Jilted (23 page)

The previous night she had gone to bed in a happy haze, fully expecting to dream of Ilam. Instead, she had dreamed that she had gone to the church alone and on foot. It had been filled with people she knew, both here in her own village and at Illingham. As she had stood at the end of the aisle, which seemed to be much longer than that of St Peter’s Church, she could see no sign of Ilam. She began to walk up the aisle, and as she did so, everyone started to point at her and laugh. Morrison Morrison, who was standing facing her dressed as a clergyman, was laughing the
loudest
of all.

She woke up wringing with perspiration, and sat up in bed at once, staring about her. It was still nighttime, but she did not get to sleep again for a long time. When she did so, she enjoyed a dreamless rest, but she woke with a faint oppression of spirits. She soon pushed this mood to the back of her mind as her mother helped her to get ready, but as she got into the carriage, the dream came back.

Her father, seeing her thoughtful expression, asked her if she was all right and she answered in the affirmative. She just wished that it could have been a different church. Almost she wished that she had eloped as Ilam had jokingly suggested.

Walking into the porch would be the worst bit. Everything had been as it should be until she had walked into the porch and seen that Morrison was not there. If only she did not have to wait to see Gabriel until she had got inside the porch!

They walked through the lych gate and she could feel her legs start to tremble. Her father looked down at her concernedly and she returned his gaze with a wobbly smile. ‘Look,’ he said,
pointing
.
She turned her head towards the church, and there was Gabriel standing in the porch. He looked so handsome in his blue coat and white breeches that she found that her knees were
trembling
for quite another reason.

In a complete departure from tradition, Sir Wilfred released his daughter’s hand from his arm and laid it on that of her groom so that they could walk into church together.

‘How did you know?’ she asked him, as they reached the back of the church. He shrugged and grinned. ‘Oh Gabriel,’ she sighed, and those members of the congregation who turned at that point, witnessed another departure from tradition as the groom enfolded the bride in his arms
before
the service and soundly kissed her.

His Lordship’s Gardener

The Grand Tour

The Squire’s Daughter

Derbyshire Deception

Fallen Woman

The Wild Marauder

The Squire and the Schoolmistress

The Adventuress

The Other Miss Frobisher

A Gift for a Rake

Lady of Lincoln

Clerkenwell Conspiracy