ONE brief word in the affirmative raised an instant storm of controversy about when, where, and in what style Joscelyn Georgina Hunter should be joined in marriage to Daniel Adam Francis Armstrong.
Dan, characteristically, wanted to rush her to the nearest register office the moment she said yes. Anna and her parents promptly offered Joss a reception at Glebe House, after a wedding in her father’s church, while a jubilant Lord Morville urged them to both ceremony and reception at Eastlegh.
‘We should have told everyone afterwards,’ said Dan morosely. ‘Failing that, you could at least move in with me until you decide what you do want.’
‘I’m not moving to Kew until we’re married,’ said Joss firmly.
‘Why not?’
‘It fell through last time we tried it.’
‘That won’t happen again,’ said Dan flatly.
Joss braced herself. ‘Anna saw Peter Sadler the other day.’
Dan raised a hostile eyebrow. ‘Did she give him the glad news?’
‘Oh, yes. With great relish, she informed me.’
‘Did she mention the baby?’
‘Yes. That part of it didn’t go down well at all.’
‘No,’ said Dan with grim satisfaction. ‘I’m damn sure it didn’t.’
They were lingering over the supper Joss had had ready when Dan arrived at the flat earlier. Just like two old marrieds, thought Joss wistfully, as they sat together on the sofa afterwards.
‘I didn’t know you could cook like that,’ said Dan, stretching out his legs in comfort.
‘When I’m working I don’t have the time. But I first learnt to cook with Anna’s mother, when I was quite small. She used to let us kneel up on chairs at the table to help her.’ Joss turned her head to look at him. ‘Dan?’
‘What’s the matter?’ he said instantly.
‘Nothing at all.’ She smiled at him. ‘It’s just that now I’ve had time to get used to the idea I’ve decided how, when and where I’d like the wedding—subject to your approval.’
‘And you want to be married in your father’s church, of course.’
‘No, I don’t,’ she said, surprising him. ‘I would miss him too much. And though the Herricks have always been marvellous to me I really don’t feel I should put them to the expense and bother of a reception. Not,’ she added dryly, ‘that a marquee on the lawn would be necessary this time.’
Dan eyed her warily. ‘Are you saying you’d prefer the church at Eastlegh?’
‘Good heavens, no! Soon enough for a wedding there when Francis marries Sarah.’ She smiled. ‘Actually, I think your idea is best. A civil ceremony first, then a small party at your place afterwards.’
Dan looked taken aback. ‘Is that what you really want?’
What Joss really wanted was white silk and roses and a choir, and a church full of people, with champagne and witty speeches, a write-up in the Post’s social diary, and a birth announcement ten months, or ten years, afterwards. She smiled brightly and assured Dan it was exactly what she wanted.
‘Then I’ll get a catering firm to do the food,’ he said promptly. ‘How many guests were you thinking of?’
‘Just the Herricks, and Anna and Hugh for me.’
‘No journalists?’
‘I’d rather we kept it to nearest and dearest—unless you want to invite people from your firm?’
‘Not particularly.’ Dan frowned, and moved closer. ‘Joss, if there were no baby involved would you have preferred a bigger wedding?’
He was too quick by half. ‘There wouldn’t be a wedding without the baby,’ she retorted.
‘I’m hardly likely to forget!’
‘I’m sorry,’ she sighed. ‘I didn’t mean to snap.’
He gave her a dark, brooding look. ‘Sometimes that tongue of yours cuts like a knife.’
So she’d actually hurt him. Joss bit her lip, her eyes filling with sudden tears, and with a stifled curse Dan closed the space between them and put his arm round her so carefully the tears turned to an unsteady chuckle.
‘I won’t break,’ she assured him.
Dan’s arm tightened a little, then his free hand reached out and touched the velvet-covered bulge for the first time. Holding her breath, Joss placed the hand over the vital spot, and Dan’s entire body tensed as he stared incredulously into her eyes.
‘Was that what I thought it was?’
‘That’s right. Miss Baby saying hello.’
‘You’ve found out it’s a girl, then?’ he demanded.
‘No. But it’s definitely a girl. We expectant mothers know these things!’ Joss looked down at the large hand, very much aware that this was the first time Dan had voluntarily touched her since they’d met up again, apart from carrying her about like a sack of potatoes.
Dan breathed in sharply as he felt kicking again, and Joss sat very still, savouring the moment of rapport. When he removed his hand at last Joss waited for him to take his arm away. But instead Dan put his hand in an inside pocket and took out a wad of tissue paper.
‘This seems an appropriate time to ask if you’d like to wear this,’ he said, sounding oddly unlike his normal forceful self.
‘What is it?’
‘Unwrap it and see.’
Joss carefully unfolded layers of tissue paper, and gazed in delight at an old-fashioned gold ring set with small diamonds interspersed with seed pearls and garnets.
Dan eyed it doubtfully. ‘I could have taken you to Cartier, or whatever, but my father insisted I offer you this first.’
Joss cleared her throat. ‘Was it your mother’s?’
Dan nodded. ‘Bought second-hand with my father’s savings when they were young. If you don’t care for it,’ he added casually, ‘we can still do the Cartier bit. No doubt Sadler gave you something more impressive.’
Joss gave him a scornful look, her heart singing as she gave him the ring. Dan must surely feel something more than just duty and responsibility to give her something so special. ‘It was a small solitaire diamond—not nearly as pretty as this.’ She held out her hand. ‘You’re supposed to put it on my finger,’ she instructed, and held her breath as he slid it over her knuckle.
‘I could have it made smaller,’ he offered.
Joss shook her head, her eyes glued to her hand. ‘No. I like it the way it is.’ She looked up at him, her eyes luminous. ‘It’s beautiful, Dan. Is it too late to ring your father to thank him?’
‘Yes,’ he said firmly. ‘We’ll talk to him tomorrow, and tell him the plans. Maybe you can even persuade him to come up to London for the wedding.’
‘But of course he must come!’ said Joss, astonished.
‘He doesn’t like London,’ Dan warned. ‘He’s visited me just once since I moved into the house in Kew, and even then he spent most of his time in the Gardens.’
‘He’ll come to the wedding,’ said Joss confidently.
Now the die was cast, Joss felt better. Nothing would have made her confess it, but to refuse Dan’s proposal had been the most difficult thing she’d ever done in her life. Sheer pride had forced her to say no. But from now on she could relax, prepare herself for the wedding. And if it was not the occasion of unalloyed joy it might have been in different circumstances, she was nevertheless marrying Daniel Armstrong, the father of her child. And the man she loved.
Joss obediently did her best to rest as much as possible in the time leading up to the wedding, and she was lying on her sofa with a book one morning when her doorbell rang. Her eyes lit up. Maybe Dan had called round to make sure she was following his orders. But a very different voice came over the intercom.
‘Let me in, please, Joss,’ said Peter Sadler urgently.
Joss stiffened. ‘I will not! I’m astonished you’ve got the gall—’
‘I’ve come to apologise,’ he insisted. ‘Talk to me just this once, Joss. Please.’
With reluctance Joss released the lock, and Peter ran up towards her, then stopped dead when he reached the landing, his eyes on the fall of fabric veiling her front.
‘Hello, Joss,’ he said, clearing his throat. His mouth twisted. ‘I knew you were expecting a baby, but it’s a shock just the same.’
‘Hello, Peter.’ She looked at him steadily for a moment, then turned and made for the sofa. ‘I’m supposed to rest.’
‘Anna told me you’d been in hospital,’ he said, pulling out her desk chair. ‘She said you’d given up your job, so I came here on the offchance of finding you in.’
‘Why?’ she said coldly.
‘To apologise for my behaviour last time.’ Colour rose in his boyish face.
‘You very nearly wrecked my life,’ she said without emotion.
‘I was hitting out at Armstrong, not you, Joss,’ he said, shamefaced.
‘Just because his company turned you down!’ she said incredulously.
‘At the time I blamed him for everything wrong in my life. When I heard you were together it was the end. All I could think of was making him pay.’
She stared at him scornfully, then paused, frowning. ‘But how on earth did you work your little scam?’
He winced. ‘I’d planned it for quite a while. I conned your address from one of your pals at the Post beforehand. Then I came up that day, confirmed that Armstrong was in his office, and drove round here. I rang the Athena building on my carphone with the message, and waited until he was well on his way before ringing your bell. You let me in, I left your door ajar, and you know the rest.’
Joss shook her head in disbelief. ‘It only worked because Dan was so frantic when he got the message he rushed straight here without ringing first.’
Peter shrugged. ‘It was worth a gamble—and I won.’
She stared at him. ‘So what you and I once had together meant nothing against the chance to pay Dan back for your own failure.’
His mouth twisted. ‘Don’t please! God, I’m sorry, Joss.’ He paused. ‘Besides, an apology isn’t my only reason for coming.’
‘Isn’t it enough?’ she said bitterly.
He chewed on his bottom lip, the light eyes suddenly imploring. ‘Tell me the truth, Joss. Is there any chance the baby’s mine?’
Joss looked at him in silence for a moment, trying to remember why she had ever thought herself in love with Peter Sadler. ‘My child,’ she said succinctly, ‘will be born on February the fourteenth next year, give or take a day or two. You walked out in February this year. You were always a whizz with figures, Peter. Work it out.’
The following week Sam Armstrong travelled from Dorset with Francis and Sarah in the car to the house in Kew, where the three of them spent the night before the wedding with Dan.
Anna had spent a few days in Acton with Joss beforehand, looking after her like a hen with one chick, and helping in the search for a wool coat in palest creamy yellow to wear with the navy chiffon dress. Hugh and the Herricks drove up to London early on the Saturday morning to drive with them to the register office.
When Joss was in the car, holding the posy of yellow roses Dan had sent, she felt tense and apprehensive, until a sudden onset of kicking under the wickedly expensive coat reminded her that though the forthcoming ceremony was by no means compulsory, morally or any other way, she was glad Dan had insisted on a wedding. And when he came hurrying to hand her out of the car, looking magnificent in formal morning coat, her smile was so radiant he looked dazzled. Still holding Dan’s hand, she reached up to kiss Sam Armstrong, who looked as magnificent as his son in formal clothes, with the addition of a fiercely stiff white collar. Then there were embraces and greetings and introductions, and half an hour later Joss was Mrs Daniel Armstrong, with marriage lines and a wide gold wedding ring to prove it. They came out to a battery of photographers from the various papers Joss worked for, and afterwards Francis and Hugh took over with their own cameras until Dan called a halt.
Dan and Joss drove back to Kew alone, leaving the rest of the party to follow behind. ‘I should have hired a photographer,’ he said in apology. ‘Why didn’t you mention it?’
‘I never thought of it,’ she said truthfully. ‘Anyway, with Francis and Hugh snapping away, and the professional lot, we won’t be short of photographs to remind us of the happy day.’
‘Is it really a happy day for you?’ said Dan, putting a hand on her knee.
She shot a glance at him. ‘Yes. It is.’
‘Then it is for me, too.’ He smiled wryly. ‘I wasn’t sure you’d actually turn up this morning.’
Joss stared at him in astonishment. ‘Were you really in any doubt?’
‘Yes,’ he said bluntly. ‘You’ve been known to vanish before.’
‘Not this time, Dan,’ she assured him.
‘You were pretty reluctant until recently. You could have changed your mind at the last minute.’
‘In which case I’d have let you know, not left you waiting!’
‘I kept telling myself that.’ He smiled crookedly. ‘But apparently brides don’t hold the monopoly on wedding nerves.’
Joss laughed. ‘You? With nerves?’
‘Why not? I’m human.’ He glanced down at her. ‘Otherwise you wouldn’t be expecting my child. How is she, by the way?’
‘Very lively. Must be the excitement.’
‘You look very beautiful,’ he said quietly, keeping his eyes on the road.
Joss gave him an oddly shy look. ‘Thank you. I was so sure you’d send me yellow roses I tired Anna out in search of the coat.’
Once again his long hand, adorned now with a heavy gold ring like hers, reached out to touch Joss’s knee. ‘It was worth it. Motherhood seems to be adding an extra dimension to your…’
‘Size?’ she teased, when he paused.
‘To your allure,’ he said softly, in a tone which silenced her very effectively.
It was a very exuberant party which enjoyed the lunch Dan had ordered on Joss’s instructions. Certain that his father would dislike picking at smart bits and pieces, Joss had ordered a conventional meal, and felt pleased when she saw Sam tucking into the salmon timbales and the roast which followed, chatting away to the Herricks as though he’d known them for years. The meal was a leisurely affair, brought to a fitting climax when a waiter brought in the wedding cake Mrs Herrick had insisted on making.
‘Mother’s the Annie Oakley of the icing gun,’ chuckled Anna, when Sarah exclaimed on the perfection of the cake. ‘She did three tiers for mine.’
‘I’ve done two for Joss,’ said Mrs Herrick, ‘but I’m keeping the other one for the christening.’
There was a moment of dead silence, then Joss got up and threw her arms round Mrs Herrick and gave her a smacking kiss. ‘What a lovely thought,’ she said with affection, and saw Dan relax visibly before adding his own thanks.
‘Come on, then, you two,’ said Francis. ‘Hurry up and cut the cake so I can deliver my amazingly witty speech.’
‘I told him not to bother,’ Dan apologised to Joss, ‘but he wouldn’t listen.’
‘Very right and proper,’ said Sam Armstrong in approval. ‘It’s not a wedding without speeches.’
Nor was there any lack of them. After Dan’s brief speech of thanks, Francis leapt to his feet and kept everyone in gales of laughter over the combined exploits of the groom and best man in their boyhood. ‘And,’ he added, as the punchline, ‘I insist on being godfather to the baby.’
There was a roar of applause, then Mr Herrick got up on behalf of the bride, and told Dan that though he must be congratulating himself on his lack of in-laws, he hadn’t got away scot-free, since he hoped Dan would look on himself and his wife as replacements.
Then, to Dan’s obvious surprise, Sam Armstrong got to his feet and raised his glass. ‘It just remains for me to add my own good wishes, and ask you all to toast the happiness of my son and his lovely bride.’
At which point tears welled in the eyes of the lovely bride, and the groom efficiently whipped out a handkerchief from his pocket, having, as he informed everyone, expected this far sooner.
‘It’s my condition,’ said Joss huskily, blowing her nose.
‘A word forbidden to everyone except my wife,’ warned Dan, grinning.
It was late afternoon by the time everyone bade emotional farewells, and drove off to their various destinations.
‘A pity they wouldn’t stay longer,’ said Joss, yawning.
Dan looked down at her, lips twitching. ‘You wouldn’t last another ten minutes.’ He held out his hands. ‘Up you come.’
‘Why?’ she demanded.
‘Time for a nap. Later on you can come down and do whatever you like for the rest of the evening, but right now you’re going to rest.’
Joss knew he was right. Now everyone had gone, she felt not only tired but a little flat. ‘Perhaps I will. I didn’t sleep much last night.’ She shrugged, smiling. ‘Too excited, I suppose. And Miss Baby wasn’t sleepy either, which didn’t help.’
‘Does she keep you awake a lot?’ he asked, pulling her to her feet.
‘Quite a bit.’ Joss accepted Dan’s hand to go upstairs. ‘Where have you put my things?’ she asked.
‘In here.’ Dan opened the door to the master bedroom. ‘I’m in the room next door.’
‘But I could use that,’ she protested.
‘You’ll be more comfortable here. There’s a television, and a radio, so you can stay in bed some days if you feel under the weather.’
It wasn’t the first time Joss had been in Dan’s rather severe bedroom. But on former occasions they’d shared the vast bed. She glanced at Dan, then away again quickly, aware that he was thinking the same thing.
‘Thank you,’ she said brightly.
‘I’ve cleared out half the cupboards, but I didn’t unpack your cases. I thought you’d prefer to do that yourself.’ Dan showed her a buzzer on one of the bedside tables. ‘This connects with my room, so if you feel ill, or you need anything, just press that.’
Secretly determined never to do any such thing, Joss wandered round the room when he was gone, picking things up and putting them down. At last she unpacked her cases and hung some of her clothes up to join the new yellow coat, put others away in drawers, then took off the beautiful chiffon dress and hung it away with the rest.
When Dan knocked on the door a couple of hours later Joss had showered, redone her face and hair and put on a comfortable brown velvet top and jersey trousers. She opened the door, smiling brightly, wondering what was required of her for their first evening as man and wife.
Dan stood leaning in the doorway, wearing a pale sweater over his favourite indigo shirt and a worn pair of navy cords.
‘How do you feel?’ he asked.
‘Fine.’
‘You look good. Are you hungry? You didn’t eat much lunch.’
‘I can’t eat much at a time anymore. Miss Baby objects.’
‘In that case how about a snack? The caterers left enough food for an army. We won’t have to cook for a week.’
‘We?’
‘You, then,’ he amended. ‘I’m no expert in the kitchen.’
Since he was so amazingly expert in bed, thought Joss, going ahead of him, one couldn’t have everything. Though if this marriage was to be as businesslike as he suggested, it was unlikely she’d benefit from that particular expertise unless she made it plain she wanted to. Some time.
The evening was surprisingly restful. Joss put together a light meal, and afterwards they watched a film. Later Dan insisted on making tea for her before she went to bed, then switched off the television and sat down beside her while she drank it.
‘Time we had a talk,’ he said firmly.
Joss looked intently at the initial on her beaker. ‘What shall we talk about?’
‘At this point,’ he began, ‘most couples would be jetting off to some exotic place for a honeymoon. We can’t do that, but I’ve taken a few days off so we can get used to living together.’
‘Are you sure you won’t be bored?’
‘I can honestly say that one emotion I’ve never experienced in your company is boredom,’ he said dryly.
Joss gave him a very straight look. ‘But in the past, remember, we spent a lot of time making love.’
‘Do you think I’m likely to forget?’ He reached out to grasp the hand adorned with the rings he’d given her. ‘I think we can find pleasure in each other’s company, wife, just the same. For a start, first thing Monday morning I’m taking you shopping.’
Joss chuckled. ‘A dangerous plan! Anything specific?’
‘Clothes and bedroom furniture for Miss Baby, for starters, a new computer for her mother, plus some walking shoes. I’ve been reading up on the subject, and apparently short walks are beneficial. But not in four-inch heels. So, with Kew Gardens on our doorstep we’ll take a daily stroll there together, weather permitting. Do they make designer hiking shoes?’ he teased.