Bel might have been able to put on a plausible show for her wedding guests, but Joe knew that behind his wife’s happy exterior there was a troubled woman. As they waved George off and stepped across the threshold of the Grand Hotel, Joe could see his new wife wilt, but she still managed to smile sweetly at the concierge who gave Joe the key to their room and congratulated them on their nuptials.
As they walked up the Axminster-carpeted stairs to the second floor and along the corridor to their room, Joe put his arm around her waist and squeezed her gently.
‘I can read you like a book, Mrs Elliot,’ he said, as he put the key in the lock. Before he opened the door, he turned to look at her.
‘You’ve been waiting for this moment all night,’ he said, adding with a slight self-deprecating chuckle, ‘and it’s not because you’re swooning at the thought of finally getting your new husband on his own.’
Bel smiled up at Joe a little sadly, and kissed him lightly on the lips. She then bent down and took off her slingback shoes.
‘Ah, that’s better,’ she said, letting them dangle from her hand.
When Joe opened the door and switched the light on, they both took an intake of breath. The oak-panelled room, with its thick tapestry curtains and huge king-sized bed, was like nothing either of them had ever seen before. And to add to the opulence of their honeymoon suite, Polly, Dorothy and Angie had covered the bed with a sea of confetti and rose petals. Bel also spotted an overnight bag by the tall mahogany wardrobe, and a candle and box of matches on each bedside table, alongside a miniature bottle of brandy.
‘Oh,’ Bel said, stepping into the room and looking around in amazement. ‘It’s wonderful …’ She looked up at Joe. ‘You know … I’m a very lucky woman.’
Joe looked down at his bride and thought only Bel could say that after all that had happened today.
‘Well, if you’re lucky I don’t know what that makes me,’ he said, then pulled her close and kissed her.
‘Now, Mrs Elliot,’ Joe said, sitting his wife down on one of the two armchairs next to a little coffee table by the huge sash window, ‘tell me how you’re really feeling?’
Joe knew that tonight would not be the night of their dreams when they fell into each other’s arms and made love without a care in the world. Too much had happened and Joe knew Bel well enough to know that deep down she was in bits and needed to talk. There would be plenty of other nights ahead of them when they could consummate their marriage.
Joe hobbled over to the bedside tables and got the little bottles of brandy and poured them into two glasses. He gave one to Bel, who took a sip and leant back into the comfort of the cushioned leather chair. She had purposely not had much to drink at the reception as she wouldn’t have trusted herself if she’d become a little tipsy.
‘Oh Joe,’ she said, tears starting to fill her eyes. ‘It was awful. I don’t know if you heard anything when you were stood outside the snug?’
Joe shook his head, easing himself into the chair with the help of his stick.
‘Tell me,’ he said.
As Bel unburdened herself, Joe listened, occasionally asking a question.
To many, Joe knew, this might have been a disastrous start to married life, but the fact that they were sitting here together, being open with each other, and supportive, said to him their marriage was going to be a good one. They would deal with whatever life chucked at them – and they would do it together. Like they were doing now.
‘And …’ Bel said, her voice croaky from tiredness, and emotion, as well as the brandy she had now finished, ‘I hate to admit it, but I feel really worried about Ma.’
Joe leant forward and gently squeezed her hand. He had known there was something else that was troubling Bel.
‘I know that Ma’s gone off before – God knows she used to disappear enough when I was younger – but she’s been different lately … Dare I say it – nicer? There was just something about the way she left the pub that’s worried me.’
Joe knew it would be pointless telling Bel that everything would be all right. You never knew where Pearl was concerned. And Bel was right, Pearl had had an odd look about her when she’d left. But, as Joe also knew, there was nothing either of them could do about it tonight. Even if they had gone out looking for her, they wouldn’t know where to look and it would have been hopeless in the blackout.
‘I’ll bet you as soon as we get back tomorrow, she’ll be there, out the backyard, a cuppa in one hand, a fag in the other.’ Joe smiled and Bel allowed herself a bittersweet laugh. That was her ma to a T.
‘Come on,’ Joe said, ‘let’s get into bed.’ He looked at Bel and saw a slightly nervous look cross her face.
‘It may not be the most red-blooded suggestion for a man to put to his new wife on his wedding night, but, you know what I want more than all the tea in China?’ he asked, before answering his own question. ‘To simply spend the entire night with my arms wrapped around the woman I love more than anybody or anything in the whole wide world.’
Joe saw Bel’s face relax, and although he might have been telling a little white lie, cuddling up to his new wife was going to be the next best thing.