by Val Wood
‘Polly!’ Howard turned in astonishment to his friend. ‘You mean—’
Sonny raised his eyebrows. ‘Yes. The one and only Polly Parker. Ida is, or was, her mother.’
Howard swallowed. ‘I’d no idea,’ he said quietly. ‘But then why would I know? So, you promised – that you’d always take care of her?’
‘Yes. I did. And I will.’ Sonny gazed out at the landscape. ‘Always.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Howard watched silently as Sonny was greeted rapturously by Polly, who then berated him for not confessing that he knew Rosalie’s uncle as soon as he heard they were coming to Nab Farm. He saw how Rosalie received him graciously and how Sonny treated her differently from Polly. He was all charm as he inclined his head at her dipped knee, whereas he had joked and laughed with Polly.
Mrs Radcliffe remembered him and said that they were gathering together all their old friends for the wedding and that he must come too.
He accepted, but said that he must first go back home and would return on the appointed date. ‘Is there anything I can bring you from Hull, Miss Kingston?’ he asked Rosalie. ‘Any messages I can deliver for you?’
Rosalie smiled. ‘How formal you still are, Mr Blake. Please call me Rosalie. I don’t think there is anything we need, but perhaps if you are passing Albion Street you might look up at the house and see if all is well there.’ She paused for a moment. ‘Perhaps I should go back and check for myself.’
‘Perhaps you’d permit me to escort you?’ Sonny said. ‘I shall be travelling back by train in a few days’ time.’
‘That would be very kind of you,’ she said. ‘I must admit that I left in rather a hurry ... against advice,’ she added teasingly, remembering how cross he had been. ‘And it would be wise if I went back just to be sure.’
Clementina was pleased to see Sonny again, Howard noted, and she primped her hair as he came towards her.
‘How very nice to see you again, Clemmie,’ he said. ‘You grow lovelier each time I set eyes on you.’
Clementina blushed and Howard thought that Sonny was playing a dangerous game. She responds to kindness and compliments and yet is so naïve that she’ll think he’s making advances.
‘I must write to your father and tell him about our wedding,’ Luke said to Rosalie. ‘He’ll surely want to come.’
‘He must be abroad, Uncle Luke, for I’ve heard nothing from him and we’ve been here almost a month.’
The very next morning a letter arrived for Rosalie and she opened it with relief. ‘Father says he has been in Ireland,’ she told Polly, ‘and that he has only just arrived back. He’s coming to see me,’ she said excitedly, ‘and has some news.’ She scanned the rest of the letter. ‘Oh, and then he’s away on another tour of duty and so must speak to me about my future.’ She gazed at Polly. ‘I hope he doesn’t want me to leave here and live in Aldershot. He suggested it previously and I do not want to go,’ she said firmly.
‘But you’re not old enough to decide for yourself,’ Polly pointed out. ‘What can we do if he suggests it?’
Rosalie shook her head. ‘I don’t know,’ she said miserably. ‘I just don’t know.’
Polly looked out of the window. Sonny was strolling in the garden. ‘I’ll ask Sonny’s advice,’ she said. ‘And you tell your uncle what your father says. Maybe he can persuade him that you should stay here.’
Luke was out somewhere, and as Rosalie stood pondering in the drawing room Howard put his head round the door. ‘Have you seen Luke about?’
‘No,’ she said. ‘I need to speak to him too.’
‘Oh? What’s up?’ He came into the room. ‘You look sad.’
‘Oh ...’ She hesitated. ‘Things. I’m not sad, but worried. I’ve heard from my father and I’m anxious that he might want me to leave here and go and live in Aldershot to be nearer him.’
She gazed out of the window and saw Polly walking alongside Sonny in animated conversation. Howard saw them too and pressed his lips together.
Rosalie gave a deep sigh. ‘And I don’t want to. And neither do I want to lose Polly.’
Howard saw Sonny put his hand on Polly’s arm. ‘And do you think that you might?’ he murmured.
‘Yes,’ she nodded, also noticing the gesture. ‘Almost sure to,’ she said softly. ‘And she’s such a splendid friend, the best possible.’
When Rosalie told Luke about the letter from her father, he said he had had one too. ‘He says he’ll be here at the end of April,’ Luke said, ‘so hopefully he’ll arrive in time for the wedding.’
Rosalie was surprised. Her father hadn’t mentioned to her when he would come, only that he would.
‘My father thinks I’m still a child,’ she said pettishly to Polly later, as they changed for supper. ‘And I’m not.’
‘When I asked Sonny what he thought you should do, he seemed bewildered,’ Polly said. ‘Which isn’t like him at all. He’s usually so positive. Anyway, he said that you must explain very firmly your reasons for staying in order to convince your father. In any case, if he’s going to be away such a lot, you’re going to be stuck wi’ somebody you don’t know and might not even like,’ she added. ‘Though I dare say there’ll be lots of sodgers after marrying you, Rosalie. That’s what I said to Sonny, and he got quite heated and said you must definitely onny do what you want to do and not agree to marry anybody just because they’re wearing a fancy uniform.’
Sonny sought out Rosalie before he returned to Hull and she told him she had decided not to go back with him at present. ‘It’s nothing to do with me, Rosalie,’ he said quietly, ‘but if your father wants you to leave here, think very carefully about it. You are old enough to have views on what you want to do with your life, even if society decrees otherwise, and you should explain them to him.’
He had said his farewells, and his manner had puzzled her. It’s very kind of him to show such concern, she thought, especially when he has no reason to trouble over my dilemma. He’ll be worried about Polly’s future, of course, so perhaps that is why he is anxious.
Fittings were arranged for the making of the attendants’ gowns, and Clementina drove Rosalie and Polly in the trap to Lower Farm, Mrs Radcliffe’s home in Harwood Dale, where the dressmaker was waiting for them with Anna’s daughter Elizabeth. She was a sweet shy girl, still being taught by a governess, and both Rosalie and Polly took to her at once.
‘Isn’t she lovely, Clementina?’ Rosalie said as they drove back. ‘How lucky you are to be having her as your sister.’
Clementina turned her head sharply to look over her shoulder at Rosalie. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, she’ll be your sister, won’t she?’ Rosalie said. ‘And once your parents are married she’ll be coming to live with you.’
‘I suppose so,’ Clementina said sullenly. ‘But we’ve got a houseful already. And then there’s her brother!’
‘Oh, but he’s away at school,’ Rosalie reminded her. ‘He’ll only be home for the holidays.’
Her cousin made no answer, but raised her whip to urge the pony to go faster until Rosalie and Polly had to hold on to their bonnets.
Polly shrugged and made a moue when Rosalie looked quizzically at her. There was no point in her getting involved in the discussion. For the most part, Clementina ignored her altogether. It was almost as if she were invisible. But she didn’t care. She was having a most wonderful time and knew that it was here that she wanted to stay. The only cloud on the horizon was the possibility that Mrs Radcliffe would want her to leave once she was married to Luke. She was always kind to her, but Polly was aware that as she wasn’t a relation she had no rightful place here.
The marriage ceremony was to be witnessed by the immediate family; all the attendants would be wearing crinolines in sprigged muslin in shades of spring flowers. Anna’s son Jonathan was to give her away and Edwin would be his father’s best man. The reception was to be held at Nab Farm and a hundred guests were expected, including Luke’s mot
her-in-law from Scarborough, his first wife’s mother.
The April day dawned cloudy with a mist hovering over the moor but by ten o’clock it was bright and sunny. Extra serving maids and kitchen staff had been brought in from nearby villages and it was expected that there would be a great gathering outside the church, for both Luke and his bride were very popular.
‘I’m so excited,’ Polly said. ‘I don’t know what to do. Do you know what to do, Rosalie? Do we have to say anything?’
Rosalie laughed. She was excited too but wished that her father had come in time. ‘We don’t have to do anything,’ she told Polly. ‘We just have to stand behind the bride and look pretty. And we shall have our photographs taken later, I expect.’
‘Oh, goodness,’ Polly said. ‘I hope I can sit still for long enough.’
Luke, Edwin, Howard and Sonny set off on horseback to the church in Harwood Dale with all the dogs following behind. The three young ladies were driven by Amos, in a new green caped coat and top hat, to Mrs Radcliffe’s house in order to accompany her, Elizabeth and Jonathan to church. Anna looked serene and lovely in grey silk over a large hoop which swayed as she moved, with white lace gloves and a grey and white hat edged with lace. She was a picture of elegance and Rosalie and Polly gazed at her in admiration.
‘I’d love to look like you one day, Mrs Radcliffe,’ Rosalie murmured. ‘You are so beautiful.’ Polly nodded in agreement but Clementina looked away.
‘But you are all beautiful now.’ Anna smiled. ‘It’s just that you are too young to realize it.’
Anna took Clementina to one side; she had noticed how downcast the girl was. She sat her down beside her. ‘Clementina,’ she said softly, ‘I don’t want you to think that I’m stealing your father from you or that I’m trying to take the place of your mother, for I know I could never do that, nor would I want to. It’s different for Elizabeth, I know, for she doesn’t remember her father, but she is also apprehensive about our marriage. She wonders what it will be like to have a man in the house, when all of her life she has only had her mother and brother.’
Clementina began to cry. ‘Nobody wants me,’ she wept. ‘I’ve tried to replace Mama, but Papa doesn’t even notice me. And he notices me even less since Rosalie and Polly have come to live with us. It’s not fair!’
‘Oh, my dear,’ Anna said gently, ‘that’s men all over: they never notice. But they don’t mean anything by it, and sometimes’ – she smiled – ‘we can use it to our advantage. Come now, wipe your eyes. We don’t want you to be red-eyed on such a splendid day, especially when you look so lovely.’
Clemmie perked up at this and managed a smile and looked into the mirror. She saw her shiny dark hair and rosy cheeks and became aware that she was a complete contrast to all the other, fair-haired bridesmaids.
The church door creaked slightly as it was opened during the ceremony and again as it was closed. Polly couldn’t resist a peep over her shoulder and saw a tall man in military uniform take a seat at the back. Rosalie was sitting next to her in the pew and so she gave her a nudge and indicated by a shift of her head that she should take a look behind her.
Rosalie beamed and mouthed Papa.
Polly smiled back at her. She’d thought so. She was pleased for her friend, but now she was anxious. Her own life was tied up with Rosalie’s and she wondered what was in front of her.
When they came out of church, Rosalie’s father was waiting to greet her. ‘My dear,’ he said, and kissed her cheek. ‘How lovely you look. So grown up – and so like your mother.’
‘It’s good to see you, Papa,’ she said, unable to help being tearful. ‘I hoped you’d come in time for the wedding.’
Mark Kingston looked over to where his brother was chatting to his guests, his new bride on his arm and the dogs milling round their feet. ‘It was a close thing,’ he said. ‘I went up to Nab Farm but everyone had left, even the dogs. That’s just like Luke, to take the dogs to his wedding. He seems very happy. And his bride is lovely.’
‘She is,’ Rosalie agreed. ‘And so kind and agreeable too. It will be a pleasure to live with her and Uncle Luke.’
‘Ah!’ he said. ‘We must discuss that, Rosalie, only not today.’
‘No,’ Rosalie said meekly, ‘not today. Papa, I’d like you to meet my very best friend.’ She signalled to Polly, who was standing alone, to come over. ‘Polly,’ she said, ‘this is my father. Papa, this is my friend Polly Parker.’
Polly dipped her knee to the officer. ‘Pleased to meet you, sir,’ she said and thought how majestic he was in his red frock coat trimmed with gold braid. He’s quite different from his brother. Luke Kingston looked very smart today in his grey morning suit, but he was usually very casual in his dress and preferred to wear an old flannel shirt and cord breeches which had seen better days.
‘I’m very pleased to meet you too, Miss Parker,’ Mark Kingston said, gazing at her. ‘So delighted that Rosalie has found a friend so quickly. Do you live here on the moor?’
Before Polly could answer, Rosalie said, ‘Oh, no, Father. Polly and I have known each other for some time. We met in Hull – oh,’ she waved her hand distractedly, ‘ages ago.’
‘I see,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘Good. Good.’ He smiled. ‘Would you excuse me for a moment whilst I offer my brother congratulations? We can catch up with all our news later in the day, Rosalie. After the reception, perhaps? I’m staying for a few days so we’ve plenty of time.’
Rosalie nodded and Polly dipped her knee. ‘Phew!’ she said. ‘Your father’s rumbled me, Rosalie.’ She watched him as he walked straight-backed towards his brother. ‘In spite of my fine clothes, he knew as soon as I opened my mouth that I wasn’t what I seemed.’
‘Nonsense!’ Rosalie said, but she was nervous. She knew that Polly was right. I have to stand up for myself, she thought. Polly is my friend no matter what her background.
Howard and Sonny came over to speak to them. They both bowed deeply. ‘Ladies,’ they chorused. ‘Would you do us the honour of speaking to us?’ Sonny added, and Howard interjected, ‘We would be so grateful.’
‘Idiots!’ Polly grinned. Then she spun round, her skirts rustling and showing her layers of lace petticoats and ankle-length drawers. ‘Don’t you think we look splendid?’
She preened as Sonny flamboyantly took her hand and lifted it to his lips. ‘A picture of elegance and grace,’ he agreed.
‘You look pretty good yourselves,’ she said. ‘We almost didn’t recognize you in your fine clothes. And you haven’t got paint on your hands today!’
‘No,’ he said. ‘No more chairs to paint!’
Howard gave a great guffaw. ‘Chairs!’ he laughed. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve been wasting your time painting chairs!’
Sonny turned to him and gave him a warning glance. ‘I’ll paint anything that stands still long enough,’ he said. Then he looked over Rosalie’s shoulder. ‘I would guess that is your father, Rosalie?’
When she said yes, it was, he looked thoughtful. ‘Has he come to claim you?’ he murmured.
Rosalie swallowed. ‘I don’t know,’ she said in a small voice. ‘I hope not.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
They returned to Nab Farm in procession, Luke and Anna in her carriage, the bride’s attendants and Clementina’s grandmother in the Kingstons’ carriage, and the four men on horseback, with young Jonathan riding Luke’s horse.
‘We must learn to ride, Polly.’ Rosalie gazed out at the men as they passed them by. ‘How splendid they all look.’
The men, apart from Rosalie’s father, were wearing morning coats in shades of grey: silver, slate and pearl. All were laughing and joking and lifted their top hats in salute to them.
‘Couldn’t you just fall in love with them all?’ Polly said. ‘Would we look so good on horseback? I don’t think we would; not if we kept falling off like we did before.’
‘Mm,’ Clementina said. ‘I’d offer to teach you but I haven’t the patience. Ask Howard.
He’s not got a bad seat.’
‘I’d say he’d a nice one,’ Polly giggled and Rosalie clapped her hand over her mouth and glanced at Clemmie’s grandmother, who seemed to be wool-gathering and didn’t hear. Perhaps she’s thinking of her daughter, the first Mrs Kingston, Rosalie thought. How sad for her today.
Back at the farm the other guests had gathered outside the house waiting for the bridal pair’s return. A great cheer rang out as the first carriage rolled up and then another as the second appeared. The riders were not far behind and everyone milled about chatting and laughing before going inside.
The hall had been cleared of the old rugs by the fire, the floor had been polished and a great wooden table had been set in the centre. The drawing room and dining room doors were open and tables set for the wedding breakfast had been put in both rooms. There were flowers and silver candlesticks with glowing candles on every table and fires in each room.
‘Mrs Moody has excelled herself,’ Rosalie murmured to Polly. ‘She must have been driving the servants hard to achieve all this.’
Howard appeared at Rosalie’s side. ‘Sonny and I would like to sit with you and Polly, if we may,’ he said. ‘Apparently the reception is quite informal and we can sit wherever we please. Some of the guests are even out in the garden. Tables have been put in the orchard.’
Rosalie hesitated. She should really join her father, she supposed. But he was talking earnestly to an elderly gentleman and she quickly took her seat in the dining room with the others.
‘Are there to be speeches?’ she asked.
Howard told her that there would be later. ‘Luke doesn’t want a fuss,’ he said. ‘Though Edwin ought to say something, if he will,’ he added grimly.
Polly looked about her. Edwin had barely spoken to anyone since they’d arrived back at the house. There he was, with a glass of wine in his hand, the first to be served it seemed for the maids were only just circulating with trays of wine glasses. He’s been down in ’cellar and helped himself to a bottle, I bet, she thought. He seemed to be weighing everybody up. Perhaps he’s thinking of what to say in his speech, though he seems more interested in watching the maids than anything else. Just hope he keeps away from me, she thought. He had hardly spoken to her since the incident in the stables.