‘Whatever you want is right with me. We will have to see if Patrick can fit us in then, and we won’t know until we get to Haworth. So, my love, we must be away, and you can tell all this evening.’
Dorothy opened the door for the handsome couple and gently took Adam’s hand as he passed her, and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Welcome to our family. And thank you for all your help with the house. We will never be able to repay you.’
‘There’s nothing to repay. You are my family now.’ Adam smiled down at the woman he knew had been against the marriage. His timing of a new home had swayed Dorothy, and now he was free to place a ring on her daughter’s finger.
‘So, Adam, you are looking for me to wed you.’ The parson looked at the couple sitting across from him and saw the happiness and love that flowed between them. ‘You’ve decided to look to the future instead of dwelling in the past.’
Lucy looked down at her feet and felt uncomfortable in the parson’s gaze. His reputation, and that of his family, was well established in the district. He was a good man, and tragedy had made him stronger rather than weakening him, but she couldn’t understand how he kept his faith in God, after losing five daughters, a son and his wife at such early ages.
‘I have, sir. And I have been lucky enough to find Lucy, whom I love dearly. It would mean a great deal to me if you yourself would marry us. I befriended all your family, and I will always remember you marrying Mary and me here at Haworth. It was a joyous day, and I wish the same for Lucy and me.’ Adam glanced at Lucy and saw her drop her head.
‘Are you sure you want to wed here, for those very reasons? Aren’t the memories still too tender for you? And perhaps Lucy here does not want to follow in dear Mary’s footsteps?’ Patrick looked across at Lucy.
‘Oh no, sir. Please, I would like to marry Adam here at Haworth. It would be a great honour to be married by you, and it is what Adam wishes.’ Lucy looked at the elderly grey-haired parson and noticed him smile.
‘Marriage is a joint decision, my dear, and I’m willing to wed you both, as long as you are in agreement and the decision is not just Adam’s. Being married is all about a compromise between man and wife, and one should never be stronger than the other. I am glad someone has won Adam’s heart. He’s too good a man to live life on his own, and he needs a woman to be there for him and comfort him. You, my dear, will be exactly that in his life. God bless you both. Now, what date am I to look at? Of course the banns will have to be read in each parish, so I hope you are in no rush.’ The parson looked across at the couple in front of him and noticed Lucy blushing. He had to ask that, because so many couples came to him with the wife-to-be already with child and needed to be wed quickly.
‘No, there’s no rush, sir. But Lucy has shown a liking for a date in late September or early October, and I’m in agreement with that. Only because she is growing chrysanthemums in the garden and would like them in her bouquet. However, we’d like it to be held on a Saturday, if possible,’ Adam said.
‘I’d be happy if you could wait just a little while longer, Adam.’ The parson flicked through his diary, struggling to read the appointments, as he looked at the weeks that had events next to them. ‘I have the twenty-fifth of October free, and that would give you ample time for the banns to be read, and for you to prepare yourselves for this change in your lives.’
Adam looked at Lucy, who seemed a little disappointed at the date being later than expected, but she nodded her head in agreement.
‘Yes, that will be acceptable. The twenty-fifth of October. At what time?’ Adam asked.
‘We usually hold weddings at two o’clock – is that acceptable?’ The parson looked at them both as they nodded their heads. ‘Then I will see that Arthur reads out your banns in both churches, and I will fill in the relevant forms. It is a joyous day, Adam. I’m glad you have found happiness once again. And you, young lady, have got yourself a good, kind man. He’s strong-willed but dependable, and I know you will have a good life together.’
‘I know. He means everything to me.’ Lucy linked her arm into Adam’s and smiled up at him.
‘Those chrysanthemums will have to be protected from the frost, if you are to use them in your bouquet. We have several cloches in the garden and you are welcome to place a plant or two within them, if the weather does get frosty, to protect them for your day.’ The parson examined the young girl, who was obviously deeply in love with Adam.
‘Thank you, sir. I might just do that. I had set my heart on using them, as my mother had the same flowers on her wedding day.’ Lucy smiled.
‘Well, the offer is there. And for now, that is my part done. Unless you wish to speak to me each week to make sure that neither of you has any reservations about the marriage, and to explain to you what marriage entails? However, I think Adam already knows about commitment, and I can see that you love him without reserve.’ The parson patted Lucy’s hand and looked up at Adam.
‘Thank you, sir, but we will have no regrets about our decision. We
