Chapter 52
‘You always said you wanted a wedding in the grounds of Somerville Hall,’ whispered Nate.
‘That’s true,’ said Lili, clasping the bouquet, thinking that her dress was fabulous and the man by her side dressed in a tuxedo looked amazing.
‘I’m glad I finished the gardens in time.’
‘Me too,’ he whispered.
The priest looked at them and frowned.
‘I’m ready for the vows.’
They both nodded apologetically.
‘Sorry.’
The priest looked at Lili quizzically. ‘Should you be up here? I thought the head bridesmaid was in charge of the bride’s train. And the bouquet.’ He looked pointedly at the bouquet she was holding.
Lili smiled as she glanced at the beautiful flower arrangement made by her assistant at The Potting Shed. Zoe had real talent. ‘I’ve got that covered. I was just checking Nate had the ring.’ She smiled at Nate. ‘Right – I’d better go.’
Lili left the pagoda and hurried along the grass, down the aisle between the white chairs that had been assembled in rows in front of the pagoda where the wedding ceremony was taking place.
She recognised the guests already seated, catching the eye of some of her friends and smiling as she hurried by. Carys was seated in the front row, sitting between her father and Abigail’s brother, Luke. Lili grinned at the happy couple, who were sitting holding hands. They’d only been together three months, but she knew they were very much in love.
Lili thought how she wouldn’t be surprised if there was another wedding on the horizon. That would please all the people who worked at the Hall, currently seated behind the Somerville family. They would have a second day off work to attend another wedding.
Seated in the front row across the aisle from the Somerville household were Joss, Albert and Abigail’s mother. Behind them were Lili’s good friends from the small shop community she loved in Cobblers Yard. She was delighted they had been included in the guest list. Reggie doffed his fedora at Lili as she passed by. He was seated in the same row as Mabel and Marjorie from the charity shop, and Lili’s good friend, Hannah, had been invited too. She was settling into the flat above the antique shop and had just reopened the shop to customers.
There were former residents of Cobblers Yard too. She smiled at Nate’s parents, Ray and Sarah, who were seated behind Joss and Albert. Sometimes she forgot Ray that no longer ran the art and craft shop; she still found herself expecting him to pay a visit to The Potting Shed to buy flowers as an excuse to see Sarah there. She’d heard they were spending more time together. Despite being separated, she couldn’t see the pair ever getting divorced.
Lili noted the vacant seat at the end of that row. Invitations had been posted to all the shopkeepers in Cobblers Yard. They had even put one through the door of the old bookshop that had been standing forlorn and forgotten for many years, judging by the window display. Old dusty bookshelves full of cobwebs made it look like something from Halloween. She wasn’t surprised at the empty seat. Nobody had thought the owner would turn up. What they hadn’t expected, however, was an RSVP by return of post. Unable to attend, it was signed ‘A.’ It was the first anybody in Cobblers Yard had heard from the owner for decades.
Lili picked up her dress and quickened her pace as soon as the music started. There was a small band seated in a large marquee set up for the wedding reception afterwards. She joined the other bridesmaids, Zoe, Emily and Toby’s sister, Clarissa. They were all excited – and cold. This wasn’t exactly a traditional time of year for a wedding; it was a crisp January morning. But at least the sun was shining, and the happy couple were making their own decisions as to what they wanted to do with their lives.
All four bridesmaids turned to look as Abigail appeared from the marquee, walking towards them on the arm of her stepdad, Gerald. He was casting adoring gazes at his stepdaughter as he proudly walked her towards the bridesmaids, getting ready to take their places for the slow walk down the aisle.
Abigail smiled at her little sister. Inviting her to be a bridesmaid at her wedding and including her in the preparations before her big day – together they’d chosen her bridal gown and the bridesmaids’ dresses – had been one of the best decisions about her wedding. They’d made a start in repairing their relationship. She’d already asked Emily if she would be a godmother to her son. Abigail had found out at her twelve-week scan that it was indeed a boy. The twenty-week scan a fortnight ago had confirmed this.
She caught Gerald eyeing his future son-in-law as he stood at the altar. ‘I know I shouldn’t be bringing this up now,’ he whispered to Abigail, ‘but are you sure about your decision to support Carys in lobbying Parliament for a change in primogeniture law so that it doesn’t pass down the male line? It means your son will lose his right to inherit the Hall.’
Abigail didn’t give it a second thought. ‘It’s the right thing to do. It’s outdated. Things should have changed decades ago.’
‘I agree. But you do realise that if they had changed the law to favour the eldest child a generation ago, then Oliver would have been the rightful Lord Somerville because Daphne was the first-born.’
Abigail shook her head. ‘It was never on the cards. He was illegitimate.’
‘Well, maybe if things had been different, Daphne would have married Albert.’
Abigail smiled at her stepdad. ‘You’re right. Things might have played out very differently. But, you know what? I’m glad they didn’t. I’m so happy with our life in the cottage. I want to bring my son up there and know he has the freedom to make whatever choice he wants with his life. And it’s not just about me. It’s what Oliver and I want for Carys. Primogeniture isn’t for everyone. It isn’t for me or Bertie.’
Gerald nodded. ‘Or for Oliver – as it happens.’ He smiled. Neither was fishing, nor working with Abigail, doing the accounts of the local businesses in Cobblers Yard. Or helping out Lili, working on her sideline of landscaping gardens. Oliver had tried his hand at various things during the last three months, but it sounded as though he’d finally found his calling.
‘How’s his course going?’ Gerald asked as they neared the altar.
‘Very well, actually.’
Gerald heard he’d started a part-time degree in political science. Lobbying with Carys for a change in the law so that primogeniture didn’t favour the male line had proved a turning point for Oliver. His dream was to become an MP, representing his local community on issues affecting their lives.