She wrung her hands as her thoughts whirled. ‘Then there’s the invitations. We can’t just get married without Peggy and Cordelia, and Stan, Ron and Rosie. They’d never forgive us.’ She was close to tears as she looked back at him. ‘It’s too much of a rush, Mike. Can’t we at least put it off until next week?’

‘I’m sorry, honey, it has to be this Wednesday. We leave for Canada on Saturday.’

Ruby almost fainted with shock and could only stare at him. ‘Saturday? Canada?’ she managed.

He kissed her softly on the lips and cupped her face in his hands. ‘I know it’s very short notice and that it has come as a huge shock, but the Canadian Wives’ Bureau have pulled out all the stops and arranged everything. We go by train to Liverpool, and will be sailing on the hospital troop ship SS Lady Nelson for Halifax, Nova Scotia early Monday morning.’

It was all too much to absorb and she could only stare at him helplessly.

‘There’s really nothing to panic about, Ruby,’ he soothed. ‘You told me you’d already packed most of your things to leave for Stan’s, so we can take it all with us on the ship. As for the reception and invitations, leave them to me.’

Ruby was still stunned, and could think of nothing to say as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope.

Handing it to her, he smiled. ‘This is for a frock and flowers and anything else you might want for our special day. Spend it all on yourself, darling. You deserve it.’

Ruby’s hand trembled with shock at the speed things were going as she opened the envelope and gasped at the amount of money inside. ‘It’s too much,’ she protested. ‘Much too much. And we’ll need all the money we can get when we arrive in Canada.’

Mike folded her fingers around the thickly filled envelope. ‘This is my wedding gift to you, Ruby,’ he said, his tone brooking no argument. ‘It’s my way of apologising for turning your life upside down in such a rush. Please use it.’