“We really were,” Maggie answered. “Cross my heart.”
“Maggie,” Lilibet said, taking her hand and leading her over to the sofa, “I want to thank you—and Mr. Greene—for everything.”
Maggie blinked back tears as she sat next to the young woman. “It was our pleasure, Your Highness. And now you and Margaret have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.”
“Will you be back in January?” Lilibet asked. As Maggie searched for an answer, the girl suddenly realized, “You—you weren’t here to teach me maths, were you.” It was more of a statement than a question.
Maggie smiled. “Well, that’s partly why I was here,” she said. “And you have to admit it came in handy.”
“The code—” Lilibet began.
“Yes,” Maggie finished. “So, keep working on your maths, all right? And I’m sure we’ll see each other again. Someday.”
The day of Chuck and Nigel’s wedding dawned clear and sunny. Maggie awoke from her trundle bed, set up in Chuck’s old room, and spent a moment looking out the window, watching the gray turn to bright white and then, finally, a bright azure.
“Wake up, sleepyhead, it’s your wedding day!” she said to her old friend, still fast asleep.
Chuck groaned and pulled the pillow over her head. “Five more minutes …”
“Up!” Maggie pulled the duvet off.
Chuck sighed and turned over, a dreamy smile on her face. “It really is today, isn’t it?” She looked over at her wedding ensemble, on a hanger over the door. It wasn’t a white dress—not enough rations—but it was a lovely portrait-neck burgundy silk suit that Chuck’s mother had done over with an ivory lace collar.
“It’d better be,” Maggie said, sitting down on the corner of Chuck’s bed. “I don’t think my back can stand that trundle bed any longer.”
Chuck sat up. “Now, just because it’s not a featherbed in a castle.”
“Oh, please. Living at Windsor was like ‘camping in a museum,’ as Crawfie used to say.”
“Well, I hope it wasn’t too awful. I’m so glad you came a bit early—dealing with all of the wedding plans, plus the family and the future in-laws—or, as I like to call them, ‘the outlaws.’ ” Chuck rolled her eyes. “Well, let’s just say I’ll be glad to finally be married.”
“And you’re going to be a beautiful bride.”
“Nigel thinks so, at least, and that’s all I care about.” Chuck rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She wasn’t a conventional beauty, but she was handsome and her intelligence and wit gave her a sparkle that drew people to her.
“Well, we might as well start by getting you some tea and breakfast,” Maggie told her. “Don’t want the bride fainting away, now do we?”
“Is it going to be strange for you, Maggie? I mean, without John?”
It was, but Maggie didn’t want Chuck to spend even a moment of her day worrying about it. “It’s hard. Every day is hard. But life goes on. And I know he’d be so happy to see you and Nigel finally tie the knot. So, I’m fine, darling. Really.”
Maggie was dressed and putting on Chuck’s lipstick when Sarah arrived.
“Kittens!” she squealed, putting down her valise. “You both look ravishing!”
“Sarah!” Chuck and Maggie chorused, running to the slender, glamorous woman in the smart cherry-colored suit and matching turban. “You’re here!”
“Without a moment to spare,” she said. “The Ballet’s in Liverpool this week. The damn train kept breaking down. I’ve been up all night—never thought I’d get here.”
“Well, you’re here now,” Maggie said, “and that’s all that counts.”
“Plenty of time,” Chuck said.
“My, aren’t you calm for a bride-to-be!” Sarah exclaimed.
Chuck motioned to the glass of Buck’s Fizz Maggie had made for her. “That certainly doesn’t hurt.”
Sarah’s eyes lit up. “Oh, may I have one?”
“Of course,” Maggie said, mixing orange juice and champagne. “Let’s have a toast.”
The three women raised their glasses. “To Chuck,” Maggie began. “A beautiful bride and a beautiful woman, inside and out. We wish you a lifetime of happiness.”
They clinked glasses.
“To the honeymoon!” Sarah said, with a sly smile.
They clinked again.
Then, “To friends,” Chuck said. “War, bombs, rationing—my engagement—I couldn’t have done it without you.”