Page 5 of The Winter Bride

Three days before the wedding, as Monty was packing some of his clothes to take to Annie’s rooms, there came a tap on his bedroom door and his mother appeared.

‘So, you’re still going ahead with this?’ she asked, straight-faced.

‘Of course I am,’ he replied tersely. The atmosphere in the house had been strained ever since he had told her of his intentions, and now he could hardly wait to leave.

However, she surprised him when she said, ‘In that case I dare say I shall have to attend. I can’t pretend to be happy with your choice of bride, but I am your mother, so I suppose I shall have to bow to your wishes.’

It was all Monty could do not to smirk and say something sarcastic. He didn’t doubt that she’d only changed her mind because she was afraid of what her friends would say if she didn’t attend her son’s wedding. He nodded. ‘You and the rest of the family will be more than welcome, Mother.’

She sniffed, standing straight-backed, her hands clenched and pressed tightly into her waist and her face full of disapproval. ‘I imagine your father will accompany me, but Reginald won’t be there.’

‘That is his choice,’ Monty answered quietly as he folded another shirt and added it to the case.

His mother hovered, as if there was more she wished to say, but then with a swish of skirts she turned and left, closing the door resoundingly behind her.

Monty straightened and sighed. He just hoped his parents wouldn’t do or say anything to spoil the day for Annie. Nothing could spoil it for him, but he knew she was a bag of nerves, so the sooner they were wed and could get away on their honeymoon and have some quality time together the better.

When he had finished, he shrugged on his coat and carried the case downstairs. On the way he passed his brother who paused to sneer at him.

‘If it isn’t the condemned man.’ He grinned. ‘Best make the most of your freedom during the next few days, eh?’

‘Actually, the wedding can’t come quickly enough for me,’ Monty responded shortly. ‘Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get these to my new home.’ He strode past him.

‘Huh! Call two small rooms above a poxy dress shop home, do you? And I should slow down if I were you, otherwise you might not even make the wedding. Don’t forget you’re living on borrowed time.’

Monty turned back to his brother, swallowing the hasty retort that sprang to his lips. ‘Do you know what, Reggie, I could almost think you were jealous!’ He had the satisfaction of seeing angry colour flood into Reggie’s scarred cheeks, and then he hurried away, slamming the front door behind him.

When he arrived at Annie’s, Monty managed to fix a smile on his face and went upstairs, where the rooms looked inviting and cosy. Truthfully, he would have been happy to live in a shed as long as he was with her, but he appreciated all the effort she had put into making it a comfortable home. The shop downstairs was ready, too, and Annie was looking forward to opening the doors when they arrived back from their honeymoon. Only that day the new sign reading Classy Couture, written in elegant red-and-gold letters on a dark green background, had been fixed above the shop door.

Annie came out of the bedroom and smiled at him. ‘I’ve got your wardrobe all ready for your clothes. Come in and I’ll help you hang them up. There’s a chest of drawers for you as well. I just hope you’ll have enough room for everything. You have far more clothes than I do.’

‘We shall have to change that then, shan’t we?’ he teased as he followed her into what was to be their room. Annie blushed as she saw him glance at the bed, then hurriedly opened his case and begin to transfer his clothes into the right places. It was strange to think that soon she would be sharing that bed with him every night.

‘Did you notice the sign as you came in? I do hope I’ve chosen the right name. I wanted it to sound classy.’

‘I did notice it and it does indeed look classy. Beautiful, in fact. I’ve no doubt you’ll do a roaring trade once word spreads.’

She chewed nervously on her lip. ‘I hope you’re right. The clothes will be way beyond the pockets of the people we serve in the other two shops. I just hope I haven’t outpriced myself.’

‘Of course you haven’t. Don’t forget you’ll be serving a totally different class of people who can afford to buy expensive clothes,’ he reassured her.

She smiled. That was one of the many things she loved about Monty: he was always so supportive.

He told her about the visit his mother had paid to his bedroom.

‘So, she and your father are coming to the wedding?’ She sounded shocked and not entirely happy.

He nodded.

‘And Reggie?’ She held her breath.

When he shook his head, she couldn’t stop the look of relief that crossed her face. ‘Aww well, I’m pleased for your sake that your parents will be there at least.’ And she meant it. She hated the thought of coming between him and his parents, but thank goodness Reggie was staying away. How could she have said the wedding vows to his brother after what Reggie had done to her? The morning he had brutally raped her would be burnt into her memory forever and she lived in fear of Monty ever finding out. He was a gentle soul but she dreaded to think what he might do to his brother if he knew.

Once they had packed everything away, she made them both a cup of cocoa and Monty sat in the chair beside the fire and stretched his legs out contentedly. ‘Not long now, eh?’

‘No . . . not long.’ A picture of Alex floated in front of her eyes, and she hastily blinked it away. She had made her decision for better or for worse and nothing would stop her going through with it. Monty deserved better than that.

The day of the wedding finally dawned. It was a typical March day – sunny but with a breeze. Annie had slept in the cottage the night before so Peggy could help her get ready, and she was a bag of nerves as they put on her dress.