his military uniform. Maddy had never asked him the name of the regiment he had been attached to. But in the scarlet tunic that had been worn before the Battle o
f Waterloo, he looked magnificent.

  Kate was a fantastic matron of honour, and looked beautiful in a new outfit made by Angie. Holding her hand was little Robbie, this time in a page-boy outfit, looking as pleased as anything as Mrs Cowley looked on proudly from her pew. Unusually, the best man was the groom’s father. Ed had asked Nick, who had been at first surprised and then quietly honoured. But, of course, he didn’t say so.

  And Captain Smith gave the bride away, dressed in his naval uniform.

  The reception was wonderful too, on a pretty white yacht moored in the bay. There was a great meal, there were witty speeches—including one by the bride—and afterwards a dance and party. But the bride and groom left early for their honeymoon. No one knew where. Ed was a great organiser.

  After the guests had waved goodbye to the couple they trooped back into the hall and the music started up again. Time to have a good time! To celebrate!

  Kate and Nick stood side by side on the deck, away from the music and laughter for a moment. For some reason they didn’t want to go straight back in. Kate felt happy, as if a job had been well done. She wanted to dance, but not just yet. It had been an exciting but an exhausting day.

  ‘Walk with me for a minute,’ she said to Nick. ‘I’d like some fresh air. It’s lovely to see so many friends together but I’d like five minutes’ peace.’

  ‘Good idea,’ said Nick.

  She took his arm as they strolled along the deck. ‘Are you happy for them?’ she asked. ‘Or, better, do you think they will be happy?’

  ‘I think they will,’ said Nick, cautious as ever. ‘Ed is my son, but surprisingly I don’t know him all that well. I realize he’s had problems. That stretch in Africa, losing his first wife—they could have scarred him for life. And I don’t mean only physically. Maddy had problems, too. But I think they’ll be good for each other. And you helped bring them together, Kate. I have to thank you for it.’

  Kate smiled. ‘They’re a lovely couple and what little I could do to help, I was happy to do. And didn’t they look gorgeous together?’