The next day Nanny fell into a deep sleep and never woke up. Two days later she passed peacefully from their lives. Ellie and her father grieved for the lovely woman who had been such a large part of their lives, but friends and family surrounded them, and it helped them both. They knew Nanny would disapprove if they changed anything, so they threw themselves into arrangements for the weddings. Now James and Ellie’s wedding had been brought forward their house wouldn’t be ready in time, so they had decided to make their home temporarily in the west wing of Albert’s house.
The months flew by and the weddings of Ted and Dorothy, Maggie and Stanley, were lovely occasions. It seemed no time at all before Ellie was dressing for her own wedding. Harry had arrived last night and the entire Bonner family were in various places on the estate or Uncle Henry’s. It was going to be a large wedding and Ellie couldn’t help feeling nervous.
Augusta, Maggie and Pearl helped Ellie on with her dress, exclaiming approval at the elegant design. Ellie had been worried that it might be too ornate, but now it was finished it looked wonderful. The plain heavy satin skirt flowed from a jewelled bodice, covered in roses embroidered with tiny pearls. Her long veil was held in place by a diamond and pearl tiara. This had been her mother’s and she wore it with pride. Pearl and Maggie were maids of honour and looked lovely in dresses of pale lemon.
‘Absolutely perfect.’ Augusta turned her head towards the door. ‘Don’t you agree, Albert?’
Ellie hadn’t noticed her father come in and she smiled nervously at him. She knew he had wanted the wedding to be a grand affair. ‘A day for you to remember,’ he had told her.
‘You look so beautiful. I am going to be very proud to escort my daughter to her wedding, and I’m going to be the envy of all to be surrounded by such beautiful ladies.’
Everyone laughed at the compliment as Ellie went and stood beside her father. ‘And I’m proud to be on the arm of such a handsome man.’
‘That’s enough compliments for the time being, don’t you think?’
Augusta ushered Pearl and Maggie out of the door, and soon their carriage was leaving for the church.
Father and daughter stood quietly for a moment, remembering the two women who wouldn’t be present today – Mary and Nanny – but they were in their thoughts. Albert glanced at the young woman standing beside him, and couldn’t help comparing this elegant girl with the little scruff who had come to them all those years ago. He had been afraid that the search for the Bonners would take her away from him. But in actual fact, the bond between them had been strengthened. He had always wanted a large family, and now he had one, and it would get larger now with three weddings this year. The search had also brought James and Augusta into their lives, and that was indeed a great blessing. Not only had Eleanor found a fine husband – and they loved each other deeply, he had discovered over these last months – but against all his declarations that he would never marry again, he had also fallen in love. He and Augusta planned to marry in the spring of next year. He didn’t believe it would come as any surprise to anyone, though.
He threaded Eleanor’s arm through his. ‘It’s time we left for the church. We don’t want to keep James waiting, do we?’
‘Oh, no,’ Ellie said, feeling calmer now. ‘He’ll be racing here to find me.’
The church was packed with family, friends and estate workers. Ellie was pleased to see Fred and Hilda were there, decked out in their finery. Harry was standing beside James, looking splendid in his uniform. When she reached them Harry winked at her and she laughed, turning to James, her eyes shining with happiness. This lovely man was her future, and in that future would be her other family. No longer forgotten, but an important part of her life, as they should be.