Even so, nothing could spoil the build-up to the wedding and finally the big day arrived.

On the first Saturday in July, while Marcus got ready at his father’s house, all the women congregated in Holly’s bedroom, which was slightly larger than Ivy’s, to help the bride into her wedding dress. Holly, Katie and Florence were already wearing their bridesmaids’ dresses – pretty concoctions in a lovely sea-blue satin that brushed the floor as they walked – and Emma assured them that they all looked beautiful, but now it was the bride’s turn.

Ivy had chosen quite a plain style in a heavy ivory satin with a sweetheart neckline, long sleeves, and tiny pearl buttons running from the waist to the neckline at the back. It tucked in tight to the waist then dropped into an A-line skirt that stretched into a train. Below it she wore real silk stockings, a little gift from Emma, and Holly lent her the treasured locket that Richard had bought her as her something borrowed. Once the dress was on they fixed her veil in place and fastened a crown of roses that matched the ones in her bouquet above it and finally, after slipping her feet into dainty silk slippers, she was ready.

‘Oh my dear, you look truly beautiful,’ Emma breathed as she handed her the bouquet. And she did; her face was glowing with happiness and she couldn’t stop smiling.

‘Do you think Marcus will think so?’ she asked as she peered at herself critically in the mirror. She felt like a princess.

‘Marcus would think you looked beautiful if you turned up in a sack,’ Emma laughed. ‘But now, come along, girls. The carriage is waiting outside for us and my father is waiting downstairs for you, miss.’ She scooped Alice up into her arms. She was wearing a tiny version of the bridesmaids’ dresses but they had all thought that she was a little young to be a bridesmaid so it had been decided that she would sit with Emma in the church.

Holly’s grandfather had offered to give her away and as she descended the stairs he had a tear in his eye.

‘You look absolutely beautiful,’ he told her, and she blushed as Emma and the bridesmaids hurried out to get into the first waiting carriage. It wouldn’t do at all if they were to arrive after the bride.

‘It’s very kind of you to do this for me,’ Ivy told Gilbert, linking her hand through his arm. It had hurt her deeply when her own parents had refused to even come to the wedding but she supposed she should be used to their rejection by now. And then Mr Mason had saved the day.

‘Believe me, the pleasure is all mine,’ he told her with a chuckle as he squeezed her hand. ‘You’re like one of the family now, Ivy. But come along, we can’t stand here chatting, we have a wedding to go to!’

They arrived at Chilvers Coton Church in brilliant sunshine. Ivy’s heart was pounding with nerves by then but the instant she saw Marcus waiting for her at the end of the aisle, looking ridiculously handsome in his new suit, her nerves fled and there may as well have been no one else present, for they had eyes only for each other. The service was beautiful and as the couple stood at the altar solemnly taking their vows the sun shone down on them through the stained-glass windows as if the good Lord himself were sending his approval. Once it was over they stepped outside to a peal of bells and into a shower of rice and rose petals. The reception was held at Holly’s home and even though certain food was becoming hard to obtain now, it was a feast fit for a king.