Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection. Josephine Cox

Aggie knew the truth of how Emily must be feeling. Yet, like Emily, she had faith that everything would turn out for the best, and she clung to that with all her might.

      When Cathleen decided to join them, the bridal couple enfolded her to them and the picture was complete. ‘They look a proper family,’ Danny’s father declared. And Aggie wholeheartedly agreed.

      Outside, made curious by the music, Clem Jackson peered in through the window. He saw Emily in the arms of her new man, and the child – his child – glad to be a part of that close family unit, and the more he saw, the more livid he became. ‘I paid out all me hard-earned brass to help my fool of a sister and her gang o’ hangers-on, an’ I don’t even get invited to me own niece’s wedding!’ he growled. ‘Happen it’s time I started claiming back what’s mine!’

      He watched a moment longer, so eaten up with jealousy he could bear it no longer. Cursing and threatening, he strode away, viciously kicking his dog, which whined and opened its huge mouth wide. He was a man rejected. A man who, when riled, was capable of anything.

      At ten-thirty, Cathleen fell asleep on the sofa. Danny carried her upstairs where Emily put the child to bed and before he followed his new wife back down, he took the moment to kiss her long and hard. ‘I love you,’ he said passionately, and when Emily went to make a reply, he put his fingers to her lips. ‘It’s all right,’ he promised. ‘You don’t have to say anything.’

      He knew how she still harboured feelings for John Hanley and he had reluctantly come to accept that; though every day, he prayed it was a temporary thing.

      Some time later, feeling the need to leave them alone, Aggie made her excuses. ‘I’ve to be up at first light,’ she explained. ‘There’s a whole crop of Brussels to be got ready for market.’ When both Danny and Emily offered to help, she swiftly refused. ‘You’ll do no such thing!’

      ‘By! I should think not.’ Grandad as usual had to have the last word. ‘It’s your wedding night and I should think you’ve got better things to do than get out of yer bed at four in the morning to pack Brussels sprouts.’ His meaningful chuckle left nothing to the imagination.

      ‘Hey!’ Aggie gave him one of her warning stares. ‘I reckon it’s more than time you were in bed, old fella. It’s been a long day for all of us.’

      Meanwhile, blushing deep pink, Emily made her excuses to go into the kitchen, where she was filled with dread at the thought of what was to come, not least because the memory of what had happened in the barn was still vivid in her mind.

      But Danny knew nothing of that, nor did she want him to. So, when he entered the kitchen to find her, she laughed the old man’s comments off as best she could. ‘Grandad has a habit of saying what’s on his mind,’ she apologised. ‘I hope he didn’t embarrass you?’

      Danny took her into his arms. ‘No, but he embarrassed you, didn’t he?’

      She nodded. ‘How could you tell?’

      ‘Because you went redder than a cockerel in full shout.’

      She laughed at that. ‘You’re such a nice man, Danny. I really don’t deserve you.’

      ‘Oh, so I’m just “nice”, am I?’

      Now, when he kissed her on the neck in that same way John used to, she pulled away. ‘I’d best make a start on these pots.’

      In minutes she had the boiling water poured and the washing soda sprinkled, and her arms were up to the elbows in dirty crockery. ‘You can help if you like?’ she invited. Anything to delay the inevitable, she thought guiltily.

      In the parlour, Aggie was persuading Grandad to call it a day. ‘You look all in.’

      ‘Aye, lass.’ He had the good sense to see it. ‘I am a bit weary.’ He pointed to where Danny’s father was fast asleep in the armchair, mouth wide open and out to the world. ‘Look at that fella there,’ he laughed. ‘Not a care in the world an’ snoring like a good ’un. Meks me feel tired just looking at him.’

      He handed her the accordion. ‘Yer right. Lead on, lass. I’d best do as yer say an’ get a good night’s sleep.’ He chuckled. ‘Who knows? I might just turn out of me bed at first light, and give yer a hand with them Brussels sprouts.’

      Escorting him across the room, she declined his half-hearted offer with a groan. ‘I’m best on my own, thanks all the same, Dad.’

      When they were going up the stairs, he in front and she behind and helping him the best she could, Aggie chided, ‘Honestly, Dad! What were you thinking of, to embarrass the young ’uns like that?’

      ‘Why?’ He could act the innocent when he wanted. ‘What did I do?’

      Aggie tutted. ‘Sometimes, the way you blunder in with your careless remarks, it’s like you’ve got two left feet.’

      He grinned naughtily. ‘You know me, Aggie, lass. I can’t help meself, that’s the trouble.’

      In the kitchen, Danny was telling Emily, ‘When we’re done here, I’d best get my father home.’

      ‘I’ll come with you,’ she offered. ‘We’ll put him between us. One of us can drive the cart while the other makes sure he doesn’t fall out.’

      Danny feigned indignation. ‘Are you saying my father’s drunk?’

      Emily laughed. ‘Drunk as my grandad,’ she answered with a twinkle in her eye. ‘So, do I come with you or what?’

      When they told Aggie, she wasn’t at all sure it was a good idea. ‘He can stay the night here,’ she said. ‘The snow’s been falling most of the day, and the lanes might well be choked.’ She didn’t know how she would manage it though. ‘We’ve no spare bedrooms, so we’ll need to make him comfortable down here. I’ve plenty of blankets and a bolster, so he should be warm enough.’

      ‘That’s very kind,’ Danny said, and they settled for that.

      Half an hour later, with the makeshift bed on the floor and Aggie insisting they leave the pots and pans to her in the morning, they woke Bob Williams and explained how he was to stay the night. ‘That’s really good of you,’ he said sleepily, and while he proceeded to take off his shoes, Aggie went to her bed, followed by Danny and his new wife, whose nervousness was heightened with every step she took.

      In the bedroom, she sat on the chair for a time, while Danny, also nervous but ready to die rather than admit it, went to the window and looked out at the endless expanse of fields, magically white and sparkling under the moonlight.

      ‘There’s two ways it can go.’ He glanced at the skies. ‘It’ll either freeze over by morning, or disappear like a will-o’-the-wisp, as though it were never here.’

      Emily said she hoped it would all be gone by morning. ‘It makes our work outside a lot easier.’

      An awkward silence followed, when each of them was momentarily lost in the enormity of the day’s events.

      After a while, Danny addressed her quietly. ‘What have I done, love?’ he asked worriedly. ‘What have I said to hurt you?’

      ‘Nothing.’

      ‘There must be something, or you wouldn’t be so quiet.’

      ‘I’m quiet because I’m thinking, that’s all.’ And to put his mind at rest she stood up and gave him a kiss on the mouth. Not a long passionate kiss, but a kiss that told him she was fond of him.

      Encouraged, he drew her into his arms, returning the kiss tenfold, his mouth covering hers and the need in him rising. ‘I love you so much,’ he whispered. ‘I’ll make you love me too, Mrs Williams.’

      Slowly and ever so gently, he undressed her, taking off her pretty bridal garments, one by one.

      Emily made no protest. Danny was her husband. She had