Leonora bathed and dressed in the gown her mother had made and even Alicia, whose face was as grey as the October sky, had to admit that she looked beautiful. Grace skipped about the room in her fairy costume, irritating Alicia by tapping her on the back with her wand and pretending to turn her into a toad. Cecil appeared at the bedroom door in a suit and rested his eyes proudly on his family. ‘You look lovely, Leonora,’ he said, kissing her on her forehead. ‘It will be an honour to walk such a pretty bride down the aisle. I hope Florien knows how very lucky he is.’
‘Oh, Daddy, of course he does,’ she replied and laughed lightly. ‘I’m very lucky to be marrying him.’ Alicia bit her tongue. She knew she could ruin everyone’s day with a few well-chosen words.
‘Grace, stop spinning around, you’re making me dizzy. Tell her, Mummy,’ she complained. Alicia wasn’t used to Leonora being the focus of everyone’s attention and she didn’t like it a bit.
‘Grace, why don’t you sit down for a few minutes,’ said her mother gently. ‘You’ll wear yourself out as well as the carpet.’ Grace promptly plonked herself on the bed, but waved her wand one last time at Alicia.
‘Bad fairy,’ she hissed, narrowing her eyes.
Alicia blushed. ‘When I get married, I’m going to have a big wedding,’ she said quickly. She didn’t trust Grace’s gift. It was as if the child could see through her and read all her dark secrets.
‘If you marry the prince or duke of your dreams you probably will,’ said Audrey and laughed. ‘Our Leonora wants a simple wedding, don’t you, darling?’
‘Just the family,’ Leonora replied. ‘Sad that Granny and Great Aunt Edna won’t be there. Nice of them to send a telegram though. Mercedes sent an odd message.’
‘What did she say?’ Alicia asked. As far as she was concerned, Mercedes had been her friend.
‘“I always knew you’d be happy.”’
‘What does she mean by that?’ Alicia retorted sulkily. ‘That I won’t be?’
‘Of course not, my dear,’ interjected Audrey.
Cecil shook his head but ignored Alicia’s self indulgence. ‘When you get married, Alicia, she’ll probably send you the same message,’ he said, straightening his tie in the mirror. He looked at his watch. ‘Right, I think it’s time for you all to go to the church. Leonora and I will follow.’ Leonora smiled at her father. It didn’t matter that she felt she barely knew him because today was her wedding day and he was going to give her away. Audrey nodded, looking at his perfectly polished shoes and pressed suit. He looked as sleek and dashing as he had looked at her eighteenth birthday party in Hurlingham, just older. His hair was now grey and his eyes betrayed the emotional turmoil of the last decade in the encroaching lines and in a certain weariness that caused his eyelids to droop. He was still handsome though. More handsome, in fact, than he had ever been, because now a depth of experience replaced the once glossy surface of a complacent army officer. Age had softened him around the edges and fate had humbled him. He looked up and caught her watching him. She smiled with tenderness which he mistook for pride. Unlike his brother he had never been able to read Audrey’s thoughts. But he smiled back, suddenly emotional at the sight of his little girl who had grown into a young woman while he had been elsewhere. Then Grace nudged him with her wand and his wistfulness evaporated. ‘Don’t forget me, Daddy,’ she said brightly. ‘I’m coming down the aisle too.’
Alicia tried to catch Florien’s eye but he pointedly ignored her. She sat in the front pew with her mother and Aunt Cicely, barely able to take in the flowers and the candles for the sickness in her stomach. She willed him to look at her, but his guilt was too much. Here, before God, he was about to make vows to love and honour Leonora. The Ten Commandments hung in large gold letters over the nave. He felt the words burning into his soul. He lowered his eyes and beads of sweat collected on his brow and nose. He had done a terrible thing and he hated himself more than he hated Alicia. Then the organ began to play and Leonora appeared in the doorway on the arm of her father, followed closely by Grace and her magic wand. He looked up timidly. He watched her approach, her face hidden behind a diaphanous veil embroidered with lilies. He could sense Alicia smarting with jealousy in the pew opposite, willing him to back out, which made him more determined than ever not to be distracted.
Then Leonora was beside him. With sweating hands he lifted her veil. To his surprise his fear left him. He gazed upon the young woman who had always been his friend and a warm tenderness flowed through his veins. She looked up at him with eyes that sparkled with love and he smiled down at her, silently wondering how he could have been such a brute to betray her trust.