John looked as proud as punch as he walked down the aisle with Kathy on his arm. Peggy and Daisy walked behind them with broad smiles on their faces in their pretty bridesmaids’ dresses with little crowns of flowers on their heads to match the tiny posies they were carrying, while Thomas stood proudly at David’s side with Kathy’s wedding ring resting on a small cushion, his tongue in his cheek as he concentrated hard on not dropping it.

Kathy and David had eyes only for each other as they solemnly took their vows, and almost before they knew it, they were pronounced husband and wife and David lifted her from her feet and gave her a smacking kiss on the lips, while the sun shining through the stained-glass windows painted them all the colours of the rainbow. Once outside they were showered in rice and rose petals and the air was full of laughter, then Kathy tossed her posy high into the air and it plummeted down and landed smack in Livvy’s hands.

‘There you go, little sis,’ Kathy teased. ‘It’s your turn next.’

Could she have known it the words tore at Livvy’s heart, for if she couldn’t have Giles, she had decided she would never marry anyone, but she somehow managed to keep her smile in place and the moment passed.

Soon they were back at Treetops and once more a party was in full swing.

Edith and Cissie, who hadn’t wanted to miss the wedding, had laid out a buffet of cold meats and pies before they left, and everyone tucked in.

‘I wish you’d let me pay for you both to have a few days away somewhere as a honeymoon,’ Sunday said regretfully, but both David and Kathy shook their heads.

‘Thanks, Mum, but we’re quite happy to spend a few days at the lodge with the children,’ Kathy promised her, then dropping her voice she confided happily, ‘The twins are calling David Daddy already. I’m just so lucky!’

‘Well, you deserve to be,’ Sunday told her warmly. ‘And I have a feeling you’re going to be very happy indeed together.’

‘I hope so.’ Kathy’s adoring eyes met those of her new husband, and she hurried over to give him yet another kiss.

It was growing dark when the newlyweds set off down the drive with the twins skipping ahead of them, as Cissie and Sunday watched from the doorstep with broad smiles on their faces.

‘What a wonderful month it’s been,’ Cissie said contentedly. ‘First the war finally ends, then the party an’ now the wedding. It couldn’t get much better than this, could it?’

‘It could if we could only have word that Giles is safe,’ Sunday pointed out and Cissie frowned.