down?
But then he shouldn’t have taken advantage of the lass’s feelings for him. Should have thought ahead to the consequences of his actions. Instead of letting Danny shoulder all responsibilities, as he’d done ever since their da’s death.
At least this way, tongues would be silenced about him and Philip. He’d be a married man, and Philip would be free to be with someone his equal at last. Danny tried to feel glad for his one-time lover—God, he tried—but the pain it caused him, thinking of Philip with Matthew, was like a snare caught around his heart, tightening as he struggled.
No matter. In time, perhaps, the wound would scar over, hurt a little less.
As the service started, the gates creaked shut. Danny’s heart beat faster than any rabbit’s. Should he have spoken to Philip directly? Not just sent a note? But he hadn’t been able to bear the thought of Philip’s indifference, seen face to face. The vicar read the words, but Danny couldn’t listen to them, could only think there’s still time, there’s still time .
Time for what? For Philip to rush in and forbid the wedding? Aye, and maybe Danny’s da would rise up from his grave to give his blessing—
There was a noise from the back of the church. Danny fought not to whirl around, closed his lips tight so they wouldn’t utter Philip’s name. It was just a latecomer, that was all.
Then whispers became a rising murmur, and Danny couldn’t hold back any longer. He turned. “Ph— Toby ?”
His face flushed and damp with sweat, Toby walked up the aisle toward them. He clutched in his hand a sad bunch of greenery Danny reckoned had come straight from some poor soul’s grave, and his chin was up, wavering only slightly. “You’ve got to stop the wedding,” he said. “Effie’s my lass, and that’s my baby she’s having.”
Effie gasped as he went down on one knee in front of her, and the vicar shut his book with an annoyed snap.
“Effie, I’m right sorry I ran out on you. But I’m back, now, and I’m going to take care of the both of you. Will you marry me?”
She stared at him for a moment, her little face so pale Danny worried for a moment she was about to faint. Then her eyes narrowed. “And how do I know you won’t run out on me again, Toby Costessey?”
“I won’t, I swear it. Come with me, lass.” Toby grabbed her by the hand. “Come outside.”
Danny turned in apology to the vicar as Effie let Toby lead her back down the aisle to a chorus of wagging tongues; then he strode off after them, in case his fool of a brother managed to mess things up again. At the back of the church, he was startled to spot Matthew Cranmore, grinning as if he’d planned this all himself. Lord, but he was a strange one, Danny thought, and hurried past him to catch up with Toby and Effie.
They were out in the churchyard, in a corner Danny knew well.
“See here, Effie?” Toby was saying. “That’s my da’s grave. And as his soul’s my witness, I’ll wed you soon as the banns are read. And I’ll not run out on you again.”
“I an’t said yes yet,” she reminded him, but she was holding that sorry, secondhand posy, and her eyes were shining as she looked up at Toby’s face.
“Then will you? You know I love you, Effie Smith. I was riled up about you not telling me first about the babe, and then I got scared, that’s all.”
“You think I’m not scared? It’s me’s got to bear this child,” she said.
Toby put his arm around her. From the way she snuggled into his side, Danny reckoned that was what she’d been after. “I’ll look after you, don’t you worry. So, will you, Effie? Will you marry me?”
“Yes, then.”
Danny turned aside as they kissed. After a few minutes, he cleared his throat and they broke apart, startled. “How’s about we put horse before cart this time around?” Danny asked, his heart lighter than it had been for a good, long while. “Toby, you’ve a vicar to talk to.”
Toby gave him a long,
But then he shouldn’t have taken advantage of the lass’s feelings for him. Should have thought ahead to the consequences of his actions. Instead of letting Danny shoulder all responsibilities, as he’d done ever since their da’s death.
At least this way, tongues would be silenced about him and Philip. He’d be a married man, and Philip would be free to be with someone his equal at last. Danny tried to feel glad for his one-time lover—God, he tried—but the pain it caused him, thinking of Philip with Matthew, was like a snare caught around his heart, tightening as he struggled.
No matter. In time, perhaps, the wound would scar over, hurt a little less.
As the service started, the gates creaked shut. Danny’s heart beat faster than any rabbit’s. Should he have spoken to Philip directly? Not just sent a note? But he hadn’t been able to bear the thought of Philip’s indifference, seen face to face. The vicar read the words, but Danny couldn’t listen to them, could only think there’s still time, there’s still time .
Time for what? For Philip to rush in and forbid the wedding? Aye, and maybe Danny’s da would rise up from his grave to give his blessing—
There was a noise from the back of the church. Danny fought not to whirl around, closed his lips tight so they wouldn’t utter Philip’s name. It was just a latecomer, that was all.
Then whispers became a rising murmur, and Danny couldn’t hold back any longer. He turned. “Ph— Toby ?”
His face flushed and damp with sweat, Toby walked up the aisle toward them. He clutched in his hand a sad bunch of greenery Danny reckoned had come straight from some poor soul’s grave, and his chin was up, wavering only slightly. “You’ve got to stop the wedding,” he said. “Effie’s my lass, and that’s my baby she’s having.”
Effie gasped as he went down on one knee in front of her, and the vicar shut his book with an annoyed snap.
“Effie, I’m right sorry I ran out on you. But I’m back, now, and I’m going to take care of the both of you. Will you marry me?”
She stared at him for a moment, her little face so pale Danny worried for a moment she was about to faint. Then her eyes narrowed. “And how do I know you won’t run out on me again, Toby Costessey?”
“I won’t, I swear it. Come with me, lass.” Toby grabbed her by the hand. “Come outside.”
Danny turned in apology to the vicar as Effie let Toby lead her back down the aisle to a chorus of wagging tongues; then he strode off after them, in case his fool of a brother managed to mess things up again. At the back of the church, he was startled to spot Matthew Cranmore, grinning as if he’d planned this all himself. Lord, but he was a strange one, Danny thought, and hurried past him to catch up with Toby and Effie.
They were out in the churchyard, in a corner Danny knew well.
“See here, Effie?” Toby was saying. “That’s my da’s grave. And as his soul’s my witness, I’ll wed you soon as the banns are read. And I’ll not run out on you again.”
“I an’t said yes yet,” she reminded him, but she was holding that sorry, secondhand posy, and her eyes were shining as she looked up at Toby’s face.
“Then will you? You know I love you, Effie Smith. I was riled up about you not telling me first about the babe, and then I got scared, that’s all.”
“You think I’m not scared? It’s me’s got to bear this child,” she said.
Toby put his arm around her. From the way she snuggled into his side, Danny reckoned that was what she’d been after. “I’ll look after you, don’t you worry. So, will you, Effie? Will you marry me?”
“Yes, then.”
Danny turned aside as they kissed. After a few minutes, he cleared his throat and they broke apart, startled. “How’s about we put horse before cart this time around?” Danny asked, his heart lighter than it had been for a good, long while. “Toby, you’ve a vicar to talk to.”
Toby gave him a long,
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