Anna looked back at her. ‘Are you coming?’

Liesel stared down at her hands, fidgeting at a loose thread in her lace gloves. ‘Are you sure about this?’ she asked.

It was such a ridiculous question, Anna couldn’t help but laugh. ‘What are you saying?’

‘I’m worried, that’s all.’ Liesel turned wide blue eyes to meet Anna’s. ‘Edward has just come out of hospital.’

‘I know that.’

‘How do you know he’s – you know – well enough to get married?’

‘He’s fine. The doctor says his chest is getting better every day.’

Liesel looked back down at her gloves, plucking at the thread. ‘I don’t want you to feel as if you’ve got to rush into anything. You could wait a while.’

‘I’ve already waited for years.’

‘Yes, I know, but …’

‘Liesel, I’m not being rushed into anything. It was my idea to get married, not Edward’s. This is what I want.’

‘It’s not what Papa and Mother would want for you,’ Liesel said quietly.

Anna glared at her. ‘I’m sure they would want me to be happy.’

‘And are you?’ Liesel darted a glance at her.

Anna looked out at the grim, grey street.

‘Yes,’ she said firmly. ‘Yes, I’m very happy. Now hurry up, or there won’t be a wedding!’

Edward was waiting for her, sheltering in the porch. He looked quite frail, Anna thought with a pang. He was thinner than he used to be, and his face had the ashen pallor of someone who had spent weeks indoors.

‘No best man,’ Liesel observed, as she followed her sister out of the taxi. ‘Isn’t it funny how he doesn’t have any family or friends?’

‘He’s an orphan,’ Anna reminded her. ‘And I daresay all his friends are away fighting.’ She hurried to meet Edward before Liesel could make another comment.

He grinned with relief when he saw her.

‘Thank the Lord! I thought you’d changed your mind?’

Anna glanced at Liesel. ‘Never,’ she said.

He held her at arms’ length, taking in her appearance. ‘You look beautiful.’

‘And you look very smart.’ Anna looked him up and down. ‘But I thought you might wear your uniform?’

‘No fear!’ Edward shook his head. ‘I spent four years wearing it, I don’t intend to wear it on my wedding day.’ He smiled down at her. ‘Besides, this is the start of my new life.’

‘Our new lives,’ Anna reminded him with a smile.

‘Our new lives.’ He offered her his arm. ‘Shall we go?’ he said.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

‘Wasn’t it a beautiful wedding?’ Miriam Trott sighed, as they sat in a café later, discussing it over tea and scones.

‘I thought it was a bit disappointing, myself.’ Dulcie helped herself to another cup of tea from the china pot. ‘You won’t catch me getting married in a poky register office wearing a borrowed dress.’

‘Oh, yes, of course,’ Miriam sneered. ‘You want a grand society wedding, don’t you?’ She rolled her eyes at Grace.

‘And what’s wrong with that?’ Dulcie said.