Ruby ran down the stairs, humming and tooting the chorus of ‘Here Comes the Bride’, while Merrin followed more sedately. She paused as she neared the bottom, knowing that she would never forget the sight of her mum, dad, sister, gran and bridesmaids gathered in the little hallway at the bottom of the stairs, all looking incredibly smart in their finery. They scrubbed up well. The girls’ lilac dresses and her dad’s gold paisley tie matched her mum’s silk dupion coat, which sat neatly over her knee-length tunic dress. Excitement came off them in waves. Their expressions were of love and it was all directed at her. She drank it in, appreciating all that they had ever done and the fact that their unfailing support and sacrifice had given her the most amazing life of warmth and safety, right up until this moment. She might have thought she looked nice enough, but the way her dad’s mouth fell open and her mum’s tears gathered, the sharp intake of breath from Granny Ellen and the sight of Bella placing her hand over her lips as she shook her head left her in no doubt that Digby would be impressed.

‘You look so beautiful!’ her dad managed, as emotion spilled from him.

‘You really do, Merry!’ her mum echoed. ‘Like something from a magazine, but prettier.’ Then she reached up her sleeve for her handkerchief and blew her nose.

‘Where’s the photographer?’ Merrin looked into the parlour to see if she could spot the man Digby’s mother had insisted on booking.

‘I shoved him outside.’ Bella spoke around a mouthful of food. ‘He wanted to push and pull us this way and that, so I told him he could wait for you out there.’

‘What are you eating, Bells?’ Merry noticed the large sandwich in her hand.

‘Bacon sandwich.’ Her best friend lifted the offending article high. ‘So, you remember when Mac from the pub got married and we didn’t get any grub until the evening? I was bloody starving; not making that mistake again, no siree.’ She took a large bite and wiped ketchup from her bottom lip. ‘Plus, I find a chunky bacon sandwich makes a decent beer cushion.’

Her dad chuckled. He loved the girl and her manner.

‘Just don’t drip grease on to your dress!’ Merrin caught the twisted-mouthed look Bella and her mum exchanged, suggesting it might be a bit too late for that particular warning. ‘You’ll all have to move outside; I’ll never get past in this meringue!’

The huddled group did just that, apart from her dad, who held back as the troupe made their way out on to the cobbles at the front of the cottage. She could hear the photographer clicking away and smiled at the thought of Bella’s bacon sandwich featuring in her wedding pictures. God only knew what Ma Mortimer would make of that!