Authors: Ellie Dean
‘I’ll say she did,’ said Freddy. ‘And Roger’s just as bad. I never thought I’d see the day he’d get pinned down by some girl, but to find out he was moon-faced over my sister – well, it was a terrible shock.’ His eyes glinted with fun. ‘I thought Roger had taste.’
Kitty jabbed him hard in the ribs with her elbow. ‘And I thought Charlotte had more sense than to get embroiled with someone like you,’ she shot back.
‘You asked for that, Freddy,’ said Charlotte as she dug her elbow into the other side of his ribcage.
Freddy roared with laughter. ‘We’re doomed, Roger, you know that, don’t you? These two are already in cahoots, and it can only get worse.’ He drained his pint glass. ‘Drink up, old man,’ he said cheerfully. ‘My round.’
‘It’s lovely to see you again, Charlotte,’ said Kitty as the two men went to the bar. ‘How are your wedding plans coming along?’
‘We’ve decided to put things forward to the twentieth of September,’ she replied. ‘After what happened to Freddy, we realised we didn’t want to wait. Mother’s frightfully put out, of course, but at least she’ll still have some flowers in the garden to decorate the house.’
‘When was all this decided?’ Kitty felt a bit put out that neither of them had thought to tell her about the new arrangements.
‘Only this morning,’ said Charlotte, with a consoling hand on Kitty’s arm, ‘otherwise I would have told you before today. But Freddy and I have been discussing it over the telephone ever since he got back from France.’ She shuddered. ‘I so very nearly lost him, Kitty, and I can’t tell you how relieved I am that he’s behind a desk for a while.’
Kitty nodded and looked across at where Freddy and Roger were deep in conversation with Ron and the very perky Rosie Braithwaite. ‘It’s not going to be easy for any of us,’ she murmured. ‘Roger’s leave is up at six this evening, and then he’s straight back on ops.’
Charlotte gave her a hug. ‘I think it’s wonderful you and he have got together,’ she sighed. ‘I’m just amazed I never noticed that he was so enamoured, because usually I can spot a blossoming romance a mile off.’
Kitty giggled. ‘Not half as surprised as me – and anyway, you were too taken up with Freddy to notice anything.’
‘I know,’ sighed Charlotte as she gazed across the room at Freddy. ‘But how could I resist? He’s so utterly wonderful, isn’t he?’
Kitty gazed at Roger. ‘Yes, he is.’ And then they looked at each other and collapsed into giggles.
They eventually sobered enough to have a fairly sensible conversation about the wedding plans. Leave had been arranged for Freddy and Roger, and they were going to pick Kitty up and drive to Berkshire the day before the ceremony. Roger was to be Freddy’s best man and they would stay in the village pub, whilst Kitty would be with Charlotte and her parents. There was to be a supper for Charlotte’s girlfriends, most of whom Kitty knew from her school holidays, but it wouldn’t go on too late because Charlotte needed to have a good night’s sleep before her wedding day.
The ceremony would be held in the village church at eleven, and after the reception luncheon Roger would drive Kitty back and go on duty again, while Freddy and Charlotte had a few blissful days of honeymoon in the Cotswolds.
‘I’ve found the most gorgeous dress for you,’ Charlotte whispered. ‘It’s a nineteen-twenties evening gown I found in one of my mother’s many wardrobes, and is made from the most heavenly turquoise blue silk. Mother’s dressmaker will come in on the afternoon you arrive and do any alterations that might be needed.’
Kitty was glad it wasn’t pink, but she was beginning to have serious doubts about the entire occasion.
Charlotte didn’t seem to notice Kitty’s unease, for she grinned with delight. ‘I just know you’ll look so stunning, Roger will simply
have
to get down on one knee and propose.’
Kitty regarded her friend with affection. Charlotte’s excitement over her wedding had clearly addled her brain. ‘Well, I don’t know about that,’ she replied cautiously. ‘It’s still very early days, Charlotte, and just because you’ve got wedding fever doesn’t mean we all have to catch it.’
‘Oh, but it would be so romantic if he did,’ Charlotte sighed.
Kitty took a sip of the rather flat lemonade as all the doubts and fears multiplied. Roger’s parents would be there, and she’d yet to meet them, which was daunting enough, but with only seventeen days to go, she simply wouldn’t be able to achieve her own goal of following Charlotte up the aisle on two feet. Regardless of how lovely the dress was, she would be a nervous wreck and probably look and feel ridiculous.
‘You know, Charlotte,’ she said quietly, ‘I really think you should ask someone else to be your bridesmaid.’
‘Why?’ Charlotte looked astonished.
‘Because having me clumping along on crutches will spoil the effect of everything.’ She silenced Charlotte’s protest. ‘And besides, I don’t know that I’m brave enough yet to cope with everyone staring at me.’
Charlotte’s pretty face was very solemn. ‘Kitty, we promised years ago that when we got married we’d be each other’s bridesmaids, and that’s how it’s going to be. You will walk down that aisle behind me looking gorgeous, crutches or no crutches, and I will
not
have you backing out now.’
‘But I’ll stick out like a sore thumb amongst all your glamorous friends,’ Kitty said softly. ‘And I couldn’t bear it if they stared and started whispering.’
Charlotte folded her arms tightly. ‘Do you know what, Kitty Pargeter, you’ve become paranoid,’ she said rather crossly. ‘Is everyone staring at you now? Are they whispering and pointing? Have you experienced any of that during these past few days when Roger was taking you out and about?’
Kitty frowned. Was she being paranoid? She took a quick glance round the bar and realised no one was taking the slightest interest in her. ‘Not that I noticed,’ she admitted. ‘But then I was too taken up with Roger to care much about what anyone else was doing.’
‘There you are then,’ said Charlotte. She took Kitty’s hand and her expression softened. ‘It’s all in your head, Kitts,’ she murmured. ‘And I’m not going to let you break your promise. I want you as my bridesmaid, and I won’t take any argument.’
Kitty realised Charlotte was absolutely right and that she had indeed been on the point of paranoia. ‘I’m sorry, Charlotte,’ she said with a sigh. ‘I was just having a moment of blind panic at the thought of meeting Roger’s parents and of doing something daft like falling over or dropping a crutch in the middle of the ceremony. Of course I’ll do it.’
‘Good. I knew it was just a fit of the collywobbles and that you wouldn’t let me down. Besides, you’ll have the doting Roger to lean on, so you’ll never feel stranded.’
Kitty smiled at this. Darling Roger would sense it if she felt nervous or the focus of attention, and stick to her like glue. Yet the ordeal of meeting his parents was quite another thing and she dreaded it. Roger had assured her they knew all about her amputation, but how did they really feel about their son and heir getting involved with someone who not only had half a leg missing, but who was from a completely different social class?
Charlotte edged a bit closer along the wooden seat. ‘Stop daydreaming, Kitts, because I’ve got a juicy bit of gossip to tell you.’
Snapped from her dark thoughts, Kitty tried to concentrate as Charlotte leaned closer and whispered in her ear.
‘The girl I’m sharing our cottage with at the Hamble Pool has turned out to be a lesbian. I caught her in bed with Freda from the machine shop.’
Kitty stared at Charlotte in horrified amazement. ‘Not Ferocious Freda who talks with a really deep voice, smokes cheroots and terrifies all the male mechanics?’ At Charlotte’s nod, they collapsed once more into a fit of helpless laughter.
‘I can see neither of you have changed much,’ said Freddy dryly as he and Roger returned to the table with their fresh drinks. ‘Good grief,’ he sighed. ‘This reminds me of when I used to take you both out to tea after school sports day. You never stopped giggling then – and you’re still at it.’
They looked at the two men’s puzzled faces, which only made them giggle even harder.
Peggy was singing away to herself as she finished the ironing. There were two sets of wedding bells in the air – three if Kitty and Roger decided to tie the knot – and Jim would be home next weekend. Life was wonderful, and she felt she could take on Hitler, rationing, air raids and long cold nights in the Anderson shelter single-handedly.
‘Freddy and Charlotte make a handsome couple, don’t they?’ said Cordelia as she folded the tea towels and put them in a drawer. ‘It was very kind of them to pop in and say hello, but it’s a shame they’re getting married so far away. It would have been lovely to see her in her gown.’
‘Yes,’ agreed Peggy. ‘She’s a lucky girl to have the sort of mother who keeps everything she ever wore. So many girls today are getting married in their uniform, and although they’re smartly turned out, they’re hardly what one would call bridal.’
‘Well, I for one won’t be waltzing down the aisle in my striped dress and starched apron and cap,’ said Suzy as she came into the kitchen to do her own ironing. ‘Mother’s having her wedding dress altered, and I’m going home next weekend for a fitting.’
‘Is Anthony going with you?’ asked Peggy, stepping away from the ironing board and putting the flat irons on the hob to get hot.
‘Not likely,’ Suzy replied with a giggle. ‘I’m going to have a lovely weekend with my parents and meet up with some of my friends. Anthony would be bored rigid with all our talk of clothes and wedding arrangements.’
Peggy warmed the teapot. ‘How are you getting on with those?’ she asked casually.
Suzy eyed her knowingly. ‘You mean, how am I getting on with Doris and
her
arrangements?’ She spread a linen skirt over the ironing board. ‘Doris seems to think this wedding will be the social occasion of the year and is determined to pull out all the stops. Poor old Ted has been roped in to find tinned salmon and champagne, and dried fruit and icing sugar for the cake.
And
she’s made out a guest list as long as my arm.’
‘I thought you and Anthony only wanted a small gathering?’
‘We do.’ She picked up the iron and smoothed it over the skirt with rather unnecessary vigour. ‘Which is why we’ve refused, point blank, to send invitations to most of Doris’s guests. Anthony and I don’t know them from Adam, and she’s only inviting them because she thinks they’ll add kudos to the occasion. Frankly, we’re beginning to consider running off to a registry office one weekend and doing the deed on the quiet.’
‘Oh, don’t do that,’ protested Peggy. ‘It would cause huge hurt and terrible ructions all round.’
‘I know,’ said Suzy. ‘But she really is the limit, Auntie Peg. Her latest beef is about my choice of friends and bridesmaid. She’s made such a song and dance about it you’d think I wanted Eva Braun to follow me up the aisle.’
‘I don’t think Hitler’s mistress is available that weekend,’ said Peggy with a wry smile. ‘So who are you having instead?’
Suzy giggled as she continued ironing the skirt. ‘I’ve asked Fran, which of course didn’t go down terribly well. But we’ve been friends ever since we were in nursing college and, regardless of what Doris may think, she’ll be perfect.’
She looked up from her ironing. ‘And of course everyone else in the house will be invited. You’re my second family, after all, and my wedding wouldn’t be complete without you.’
Peggy remembered the tasteless altercation she’d had with Doris a few weeks back. ‘Is it just Fran she’s objecting to?’ she asked carefully.
Suzy slammed the iron down on the hob for it to reheat. ‘No,’ she said flatly. ‘She’s also been quite horrid about Kitty.’ She folded her arms tightly about her slender waist. ‘But I put her straight on that one. I told her that if she didn’t like seeing Kitty on her crutches or false leg, then she could forget about holding the reception at her house and that she wouldn’t be welcome at the wedding.’
‘Golly,’ breathed Peggy in admiration of her bravery. ‘What did she say to that?’
‘She went white, then red – then a sort of deep magenta.’ Suzy chuckled. ‘When Anthony backed me up, she became frightfully grand and gracious and said that of course it was our wedding, and we could invite whoever we wanted.’
‘You do realise that Kitty might not still be here at Christmas time,’ said Peggy as she lit a cigarette and sat down. ‘There are over three months to go yet, and she’s champing at the bit to get back to her aeroplanes.’
‘I know,’ said Suzy. ‘But it’s the principle of the thing, isn’t it? She’s become a friend, just like the other girls, and if she is here, then I want her to be a part of my special day.’
‘I’ve always said that weddings cause nothing but trouble,’ said Cordelia, who’d been sitting quietly listening to all this. ‘Relatives one hasn’t spoken to for years take umbrage at not being invited, others fall out over age-old differences, women buy the most ridiculous hats to try and outdo one another, and the best man usually causes trouble by flirting with the bridesmaids.’
‘That won’t happen with our best man,’ said Suzy. ‘He’s a rather studious boffin whose mind is usually occupied with some incomprehensible mathematical equation. I doubt he’ll even notice Fran, let alone flirt with anyone.’
Peggy thought he sounded very boring. ‘Poor Fran. I suspect she was rather hoping for someone who might sweep her off her feet.’
‘He’s more likely to
tread
on her feet,’ giggled Suzy. ‘Because I don’t think he can tell a foxtrot from a piece of string.’
Wanting to spend their few precious hours alone, Freddy and Charlotte had gone off in their borrowed car to explore the countryside and find somewhere to eat later. Rosie had locked the Anchor and told Kitty and Roger that they could stay for as long as they wanted, so when she’d gone upstairs with Ron and the dogs, they’d taken their drinks out into the small paved back garden.
It wasn’t as fragrant or pretty as the one behind the Lamb, and the only view they had was of the surrounding houses. But it was peaceful and private and the perfect place to make the most of the very few hours they had together before Roger’s return to the airfield.