EPILOGUE
The day of the wedding dawned bright and fair. Cicely felt a mixture of nerves and excitement as Sophie helped her to arrange her veil over her face. The veil was a beautiful confection made of the finest lace. It complemented the loveliness of her gown to perfection. Made by Maison Worth, the high-necked gown was a most exquisite creation. Its silk bodice was inset with rows of ruffled lace, and its long train was decorated with lace flounces. The bodice was tight, with a tiered skirt opening at the front to reveal a ruched underskirt, matched by lace-trimmed sleeves. As a finishing touch, she wore white gloves and the most delectable silk slippers.
‘You look beautiful,’ Sophie breathed.
Sophie and her mother had come over to Little Oakleigh for the occasion, and they were not the only two visitors. Alex’s sister, Katie, had also arrived. Like Sophie, she was one of Cicely’s bridesmaids and the two girls were wearing beautiful silk-and-lace gowns that complemented Cicely’s own.
The third bridesmaid, Alice, was at that moment nowhere to be seen.
‘I hope Alice is here soon,’ said Cicely anxiously, as her nerves momentarily got the better of her. ‘In another few minutes we will have to leave for the church. What is she doing?’
Sophie chuckled, but would say no more than, ‘There is something she has to do. But don’t worry, she’ll be here on time.’
Sure enough, at that moment Alice arrived. She was grinning from ear to ear, but Cicely was too nervous and excited to ask her what she had been doing. Instead she took a deep breath and, picking up her bouquet, led the way downstairs.
One by one they took their places in Alex’s Daimlers, two being needed for the short drive to the church.
And then they were there.
Cicely stepped out of the Daimler. Gibson, stepping out of the car beside her, almost burst with pride. His delight at being asked to give Cicely away was plain to see. He held himself erect, head up, back straight.
Cicely stood patiently whilst Alice arranged her train, then took Gibson’s arm and walked through the lych gate and up the path to the church.
It was full to overflowing. Everyone in Little Oakleigh had turned out to see Cicely’s marriage. They were all delighted that she was to marry the owner of the Manor, and even more delighted that she was to marry Alex, who had become an inalienable part of the village. And there, her leg newly mended, was Cousin Gertrude, who had arrived to be Cicely’s chaperon just as a chaperon was no longer needed.
From within came the strains of the organ, growing louder as Cicely approached the church door.
She took a deep breath, and then stepped into the church.
As she began to process down the aisle on Gibson’s arm, every head turned. But Cicely did not see her friends. Mrs Murgatroyd’s smiles and Lady Chuffington’s sniffs passed her by. She only had eyes for Alex.
He was waiting for her at the altar. His immaculate suit showed off his splendid physique, and as she saw the look of love in his eyes she was filled with joy at knowing that she was going to be his wife.
The bells pealed cheerfully as Cicely and Alex left the church. A crowd of well-wishers had gathered outside, and the two newly-weds were showered with rice in a traditional gesture of goodwill. As they ran through the shower to the waiting Daimler, something caught Alex’s eye. Bending down he scooped up a handful of rice. In and amongst the creamy grains were a number of shapes, cut out of pink paper. He held them on his open palm and looked enquiringly at Cicely.
Cicely, seeing what he held, began to smile, and then began to laugh.
‘What . . . ?’ he asked in surprise.
‘So that’s what Alice was doing!’ said Cicely. She turned to Alex. ‘When you first arrived in Little Oakleigh, Alice said it would be a fairy tale if I were to marry you. And I said —’
‘Don’t tell me. Let me guess!’ He looked at his palm again, smiling at the sight of the little pink pigs, each with their own set of wings. He threw them into the air, and as they swirled and danced in the air currents he said, ‘Pigs will fly!’
They went out of the lych gate and stepped into the Daimler, then together they drove back to the Manor.