The guests, more than Harriet had expected, comprised close family friends and, of course, family. Charlie was there—apart from the slightest limp, he was quite recovered from his accident and he’d brought along a stunning brunette. He was also the best man.
Brett Livingstone was there, also almost fully mobile now and engaged to his physiotherapist. It was he who was to give Harriet away.
Arthur and Penny Tindall were there. Arthur wore a morning suit.
Harriet drew a very deep breath as she stepped out from her guest suite and paused for a moment.
Brett was waiting for her. And Damien who, thanks to Isabel’s sense of tradition, she had not seen since yesterday, was waiting at the table in the garden with Charlie by his side.
‘Ready?’ Brett mouthed, his eyes full of affection as he held out his arm.
She nodded and something brushed against her legs—Tottie. Tottie, with a ribbon in her collar and a wide smile, as if to say, It’s OK. I’m here.
Then she was beside Damien, who was looking quite breathtakingly handsome in a dark suit. And Brett stepped back, leaving her to her fate...
They exchanged a long glance that sent tremors through Harriet because that was the effect Damien had on her and always would, she suspected. Then his lips twisted and a wicked little glint lit his eyes. ‘I like your dress. I was afraid you’d wear something long.’
‘I was afraid you mightn’t marry me if I did,’ she whispered back.
‘For crying out loud, who mightn’t marry whom? Don’t tell me you two are having second thoughts!’ Charlie intervened, although sotto voce. ‘I’m a nervous wreck already.’
‘Why?’ Damien and Harriet asked simultaneously.
‘In case I lost the ring or dropped it or did something otherwise stupid.’ He ran his finger round his neck inside his collar. ‘Damn nerve-racking business this getting married bit. I might have second thoughts about it myself!’
Both Harriet and Damien laughed and the marriage celebrant cleared her throat and asked if she could proceed.
All three participants in front of her replied in the affirmative in a rather heartfelt manner, so she did.
Not many minutes later, Damien Richard Wyatt and Harriet Margaret Livingstone were pronounced man and wife and the bridegroom was told he might kiss the bride.
Damien put his arms around her. ‘I love you,’ he said and bent his head to kiss her lips.
But, at that moment, Penny Tindall, who had a rather penetrating voice, said, ‘Arthur...Arthur, the baby’s coming!’
And before the bemused gaze of the whole congregation plus the bridal party, Arthur Tindall sprang to his feet, and fainted.
‘Things are running true to form,’ Damien said to Harriet. ‘There’s something about us getting within a cooee of each other that just invites chaos!’
They laughed together and went to rescue Arthur.
* * *
‘It was always my deepest fear,’ Arthur said that evening as he clutched a glass of brandy, ‘that I would have to deliver the baby. That’s what did it. That’s what made me faint.’