As the cart moved away, she was lulled and what little remained of her strength left her core. Weakened, she fell further back into the pillows as her girls held her fast. They captured her arms and legs, huddling forward, anchoring her, as they kissed her face. She lay looking up at the gap between their bowed heads as they shielded her from the sight of tourists and those in their wedding finery, who were heading back to their cars and homes.

Merrin stared into the sky, where storm clouds now gathered, not that she minded, wanting to experience the full force of thunder and lightning. She felt as if she were sinking, down and down into a dark place beneath the cart, beneath the earth, and all her hopes and dreams, now cloaked in sorrow and loss, were sinking with her. She knew that she had never felt such deep sadness as she did at that precise moment. Her life, her plans and her dreams had been shredded and she was blank, raw and floundering, gasping for air like a fish in the net. Exposed and to be pitied, an almost bride. It felt like a nightmare and one she wanted to end. She hoped she might wake and find it was the start of the day, when she would once again stand on the cobbles in her bare feet and embrace all that was coming her way, knowing that her beloved Digby was waiting for her.

‘Let it out . . .’ Bella urged.

‘She’s right, let it all out, babby,’ Ruby added.

‘No one can see you, Merry, you can have a good old cry.’ Bella smoothed the hair from her forehead.

But Merrin stayed silent. She couldn’t cry because it didn’t seem real, any of it.

CHAPTER FIVE JARVIS

CHAPTER FIVE

JARVIS

Knowing the wedding service would now be in full swing, Jarvis had parked the cart up on the flat and was giving Daisy a drink and a good rub behind the ears when Robin came haring around the corner with some urgency, his suit jacket flying behind him, eyes wide and the smooth soles of his lace-up shoes slipping on the warm pavement.

‘You’re not going to believe it, Jarv!’ He bent over, one arm leaning on the cart, as he caught his breath. ‘He’s only gone and done a runner, left her standing at the altar! He stood her up, he bloody stood her up!’ He was breathless, but agitated too, excited almost, by the turn of events.

‘Is this a wind-up? Are you joking? Because it’s not funny.’