Children in Her Shadow (14 page)

It was finally agreed that in these austere times the Carmichael’s would provide a finger buffet at the house after the wedding. It was also acknowledged that it would not be reasonable to expect the bride’s side of the family to pay. With the arrangements finally over Ruth asked if she could see the room that she and Edward would be sharing in less than four weeks time. Edward, rather than his parents or the dreaded Aunt Matilda was immediately reluctant saying that the room was not tidy and suggesting that she view the room the following Sunday. Ruth was irritated but sanguine realising that she must not let small things bother her especially when Aunt Matilda could be relied upon for bigger ones.

When Ruth and Edward walked to the bus stop, Edward excused his reluctance to show Ruth his room by saying that he had several old radio parts in the bed room that made it look cluttered and he wanted to make the room look special and at its best before she saw it. Suspicious of his remarks, Ruth seized upon the issue of his radios pointing out the collective family silence when his father had previously suggested that Edward was in his radio shack. Ruth also reminded Edward of his own comments that he would explain to Ruth more about what else he did for his country. She reminded him of his emotional comments about not being the coward or the conscientious objector some people though he was.

Again Edward tried to brush off these comments but eventually, Ruth confronted him, “If we are about to be married there should be no secrets between us, so tell me, why is it that you are not in military service and what is all this about radios“ she asked making clear to Edward that she expected answers. Edward was clearly uncomfortable with Ruth’s tough line of questions and so Ruth pressed harder, “Are you some sort of spy, is that what you are” she asked. Again Edward dodged the question by saying, “I do my bit for my country and that’s it.”

In an aloof and patronising manner, Edward went on to tell Ruth that she should not meddle in things that didn’t concern her. His closing remark sent a chill down her spine, “If you are to be my wife you are going to have to change your ways and get rid of that independent streak that is so unbecoming in women.” Ruth was about to respond when she could see that there was no point at least for the time being.

Edward’s comments were concerning though. Ruth who was determined to make her point looked at Edward and cuttingly remarked, “I don’t see myself as a feminist or a suffragette however, you and many others like you need to understand that the world is changing. Women are doing jobs previously only done by men, they have proved themselves on the land, in the factories and are even flying aircraft on delivery to the RAF, so don’t patronise me and pat me on the head as you would a child” she said, making it clear that this conversation was not over.

Women no longer expected to be treated as a chattel, a servant to their husband or to be expected to stay at home and look after the home and children. They expected more and felt they had earned the right to do so. In Edward, Ruth detected the same values she saw in her own father and what she saw she didn’t like. They agreed to put their differences aside but Ruth knew that they would return to them again.

The following Sunday Ruth underwent the same rituals as the previous week when the Banns were called at the parish church for the second time. However, on this occasion the brethren had the benefit of a whole week to gossip and compare notes and were now more fully ‘informed’ than the previous week. The final Banns were called the following Sunday leaving just six days before the wedding. On this occasion when Ruth returned to Edward’s home she was eventually invited to look at the bedroom that would become her marital home in less than a week.

The room was a generous size dominated by the double bed that had hastily been moved in from the spare bedroom. There was a wash hand basin in the corner and two small but adequate wardrobes. The bedroom overlooked the rear garden which had been divided into a very large vegetable area, possibly taking more than half the garden which was immaculately tended with signs of peas, beans and potatoes growing alongside fruit cages and at least a dozen apple trees.

To the right was a beautiful flower border filled with summer colours. Finally, at the bottom of the garden was a large wooden hut, from which wires led to a tall mast with an aerial. It was obvious from what little Ruth knew about radios that the large horizontal aerial had been lowered from its operating position that would normally be much higher. In an attempt to show little regard for what was going on but to demonstrate that she knew a little about these things Ruth said, “Why didn‘t you tell me that you were a radio amateur or radio ham or whatever you call yourselves?”

Edward took his time to respond and simply said, “That’s right I’m a radio ham and that’s the radio shack Dad was talking about.” Ruth left the conversation at that and during this rarest of times alone with Edward they cuddled up together on the bed and talked about the plans for the next weekend.

Edward announced that his father had agreed that following the wedding, they could borrow his car on Saturday and Sunday. Like an excited child, Edward announced, “I plan to drive my new bride to Morecambe where we will stay at the Battery Hotel for the night.” Ruth was surprised and delighted as she had not even considered that they would be able to go away for a honeymoon.

They eventually left the room when, after being there for about an hour, Sam threw open the bedroom door and walked in declaring, “This is no place for a single woman to be especially on the Sabbath irrespective of your current condition.” Once again Ruth detected the Victorian standards of a male dominated household.

Ruth returned to Moira’s home where they enjoyed a long overdue chat whilst Moira made the final adjustments to her own wedding dress which they had successfully managed to alter to fit Ruth. All was by now ready for the wedding largely because the arrangements were very much in the hands of the Carmichael family.

Ruth went to her bedroom where she opened the letter she had received the previous day with an Irish post mark. She dreaded opening the letter because whatever it said she knew that it would bring upset. The letter began with a quick update on what was happening with the family and a vivid account of the poverty they were reduced to. This acted as the precursor to the simple message that said, ‘
Even if the wedding had been arranged with less haste, it would be impossible for any of the family to be able to afford to leave Ireland to go to England’
. The final paragraph contained the sentence Ruth had been dreading; “
You cannot fool your mother with your claims to be so in love that you need to marry immediately. Your father swallowed it, in fact he was even happy for you, but I’m your mother and I know that you are hiding something from me. If you can’t tell me then for sure you can’t tell the Lord himself and so Ruth you will have to live with what you are doing or what you have done
‘. Her comments cut deep.

Ruth’s wedding day was every bit the fairy tale she had so dreamt of as a young child growing up in Wales. She slipped into her wedding dress for the final time as she prepared to leave for the church and took a moment to look at herself in the mirror. Her hair was combed into soft curls that fell to her shoulders reminiscent of the styles of the beautiful starlets of the screen that so influenced the aspirations of young women of the day.

Her dress, or to be precise Moira’s dress was adjusted to fit so tight around the waist that it would lay bare any assertion that she was pregnant. Indeed, Ruth herself had begun to forget that she was pregnant as she looked at herself in the dress. This stunning dress which had been made out of nine yards of white brocade with waterfall pleats and a fishtail train brought back so many memories for Moira who was reliving her own wedding day through the excitement of Ruth. There were tiny heart-shaped buttons around the neck line of the dress and on the elegant long sleeves. Her matching veil was held with a pearl tiara and finally, Ruth would carry a large bouquet of white lilies, and an enormous decorative horseshoe and key.

Jack had hired a car for the day to take Ruth to the church and beamed with pride as he ushered her to the rear seat. As Ruth had decided against brides maids because of the cost it was agreed that Moira would act as her lady in waiting and she joined Ruth in the car constantly remembering her own wedding so many years ago.

The short drive from Ruth’s home to the church was filled with mixed emotions. Ruth was saddened as she thought that it should be her father driving the car and planning to give her away, instead it was to be Jack. She quietly shed a tear as she reflected that it should be her family, her mother and her brothers and sisters that should witness the happy occasion but they would not.

This was to be a very one sided wedding but Ruth was determined that it would not spoil her happy day. As they reached the church, Jack swiftly ran around to the rear of the car and helped Ruth and Moira out and waited for them to adjust the veil and train before the slow walk to the church door. As Ruth arrived at the door and prepared herself for the ordeal of the walk down the aisle, out of the darkened doorway stepped Mary and Mrs Morgan.

Ruth was beside herself with joy breaking free from the arm of the man who was to give her away to embrace Mary before, welcoming Mrs Morgan in a somewhat more restrained manner. Mrs Morgan lived up to her reputation and wore a figure hugging dress with a deeply plunging neckline that was destined to turn heads. Moira wiped the tears from Ruth’s face as Mary continued to cling to Ruth with tears streaming down her face. “We love you Ruth O’Connor and you will always be a part of our family”, shouted Mrs Morgan whose cleavage had entertained Jack during this short interlude before the main event.

Ruth slowly walked down the aisle and as she did she saw Edward waiting for her at the altar respendent in formal morning coat and sporting a white carnation. As they reached the alter Edward handed his top hat and gloves to his best man and stepped forward to take Ruth’s hand from Jack. The moment of Ruth’s dreams had arrived, she was to be married to the man she loved.

Ruth was to remember little about the wedding service as waves of emotion filled her mind. She remembered the ‘I do’ bit, but who wouldn’t and was told that she repeated the marriage vows without error or too much emotion in her voice. She recalled being sure that her now fading Welsh accent returned to leave no one unaware of her proud Welsh origins with their roots deep in the soil of the Valleys.

Photographs were taken outside the church, not by a professional photographer but by a friend of Edward’s who seemed upon reflection to feature Mrs Morgan in just about every set piece family grouping! And as the bride and groom left the church for the reception in time honoured custom Ruth was greeted by a chimney sweep, dressed also in top hat and tails but his face was darkened by the soot of his trade and carrying a Sweep’s brush. He stepped forward and with great charm gently kissed Ruth on the cheek to the evident delight of the wedding guests and those passing by the church who had stopped to see the bride.

The custom of chimney sweeps attending weddings dates back to the time when a London Chimney Sweep saved the life of King George the second. It is said that the Sweep had been the only person brave enough to step forward when the King’s coach and horses bolted. The Sweep rushed to the monarch’s aid and pulled up the horses. The King was said to be so pleased that he proclaimed by Royal Decree that all Chimney Sweeps were bearers of good luck and must therefore be treated with respect.

Due in part to the unexpected company of Mary and Mrs Morgan, the reception buffet turned into a happy cheery affair and even Aunt Matilda seemed subdued but that may have been the two glasses of Harvey’s Bristol Cream sherry she had consumed upon arrival. The buffet wedding breakfast had the hallmarks of one-upmanship all over it. The vol-au-vents brought class as did the wide range of canapés and as though to complete the statement there wasn’t a sausage roll in sight.

In the early afternoon, Mary and Mrs Morgan announced that they had to leave to catch their train back to Cardiff. In an instant Jack gallantly leapt to his feet, to the annoyance of Moira who had been observing his obsession with Mrs Morgan’s anatomy with growing annoyance, and he announced that he would drive them to the station in his hire car. It was also time for Ruth to change into her going away outfit and she left the room with Mary.

They went into the bedroom and Ruth slipped out of her wedding dress and into the austere brown dress that she would leave in. Mary and Ruth chatted and laughed at the more humorous sides of the day. As Ruth was about to leave the room, Mary drew her close and asked, “You are happy aren’t you?’ Ruth said she was and in a mild rebuke said to Mary, “This is a girl’s happiest day of her life, why shouldn’t I be happy?” Mary said no more except to say that this was the first time today that she had seen Ruth smile and relaxed. She remarked, “Whilst Edward seems really nice, for a man, he also seems to be stuffy and old before he is young. Mary finished by saying, “And be careful Ruth he still has an eye for the ladies.” Once again a passing remark was to be dismissed by Ruth only perhaps to be recalled in months to come.

Ruth and Edward’s journey from Blackpool to Morecambe, a journey that would take a little more than an hour was filled with happy reflections on their great day. Even Edward commented that he had not seen his family so relaxed and at ease with people. Edward asked about Mrs Morgan and Mary and was interested to learn how they met and why they had become such good friends.

Ruth recalled for Edward the happy and the tragic time she had spent in their company in Cardiff a story that was to occupy much of their journey. When Ruth had finished her story, Edward with some feeling said, “In your short life you have seen and done things that I’m not so sure I could handle in the way you have. You’ve seen the dying and have seen death, you have felt the full force of the blitz and yet you still seem to have retained your youthful innocence, I don’t know how you did it.” He went on to say that in his war he had so far seen nothing like what Ruth had seen. He also remarked that he could see how close Ruth was to both Mary and her mother and commented that he didn’t really have friends with whom he had ever built such a friendship.