In June, his decree absolute was granted, and as he and Delia were both living in the town of Kingston upon Hull their marriage licence was approved at the register office in Parliament Street; a wedding was arranged within the month as Giles said he couldn’t possibly wait any longer to marry the woman he had loved since their very first meeting, when they had shared a carriage ride to the theatre.
Giles looked out of the window of the reception room in the elegant register office and saw the barouche arrive with Delia, Robin, Louisa, Peggy and Aaron. Behind them in a smart curricle were Jenny and Arthur Crawshaw. They had all been staying at the Maritime Hotel, where later they would have the wedding breakfast. Peggy had promised the little girls that they would have a party at the farm the following day, and at the last minute Delia had decided that it would be nice to ask Louisa to come as company for Robin.
Giles had kept his vow of not telling his parents about their wedding. He wanted no one there who might disapprove even in the slightest, and he knew they would offer him their opinions and recommendations regarding the way he should conduct his life; they had ruined ten years of it, and he wanted nothing to mar this special day. Both he and Delia had survived a difficult time and he felt they deserved the happiness that they would now share.
Giles watched as Robin, dressed in a grey velvet jacket and grey trousers, detached himself from the group and ran up the steps and through the open door; Giles went to greet him.
‘Mr Dawson, sir, might I have a few words?’
Giles looked down at the young boy, who was desperately trying not to spill the tears that were gathering. ‘Of course, Robin. Is something bothering you?’
Robin shook his head and swallowed. ‘No, no. It’s just – just that I must ask you something. I want to ask – if you will promise to always take care of my mother. You see, she’s only ever had me to look out for her before.’ He sniffed and fished in his trouser pocket for a handkerchief. ‘And I want to be sure that I can rely on you to do that as well as I have, even though I know that sometimes I wasn’t very good at it.’
Giles gave a little frown. ‘I’ve never heard any complaints in that regard, Robin,’ he assured him. ‘Excellent reports, in fact, and I have been rather anxious that I might not achieve such high standards as the ones you have set.’
‘Oh, I think if you try hard you’ll do all right.’ Robin blew his nose. ‘Before we left Paull yesterday, Jack took me on one side and said that my mother was a very special lady and deserved only the best, which is why I thought I’d mention it.’
‘Did he really?’ Giles murmured. ‘Well, that was very’ – he searched for an appropriate word – ‘thoughtful of Jack.’ From the corner of his eye he saw Aaron helping Peggy and then Delia down from the carriage. ‘But let me assure you, Robin, I will love and protect your mother with my life.’
Robin gave a watery grin. ‘I couldn’t have put it better myself,’ he said, and turning towards his mother, who was ascending the steps towards a new life, he approached her, took her hand, and led her towards Giles.
Giles gently held her ringless fingers. ‘You are so beautiful,’ he murmured. Delia was dressed in a silver-grey gown with a train and a short whisper of a veil fastened with silver clips to her dark hair.
‘I am full of joy and happiness,’ she whispered. ‘I feel as if I’m living a dream and in a moment I shall wake up.’
‘No dream,’ he said softly. ‘Pure and perfect reality. Miss Delamour,’ his eyes were on hers, ‘shall we make harmonious and lovely music together?’
Delia smiled happily, her eyes bright and moist and loving. ‘Yes, Mr Dawson. I think that perhaps we should.’
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With grateful thanks to Dr Martin T. Craven B.Sc. for the generous gift of his book A New and Complete History of the Borough of Hedon, The Ridings Publishing Company, Driffield, 1972. At last I have a copy of my own!
The generous loan of books from Brian Dornan: Smuggling in Yorkshire 1700–1850 by Graham Smith, Country Side Books, 1994; and Paull Heritage Trail by Paul Cross, Highgate Print Ltd, 24 Wylies Road, Beverley.
As always, appreciative thanks are due to my ever supportive publishing team. You all know who you are. Thank you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Since winning the Catherine Cookson Prize for Fiction for her first novel, The Hungry Tide, Val Wood has published twenty-two novels and become one of the most popular authors in the UK.
Born in the mining town of Castleford, Val came to East Yorkshire as a child and has lived in Hull and rural Holderness where many of her novels are set. She now lives in the market town of Beverley.
When she is not writing, Val is busy promoting libraries and supporting many charities. In 2017 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Hull for service and dedication to literature.
Find out more about Val Wood’s novels by visiting her website at www.valeriewood.co.uk
Also by Val Wood
THE HUNGRY TIDE
ANNIE
CHILDREN OF THE TIDE
THE GYPSY GIRL
EMILY
GOING HOME
ROSA’S ISLAND
THE DOORSTEP GIRLS
FAR FROM HOME
THE KITCHEN MAID
THE SONGBIRD
NOBODY’S CHILD
FALLEN ANGELS
THE LONG WALK HOME
RICH GIRL, POOR GIRL
HOMECOMING GIRLS
THE HARBOUR GIRL
THE INNKEEPER’S DAUGHTER
HIS BROTHER’S WIFE
EVERY MOTHER’S SON
LITTLE GIRL LOST
NO PLACE FOR A WOMAN
For more information on Val Wood and her books,
see her website at www.valeriewood.co.uk
TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS
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Transworld is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com
First published in Great Britain in 2017 by Bantam Press
an imprint of Transworld Publishers
Copyright © Val Wood 2017
Photographs:
