The UnTied Kingdom by Kate Johnson

now?’ Eve muttered as they went inside the church. Harker, to her surprise, crossed himself with his free hand.
    ‘Until we leave this wedding, yes. Create a fuss and I will have you shot,’ he muttered back, and there was menace in his eyes. Eve raised her palms in surrender, noting with a giggle that his hand came up, too.
    To her continued surprise, the service was in Latin. It occurred to Eve that, with everything else about this place that was different, England might well be a Catholic country. She mumbled along with Harker’s responses, relieved to be at the back so no one could see she hadn’t a clue what was going on. He, along with everyone else, seemed to know exactly what to do.
    When the glowing bride and groom walked back down the aisle, Harker and several other men in uniform saluted them, and she noticed for the first time what a state his right hand was in.
    The palm wasn’t too bad, but the back of his hand and fingers bore several puckered scars. A particularly vicious one ran across the back of his first three fingers. The last finger ended in a stub.
    Eve stared for a long moment at that stub. His little finger had been cut off at the first knuckle. There just wasn’t anything past it.
    If she was mad, why had her brain come up with that detail?
    Outside the church people were throwing petals at the newlyweds, who stood beaming and absorbing congratulations. The groom was in a uniform with shiny buttons, bearing medals on his breast. The bride wore a dress which, while white and undoubtedly bridal, lacked the volume of fabric usually associated with such outfits, and her shoes were quite ordinary.
    ‘Say nothing,’ Harker ordered her, and yanked her forward to greet Sergeant and Rosie Cooper, who both thanked him again, profusely, for the ration coupons he’d sent them.
    Eve glanced up at the sky, half-expecting to see barrage balloons floating there.
    ‘And you must come and have some of our cake!’ Rosie insisted. ‘It’s for family only, but you can have a piece, Mister Harker.’
    She called him Mister as if it was a privilege, Eve thought. And he didn’t seem to mind.
    ‘That’s so kind of you, Rosie, but I couldn’t deprive you of it. You enjoy it.’
    Rosie looked at him as if he were mad, but Cooper said, ‘Now Rosie, Mister Harker’s made time to come and see us wed, and he’s a busy man, don’t ask for more of him.’
    Rosie nodded, and Eve wondered what kind of hero she was handcuffed to. For a second, she entertained the idea of telling them that he’d tricked, imprisoned and handcuffed her, but she wasn’t cruel enough to destroy anyone’s idols. Even if she didn’t understand them.
    Instead she reached inside the greatcoat and brought out the box of chocolates. ‘Here,’ she said, holding them out to Rosie. ‘A wedding present.’
    To Eve’s horror, tears welled up in Rosie’s eyes. ‘Thank you!’ she cried, hugging Eve to her and nearly crushing her bouquet. ‘Oh, look everyone! Chocolates !’
    People turned to stare at them, and Eve felt herself go pink. Even Harker was looking at her in amazement.
    ‘Well, congratulations,’ she mumbled.
    ‘Oh, Mister Harker.’ Rosie flung her arms around him, and Eve hoped she was the only one to see his expression, ‘I do hope we’ll see you down this aisle one day!’
    At that, Harker’s eyes slammed wide open, but when Rosie looked up at him, he was smiling normally.
    ‘Don’t expect that’ll be any day soon,’ he said.
    ‘Not even when you’ve found a lady what gives people chocolates?’ Rosie said, looking at the box in her hand as if it contained diamonds.
    ‘Not until I find a chaplain who’ll marry a divorced man,’ he said gently, and Rosie went pink.
    Eve felt an immediate bond of sympathy with Harker’s ex-wife.
    Harker kissed Rosie’s cheek, shook Cooper’s hand, saluted them both, then tugged Eve away into the street.
    ‘Well, that was interesting,’ Eve said, to no one in particular,