Forget Her Name(30)

Dad jerks his head towards me. ‘What’s that?’

I shake my head silently.

‘I’m here for you, Catherine,’ he says. ‘Just lean on me.’

But I don’t lean on him. I stand straight and walk firmly, arm in arm with my father, towards the man in the grey-striped morning suit who has turned now to look at me.

I smile.

Dominic smiles back, his mouth broadening with pleasure as he looks me up and down. By the time he takes my hand, I’m no longer trembling. His own hand is cold, almost clammy. But his touch is reassuring.

Our eyes lock.

‘I love you,’ he mouths.

I want to say it back, but I’m too nervous in front of all these people. I feel a sense of purpose though, listening to the vicar as the marriage ceremony begins. A sense of destiny, even. This wedding is the start of our new life together.

I glance sideways at Dominic, and he turns his head, meeting my gaze. He looks so solemn, suddenly pale against the white of his formal shirt.

Is he nervous, too?

‘I love you,’ I mouth back at him, his anxiety making me braver.

His hand squeezes mine and he shoots me a grin. Back to the old, mischievous, loving Dominic.

All the same, I think, I won’t take his surname.

And I won’t promise to obey.





Chapter Seventeen The reception afterwards is a simple ‘do’ above a pub off Ealing Broadway, because I refused to let my parents contribute to that too. They’re already paying for the honeymoon – a week in the Lake District, at Dominic’s suggestion, far from the demands of our work – and I hate the thought of being any more beholden to them. It’s bad enough that we’ve agreed to move into the top floor of their house. Though Dominic’s right to say it gives us a chance to save up towards a deposit for our first home.

Mum and Dad are standing near the bar, looking uncomfortable. They’re more used to expensive hotels in Kensington than something this informal.

But it’s not that bad. The staff have made a real effort, with a gorgeous finger buffet, and champagne already being handed out on our arrival from the nearby church. Plus, there are sprays of green and white flowers everywhere, courtesy of Louise, who has been kindly helping out with arrangements.

After the inevitably rambling speeches and toasts, someone puts some soft rock music on and Dominic grabs my hand and whirls me up into an impromptu dance.

‘My beautiful bride,’ my new husband whispers in my ear, spinning me round and round until I’m dizzy. ‘I can’t wait to get you into bed, Mrs Whitely.’

‘Miss Bates,’ I correct him, breathless.

‘Oh God,’ he groans. ‘I forgot. You want to keep your maiden name and stay your own woman, not take on the heavy chains of patriarchy.’ His hand tightens around my waist and he pretends to leer down at me. ‘Though maybe it’s not such a bad idea. Now I can be a married man and still see Miss Bates on the side.’

I laugh. ‘Bad man.’

‘Your bad man.’

‘I’m just glad you went through with it and didn’t run away.’

Dominic tips his head to one side, perplexed. ‘Sorry?’

‘You should have seen your face. I thought you were about to faint.’

‘When?’

‘In the church.’

‘That’s another lifetime ago,’ he says. ‘Bloody place was freezing, anyway. And you were late arriving.’ He pauses. ‘I did get cold feet, though.’

My heart almost stops. ‘What?’

‘Yes. I thought my toes were going to develop frostbite, I was sitting in that damn pew so long.’

I laugh and breathe again. ‘Sorry about that. The hairdresser took ages.’

‘I was beginning to wonder if I should prepare a little speech. Just in case you didn’t show and I had to tell the congregation to go home without their finger buffet and champagne.’

‘I hope you would have kept the pressies, though.’

‘Absolutely.’ He grins at me. ‘We’re not giving anything back. Not even if we split up tomorrow. Have you seen that big parcel with the gold bow?’

My heart stutters, glancing towards the large pile of presents arranged at the back of the room. ‘The one with . . . with polka dot wrapping paper?’

‘That’s it. From Jasmine, apparently. I hope it’s a coffee machine.’ He leers again. ‘Hey, you never told me your cousin was so sexy. Bloody hell. I nearly had to beat the groomsmen off when she turned up at the church with Louise; she was getting mobbed. And once I’d had a peek, I could see why.’

‘Hey.’ I shove at his chest, mock-annoyed. ‘Married, remember?’

‘Oh yeah.’ He makes a face. ‘Damn.’

We both laugh and keep dancing. But I suddenly have two left feet, it seems, and Dominic has to stop me from colliding with the buffet table.

‘Careful,’ he whispers, and steers me back across the room.

His best man, Richard, is dancing with Louise. They make way as we sweep past, no doubt afraid I’m going to knock into them.

I’m not usually this clumsy.

Dominic was only joking, I tell myself, and try to calm down.

He’s mine now, I have to remember that.