and then turning she made her way to where Toby was waiting for her, and hand-in-hand they set off in the direction of Treetops.
Molly watched until the soft sweet night swallowed them up, and then Josephine gently took her elbow. ‘Tired, love?’ she asked.
‘Aye, I am a bit, pet,’ Molly admitted.
‘I shall have the carriage brought round for you immediately,’ Josephine said. ‘But be sure to be up with the lark in the morning. Seth will be calling to transport you and your possessions to the new house bright and early.’ And with that she lifted her skirts and left Molly with Samuel, while she hurried away to arrange the coach.
He stood with her right until it arrived and then helped her inside, saying, ‘Good night, Molly. It’s been a marvellous day, hasn’t it?’
‘It has that, lad. The best!’ And then with a wave she was off back to where her heart belonged as pictures of Amy’s happy face flashed before her eyes. Everything had turned out just as she had prayed it would, and she knew that she could not have wished for more.
Once back inside the kitchen of her little cottage, Molly sighed with relief as she kicked her shoes off and lit the oil lamp on the table. She stared about her. Everywhere she looked were boxes and trunks packed with all her belongings. She smiled wistfully as she looked towards her old oak dresser; stripped of its china plates it looked as she felt – empty. And in that moment she knew that she could never leave this place. It was her home. She would explain to Amy in the morning and pray that she would understand. Somehow she felt that she would.
Epilogue
‘I now christen you Benjamin Tobias Bradley, in the name of the Son, the Father and the Holy Ghost.’ As the vicar solemnly made the sign of the cross on the tiny infant’s head with holy water, Molly felt as if she would burst with pride.
Amy and Toby were beaming as they stared at their baby in his fine robes cradled in his mother’s arms. He was a beautiful child, in both looks and nature, as was their three-year-old daughter, Sophia, who was now tugging restlessly at her father’s trousers. Toby grinned as he bent to sweep her into his arms, and she gave him a mischievous smile.
She was so like Amy had been at her age that sometimes when Molly looked at her she felt as if she had been transported back in time. Yes, they were a fine family all right, and there was not a happier one anywhere, from what Molly could see of it. Sophia had come along ten months after their marriage and Amy had positively sailed through the pregnancy and the birth, much to Molly’s relief. And now here was little Benjamin, who looked exactly like a miniature version of his father. Amy absolutely doted on her children and Toby spoiled them both shamelessly, which to Molly’s eyes was just as it should be.
Nancy was there with Billy and their two-year-old son, Simon, who was Sophia’s constant companion and, as the two youngsters linked hands, Molly wondered if she was seeing the beginnings of yet another future romance?
Bessie and Jim were there too, along with Josephine and Samuel, who couldn’t seem to be able to stop smiling.
The christening was such a joyous occasion that as they all left the small church in Caldecote the sound of laughter floated on the air. They would all now go on to a small reception at Treetops and then Molly would return to her cottage.
Amy had not been at all happy at first at Molly’s decision to stay in her old home, following the wedding, but Nancy now went along daily to do Molly’s chores for her and Samuel regularly sent the carriage to collect her so that she could go to Treetops and spend time with Amy and the children, so all in all, things had worked out well.
Amy still produced her designs, which continued to sell successfully, although she no longer travelled to London, choosing to leave that part of the business to her grandfather; her time was too taken up with her children, and the arrangement suited them both.
Toby was like a changed man and had thrived in his position at the newly erected village school. It had been hard work at first as the locals had been cautious about their children attending, but now, thanks to his efforts