Molly's Journey by Sheila Everett

Author:Sheila Everett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction

NINE

Just a small reception as they’d requested: wedding cake and a nice cup of tea, back at Alexa’s house. Mrs Moore had actually prepared rather more than that, on her employer’s secret instructions, but after two hours, the conversation was trailing off, Molly was looking tired, and Nancy couldn’t say, of course, but her feet were really paining her in the pinching shoes.

Walt solemnly presented the newly-weds with a bottle of port. ‘A bit of dutch courage,’ he intimated to Leonard, who reverted to being Mr Loom and said politely: ‘Thank you very much, this is most kind of you.’

Aggie and Minnie had clubbed together to buy a teapot. ‘We know what store Nancy sets by a cup of tea,’ Aggie said, adding archly: ‘Only one of you should pour at a time, remember—’

‘– or you’ll have ginger twins!’ Minnie finished, staring openly at Molly, not Nancy.

‘I’m sorry you’ve decided against going away, Nancy,’ Alexa said, as she waited in the hall while the bride put on her wrap.

‘Well, we’re having a few days off, aren’t we? It will give us the chance to sort out a few things at – our place,’ Nancy told her.

Alexa glanced round quickly to make sure Leonard was still talking to the guests in the drawing room. ‘You mean, throw out a few things, eh? All still just as it was when his mother was alive? Oh, you must make changes to suit yourself, Nancy. I shouldn’t say this, not today, but I do hope you’ve made the right choice – he’s a splendid chap, of course, but not one to see the lighter side of life, though perhaps you might say the same of me . . . But where’s the romance, Nancy?’

‘I don’t want none of that’ she said, lapsing grammatically, which didn’t happen so much nowadays. ‘I just want, well, respect, and to feel comfortable with my husband.’

*

There was no space for Nancy’s clothes, which for now would have to remain in her trunk. The chest of drawers and wardrobe were chock-full of old-fashioned garments which, if she didn’t just chuck ‘em all out, Nancy decided, needed a jolly good washing and airing.

‘It is very remiss of me,’ Leonard apologised. ‘I couldn’t bring myself to sort out Mother’s things.’

‘There’s plenty of folk’ll be glad of them,’ she said. ‘Don’t worry about it now. You sit down and I’ll get changed, then I’ll make us some supper.’

‘I can do that,’ he offered.

‘No, it’s my job now!’

She took her time in the bedroom, kicking off the shoes and thankfully putting on her slippers. She looked with fast-beating heart over at the double bed. Lucky she had changed the linen after the funeral, she thought. Let’s hope it’d not got all damp in the meantime. It was a narrow double bed, and Mr Loom – Leonard! – was a big man so they’d be well and truly lying side by side . . .

In the living room, he uncorked the port, poured out a generous tumblerful.

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