Page 100 of The Wedding Dress Repair Shop
‘Don’t rush things – give her space,’ he replied.
Two minds with but a single thought.
*
At the pub that night I had the most delicious gnocchi for dinner.
Afterwards, I felt pleasantly tired and relaxed, which was probably the fresh air and exercise, but also, more surprisingly, I felt at home, so that I had to remind myself how short a time I’d been in Great Mumming.
As well as the immediate circle of Thom, Simon, Pearl, Derek and Baz, Honey and Viv had also come over for dinner and I spotted Ginny, too, with a group of very New Age-looking friends.
There were a few more vaguely familiar faces, probably from the local shops.
‘You know, I already feel as if I’ve been here for months, if not years,’ I said.
Pearl, who was looking cool and remote again, said I’d fitted in like a piece of the jigsaw they hadn’t realized was missing.
‘What a lovely thing to say!’ I exclaimed.
‘It’s quite true, now I come to think about it,’ Simon agreed.
‘Yes, it only needed a small, explosive redhead to make life here complete,’ Thom chipped in. ‘Plus an alien being, masquerading as a cat!’
Rosa-May
In a matter of days, Guy had swept me off my feet. Indeed, it was like being caught up in a hurricane and my wits were entirely addled by love. The fear of losing him even overcame all my previous terrors arising from the married state …
Looking back, it was a kind of madness. Sara told me so, although Letty thought it all truly romantic.
Guy obtained a special licence and on 16 May we were quietly married. I was supported only by Letty and Sara, and the latter disapproved so profoundly that she issued dire warnings of the consequences right up to the altar.
I wore a pelisse and bonnet of celestial-blue velvet, which Guy said exactly matched my eyes, and a spotted muslin dress with the new style of sleeves.
Guy was attended by the friend with whom he was staying, Captain Wentworth, who thought it all a great jape and prophesied that I would enjoy the life of an army officer’s wife, following the drum across the Continent, just as much as being on the stage.
Of course, there were many private matters that had to be settled in a rush. It was lucky that I had completed my currentcontractual obligations in London, without yet having signed one for my usual touring appearances.
Mr Blake, of course, could not be happy to lose me, and at such short notice, but with his wife’s encouragement gave me a parting gift of the costume I wore as Titania – which, due to my small and slender frame would not have fitted anyone else – and a set of coloured plates depicting Oberon and two or three of the other performers in costume.
It was when Mr Blake said to me that he would now, of course, place my financial affairs in my new husband’s hands that it came home to me how very much my life was about to change.
Apparel suitable to the rigours of my new life was procured and Guy presented me with a pair of small calf-bound books with invitingly blank pages, in which to write my impressions of my new life.
Guy had written to his brother to tell him of his intention to marry me and that this event would have come to pass by the time he received the letter.
To this, came a reply that although they could not approve of the marriage, yet since it was done, they would consent to receive us at Up-Heythram Hall.
I was sure he and his wife considered this a great act of condescension! But disapprove although they might of Guy’s marrying an actress, the deed was done, after all!
32
Taking Shape
That night I slept heavily and dreamed about Rosa-May again, which was hardly surprising since I’d read some more of her journal before turning in … not to mention having eaten rather a lot of rich sauce with the gnocchi, followed by a large slice of lemon panettone.
Rosa-May seemed to have shot to stardom and rapidly become the darling of the stage. At first it was evident she had such a fear of childbirth that she had never seriously considered marriage. But now, she had suddenly abandoned both her career and fears for love, and intended accompanying her soldier husband when he rejoined his regiment abroad. Up to this point in her journal she’d displayed a single-minded determination that had reminded me of Mirrie, but now I couldn’t help thinking she was more like me, when I fell in love with Marco and lost the thing dearest to me – my friendship with Thom.
I’d woken just as early as usual and, although slightly less refreshed, felt keen to get back to my work.
