An Innocent Bride

by Betty Neels

  She got into bed finally, determined to go over the day's happenings in a sensible way. She was blissfully happy, but she must remember to be practical as well... Betsy crept onto the bed and curled up beside her, and Katrina, despite her good resolutions, went to sleep too.

  She woke when a young girl in a very clean print apron drew back the curtains and put a tray of tea on the table beside the bed with a cheerful good morning. `And Mr Simon says he'll be at the front door in twenty minutes, miss.'

  Wide awake now, Katrina drank her tea, offered a saucer of milk to Betsy and jumped out of bed. She had a quick shower and dressed. She put- on a cotton dress, wishing she had had more time to select the best of her wardrobe, pinned up her hair in a hurry, put on her sandals, begged Betsy to be good and flew downstairs.

  Simon was standing at the open door with the dogs beside him. He came to meet her as she crossed the hall, put his hands on her shoulders and looked down into her happy face.

  `You slept well? Perhaps I should have left you to sleep longer.'

  He didn't kiss her, and after a moment she said, `I slept very well, and I couldn't stay in bed on such a glorious morning. Are we going for a walk?'

  When he nodded, she set off beside him; she had expected to be kissed, but his greeting had been casual. Perhaps now that she was at his family home-away from Rose Cottagehe was having second thoughts...

  They walked the length of the big garden behind the house, crossed a plank bridge over the small stream at the end of it and began a gentle climb through the trees of a copse which covered the low hill before them. The path was narrow. Simon led the way, extending a hand behind him to hold hers, and as she felt his firm cool grip her silly fears became nonsense.

  At the top of the hill the trees petered out onto a flat grassy patch overlooking the country before them: a pleasant vista of fields, with the last of the wheat being harvested, cows and horses roaming here and there, and in the distance a winding river. And over it all the sun shone from a blue sky.

  Still holding hands, they stood and looked, and Katrina said, `It's so glorious ... no one minds us being here?"

  'No-it belongs to the family. It's a place I love and that's why we've come here together, because this is where I'm asking you to marry me, Katrina.'

  She turned into his arms as naturally as a child. `Oh, Simon, there's nothing I want more, and, yes, please, I'll marry you.'

  He bent to kiss her, and she knew then why he hadn't kissed her that morning. There was no need for him to speak, the kiss told her everything. Presently she lifted her head. `You never seemed to be in love with me.'

  `My dearest, I have been so frightened of scaring you away. I think I've loved you from the moment I saw you sprawling in the road-and so cross too.'

  He kissed her again. `And so delightful and so aloof. Your hidden heart tucked away out of sight for fear of anyone discovering how lonely you were.' His arm tightened around her.

  `I had Aunt Thirza.'

  `A wonderful lady; she was your mother and father, brothers and sisters, and she loved you. And now you have another family.' He added, suddenly brisk, `We had better go and eat our breakfast with them...'

  They stayed for three days, and when they drove back to Rose Cottage the plans for their wedding had been made-in just over a month's time, after the banns had been read, and in the village church. And it was to be a white wedding.

  Katrina, dreaming of white silk and orange blossom had said, `And I'd like Tracey to be my bridesmaid.' She had sat down and written a letter straight away, while the Glenville family made a list of guests.

  It was a formidable list. `But I haven't any family,' Katrina had said.

  `The Peterses, Mrs Ward, Lady Truscott-half the village,' Simon had reminded her.

  They had left directly after an early breakfast and were hack at Rose Cottage by midday. Simon didn't delay long, he had private patients to see later that afternoon, but they had brought a picnic with them and sat down in the kitchen to eat it while the dogs and Betsy roamed round the garden.

  `I won't be able to see much of you, darling, for the next week or two. I'll come down on Sunday and hear the banns read, but I'll be in Bristol on the following week.' He glanced at his watch. `We just have time to see your vicar. He'll have had my letter, so it shouldn't take more than a few minutes.'

  An hour later Katrina was back at the cottage.. The banns had been arranged and Simon had kissed her goodbye and driven away. She would have to get used to that, she reflected soberly; doctors had to share their lives with so many other people. But he would always come back to her... She smiled widely as she tidied the kitchen.

  Simon's mother had wasted no time. The invitation cards had been printed while they were at Simon's home, and Katrina got them out of her bag now and started making a list. Tomorrow she would go to Mrs Dyer's and post them. She sat up late, making more lists; she would need clothes, a wedding dress and a veil, a dress for Tracey, a new wardrobe, however small, in which to start married life...

  The village was agog. It was to be the wedding of the year; best hats were taken from their boxes and refurbished, flowers for the church promised from all sides, and Mrs Dyer and a party of chosen ladies went off to Warminster to choose a suitable present for the happy pair. Lady Truscott offered the Manor for the reception, Dr Peters begged to be allowed to give Katrina away, and Mrs Ward wrote to say that Tracey was over the moon and could she have a pink dress?

  And there had been a great bunch of red roses from Simon.

  Sunday came and Katrina got up far too early, anxious to be ready for Simon. There was so much to tell him. When he did come she flew into his arms. Never mind all the plans to be discussed, they could wait for a while.

  He looked tired, she thought anxiously, but there was nothing tired in his greeting. `We'll go home for the rest of the

  day,' he told her. `Mrs Peach has been up half the night cooking something special. Have we time for coffee?'

  She had it ready, and they sat at the kitchen table opposite each other.

  `Now tell me your news,' he invited, and then grinned suddenly. `It's hard to be sensible, isn't it?'

  She put out a hand and he took it in his. She said, suddenly shy, `Yes, it is.' And then she began on her news. `Everyone has been so kind. Dr Peters wants to give me away, I've booked rooms for your family at the Dog and Thistle-it's quite comfortable and very clean. I hope it will do-and Lady Truscott wants us to have the reception at the Manor. It's her wedding present to us. Only I said I must ask you first. The whole village has been invited.'

  `So we had better accept, hadn't we?' He smiled and said, `And don't worry that Maureen will be there. She left yesterday. She's taken a sudden vacancy in a team going to India. The hospital released her on the grounds of urgency.'

  He leaned across the table and kissed her. `I've missed you, my dear love. And I shall be away until next weekend. But I've brought a phone with me, so at least we can talk each evening. I shall have to go straight to St Aldrick's on Saturday, when I get back, but I'll be here on Sunday and this time we'll go to my church and hear the banns read there.'

  He put down his mug. `And I've something else.' He took a small box from his pocket and opened it. The ring was oldfashioned, three sapphires set in diamonds, and it was beautiful. `It was my grandmother's.'

  He took her hand and slipped the ring on her finger and she said. `It's beautiful, Simon. I'll wear it with pride and

  love.'

  He picked up her hand and kissed the palm. `We have to go together and get our wedding rings. Not next week, of course, but I'll keep a day free after that.'

  And presently they went to church and sat, unmindful of the friendly stares, and heard their banns read.

  Katrina went to London that week, taking with her all the money she had. She must have a wedding dress, and a pretty outfit in which to go away, then one or two new dresses, and she also needed shoes and undies-a whole host of things she had managed to do
without. And of course pink silk for Tracey's dress.

  She spent the whole day going from one shop to the next and went home laden with parcels, well pleased with herself. The wedding dress she had discovered after a dedicated search-cream chiffon over a silk slip, very plain, with long sleeves and a modest neckline. She had found it in a smalll shop off Oxford Street, and the saleswoman had found a delicate veil to go with it. After that she had patiently tracked down almost everything else she needed, and there was still a little money left.

  She set to work the next day on Tracey's dress, with its matching cap, and what with her sewing and people calling with good wishes and presents the week flew by. And each evening Simon phoned her.

  On the following Sunday he came, and they drove to Wherwell, went to church and then spent the day in the garden with the dogs, exchanging their news, pausing now and then to smile at each other, two people quite sure of their love. The professor drove her back to Rose Cottage in the late evening, bidding her a most satisfying goodbye and telling her that he would fetch her early the next day so that they might buy their wedding rings... '

  And then, suddenly, it was her wedding day. Mrs Ward and Tracey had arrived the day before, and were to stay until Katrina and Simon got back from their honeymoon and could collect Betsy. They were up early, and presently Mrs Ward and Tracey left for the church and Katrina was alone, sitting quietly waiting for Dr Peters.

  She looked beautiful in her pretty dress, her bouquet laid carefully on the table. Simon had sent it: white roses with creamy hearts, lilies, orange blossom and stephanotis and, tucked into its heart, moss roses. She sniffed their freshness and wished that Aunt Thirza could have been with her, but it wasn't a day to feel sad, and she looked up with a small smile as Dr Peters came up the path to fetch her.

  The church was packed, and those who couldn't get in were waiting outside to see Katrina arrive. For a moment she hesitated in the porch. The sea of faces under festive hats were turned towards her, and then she didn't see them any more. There was Simon, her dear professor, immaculate in his morning coat. If only he would turn around...

  He did, and smiled down the length of the aisle to her, and she smiled back as she and the doctor began to walk towards him. The church might be filled with people, but for the two of them there was no one else there, only the vicar reciting the age-old ceremony.

  It wasn't until they were at the Manor, awaiting the first of their guests, that the professor took her by the hand and led her to a small room off the entrance hall.

  `Why are we here?' asked Katrina. `Everyone's coming through the front door.' She tugged at his arm. 'Simon, dear...'

  He took her gently in his arms. `They won't be here for a minute or two, and in that time I can kiss my wife.'

  Which he did, with a thoroughness that betokened well for their future happiness.

  Katrina tucked her veil out of the way. `If this is being married then I'm going to like it very much,' she told him.

  He kissed her finally, rearranged her veil, and a moment later there they were, smiling calmly at the first of their guests. Professor and Mrs Glenville.