‘It’s beautiful, Mrs Jennings, thank you,’ Amber said humbly. She hadn’t even thought of carrying a posy.

‘You’re welcome, lass. Now let’s go an’ see what your husband-to-be thinks o’ you. Be rights he should be at the church waitin’ for you an’ you shouldn’t ’ave seen each other since last night. But then this is ’ardly a conventional weddin’, is it? What wi’ you both already livin’ together, so we’ll just make the best of it.’ She grinned. ‘Mind you, I don’t reckon it’s goin’ to be as quiet at the church as you’d ’oped. Ever since the vicar read the banns out the whole town ’as been buzzin’, which is why I wanted you to look your best. But come along now, we don’t want you to be late for your own weddin’.’

She hurried off ahead of Amber and after taking a final glance in the mirror, Amber slowly followed her. As she carefully went down the stairs, clutching her posy of sweet-smelling roses, she saw Barnaby and Mr and Mrs Jennings waiting for her in the hallway. Barnaby was dressed in one of his smart pin-striped tail suits, and a white shirt with a gaily coloured cravat and matching waistcoat, and he looked so handsome that for a moment he took Amber’s breath away. He was holding Charlotte but as he glanced up towards her his mouth gaped and she thought she detected the glint of a tear in his eye.

‘Here, give the little ’un to me,’ Mrs Jennings said bossily, wanting to give the couple a little time to themselves. ‘We’ll be out in the carriage waitin’ for you both, but don’t be late mind. The Reverend Rice don’t like to be kept waitin’.’

Suddenly they were alone apart from Socks who was frolicking about their heels. Barnaby stared at Amber. ‘You look absolutely beautiful, Amber. I can’t think of one man who wouldn’t like to be in my shoes today. But come along, we have a wedding to go to, I believe.’

Amber swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat as Barnaby tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and led her out into the sunshine.

Just as Mrs Jennings had predicted there were a number of people in the church but Amber knew they hadn’t come to wish them well. They had just come to be nosy. Once or twice her voice faltered as she and Barnaby took their vows but at last it was over, and once they had signed the register, they were free to return to The Crow’s Nest.