Page 147 of The Wedding Dress Repair Shop
‘You are so talented!’ Simon told Viv when we went back into the sitting room. ‘A brilliant cook as well as a mega-selling author.’
‘She’s a really excellent poet, too,’ said Honey.
‘Yes, but there’s nomoneyin poetry these days, unless you’re a performance poet, out on the road the whole time,’ objected Lyn, who looked as if she was only staying upright because George had his arm around her.
‘She doesn’tneedthe money, Lyn!’ pointed out Honey. ‘She can write what she likes.’
Apart from an extra brightness in her dark eyes, Honey seemed entirely unaffected by the champagne, and went on, ‘What an action-packed day it’s been, hasn’t it? The museum opening day couldn’t have gone better, and then all the drama of Amy Weston turning up alive and well was the icing on the wedding cake.’
‘And then the bride whose dress we bought in the charity shop suddenly appearing at the end!’ I put in.
‘Not to mention you and Thom getting engaged – and then, finally, Viv’s outing as the acclaimed author Gus Silvermann!’ Honey said.
Viv, still huddled into her armchair, made one of her alarmed squeaks, but Lyn said, bracingly, ‘I’m sorry I gave you away, but you really should learn to be proud of those books, Viv. Imean, the sales wereenormous, especially after the films. But that was all ages ago and now there isn’t that much interest in the more Dungeons and Dragons end of the fantasy market.’
‘I’m sure Viv would still prefer us to keep it to ourselves,’ Honey said, and Viv nodded fervently.
‘Of course we won’t tell anyone else,’ Jo-Jo agreed, for all of us. She grinned suddenly, her rosy cheeks bunching up into dimples. ‘After all, we’ve had years of pretending we don’t know who Thom really is!’
‘Was,’ said Thom, firmly.
*
When Thom and I were leaving, Jo-Jo took our hands and blessed us, then said she’d love to perform our wedding ceremony, if we’d like that.
The thought of marrying Thom in that lovely little whitewashed church, with the angels flying in the window overhead, made my head spin even more than it had been doing, but in a happy kind of way.
Rosa-May
28 July
My nausea ever increases, so that I retch when trying to eat and grow ever weaker.
Sophie has instructed the cook to make dainty morsels to tempt an appetite I no longer possess, and Sara coaxes me to sip clear broth or warm milk.
It was evident that my journey to London would have to be undertaken in easy stages, which would be costly, but I have pinned my hopes on Guy’s agreement to my plans and to his giving Rafe instructions to enable me to travel – and for the sake of my health, the sooner, the better.
*
Today my hopes have been entirely dashed! It seems that against my wishes, Rafe told Guy that I was with child and Guy writes that I must continue at Up-Heythram Hall, under Sophia’s care, and await him here!
The letter was both short and couched in the coldest terms, notat all in his old, slapdash and affectionate manner, but I reasoned that he must still be suffering great pain, which would account for it.
He has informed Rafe that he would shortly set out for England, in the company of his friend Captain Wentworth, whose family had engaged a doctor to accompany them.
I fear I must be resigned to staying here for the present, at least, though I comfort myself with the recollection of how much Guy dislikes the place, so that once his health is regained, I am sure he will be as eager to leave it as I am!
*
August
Sophia constantly urges me to eat, but I know her concern is only for the child and not for me, especially since she unkindly informed me that since I have become so thin and lost my looks, Guy will hardly recognize his wife.
There is some truth in this, for the mirror shows me a pale and wan face, the eyes dark-circled.
As I enter into my third month, Sara assures me that many women lose their sickness soon after this, so that I must hope I am one of them!
I do not sleep well, for my dreams are filled with terror and foreboding.
