by Ellie Dean
She took his hand and giggled. ‘It’s too late for you to back out now,’ she whispered. ‘We’re in this together, come what may.’
They shared a loving smile and gazed into one another’s eyes as the registrar began the service. They exchanged their vows almost in a daze, and before they knew it, the ring was on her finger and he was kissing her.
Fran struck up a lively Irish jig, accompanied by Robert on the saxophone, and four members of the local band on tambour, flutes and a penny-whistle. Everyone got to their feet to clap and tap their feet in time, and once the registers were signed and witnessed, Ron tucked Rosie’s hand into his arm and proudly walked with her back down the aisle, where Daisy was enthusiastically tossing confetti in her wake. His heart was bursting with pride and happiness, and when he gazed into Rosie’s lovely eyes, he could see his adoration reflected there.
The wedding celebrations went on late into the night, and when they were finally able to slip away from the Officers’ Club to the Anchor, it was to find that their bedroom had been strewn with flowers and rose petals. Ron couldn’t carry her over the threshold, or up the stairs, but as they stood in the bedroom doorway he took her hand and kissed her. ‘I will love you to me last breath,’ he whispered against her lips.
‘And I you,’ she replied.
Ron swept her into his arms, kicked the door shut behind him and with a swooning, overwhelming passion made love to her as if it was for the first time.
Dear Reader,
Another few months have flown by and, although we’ve been blessed with a wonderful summer here in England, I have been deeply immersed in the winter and spring of 1944/45 which was cold and wet. I did get time to sit in my garden and enjoy the sunshine, but the Reilly family and all at Beach View kept bringing me back to my desk.
Overshadowing the roller coaster of Ron and Rosie’s wedding plans are the overseas events in January and February 1945 in which we find our POWs and our servicemen facing severe challenges in order to survive. Victory in Europe is at hand, but Jim is still fighting the Japanese in Burma and, with the harsh winter hindering the POWs on their death march across Germany, nothing is guaranteed.
Peggy has her own trials to deal with – not least the worry over her scattered family and the continued V-2 attacks. Although there are challenges ahead for her too, her indomitable spirit keeps her going even through the darkest days when tragedy strikes at Beach View and it seems she might lose someone very close to her heart.
I’ve had many lovely letters and emails from fans telling me how much they love the Reilly family, and how good it feels to be back in the love and warmth of Peggy’s kitchen. I feel the same, for they are my family too, and I shall miss them when the series ends. But there are two books still to come, so it’s not over quite yet.
I do appreciate the lovely emails and encouraging messages on Facebook, and I feel very blessed to have made so many friends through social media. Writing can be a solitary occupation, and it’s a great boost to know that all the effort and hours of writing and research is being cheered on by so many well-wishers.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and that the New Year of 2019 will bring health and happiness to each of you. With all best wishes,
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Epub ISBN: 9781473539822
Version 1.0
Published by Arrow Books 2019
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Copyright © Ellie Dean 2019
Front cover photograph © Silas Manhood; front cover background © Topfoto
Ellie Dean has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.
First published in Great Britain in 2019 by Arrow Books
Arrow Books
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Arrow Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781784758134
