His parents were a bit sad that the couple would be setting up home a long way from Somerset, but they’d always known that George couldn’t possibly stay in such a quiet backwater if he wanted to advance his career. George guessed that they also thought he and Molly needed to move to a town where they weren’t known, to build a new life and make new friends. It was close enough to Rye that Molly and Petal could visit Ted and Evelyn, but at the same time they wouldn’t feel they had their every move watched.

Now, finally, they were here in the church, which was packed with friends and relatives. Sunshine was streaming through the stained-glass windows, making pools of vivid colours on the old stone floor and the air was heavy with the scent of the flowers.

Their vows made, George put the ring on Molly’s finger, and he felt so happy when the vicar said that they were now man and wife he felt like cheering. He couldn’t stop smiling as he walked with his new wife to the vestry to sign the register. Harry and Dilys were their witnesses, but Ted and Evelyn took Petal’s hands and followed on, leaving Mr and Mrs Walsh taking up the rear.

Petal had behaved impeccably throughout the service, but the second the vicar had shaken hands with everyone before they left the vestry she took up a position in front of the group, wearing a somewhat belligerent expression on her face.

‘So now George is Molly’s husband, how long will it be before I go to live with them and call them Mummy and Daddy?’ she asked.

A kind of communal giggle went round the vestry. Evelyn put her hand over her mouth to supress it, but everyone else just grinned and looked at Petal.

‘I thought I told you we had to wait until later?’ Evelyn said.

Molly looked from Petal to George, frowning with puzzlement.

‘We’ve got permission from the Children’s Department,’ George admitted. ‘Ted, Evelyn and I were going to break the wonderful news at the reception, but it seems Petal couldn’t wait any longer.’

‘You mean, she’ll be our little girl?’ Molly’s voice rose almost to a shriek in her joy. ‘And live with us in Hastings?’

George swept Petal up with one arm and put the other around Molly. ‘Yes, she’s going to be our little girl and, we hope, a big sister to any babies that come along later.’

‘So that’s why none of you seemed concerned when I kept talking about how long it would take me to get to Rye from Hastings in the morning?’ Molly said with mock-indignation. ‘You all knew I wouldn’t be going because I’ll have better things to do than go to work!’

‘We weren’t ruling out the idea of you coming in for the odd day and in the school holidays, to keep your hand in,’ Ted said, grinning broadly. ‘But, with a new home to organize and Petal to care for, I don’t think you’ll be wanting to do chambermaid duties any more.’

Molly noticed that Mrs Walsh was laughing. ‘You knew about this, too?’ she asked.

‘Yes, George told us a week ago, and we’re thrilled. He’s been badgering the Children’s Department ever since you got engaged. But we’d better get out of this vestry and let the confetti throwing commence, before all the guests come charging in here.’

Molly kissed George. ‘I love you, Mr Walsh. I loved you before, but I love you even more now. Petal is the best wedding present ever.’

George opened the door, and the organ player, who had been playing quietly all the time they’d been in the vestry, upped the volume to alert everyone that they were coming out.

Petal gathered up the train of Molly’s dress and walked proudly behind the newly married couple.

As Molly and George walked slowly down the aisle, everyone got to their feet to look and smile at them. Everyone was there: friends from school, others they had made since, George’s fellow policemen pals, customers from the shop, neighbours and fellow shopkeepers.

‘It’ll be sad to leave them all behind,’ Molly whispered to George.

‘Not that sad,’ he whispered back. ‘It will be good to start again with a clean sheet.’

THE BEGINNING

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MICHAEL JOSEPH

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Michael Joseph is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.

First published 2015

Copyright © Lesley Pearse, 2015

Cover images: Woman © Maja Topcagic / Trevillion Images; background © Mary Evans Picture Library / Roger Mayne

The moral right of the author has been asserted

ISBN: 978-0-241-96155-1