Page 76 of A Family Affair
The wedding guests were seated at long tables under canopies to protect them from the blistering August sun and the hum of their voices carried on a much-needed gentle breeze.
Honey was also shaded, by an Edwardian parasol loaned to her by Clarissa for the special day. The cavernous wardrobes at Chamberlain, not to mention the attic rooms, contained a treasure trove of antiques, and Honey’s wedding dress was one of them. Thanks to Clarissa’s preservation of all things belonging to Eleonora, her bedroom was a time capsule, and everything inside remained exactly as it was on the day she left.
During one of their many long talks over the past months, where Honey learned all about her family history, Clarissa said that the only time she’d ever seen her mother dig her heels in was with regards to Eleonora’s bedroom. Between them, they’d surmised that Clarissa’s mother may have had her suspicions or was actually privy to her husband’s deceit, but was powerless to intervene. Whatever the reason, maybe she too had lived in hope that Eleonora might be out there and would one day return. They would never know.
When Levi and Honey announced they were getting married, she, Clarissa and Eleonora had raided the wardrobe in Eleonora’s room. There, amongst treasures that sent Honey into a retro frenzy, they found a beautiful Norman Hartnell gown and, after a few nips and tucks, she had her perfect wedding dress.
They’d been married on the lawn, in a simple ceremony attended by close family and friends – over a hundred of them. Gospel had insisted on doing the catering which was a rather quirky fusion of so many nationalities that they’d lost count. Honey and Levi didn’t care. What mattered was all the people they loved were there to see them marry.
‘Penny for them, Mrs Robinson.’ Levi gave her a gentle bump.
Honey bumped him back. ‘I’m just looking at our little family, Mr Robinson and feeling rather proud of them and us, if you must know.’
‘I know what you mean. They’re ace, aren’t they. And so is this. Imagine us getting married in a place like this… and I’m glad we did the deed sooner rather than later. We’ve made a lot of people very happy today, me included, obviously.’
Looking up at Levi, who’d opted for more casual groom attire in his open neck shirt and extremely colourful canary blue waistcoat, she saw he was a bit on the pink side.
‘Here, get under my parasol otherwise you’ll look like a lobster and yes, I’m glad too. It would’ve been stupid to wait, and it wouldn’t have been the same without them all here. I always imagined Grandad walking me down the aisle, and, as we’ve all learned since last year, nobody wants to live a life full of regrets.’
It was a sobering thought, not morbid, though, because facts were facts: nobody knew how long they’d have their two very senior citizens with them. Time was of the essence.
Going for a more cheerful vibe, Honey pointed, ‘And Eleonora and Clarissa have loved being part of it all, haven’t they. Look at them, like the two queens holding court. I need to remind the photographer to get a one of them together, a proper portrait that we can have made huge and keep forever.’
They both looked towards the terrace and there seated right in the middle of the table were her great-grandmother and her great-great-aunt looking every inch the ladies of the manor.
Rather than the bride and groom taking centre stage, Honey and Levi had wanted Eleonora and Clarissa to be the stars of the show. The newlyweds had sat at opposite ends of the trestle tables during the wedding breakfast knowing they’d have the rest of their lives side by side. Like they were on the day Levi proposed.
It had been a sunny March morning, as they sat outside Ernie’s allotment shed, drinking coffee, eating their picnic and ticking off his very precise to-do list. And while it had come as a shock, Honey hadn’t needed more than a nano-second to say yes. She remembered Levi’s words, all of it, exactly.
When Ernie began spending most of his time at Melba Villa with Eleonora, both of them determined to make up for lost time, he’d been given his own room and often stayed for days on end. Levi, who was spending most of his time at Honey’s by then, had offered to take care of Ernie’s allotment and, after a bit of humming and hawing, Grumpy Grandad had agreed.
Levi threw himself into the task and bought a pair of wellies. He’d also invested in fold-up deckchairs. Which was where they were sat, side by side, when he said, ‘Look at us, like an old married couple with our corned beef and piccalilli sarnies and Radio 4 playing in the background.’
‘It’s only on that channel because Grandad’s transistor is so old that’s all you can get. We could listen to something on your phone if you want and anyway, less of the old. And I’d quite like to be a married couple one day.’ Once she’d said it, the words couldn’t be scribbled out or rewound so cringing to the toes of her pink wellies, Honey hoped he hadn’t noticed. But he had.
‘I’m glad you said that because … well, when you know you know. Don’t you.’
He looked at Honey who cautiously met his gaze and held her breath, and unusually for her, remained silent as Levi embellished.
‘And I know that you’re the one for me, and… well I was going to wait till your birthday next month but why wait when I can say it right now?’
She couldn’t help herself even though she was sure what he meant. ‘Say what?’
‘That I think we should get married.’
In that wonderful memory, Honey remembered that Levi didn’t look nervous. In fact she’d never seen him so serious and matter of fact.
Her reply was just as simple and to the point. ‘I agree. I know I know, so yes. I think we should get married too.’
His face cracked into a huge smile and then he went all serious again and he was suddenly looking around for somewhere to put his cup and sarnie. ‘Do you want me to get down on one knee and all that because I don’t mind but it’s a bit muddy and these jeans are clean on…’
‘No, I don’t want you to do that. I think it’s cringe. Just give us a kiss and then stick the kettle back on. Grandad’s got a bottle of whisky in the cupboard, so we’ll have that in our coffee to celebrate.’
And that was that.
They could have waited a while, but neither of them could see the point, and the rest of the family were in agreement, especially when the hierarchy weren’t getting any younger (and as his ecstatic mum pointed out, neither was Levi).
So there they were, married. Mr and Mrs Robinson. Sitting on a wall looking at their rather amazing family – because they were, Honey believed that more than anything.
