Authors: Ellie Dean
Kitty grinned as they lay facing one another in the shaft of moonlight that came in through the window. It was as if they were thirteen again. ‘We’d better not talk for too long,’ she whispered. ‘You have a rather important day tomorrow.’
‘I know,’ Charlotte giggled. ‘Isn’t it exciting?’
Charlotte must have left the bed after Kitty had fallen asleep, for there was no sign of her when Cecilia came into Kitty’s room with a breakfast tray at seven.
‘Take your time, Kitty, dear,’ she said as she settled the tray on the bed. ‘There’s plenty of hot water for everyone, and the hairdresser won’t be here for another hour, so I’ve booked you in for nine.’
‘Thank you.’ Kitty sipped the reviving tea. ‘How’s Charlotte this morning?’
Cecilia smiled. ‘Radiant, happy, excited. All the things a bride should be on her wedding morning. And who could blame her? Freddy is the most marvellous young man and we’re delighted to have him for a son.’ She opened the door. ‘Lily will be running her salon in the pink bedroom. Now I’ll leave you to it, dear,’ she said rather distractedly. ‘I’ve lots to do.’
Kitty ate her breakfast, her thoughts on her parents who were no doubt longing to be here to witness this special day in their son’s life. And then, not wishing to be sad on such a day, she climbed out of bed and went through into the small bathroom.
Lily was a lively little girl who talked non-stop as she worked, but Kitty was delighted with her hair, so the tip she gave was a bit more generous than she’d planned.
Looking in on Charlotte who was in a flurry of excitement, she gave her a hug and sent her to Lily. ‘I’ll see you downstairs when you’re dressed,’ she said as she headed back to her own room.
Kitty saw the crutches immediately and guessed that Cecilia must have brought them up after Mrs Fowler had delivered them. She tested them out and found them to be perfect. With a smile of happy contentment, she sat on the dressing stool for a while to smoke a cigarette and think about how Roger would react to the new, sophisticated Kitty that walked behind the bride.
She stubbed out the cigarette and checked the time, then began carefully applying her make-up. Washing her hands of any residue in case it marked the dress, she returned to the bedroom, and with a shiver of pleasure, felt the silk whisper over her skin. She had a bit of a tussle again to get the little buttons done up and then admired the effect in the cheval mirror. To complete the outfit, there was a 1920s headband of peacock blue that sparkled in the sunlight, and a flat silver sandal which she’d borrowed from Suzy.
As she looked once again in the mirror to check that everything was as perfect as she could get it, she heard footsteps going past her door and a murmur of voices. It was time to go downstairs. With a tingle of excitement, Kitty picked up her newly refurbished crutches and headed out to the small lift that would take her down to the elegant hall.
It rattled and clanged a bit and was rather claustrophobic, but it delivered her safely, and she went into the drawing room to find that David Bingham and Roger’s parents were already there. Beatrice looked extremely elegant in a silk two-piece suit of pale grey, and a broad-brimmed white hat with a matching grey ribbon round the crown. She wore pearls in her ears and round her neck, and her shoes were two-tone grey and white high-heeled pumps. Both men were in morning suits, and had already got stuck into the whisky.
‘I say, you do look smashing,’ said Roger’s father. ‘You see, Bea. I told you she’d look smashing, didn’t I?’
Beatrice rolled her eyes beneath the broad-brimmed hat. ‘Yes, dear. So you did – and you were right as always.’ She blew a kiss to Kitty. ‘You look simply wonderful, and I adore the crutches – what a clever idea.’
‘That was Mrs Fowler.’ Kitty sat down and handed them over to be admired. The silk cut from the hem had been turned into ribbons which she’d wound neatly round the crutches and finished off with circlets of the tiniest, sweetest dark blue silk roses at the bottom.
David Bingham handed her a glass of champagne. ‘Well done, Kitty. You look a real treat. Now I’d better go up and see if that daughter of mine has finished primping and preening. Time is getting on.’
‘I do love weddings, don’t you?’ sighed Beatrice.
Kitty saw the wistfulness in her expression and was madly trying to think of a reply that wouldn’t turn the subject to her and Roger when she was saved by the appearance of Cecilia.
‘They’ll be down in a minute,’ she said with breathless excitement as she checked the tilt of her lovely cream hat and ran nervous fingers down the cream silk dress and jacket.
Their glasses were topped up and Beatrice carried Kitty’s as they all trooped into the hall to await the entrance of the bride.
‘We’re coming down,’ called Charlotte from beyond the curve of the staircase. ‘Are you ready?’
As they assured her they were, Charlotte appeared at the top of the stairs on her father’s arm and waited with almost childlike excitement for their reaction.
There were gasps of admiration, for she looked utterly beautiful in the vintage cream silk wedding gown which narrowly skimmed her figure and fell gracefully to her feet in a flowing train. Her dark hair had been carefully brushed into generous Victory rolls, and the antique diamond tiara glittered with fire every time she moved. The gossamer lace veil floated around her as she slowly came down the stairs carrying a bouquet of trailing cream roses and fronds of fern, and the pearls at her neck and in her ears were a perfect match for the stunning dress.
Cecilia and Beatrice were trying very hard not to cry and smudge their make-up, and both men seemed to find it hard to actually speak. Kitty was emotional too, and she took Charlotte’s hand and gave it a little squeeze. ‘You look wonderful,’ she breathed.
‘So do you,’ she replied with an affectionate smile. ‘It’s all a far cry from our uniforms, isn’t it?’
‘It’s time we were going,’ said David as the church clock struck twelve. ‘You’re suitably late, Charlotte, but any longer and it will be unkind to poor Freddy.’ He ushered everyone out of the door and into the waiting cars which had been festooned with white ribbons and bunches of lucky purple heather.
Once everyone was settled, the cars moved off at a stately crawl down the long drive and into the village street, where everyone had come out to see the bride. The cars pulled to a halt outside the church, which was only yards away from the entrance to the Binghams’ driveway, and the chauffeurs jumped out to open doors and offer assistance as the villagers applauded and shouted their good wishes.
Kitty waited with Charlotte and her father until everyone, including the hovering verger, had disappeared inside and the doors were closed.
‘Are you ready, Charlotte?’ asked David.
‘I’ve been ready for this day since the moment I met him,’ she replied softly.
He kissed her forehead and tenderly drew the beautiful veil over her face. ‘Come on then, precious girl. Let’s get you married.’
Kitty had to blink back her tears as she followed them along the short path, for Charlotte’s happiness had affected her deeply. Then the doors were opened and the sound of organ music floated out to them, and they were drawn inside.
Freddy and Roger were waiting at the altar, both strikingly handsome in their dress uniforms, and as Charlotte drifted in a haze of silk and lace towards him, Freddy couldn’t resist taking a peek.
Neither could Roger, and as his eyes met Kitty’s she felt the love radiating from him and suddenly it was as if she was the bride.
The music stopped and the ceremony began. Charlotte passed Kitty the bouquet, and she had a moment of difficulty before she could hold it securely and maintain her balance.
As the service continued and hymns were sung, she began to tire, but she kept determinedly still, her gaze fixed to Roger’s broad back as he handed Freddy the rings and the happy couple recited their vows. Freddy lovingly drew the veil from Charlotte’s radiant face and kissed her, and then Kitty returned the bouquet and they were moving towards the vestry where they would sign the register.
Kitty was exhausted and her leg was trembling from the effort of having stood for so long, so she was hugely relieved when Roger came to place a steady hand beneath her elbow. ‘Take your time, darling,’ he murmured. ‘There’s no rush, and I can see you’re struggling a bit.’
She didn’t have the energy to reply as she was fully concentrated on getting into the vestry. He seemed to understand, for the moment they reached the small, cold room, he drew a chair forward so she could sit and rest.
‘You do look utterly beautiful today,’ he murmured as photographs were taken of the happy couple signing the register. ‘I couldn’t concentrate on the service much, because I simply couldn’t take my eyes off you.’
‘I felt exactly the same,’ she confessed shyly.
The register was signed, more photographs were taken and then the wonderful music accompanied them all down the aisle. As Kitty walked beside Roger she realised how deeply she loved him, and how life without him would be intolerable. She looked up at him as they reached the doorway and knew he felt the same way, and they shared a secret, loving smile that held promise and hope for the future.
The weather was surprisingly kind and Cecilia had managed somehow to provide a real feast, so the only thing to mar the reception was the roar of several squadrons of Spitfires and Hurricanes as they flew overhead. Grandmother Elizabeth sat in her bath chair like an empress and held court, while the rest of the guests mingled throughout the house and garden as the champagne flowed. Roger gave a wonderfully funny speech, Freddy replied with an equally amusing one, and then it was time to see the bride and groom off on their honeymoon.
Kitty had managed to get through the long afternoon on sheer determination, but as everyone stood on the steps and watched the car go down the drive to the rattling accompaniment of the tin cans and horseshoes trailing behind it she knew she’d overdone things.
Roger, bless him, understood, and within half an hour they’d said their goodbyes and set off for Cliffehaven.
Kitty rested her head on his shoulder and sleepily watched the road ahead, glad for the peace and quiet. ‘It was a wonderful day, wasn’t it?’ she sighed. ‘And I’ve never seen Charlotte looking so beautiful.’
‘I only had eyes for you,’ he replied softly as he swiftly planted a kiss on the top of her head.
Kitty nestled into his side, feeling as snug and contented as a cat. ‘Cecilia said I could keep the dress,’ she murmured, ‘so once I’ve got two legs again, perhaps we could go somewhere smart so I can show it off.’
Roger chuckled. ‘Two legs or one, it makes no difference to me, my darling, and of course I’ll take you somewhere smart.’ He was silent for a while. ‘So what was it Charlotte whispered to you that made you giggle and blush just before they left for their honeymoon?’
Kitty smiled, for Charlotte had whispered, ‘You’re next, Kitty. You and Roger are just perfect together.’
But that was between her and Charlotte – a delicious moment in a wonderful, emotional day. ‘It was just a bit of girlish nonsense,’ she replied, still with a smile in her voice. ‘Nothing for you to worry about, Roger.’
She must have fallen asleep for the rest of the journey, because suddenly they were approaching Cliffehaven. ‘Oh, I feel better for that,’ she said as she sat up and straightened her blouse.
‘I’m glad,’ he replied as he drove off the road and up the narrow chalk track that led into the hills. ‘You were obviously exhausted, even though you kept going quite wonderfully throughout the day.’
He parked the car and reached for the flask of coffee Cecilia had given him.
‘Why are we up here?’ Kitty asked. ‘I thought you had to be on duty this evening?’
‘Not until later,’ he replied as he handed her the coffee cup. ‘I haven’t been able to talk to you properly all day, and I thought it would be rather nice to come to our picnic spot for a while before I took you back to Beach View.’
Kitty sipped the scalding hot coffee and gazed at the glorious view. ‘Roger,’ she began hesitantly, ‘there’s something I’d like to ask of you.’ She glanced at him quickly, saw his frown, and hurried on to reveal the plan that had been forming in her mind over the past two weeks.
When she finally stopped talking, he gathered her to him and held her tight. ‘I’ll see what I can do,’ he said. ‘But I can’t promise anything, you understand that, don’t you?’ At her nod, he tipped up her chin and kissed her.
Then, before she could get her breath back, he took her hands and looked deeply into her eyes. ‘Kitty, will you marry me?’
Kitty stared at him in shock. ‘Are you sure?’ she breathed.
‘I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life,’ he said solemnly. ‘And with the way things are, I don’t want us to spend another day apart.’ His grip tightened on her hands. ‘I know this isn’t at all romantic, and that I should be down on one knee, but after today, I’ve come to realise that I simply cannot live without you.’
‘Oh, Roger, of course I’ll marry you,’ she managed through her tears of joy.
It was quite a long while later that he slipped his grandmother’s beautiful diamond engagement ring onto her finger.
THE FIRST WEEK
in October had come and gone, and Peggy was in a complete fluster of excitement, for not only would Jim be home on leave next weekend, but today was Kitty’s wedding day.
The house was in chaos, for all the girls were off duty and they were dashing about having baths and running back and forth into each other’s rooms in their underwear. Fran had been a real treasure, for she’d spent most of the morning doing everyone’s hair. Cordelia was in a twitter, Harvey was galloping about like a mad thing, and Ron had taken himself off to his basement bedroom to get away from it all.
As Peggy pulled a fresh towel from the upstairs airing cupboard, she could hear Charlotte and Kitty happily chattering away with the raucous Doreen, who’d arrived the night before. She smiled, for it was simply wonderful to have the house so alive again, and to know that Kitty’s future now shone like a bright new star. The girl had come a long way since they’d first met at the Memorial.