Read Online Sealed With a Loving Kiss by Ellie Dean - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ellie Dean
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possible. He thought about her often and missed her horribly, and hoped she hadn’t forgotten about him in all the excitement of her new life in Cliffehaven.
Mary had written back to them, describing her job and her billet, the rehearsals for the charity concert, and the new friends she’d made here in Cliffehaven. She made no mention of Findlay but had told them about playing the piano in the pub, the delightful surprise at discovering how talented Fran was on the violin, and the invitation to play the organ at the wedding.
She’d assured Barbara that although Doris was a bit of a tricky customer, her sister Peggy was lovely, and had gently taken her through the rather distressing news that Cyril Fielding was not the sort of father to pursue – and that her mother’s identity and whereabouts were still unknown, and would probably stay that way.
Nothing had been resolved really, but she realised her search was at an end. Barbara had tried to persuade her to return to Black Briar Farm, but she had tactfully declined. She was enjoying her new freedom in Cliffehaven, and revelling in the chance to grow and mature and find her own path until it was time to take up her place at Lewes teacher training college.
She also assured Jack that of course she loved him still and thought of him constantly throughout the day as she sifted through the airgraphs – and at night, just before she went to sleep and dreamt of their future together. She didn’t go into any details about her search for Cyril to him, but merely mentioned the fact she’d decided to accept the way things were and move on. The precious locket was always kept close to her heart, and if he could get leave over Christmas, she would try her hardest to get back to Harebridge Green to see him.
There had been no more news of any leave, and now it was the 18th of December and the wedding was the following afternoon. Peggy had been working non-stop to get the house ready in time, and tonight would be hosting a dinner for Suzy’s parents as well as Doris, Anthony and Edward.
Doris was in a complete lather over all the arrangements for the reception she was holding in her home. She had bullied and bossed Mary and Ivy about to help clean, dust and polish the house until it shone, before commanding them to iron acres of white linen tablecloths and napkins and clean the silver. It had reached the point where they’d had more than enough.
They’d had a scratch supper of spam fritters and baked beans in the kitchen – the dining room had been off limits for two days as Doris had fussed over the table plan and decorations – and were about to escape for the evening when Anthony and his father came through the front door loaded down with boxes, cases and morning suits on hangers.
‘We’re just off,’ said Ivy firmly. ‘Mary’s got to do a last rehearsal on the church organ and I’m meeting me mates at the pictures. We done what we can, but she ain’t never satisfied with nothing, so we’ve given up.’
Mary smiled up at the two men as she greeted them. Edward Williams was a very ordinary-looking man in comfortable middle age, with a gentle outlook on life and a benign smile. He’d always been gracious to her and Ivy on his few visits home, and Mary liked him very much.
Anthony was tall and rather thin, his dark brown hair flopping over his brow, the horn-rimmed spectacles constantly slipping down his long nose. Dressed in his usual tweed jacket, corduroy trousers, shirt and sleeveless sweater, and with a shy, sweet smile, Mary could see why Suzy had fallen for him.
‘I think you’ll find your mother’s in a bit of a flap,’ she said quietly.
‘I suspected as much,’ muttered Edward dolefully as he hung the morning suits on the rack in the hall.
‘That’s why we’ve come,’ said Anthony, pushing his glasses up his nose. ‘Mother has clearly run you two ragged over the past few days, and we thought it best to take some of the pressure off you.
Mary had written back to them, describing her job and her billet, the rehearsals for the charity concert, and the new friends she’d made here in Cliffehaven. She made no mention of Findlay but had told them about playing the piano in the pub, the delightful surprise at discovering how talented Fran was on the violin, and the invitation to play the organ at the wedding.
She’d assured Barbara that although Doris was a bit of a tricky customer, her sister Peggy was lovely, and had gently taken her through the rather distressing news that Cyril Fielding was not the sort of father to pursue – and that her mother’s identity and whereabouts were still unknown, and would probably stay that way.
Nothing had been resolved really, but she realised her search was at an end. Barbara had tried to persuade her to return to Black Briar Farm, but she had tactfully declined. She was enjoying her new freedom in Cliffehaven, and revelling in the chance to grow and mature and find her own path until it was time to take up her place at Lewes teacher training college.
She also assured Jack that of course she loved him still and thought of him constantly throughout the day as she sifted through the airgraphs – and at night, just before she went to sleep and dreamt of their future together. She didn’t go into any details about her search for Cyril to him, but merely mentioned the fact she’d decided to accept the way things were and move on. The precious locket was always kept close to her heart, and if he could get leave over Christmas, she would try her hardest to get back to Harebridge Green to see him.
There had been no more news of any leave, and now it was the 18th of December and the wedding was the following afternoon. Peggy had been working non-stop to get the house ready in time, and tonight would be hosting a dinner for Suzy’s parents as well as Doris, Anthony and Edward.
Doris was in a complete lather over all the arrangements for the reception she was holding in her home. She had bullied and bossed Mary and Ivy about to help clean, dust and polish the house until it shone, before commanding them to iron acres of white linen tablecloths and napkins and clean the silver. It had reached the point where they’d had more than enough.
They’d had a scratch supper of spam fritters and baked beans in the kitchen – the dining room had been off limits for two days as Doris had fussed over the table plan and decorations – and were about to escape for the evening when Anthony and his father came through the front door loaded down with boxes, cases and morning suits on hangers.
‘We’re just off,’ said Ivy firmly. ‘Mary’s got to do a last rehearsal on the church organ and I’m meeting me mates at the pictures. We done what we can, but she ain’t never satisfied with nothing, so we’ve given up.’
Mary smiled up at the two men as she greeted them. Edward Williams was a very ordinary-looking man in comfortable middle age, with a gentle outlook on life and a benign smile. He’d always been gracious to her and Ivy on his few visits home, and Mary liked him very much.
Anthony was tall and rather thin, his dark brown hair flopping over his brow, the horn-rimmed spectacles constantly slipping down his long nose. Dressed in his usual tweed jacket, corduroy trousers, shirt and sleeveless sweater, and with a shy, sweet smile, Mary could see why Suzy had fallen for him.
‘I think you’ll find your mother’s in a bit of a flap,’ she said quietly.
‘I suspected as much,’ muttered Edward dolefully as he hung the morning suits on the rack in the hall.
‘That’s why we’ve come,’ said Anthony, pushing his glasses up his nose. ‘Mother has clearly run you two ragged over the past few days, and we thought it best to take some of the pressure off you.
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