Ellie looked down at her dress. For the first time since she’d arrived, she was wearing something other than her battledress uniform. It was simple, but it made her feel beautiful, even if she was freezing cold.
‘I can’t believe you found this for me,’ she said. ‘Thank you. A hundred times over.’
‘You were lucky there was another nurse who’d needed one before you,’ Scarlet said, reaching out to stroke the fabric. ‘Makes me miss all my lovely dresses back home all the more.’
It was made from parachute silk, and even though it wasn’t much, Ellie felt special. She hoped Spencer would like it, and that this was how he’d remember her once she was gone. The next time he saw her, she could be as huge as a house. Ellie shuddered, another thought crossing her mind: or she might not be. She might already have a baby in her arms, a child that had grown up without a father for years. There was such uncertainty; she had no idea at all.
‘I still don’t know when I’m to go home,’ Ellie said, looking for Spencer.
‘You’ll find out soon. Don’t spend time worrying about it,’ Scarlet said, always full of practical advice. ‘Focus on you and Spencer and how lovely this will all be for you once the war is over.’
Spencer appeared from behind one of the tents, his smile wide when he saw her. It was all so wrong, not at all what she’d imagined for her wedding day, but she was going to be with Spencer, and that was all she could think about.
‘Matron told me I have to go around sniffing wounds for gangrene after this,’ Lucy muttered. ‘Punishment, I’m sure, for taking an hour off.’
Ellie ignored the chatter between Lucy and Scarlet, watching Spencer, hands extended when he reached her.
‘You look beautiful,’ he said, pressing a warm kiss to her cheek. ‘Absolutely beautiful.’ Spencer held her out at arm’s length, admiration in his gaze. ‘I’m the luckiest man here.’
‘You do realise you’re supposed to wait until after you’re married to kiss the bride?’ Lucy quipped.
‘Hey, it’s my wedding day,’ Ellie joked, laughing back at her over her shoulder. ‘The man can kiss me if he wants!’
They were to meet the chaplain in the open, outside one of the tents, and Ellie was praying it didn’t rain. All they needed were a few moments, the two of them standing together, supported by Scarlet and Lucy, and the officer standing before them. Then perhaps being pregnant wouldn’t seem so scary.
As they neared the spot, her hand still locked in Spencer’s, she saw a man in uniform rushing out of a tent. She knew instantly that it was the officer charged with marrying them, and her heart started to beat that little bit faster, her mouth dry.
‘Doctor Black, over here,’ the officer called. ‘We need to hurry this along.’
Ellie glanced at Lucy and Scarlet one last time, before stepping up with Spencer and preparing to say the vows that would change her life for ever. They stood in front of the officer, with his straight back and immaculately trimmed moustache. It always amused her that, despite all the atrocities, the perfect keeping of one’s moustache and hair was so important.
‘The vows you are about to take are to be made in the presence of God, who is the judge of all and knows the secrets of your hearts; therefore, if either of you knows a reason why you may not lawfully marry, you must declare it now.’ The officer cleared his throat and Ellie looked up at Spencer. Less than two days ago she’d told him she was expecting, and now here they were, about to become man and wife.
Ellie gripped Spencer’s hands even tighter, nervous for no good reason. The officer recited words she’d heard so many times before at other weddings, and as she answered she gazed into Spencer’s eyes. And then it was their turn to repeat their vows.
She listened while the officer said a short prayer, holding hands with Spencer still. She glanced beneath hooded lashes over to where her friends stood, side by side with their heads bent. Then suddenly it was Spencer’s turn to say his vows and she had a lump in her throat simply listening to him. Then it was her turn, and the words were so hard to force out even though she’d been practising them in her mind all night.
‘I, Ellie O’Sullivan, take thee, Spencer Black, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward.’ She took a breath, slowing down, smiling. ‘For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health; to love, cherish and obey, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance. And thereto I plight thee my troth.’
They made their way through the ring ceremony, and when Ellie held out her finger, Spencer whispered to her, ‘When all this is over and we’re back in London, I promise I’ll have something nicer for you.’
She shook her head, not caring what he was giving her. She hadn’t expected a ring at all, given the short time since Spencer had proposed.
‘I convinced an engineer to make it for me. It’s gold from my watch.’
Ellie clapped her hand over her mouth. ‘You melted your watch to make me a ring?’ He couldn’t have, could he?
‘I got him to make one for me, too, so it wasn’t all for you,’ he said teasingly.
If she hadn’t been sure about marrying Spencer hurriedly before, she certainly was now. She doubted she’d ever meet a better man in all her life. As the final words of the ceremony were said, there was only one sentence Ellie was waiting for.
‘I pronounce that they be man and wife. In Jesus’s name, amen.’
Ellie let out a little squeal as Spencer leaned forward to press a kiss to her lips. She looped her arms around his neck and sighed into his mouth when he pulled back, drawing him back in for another, longer kiss. She could hear Lucy and Scarlet clapping and when they finally pulled apart, Ellie blushed as the officer stepped back and cleared his throat. She couldn’t believe that they were actually married.
‘I apologise to you both that you won’t be having a honeymoon at this time; the moving of our camps and the limited personnel means it is not possible to grant you leave,’ Captain Grant said. ‘However, I understand that provision is being made for you to depart for home at the next opportunity?’
Ellie nodded, her body going numb, goose pimples covering every inch of her skin. ‘Yes, that is right.’ She presumed he knew that she was expecting.
‘God bless you both, and I wish you a safe passage home,’ he said, before turning sharply on his heel and beginning to walk away. ‘There will be a great need for trained, capable nurses back in London,’ he called back.
Safe passage home. Ellie had been so worried about the baby and Spencer that she hadn’t even thought about the forthcoming voyage. It had been bad enough coming over, but . . .
‘What if I don’t make it?’ she whispered, her bottom lip trembling.
‘You’ll make it home just fine,’ Spencer said firmly. ‘Now, come with me. I’ll be damned if we’re not at least going into town for a decent cup of coffee to celebrate.’