‘You look like a real queen,’ breathed Poppy as she hooked her arm through Cadi’s. ‘Your mam’s done a grand job with your hair and as for that dress! You’d never guess it had once been used as a sheet!’ Poppy grinned, ‘I know what it’s like to be part of a mining family, nowt stays clean for long, yet your dress is whiter than a cloud. How you managed that sharing a room with three boys I’ll never know, but mining boys?’ She shook her head. ‘Hats off to your mam, is all I can say.’

‘Mam’s been wonderful. She even made a sort of bag with the leftover bits of sheet. Every time she’d finished doing her alterations, she’d pop it in that and tuck it away in the back of her wardrobe!’ Admitted Cadi. ‘As for me looking like a queen, I’ve mam to thank for that too. She’s worked so hard Poppy, I’d never have managed it without her.’

‘Mind you, she’s had a good muse in you,’ said Poppy, ‘when I was Rose Queen my mam had the devil’s own job making me look half decent!’

Cadi shot her friend a reproving glance. ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself, you were beautiful when you were the Rose Queen, everyone said so.’

Poppy squeezed Cadi’s arm. ‘And that’s why you’re my best pal Cadi Williams, ’cos you always know the right thing to say!’

As they approached the back of the stage, Cadi placed her hand to her tummy which was fluttering with anticipation. She nodded to a man with a clipboard who had beckoned for Cadi to step forward.

She smiled nervously at Poppy. ‘Wish me luck.’

Poppy kissed her on the cheek. ‘Good luck!’

The crowd of people who had been chattering amongst themselves fell silent as Lady Houghton delicately placed the crown of roses onto Cadi’s head, whilst announcing her to be the new Rose Queen. Cadi blushed to the tips of her ears as the crowd erupted into spontaneous applause, and just when she thought she couldn’t feel any more embarrassed, a couple of boys in the throng wolf whistled their approval, causing her colour to deepen.

As the crowd quietened down, Lady Houghton declared the fete open and people began to drift off to the various stalls.

‘So,’ said Poppy as she stepped onto the stage beside her friend, ‘how does it feel to be the Rose Queen?’

Cadi sighed happily. ‘Wonderful! Deep down I was dreading all the attention, but it’s really quite pleasant.’

Poppy laughed, ‘especially when the fellers show their approval, eh?’

Lowering her gaze, Cadi tried to swallow her smile. ‘Not necessarily, besides, it’s uncouth.’

‘Uncouth my eye!’ Grinned Poppy, ‘I saw your face when them lads whistled!’

‘I suppose it’s better than the alternative,’ said Cadi.