by Cathy Ace
Aubrey brightened a little. ‘That’s good news, that is, Tudor. Thanks.’
Someone in the group of rapt guests shouted, ‘It’s a terrible curse that, you know, Aubrey. Look what’s happened to you. Maybe you should dump the lot of it.’
‘There is no curse,’ replied Aubrey forcibly. ‘My family’s not been blessed with the best of health, it’s true, but you can’t put that down to the fact we own a set of things. But Rhys thought it was all real, see, and he was terrified Ann would die before her time if she and I ever became more than friends. We’d both known that Ann’s dad had been trying to stop us being together since we were little, but we never knew it was because of that. So Ann and I sat there in those sheds for days. The nights were awful cold, and he’d only given us a couple of blankets each. She cried such a lot, and I couldn’t help her at all. It was terrible. Worst time of our lives. I have no idea what Rhys’s plan was, because he never told me that. Maybe he didn’t have one, I don’t know. It seemed to me he’d acted out of anger and fear, then didn’t know what to do with us once he’d carted us off. But I can tell you it was frightening and I hated it, and I was very worried about Ann. I didn’t know what he was doing to her, see. Then, for no reason I could fathom, he came back the night before last and dragged us both into his Land Rover, still tied up, and dumped us in a shed at the back of his house. Ann’s poor mother was beside herself when she found us there yesterday morning. Went at it hammer and tongs they did then, Netta and Rhys. Then, once he heard the sirens, Rhys was off in the Land Rover. I’m sorry he had the crash. It would have been better if he hadn’t. But there it is. Anyway – when this lot’s healed—’ he raised his sling a little and motioned to his face – ‘I’ll be back at work, after Ann and me get married. Which we will do as soon as her mam’s able to be with us. Thank you to everyone who helped find us and get us freed. I don’t know the people concerned but I understand we have a group of women here who never gave up on Ann and me, and were the people who finally managed to get the police involved. They’ve been very good, have the police. Sorry they didn’t take things more seriously, I think. One of them was very insistent I should see it all from their point of view, that they thought I’d just gone off on my own. I do understand, in a way, but you think they’d have done something when they found my van abandoned. They said they thought I’d just left it there.’
‘Never do that with your van, would you, Aubrey?’ called a female voice.
Aubrey managed a weak smile, ‘You’re right about that. After Ann, I think I love my van more than anything. It’s part of my name round here. Part of me, my family. Morris the Van is a good way to be known. Anyway, I hope the women who kept investigating all come and find me in a minute so I can thank them in person. Now I’ll hand the proceedings back to His Grace, thank you all very much.’
As Edward helped Aubrey descend the staircase, Henry motioned that Stephanie should speak. She allowed the applause for Aubrey’s speech, and the heartfelt greetings from his friends and neighbors to die down, then said, ‘Thank you for that, Aubrey. His Grace and I also want to thank the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency for their tenacity and investigative diligence. On a personal note, I’d like to thank them very much for ensuring I can stand here in this gown. Ladies, please do take Aubrey up on his request to meet you all. You all deserve his, and our thanks.’ This time the applause was more festive, various shouts of ‘Welcome to Anwen-by-Wye’ and ‘Glad you’re here on the Chellingworth Estate’ resounded, and Althea, Carol, Annie, Mavis and Christine allowed themselves to be congratulated by those positioned closest to them.
‘Looks like the locals have accepted us,’ whispered Mavis to Althea as they began to make their way back to their seats from the spot they’d occupied in the great hall for Aubrey’s speech.
‘Quite right too,’ replied the dowager.
Once the hubbub had subsided, Stephanie continued, ‘Now, with your indulgence, I think I should return to a very important aspect of a wedding day. I have removed the living myrtle from my bridal bouquet, which Henry and I will plant in the garden to ensure a fertile marriage, a tradition we are both happy to observe—’ she smiled coyly at her groom who shuffled from foot to foot somewhat uncomfortably – ‘so now I invite every unmarried woman in the great hall to come forward – come along now, don’t be shy ladies, girls – so I can perform a very important task. On the count of three, I shall throw this bouquet into the air, and we all know tradition tells us the person who catches it will be the next to marry. Come along now – yes, Annie, Christine this means you too – everyone come forward – ready now? And … one … two … three …’
Stephanie Twyst, Duchess of Chellingworth, had a good arm on her, and the floral arrangement arced high above the waving arms at the foot of the stairs. For once in her life, Annie Parker was delighted to be a good head taller than anyone else in the place and, as she looked at the bouquet in her upstretched hands, she saw the smile on her friend Carol’s face gazing down from the gallery.
‘Good catch!’ shouted Carol, then she winked at Tudor Evans, who blushed.
‘Now isn’t that something,’ said Mavis, rising to her feet to applaud. ‘What a lovely way to wrap up a case. I’m surprised Annie didn’t fall and break her neck trying to catch it, which would be just like her.’
‘Annie’s a good girl, and Carol’s been the clumsy one these past few days,’ said Althea smiling, then she started to hum and whistle ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ as she took a full glass of sherry from the little table beside her.
‘Not appropriate, Althea dear,’ chided Mavis gently.
‘The extra sherry, or the ditty?’ asked Althea wickedly.
Mavis coughed politely as Althea wrinkled her nose at her friend and colleague. ‘Oh go on with you, Mavis MacDonald, have one yourself and live a little. Or why not ask Edward to bring you a “wee dram” which I know you prefer. My only son is married, let’s celebrate. Now all I have left to deal with is that one, over there.’ She jerked her thumb in the direction of Clementine, whose wheelchair was still backed into the fireplace. ‘Children – such a worry for a parent.’
‘Aye, and it’s a worry that never goes away, whatever their age,’ agreed Mavis with a nod.
‘True,’ said Althea, waggling her cane in the air to attract the attention of Edward, who was hovering in the general vicinity, ‘and what we’ll do for them – well, it’s anyone’s guess. Though I must say I feel my duty towards Henry is largely undertaken at last. Now it’s up to him and Stephanie to produce an heir because I cannot do that for them. Think they’re up to it, Mavis?’ She winked at her friend, who tutted loudly then accepted the glass of single malt with which Edward had magically appeared.
‘To the Duke and Duchess of Chellingworth,’ said Mavis, raising her glass toward Althea’s.
‘And to the future patter of tiny feet,’ replied Althea, swigging back her sherry in one gulp. ‘And I don’t mean McFli’s paws,’ she added.
