‘In that case I suppose I’d better make an honest woman of you,’ Bill told her when they finally came up for air. ‘But first I’d better ask Mr Pemb— your father’s permission, an’ there’s no time like the present, is there?’ And so hand in hand they set off for the house with stars in their eyes.

Serena was in the hall arranging flowers in a vase when they entered and one glance at their glowing faces told her all she needed to know.

‘Someone looks happy,’ she teased and was amused to see Bill blush as red as a beetroot.

‘I, er . . . were wondering if I might have a word with the master?’

‘Then you’re in luck,’ she answered kindly. ‘He’s in his study, go on in.’

Once Bill had gone, she turned to Ruby and taking her hands she shook them gently up and down before asking softly, ‘Do I detect love is in the air?’

Now it was Ruby’s turn to blush as she nodded. ‘Do you mind?’

‘Mind!’ Serena shook her head. ‘All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy,’ she confessed. ‘And if Bill makes you happy then that’s fine by me. All I would ask is that you wait until you’re fully recovered before you rush off to get married. I’m selfish enough to want you to myself for just a little bit longer.’

To her delight Ruby threw herself into her arms. ‘Oh, Mother, you’ll always have me,’ she whispered and Serena’s heart swelled with love as she pressed her beloved girl to her.

Epilogue

Epilogue

May 1891

‘Will I do, Father?’

Oscar turned to see his daughter descending the stairs in her wedding gown and the breath caught in his throat as his eyes misted with tears.

‘You will do very nicely indeed, my dear,’ he said throatily as she reached the bottom of the stairs, clutching her bouquet of sweet-smelling freesias. A matching garland held her gossamer-fine veil in place, and she wore a gown of ivory silk that showed off her petite but perfectly formed figure to perfection. He smiled as he thought of all the hours Ruby and her mother had spent with the dressmaker during the making of it. Serena had insisted that everything should be perfect and so far on this special day it had been. Even the sun was shining down from a cloudless blue sky.

His own wedding to Serena, which had taken place the month before after his divorce from Lydia had been finalised, had been a much more low-key affair, which was just as Serena had wanted. But for her beloved daughter she had insisted on something much grander.