The Country Doctor's Daughter

by Gill Sanderson

  In fact Kelly found it easy to do as she was told. The dress did so much for her! So for five minutes she admired herself.

  Madeleine returned with a small box. ‘You could wear a big hat,’ she said, ‘but I think we want to show that face of yours. So how about this?’

  Kelly peered inside. A tiny confection of black lace and feathers. ‘It’s a fascinator,’ she cried. ‘I’ve never worn one in my life before.’

  Madeleine placed it carefully on her head. ‘You’ll look well in this. Now see yourself in the mirror. What do you think?’

  ‘I think I need new shoes,’ said Kelly.

  CHAPTER NINE

  SOME small, womanly things gave her much pleasure. One morning she took Jenny into town so they could go on a shopping expedition together. Somehow she fitted the wheelchair into her car and they set off for Merveille. Madeleine had given her a list of suitable boutiques.

  First there were shoes to buy—strappy sandals, Madeleine had suggested. There would be quite a bit of walking and certainly dancing afterwards. And at the first shop they visited she found just the right thing, in a black kid leather. Comfortable, right for walking or dancing, with just enough of a heel to make them elegant. Happily, Kelly bought them at once. ‘Aren’t we going to look in other shops?’ Jenny protested.

  ‘We haven’t finished shopping yet, darling.’

  Kelly wondered about the dancing. What would it feel like to have Luc’s arms round her, to be pressed to his body? Perhaps she ought to offer to leave early? But that would be ill-mannered. And she had to look after Jenny, didn’t she?

  Next, a strapless bra. More trouble buying underwear than Kelly had ever experienced before, but the fitter that Madeleine had recommended was going to get the fit absolutely right.

  Jenny was less interested in this, couldn’t see the difference between one bra and another. But Kelly could feel the difference.

  Finally, the jeweller’s. It was so long since Kelly had bought or even thought about jewellery that she felt apprehensive entering the shop. What did she really want? Madeleine had given her a scrap of the fabric the dress was made of, and Kelly showed it to the elegant lady behind the counter. ‘Have you any costume jewellery that might go with this? A pendant perhaps?’

  Yes, the lady had something to match. Lots of things, in fact, and she was happy to display them all. Kelly and Jenny spent a blissful half-hour before picking a silver and amethyst pendant.

  ‘Matching earrings?’ the lady suggested. And that took another half-hour. Then Kelly felt she had to buy a small silver bangle for Jenny, who was overwhelmed.

  Clutching their parcels, Kelly and Jenny went to the nearest café with a terrace and had a coffee and an orange juice. ‘I’d quite forgotten just how much fun shopping could be,’ Kelly said.

  It was a great day for a wedding, sunny but not too hot. People would enjoy it. Kelly woke with a smile, she knew this was going to be a good day—for the bride and groom, for the wedding guests, for Jenny and Luc and herself.

  Jenny was already awake and excited. The dress had been tried on the night before and was now waiting for her, hanging in a corner of the room. Madeleine had taken it in a little so the twirly bits weren’t so obvious. But even though she had to stay in her wheelchair, Jenny was going to have a good time. Kelly’s mood lifted even further when she saw the little girl’s enthusiasm.

  Jenny was washed and dressed and the two were considering what kind of wedding dress Jenny might have if, perhaps, one day, she got married. ‘I do like bright red,’ Jenny said.

  ‘Not usual for a wedding dress,’ Kelly suggested.

  And then another voice. ‘Since I have the day off I thought that we might all have breakfast together,’ someone said.

  It still happened, she could never get used to it. When first she heard Luc’s voice, or saw him for the first time, there was that sudden increase in her heart beat, that thrill of excitement.

  She had to hide it. But when she turned, saw how he was smiling at her, in perhaps that special way…the excitement only increased.

  ‘Obviously Minette has the day off,’ he went on. He had brought a large tray which held Jenny’s usual cereal, yoghurt and fruit juice, and a continental breakfast for Kelly and himself. And somehow they managed to get the wheelchair and two seats round the little table.

  ‘Now we’re just like a real family,’ Jenny said, ‘all eating together.’

  Kelly kept her head down, didn’t dare look at Luc. She’d never really had a real family. She would have liked one.

  But it was a good breakfast, and Jenny’s chatter kept them all amused. When the meal was over Jenny turned to her bird book and Luc collected the dishes. He accepted Kelly’s offer of help to carry them to the kitchen.

  ‘A wedding,’ he said. ‘I suspect the first wedding you have been to since your own was planned. How do you feel?’

  Kelly shrugged. ‘It’s a wedding and I’m looking forward to it. Nearly as much as Jenny is. I do remember planning my own but I’m well over it now, I realise I had a lucky escape. What about you? You planned a wedding and went through with it. What are your memories?’

  He sighed. ‘I was happy to get married but there didn’t seem to be much joy in the occasion. And I certainly didn’t plan the wedding. It was a carefully scripted event, it had to run exactly to plan. The photographers cost more than the choir and the clergyman—and I thought that was wrong.’

  Kelly wondered whether to reach out to stroke his shoulder, but decided not to. This wasn’t the time for gestures. ‘I’m sure this wedding we’re going to will be different,’ she said. ‘I’m really looking forward to it.’ Then, she couldn’t stop herself from asking. ‘I know you’ve got jobs to do, but shall we see much of you?’

  ‘Of course you’ll see much of me! After the ceremonies I’ll be sitting with you. I expect to dance with you.’

  ‘Dance! I haven’t danced in years!’

  ‘Then it’s time to start again.’

  She’d be dancing with Luc. It was a dream of an idea.

  It took Kelly over an hour to dress Jenny and then herself. But then they both agreed that they both looked very smart. And when Luc came for them—immaculate in a dark suit and dazzlingly white shirt and silver tie—it was obvious from his expression what he thought. ‘You’re so beautiful,’ he whispered, adding quickly, ‘Both of you.’

  ‘We try,’ said Kelly.

  They set off for the wedding after the lightest of lunches. ‘When Bretons feast, they do it in style,’ Luc told her. They were driving to a village called Xavanne, about twelve kilometres away. By now Kelly was looking forward to the wedding as much as Jenny was. Dancing with Luc?

  Xavanne was a typical small Breton village, with a church with a skeleton spire at one side of the square and the mairie at the other. The wedding seemed to be almost a communal affair—everyone Kelly saw appeared to be dressed up.

  ‘This is a village wedding,’ Luc told her, ‘and the entire village wants to take part. Both bride and groom were born here. Jean, the groom, is a computer expert. Employed by the government, very much in the forefront of technology. But he wants the same kind of wedding as his parents and grandparents had. So does his bride. This will be the kind of wedding that could have happened a hundred and fifty years ago.’

  He parked by the side of the village square, waved to a smiling girl aged about nineteen, who came hurrying towards them. ‘This is Helene, another of Minette’s granddaughters,’ he told Kelly. ‘She’ll stay with you, make sure you know where to go, what to do. And remember, you’re among friends.’ Then he hastened away.

  ‘Kelly, what a lovely dress,’ Helene said, with obvious awe in her voice, and Kelly decided that she liked her at once.

  Kelly pushed the wheelchair down a side street lined with cheerfully shouting villagers. Then there was cheering and the sound of a band from further down the street, and Jenny asked in a panic, ‘Where’s my white ribbon?’

  ‘
I have it here,’ Helene answered. ‘Now, you hold your end tight and cheer when my sister comes by.’ She turned to Kelly and said, ‘It is the custom before the wedding that the groom calls at the bride’s home to claim her. Then the bride will walk to the church on the arm of her father. Guests follow and the groom comes at the end, holding the arm of his mother. And a band leads the procession.’

  Kelly was fascinated.

  The cheers and the sound of the band grew louder, and then the bride appeared. Helene took the end of Jenny’s white ribbon and ran to the other side of the street, so that the tape formed a fragile barrier. The bride stepped up to the tape, held her bouquet in one hand, took out a pair of scissors, cut it and stepped past. The watchers cheered and the bride smiled. Then she walked on.

  When she had passed Kelly saw that there were other children holding white ribbons to be cut. ‘It is a symbol,’ Helene said when she rejoined them. ‘The couple must cut through difficulties. And did you see and smell the bouquet?’

  ‘I did. The scent is lovely.’

  ‘All the flowers, both bouquets and decorations, must be fragrant. The smell drives away evil spirits.’

  ‘You seem to know a lot about wedding customs,’ Kelly said.

  Helene blushed, held out her hand to show a ring. ‘Soon it will be my turn,’ she said.

  They followed the procession to the village square. First it was necessary to go to the mairie. Helene explained that the civil ceremony had to take place there—the church ceremony would come later. A small group entered the building, came out some minutes later and walked across the square to the church. ‘But this is the proper wedding,’ Helene whispered.

  Kelly thought it was a lovely ceremony. The bride and groom sat under a carre—a large square of silk that prevented malice falling on them. They came out of the church through an arch of scented flowers and walked over laurel leaves. The spectators threw rice. All age-old customs—and Kelly loved them.

  The reception was to be held in a large café in the square—and to cheers the newly married couple walked across to it. Jenny peered up at Kelly. ‘How old do you have to be to get married?’

  ‘You can’t get married for a good few years yet,’ Kelly told her.

  ‘Do you have to have a house to get married?’

  ‘Well, it’s always a good idea.’

  ‘Why aren’t you married, Auntie Kelly? Would you like to be married and walk through the streets like this?’

  The question made Kelly wince. ‘I’d like to walk through the streets with all my friends and neighbours. And I haven’t got married because I…I haven’t met the right man yet.’

  ‘You mustn’t ask personal questions, Jenny,’ a voice behind her said, and Kelly jumped.

  ‘Luc! Where did you come from?’

  ‘My duties are now over, I can enjoy myself with my family. Helene, it was good of you to look after Kelly and Jenny.’

  ‘It was a pleasure. Kelly, when you do get married, have a French wedding.’ And Helene left.

  Enjoy myself with my family… Kelly thought of Luc’s words. If only…Someone had once told her that they were the two saddest words in the world.

  ‘Did you enjoy the ceremony?’ Luc asked her, and Kelly wrenched herself from dreaming.

  ‘I thought it was wonderful. Everyone seems so happy!’

  ‘Weddings should be full of joy—not occasions for formality. Now, let’s go to find our places.’

  He took her arm and led her across the square. Kelly knew that taking her arm was only a courteous gesture—but she did like it. She liked being so close to him.

  He led her into a large café at the corner of the square. There were flowers everywhere, round the door, on the tables, decorating the pillars. And from somewhere the band had reappeared, were playing the sort of cheerful music that only an accordion band could play. They were greeted by the bride and groom and then found their table. ‘You need to get your strength up for the dancing,’ Luc told her, and she shivered, part fear, part anticipation.

  Kelly thought it was the nicest wedding she had ever been to. The speeches were short, the cheering was loud. The bride and groom were told they had to drink out of a silver two-handled cup—the coupe de mariage—which had been in the bride’s family for years. A bottle of champagne was placed on a bare table, a man dressed in an elaborate uniform drew out a sabre and with one carefully aimed slash cut off the neck of the bottle. The foaming liquid was poured into the silver cup.

  ‘That man is dressed as one of Napoleon’s hussars,’ Luc whispered to her. ‘Cutting off the neck of a bottle was one of their favourite tricks. If a woman truly loved and trusted the man, she would hold the bottle as he slashed.’

  ‘I’ll stick to a corkscrew,’ Kelly whispered back.

  Yes, it was a lovely wedding. There was food—but exactly what Kelly had difficulty in remembering afterwards. And then people just wandered around and talked to their friends. Luc didn’t leave their table. Kelly realised it was because he didn’t want her to feel abandoned—and she loved him for it.

  Then the band struck up again. ‘Just like in England,’ Luc said, ‘the bride and groom dance first—and then everyone joins in.’ And it was as he said. The bride and groom danced first—to cheers—then others came to join them. ‘Would you like to dance?’ Luc asked.

  She should have been expecting it, but the invitation came as a surprise and she was confused. She would love to dance with him but…‘I think I’d better stay here with Jenny,’ she said.

  ‘No! You’ve got to dance with Daddy. I want to see you dance!’

  ‘Doesn’t look as if you’ve got much choice,’ Luc said with a grin.

  He stood, held out his hand to her. She took the hand and he led her onto the floor. Feelings she couldn’t describe flowed through her.

  It was a simple, old-fashioned waltz. He put his arm round her waist, took her hand and swept her into the dance.

  She loved it. She loved the music, the sense of rhythm, the feel of his arm round her, the gentle pressure of his hand. Occasionally, and necessarily, she had to lean against him and the feel of his body was so good. It was only dancing. She had to hold him and be held. But their bodies touched and it excited her. He said nothing but she could tell by the gleam in his eye that it excited him too.

  They danced for another ten minutes and then he led her off the floor. Kelly knew it was necessary but she was sad. She could have danced for ever, she had been taken into another world. But now back to reality.

  ‘Jenny must be getting tired,’ Luc said. ‘Perhaps we ought to be getting home. Is that all right with you?’

  ‘Of course. I want Jenny to go away with happy memories of today. And I’ve had a lovely time but I’m getting a bit tired myself.’ That wasn’t entirely true. She wanted the magic of the day to continue—but she knew that the time was proper to leave.

  Luc went to say a quick goodbye to the bride and groom and they left without too much fuss. The party was warming up—it was going to be a wedding to remember! But Jenny’s eyes were closing. Time to go home.

  Somehow they got back without Jenny falling completely asleep. Kelly suggested that she should put Jenny to bed while Luc changed. It only took her a moment to wriggle out of her wonderful new dress and into a thin sweater and trousers. Then a quick wash for Jenny—who was asleep in five minutes.

  Luc came in then and tossed a parcel over to her. ‘Your letters from Joe,’ he said. ‘It was on the hall table.’ He bent over to kiss his sleeping daughter.

  Kelly put the packet on a table. ‘Doctor’s mail.’ She shrugged. ‘Adverts for new drugs. I’ll look at them in the morning.’

  ‘It’s still quite early,’ he went on. ‘The evening’s only half-gone. Shall we open a bottle of wine?’

  ‘I’d like that very much.’ Half fearfully, she wondered what the rest of the evening might bring.

  She appreciated his good red wine. She loved sitting with him, at ease on the couch, tal
king casually, like two old friends. She felt she had known him for ever—and it had only been four weeks.

  ‘It was a good wedding,’ he said, ‘and I know they’ll be happy. I would have liked a wedding like that myself—but we had to have a stuffy, formal, London wedding.’

  Perhaps she had had just a little too much to drink, or perhaps she was tired. Her question was pointed but the same that he had asked a week ago. ‘Would you get married again?’

  She couldn’t make out his expression. He looked alert but confused, as if he was making up his mind about something. She felt uneasy for a moment. ‘Sorry, that was a bit personal, I didn’t mean to—’

  ‘I’ll answer happily. Yes, I would like to get married again. Providing that I could find the right woman.’

  The confused expression had gone. Whatever it was he had been thinking of, he had decided on an answer. He went on, ‘But what about you, Kelly? Would you like to get married?’

  This was dangerous ground. Carefully, she said, ‘Yes, I think I would. But I’d have to be sure I was making the right decision.’

  He said nothing for a while, as if considering her answer. So she went on, ‘Marriage sounds wonderful, but at the moment I wonder if it’s for me. Too much reliance on another person to make you happy can be dangerous. I feel safer being single. Luc, I’d be afraid to get married.’

  ‘But you were going to marry Gary?’

  ‘And look where love got me that time. I’ve learned better now. I’m happy on my own.’

  ‘Completely on your own? You never talk about your family, Kelly. Are they supportive?’

  She supposed it was a fair question. And she wanted to give him an honest answer. Too many times in the past she had avoided telling the truth. Taking a breath to settle her shaking nerves, she said, ‘I have no family. I was an orphan, brought up by foster-parents. They were kind to me, I was well treated, but I learned from an early age to look after myself. To be self-sufficient. That was why the army was so good to me—and why I was good in the army. My one true friend, the family I never had, was Joe Cameron.’