Free Sealed With a Loving Kiss by Ellie Dean Page A

the vast edifice as she walked down the stone slabs of the broad aisle, past the lines of pews towards the altar steps. She looked at the pulpit and had to smile, for it was very imposing compared to the one her father had preached from. Set high above the steps, it was made of ornately decorated oak and had two silver candle sconces and a canopy embellished with small symbolic figures of a lamb, roses and a cross.
    Dipping one knee and bowing her head to the large crucifix that stood on the altar, she said a silent prayer and then glanced across at the wooden lectern which had been carved into the shape of an eagle whose open wings held the leather-bound bible. Suzy’s father would be reading from it tomorrow, and the page was marked by an embroidered white ribbon with long, silken tassels.
    The scents and sounds of this church might have reminded her of the ancient one back in Harebridge Green, but actually it was on a much grander scale and didn’t really possess the same quiet and rather majestic atmosphere of age and history. Yet she had to admit that the Victorian artisans were certainly skilled and took pride in their work as they decorated their churches, for there were carved heads of saints at the top of every stone pillar and ornate barley twists at the end of every pew, and although the stained-glass windows were now heavily covered in board, the vicar had shown her photographs of how lovely they were.
    She climbed the steps to make her way through the choir stalls to the organ. It was a beast of a thing which soared up to the high ceiling and had more knobs and pedals and layers of keys than you could shake a stick at. The wooden surround had been intricately carved with birds and cherubs peeking out of climbing vines, and the organ pipes gleamed richly behind the delicate and rather dusty fretwork.
    Mary lit the candles set in brackets on either side of the keyboards, found the music she needed and then settled onto the broad stool. The cold of the church was beginning to seep through her warm overcoat, and if she didn’t start practising soon, her fingers would stiffen up.
    She pulled out various stops and then touched the keys, her feet lightly dancing over the pedals as she played Handel’s lilting and peaceful
Water Music
, which she would play as the congregation came in to wait for the bridal party to arrive. Then she went through the traditional ‘Here Comes the Bride’, and followed this up with the two hymns Suzy and Anthony had chosen.
    As she played ‘I Vow to Thee, My Country’, and the music soared to the great high rafters and filled the church with its beauty, she heard the accompanying strains of a violin and turned to smile with surprise and delight at Fran, who was walking towards her.
    ‘How lovely to see you, but what on earth are you doing here?’ she said after they’d come to the end of the hymn.
    ‘To be sure, I needed to escape for a wee while,’ Fran replied as she plucked at one of the violin strings and adjusted a tuning peg. ‘I’ve done all I can to help Peggy, and now Suzy’s parents have arrived I thought I’d make myself scarce.’
    ‘What are they like?’
    ‘He’s tall and rather handsome with wings of silver in his hair and grey, friendly eyes. She’s elegant, blonde and beautifully turned out – just like Suzy really. They’re obviously very rich and well connected and used to the very best of things, but there were no airs and graces and they put Peggy and everyone at ease immediately.’
    She grinned wickedly, her lovely eyes glittering with fun. ‘You can always tell real class,’ she giggled, ‘and poor Doris doesn’t stand a chance of pulling it off. She’ll no doubt be busting her corsets to try and impress them, but end up looking very silly.’
    ‘I’m sure Edward and Anthony will rein her in if it looks likely,’ said Mary with a smile. She blew on her cold hands and rubbed them. ‘Look, I’d better get on before my fingers seize up.