Hold on to your Dreams (24 page)

‘Well?’ Hanna demanded.

‘We have given our approval for Alex and Gertie to marry.’

‘That’s wonderful. And about time too! Congratulations.’ Hanna nodded her approval.

Taking a small box from his pocket, Alex removed the ring and slipped it on Gertrude’s finger. ‘Ah, it fits perfectly.’

‘It’s beautiful.’ She gazed at it for a few moments, and then smiled up at him. ‘It reminds me of your eyes.’

‘I’m flattered,’ he laughed, slipping a hand around her shoulder and easing her closer.

‘And we have more good news.’ Florence’s tears had dried now and she was quite composed again. ‘Tell them, Alexander.’

He then told them the whole story about his visit to South Africa, and by the time he’d finished, Gertrude was stunned. He’d gone all that way to help her brother!

‘You’ve given Edward hope for the future.’ Her voice was husky with emotion. ‘I do love you so much.’

At that moment the dinner gong sounded, and during the meal, Florence was intent on making plans for the wedding. ‘You haven’t given us a date yet.’

Before suggestions could be made, Alex said firmly, ‘The second week in September. I’m going to take Gertie away somewhere special for a honeymoon. The riding school opens in August, and we must be here for that.’

‘But that’s less than two months away.’ Florence was
horrified. ‘We’ll never be able to arrange it in time.’

‘Yes we will.’ Hanna declared. ‘All we need to do is set our minds to it. Don’t you agree, Gertie?’

‘We’ll do it easily, Mother, don’t you worry.’ She was in complete agreement with Alex. ‘We don’t want to wait any longer.’

‘That’s settled then.’ Sutton raised his glass. ‘The second week in September it is.’

They all drank to that.

‘Oh dear,’ Florence said, but still looked happy about the early wedding. ‘Who will you ask to attend you, Gertrude?’

‘I thought May, Johnny and Millie.’

Florence looked very doubtful. ‘What do you think about that, Alexander?’

His mouth twitched. ‘It should make for an interesting wedding. David will be my best man, so what about asking Miriam to be one of your attendants as well, darling?’

‘That would be lovely. Do you think she would?’

‘I’m sure she’d like that very much. That only leaves Fred. We must involve him as well, so he could help seat the guests in the church.’

‘Good.’ Hanna smiled encouragingly at Florence, who was still rather flustered. ‘The arrangements are under way already. I told you there’s nothing to worry about, Florence.’

After dinner, Alex and Gertrude left the family in deep discussion about the plans for the wedding, and slipped away for a quiet moment together. It was a beautiful evening as they wandered through the garden.

‘Was going away part of your campaign?’ she asked. ‘Because it wasn’t necessary. I knew I loved you before you left.’

‘I did think it might help my cause if you missed me, but I also went to help your brother, and the soldier in me wanted to see what it was like out there.’ He turned her to face him. ‘But as soon as I saw you on the dock, I knew it was the right time to ask you to marry me.’

She slipped her arms around him and held tight, remembering Fred and Millie’s words about holding on to your dreams. David’s had come true; she didn’t know what her brother wished for, but at least he now had a chance; and she knew Fred and Millie would keep their dream of living in the country alive.

And when Alex kissed her she knew they had been right, because dreams can come true.

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B
ERYL
M
ATTHEWS
was born in London but now lives in a small village in Hampshire. As a young girl her ambition was to become a professional singer, but the need to earn a wage drove her into an office, where she worked her way up from tea girl to credit controller. She grew up in a family who loved reading, and books have always been an important part of her life. She had always weaved stories in her head, but never written them down. After retiring she joined a Writers’ Circle in hopes of fulfilling her dream of becoming a published author. With her first book published at the age of seventy-one, she has since written sixteen novels.

Hold on to Your Dreams

The Forgotten Family

Battles Lost and Won

Diamonds in the Dust

A Flight of Golden Wings

The Uncertain Years