Watching the bridesmaids follow sedately behind the maid of honor, Elizabeth had to admire Florrie’s handiwork. The satin gowns were the same color as that worn by the maid of honor, but with shorter skirts and more daring necklines.

Priscilla’s niece, Tess, looked magnificent. Shorter than her mother by several inches, she had nevertheless inherited Daphne’s high cheekbones and dark, expressive eyes. Unlike Daphne’s tinted auburn hair, however, the young bridesmaid’s soft curls gleamed as black as a moonless sky. The slender woman at her side was closer to Priscilla’s age, mid forties, but striving to look younger judging by the heavily painted lips and eyes. Her shining mane of red hair was far too startling to be natural.

“You’ll meet them all later,” Elizabeth whispered to Earl, as the procession halted in front of the vicar. “The Winterhalters are staying at the manor. Priscilla has only one bedroom in her flat, and she’s sharing that with Fiona. They haven’t seen each other for about thirty years, but-” She broke off as the organist crashed out the chords to the “Wedding March,” and all heads turned again to the rear of the church.

Priscilla’s white silk dress clung to her gaunt figure, making her look even more frail than usual. Her face was pale beneath the veil, and the bouquet of pink carnations and yellow freesia shook in her hand, but her smile blazed at Wally in glorious excitement and seemed to bathe the ancient walls in its glow.

She clung to the arm of a stocky, bald-headed man with a bumpy nose, who seemed uncomfortable with his appointed task. His black suit was too large for him-the sleeves of the jacket swallowed up his free hand. His bow tie hung at a dismal angle as if wishing it were anywhere but at his throat.

“Charlie Gibbons,” Elizabeth murmured, in answer to Earl’s raised eyebrows. “He’s an old friend of Wally’s. I believe they were at sea together years ago. Priscilla’s parents are dead, so she asked him to give her away. He’s staying with Neville in the empty cottage next door to Wally.”