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.Nulli Secundus -
'Second to None'
by Terence Cardwell
Chapter
Twenty - To be or not to be
‘Well, you’ve buggered it now, Jack,’ George said
beaming, after Jack told them he was getting married.
‘No more trips down the pub, no more boys’ nights out,’
Jim added.
‘I’m not married yet, so until then I’m my own man,’
Jack retorted, a little put off.
‘That’s what you think. They become the bosses in short
time, you only think you’re the boss,’ Bob said, winking
at George and Jim.
‘Maybe so, but I don’t mind being bossed by Elizabeth.
In fact I couldn’t think of anything nicer,’ Jack
replied, leaning over to pick up his newly arrived beer.
‘When’s the big church wedding?’ George enquired.
‘There’ll be no bloody church wedding,’ Jack snapped
back, to George and the others amazement. ‘There are
more hypocrites in the church than outside, and I won’t
be part of it.’
They all nodded. ‘Isn’t that the truth,’ Bob agreed.
‘Yea, couldn’t agree more,’ George added. ‘After working
in the mines and seeing some of the things I’ve seen,
like just how little the so-called church helped those
poor buggers battling to survive whilst pandering to the
rich folk.’
‘Some fat well-fed priest riding by while poor folk
starved with little or no one to help them. Bugger the
church,’ Jack added heatedly.
‘Careful, Jack, there’ll be a clap of thunder and the
almighty will come and get you,’ Jim chided.
Jack gave a weak smile. ‘You can worship a stone in a
garden as long as you don’t do a bad turn for anybody,
and one should try and do a good turn every day.’ He
looked at them seriously. ‘That’s my belief.’
‘That’s some of the nicest words I’ve heard in a long
time, Jack,’ Bob responded. ‘I could live with that
philosophy. What do you reckon, fellas?’
‘Hear, hear.’ Jim raised his beer.
‘Good words, Jack,’ George agreed.
They drank for a while in silence then George enquired,
‘If you’re not getting married in a church, where are
you getting married?’
‘I don’t know yet— probably at the Poplar registry
office, and you’re all invited to the wedding.’ Jack
smiled, thinking of Elizabeth standing alongside him.
‘Lots of grog and food?’ Jim asked.
‘Only if you bring it. I haven’t got enough to rub two
bob together after I pay for the wedding and the
extras.’
‘That’ll be our wedding present,’ Bob announced. ‘We’ll
pay for all the grog at your wedding. Agreed, fellas?’
‘For sure, I should be able to afford a couple of mugs,’
George agreed. ‘When is it?’
‘May the sixth: that’s the next time we’re on leave long
enough. Hey Bob, how’d you like to be best man?’
Bob pretended to think. ‘Well, I’m not sure. It depends
what I’m doing that weekend, and I’ll have to see if I
get a better offer.’
‘Well, bugger off then,’ Jack retorted, winking at
George over his beer.
George understood. ‘I’ll be your best man Jack; you
need someone who won’t let you down.’
‘Hang on a minute,’ Bob replied quickly. ‘I never said
no.’
‘Well, make up your bloody mind, George is my mate too
you know.’
‘Of course I will, couldn’t let me old pal down, could
I?’ Bob saw them smirking. ‘You buggers got me again,’
he protested, and the others burst out laughing.
‘Well, looks like you and Jim are groomsmen, or whatever
they call them,’ Jack gave George a light punch.
‘Our pleasure,’ Jim added, lifting his beer in salute.
A week had passed since Jack had proposed and Elizabeth
was excited about the coming wedding. She was sitting
with her mother Martha and sister Ethel, planning her
wedding dress when Jack arrived. She hurried to the door
and greeted him with a hug and a shy kiss, not wanting
to be too affectionate in front of her family.
‘You’ve arrived at a good time,’ she said. ‘We’re just
deciding where we’ll get married.’
‘I thought we’d get married in the Registry Office,’
Jack announced, unaware of what his words would do.
Elizabeth’s mouth dropped. Martha and Ethel looked up,
stunned. Bill, Martha’s husband, shook his head
knowingly, aware of the terrible mistake Jack had made.
‘You what?’ Martha said sharply, recovering first. ‘What
do you mean, registry office? Do you realise how much
this wedding means to Elizabeth?’
Jack saw the shock on Elizabeth’s face. Her eyes were
wide with disbelief and she had gone pale.
‘You wouldn’t do that, would you Jack?’ she gasped. ‘I
thought we’d be married at St Barnabas’ in Poplar.’
Jack could see he had made his first serious mistake
with Elizabeth and Martha. He looked at her father for
support, but Bill shrugged his shoulders with a half
smile.
‘That’s not one of your better ideas, lad,’ he said
quietly, sucking on his pipe and trying to distance
himself from such a decision.
Jack was confounded. He had sworn he would never get
married in a church, but if he did not, it would destroy
Elizabeth’s dream of a church wedding.
‘It really means a great deal to you, to get married in
a church?’ he asked.
‘Oh yes, Jack. Every woman dreams of a beautiful wedding
dress and a church wedding.’
‘Well, if it means that much to you, then we will.
‘Oh Jack, thank you!’ She threw her arms round his neck,
forgiving him almost immediately for his blunder.
The rest of the evening was spent discussing various
places where they might have the reception and other
wedding details. At the end, Jack took his leave ,
disappointed to break the vow he had sworn to uphold,
but convinced he had done the right thing for Elizabeth.
All Saints Church in Poplar looked cool and inviting
under the shade of two large oak trees. It was a large
church, and its light stone structure made it look
ancient. It was surrounded by bright green grass
interspersed with gravestones and crypts of various
greys that indicated their age. Daffodils grew on some
of the graves, adding a touch of spring. The light
breeze blowing across the stone pathway was scented with
the Jasmine growing on one of the oak trees.
‘Somehow this is different,’ Jack said to Bob as they
waited for Elizabeth’s horse and cart to arrive. ‘It
would be hard not to like it here. I can feel the
goodness of the place.’
‘Mmm, I might get married here myself,’ Bob replied,
looking around.
‘What? Since when?’ Jack asked, surprised.
‘Since Emily agreed to be Elizabeth’s bridesmaid. She
said we would make an excellent pair and she wasn’t
going to live in sin while you lot have all the fun.’
‘So I was right, you are living in sin. You have no
shame,’ Jack laughed. ‘Congratulations. Now I can pay
for the drinks at your wedding.’
‘Well, I won’t say no to that,’ Bob replied, shaking
Jack’s proffered hand.
‘Here’s Liz’s family, I’ll give them the good news,’
Jack said, walking over to meet his in-laws to be.
Martha was dressed in a white and pink dress she had
made especially for the wedding. Her hair was in
ringlets like Elizabeth’s, and Jack could see the
similarity when they were together. Even in her later
years Elizabeth’s mother was a trim and attractive
woman.
‘If Elizabeth is as good as you at your age, I’ll be a
happy man,’ Jack said as he waited at the altar with his
best man and groomsmen.
‘You certainly know how to say the right things, Jack.
Maybe you could give Bill a few lessons,’ she replied
with a twinkle.
A church elder called to catch the minister’s attention,
indicating Elizabeth had arrived in her horse and coach.
Everyone turned to see her entering the church with
Bill, dressed in his only suit, a grey pinstripe that
had seen good service, supporting her.
She had dressed her hair in the ringlets that Jack
admired so much. They hung in ebony rolls around her
pretty face. Her lips were a dark red and her cheeks
were flushed pink. She wore a white lace and tulle
wedding dress that flared from a small waist. Pale pink
lace adorned her shoulders and neckline, highlighting
her features. She was radiant, glowing with excitement
and happiness.
Emily, holding Elizabeth’s train, smiled at Bob as she
saw him admiring her. She was dressed in a pale pink,
short dress, with a small bunch of white snowdrops
fastened to her shoulder.
Elizabeth stood next to Jack and he thought she looked
even more beautiful than when he had met her. As they
made their vows they looked into each other’s eyes,
reading the love that they carried for each other. Her
eyes glimmered with tears of joy, lips moist and
inviting as he leaned forward to kiss them to confirm
their vows. It was obvious to all that this was no
wedding of convenience but one that was inevitable.
They returned up the aisle holding each other’s hands.
The sun shone through the stained glass windows
brightening the walkway with sunlight, and the organ
played Handel’s water music.
Walking along the stone pathway they passed under the
guard of honour formed by Jack’s friends. The brilliant
uniforms made a memorable contrast with Elizabeth’s
white wedding dress, and the old church in the
background created a vision that they would remember for
a lifetime.
Emily, Martha and Ethel threw rice over the newlyweds as
they emerged from the guard of honour.
Elizabeth wanted to scream with joy. The excitement
within her made her feel like jumping up and down and
telling everyone how she felt. She looked again and
again at Jack, knowing she was the luckiest, happiest
woman in the world. He looked so handsome in his
uniform. His crooked nose gave him a look of ruggedness
and strength, and his china blue eyes were highlighted
by his bushy eyebrows.
Bill had organised the reception at a nice hotel not far
from the church, where he occasionally went with Martha.
He said the surroundings were not unlike the Red Lion
and had a similar feel. The wedding group sat at the
rear of the room where a special area had been laid out
for them. They celebrated with a round of drinks for
all, and George took over as chairman, calling on
Elizabeth’s father to make a speech.
Being a shy man he was brief, saying how lucky he was to
have such a beautiful daughter and how proud he was of
his new son-in-law. The others made a few speeches and
then there were more drinks, with the men becoming
happily tipsy.
George disappeared for a short while, returning with two
men. One was carrying a fiddle and bow and the other had
a harmonica.
‘Ladies and Gentlemen. Your music for this evening, Tom
Watts and Fred Hobbs!’ George announced, waving his hand
grandly towards the two.
The guests cheered and applauded at their presence and
watched as George guided them to chairs on the side.
‘Well done, George. Thank you, me old mate— where did
you get them?’ Jack asked, pleased at George’s coup.
‘Are they any good?’ Bob asked, looking at their shabby
appearance.
‘You’ll see,’ George winked.
‘Where did you get them from?’ Elizabeth asked.
‘Well, I was walking past Hyde Park and they were
playing there. I thought it might be a good thing for
your wedding, so here they are!’
‘Right-o, lads, let’s get our money’s worth— play us
some music hall songs that we can sing,’ Bob demanded.
The
elderly man with the fiddle started up, followed by the
harmonica player, and in short time everyone was tapping
their feet and singing, joined by a number of the other
hotel patrons.
‘Hey, Jack. How about singing Danny Boy for us?’ George
asked.
Jack shook his head. ‘You blokes can do as good a job,
you lot sing it.’
‘No, we can’t sing it as good as you, you do a grand job
of it,’ Jim said.
Elizabeth asked, ‘Can you sing, Jack?’
‘Not really, I just sing with the fellows now and
again.’
Bob
leaned over. ‘He’s telling fibs, he’s very good.’
Elizabeth looked at Jack, who was a little drunk. ‘Sing
it for me, Jack. It’s one of my favourites.’
‘I
don’t sing in public, don’t believe in showing off,’
Jack replied in a quiet tone.
‘You won’t be showing off, you’ll be singing it for me.’
She squeezed his hand. ‘As a wedding present,’ she
cajoled.
Jack knew he was trapped and looked at the fiddler.
‘Can you play Danny Boy?’
‘Oh, I’ve played it once or twice, I think I’ll muddle
through,’ he replied, giving his partner a knowing look.
Jack took a swallow of beer then stood up, giving
Elizabeth and the others a shy smile. The harmonica
began first, playing the second last two bars of the
song. It was followed by the fiddle, playing softly and
leading into the song. The sound was a perfect unison of
harmonica and violin as they joined together.
Jack began after their introduction on the first note,
and kept in perfect time with the musicians. He started
softly feeling each note, gradually increasing in volume
and people could feel the tears in his voice. His rich
baritone echoed around the hotel, and the customers grew
silent as they listened. The publican was also silent as
he stood watching. Everyone was transfixed by the deep
rich voice. It was not just a song; they could feel the
emotion and heartache as Jack sang.
He
paused after three verses and the fiddle player
continued playing solo. The player’s face was flushed
with emotion and tears ran from the corners of his eyes
as he played like never before. The sound was a perfect
pitch of sweetness as the notes floated across the room
holding everyone mesmerised. Then Jack joined in for the
last verse:
But come ye back when summers in the
meadow
Or when the valley’s hushed and white
with snow
Tis I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
He raised his arms as he sang the last line, his voice
reaching clearly to the top notes, singing them loudly.
He
finished on the last note and held it as the musicians
played the last bar again.
The hushed audience roared into applause. The publican
led the crowd, knowing this was something very special
that he would never hear or see the like of again.
Jack walked to the musicians. ‘You were grand. Thank
you, lads.’
The tears were bright on the violinist’s cheeks as he
held Jack’s hand. ‘And so were you. I have never known
such joy. Thank you and God bless you.’
Jack gave the musicians a shy smile then walked to
Elizabeth and sat down, taking a deep swallow of beer.
His mates were patting him on the back and talking all
at once. Elizabeth gripped his arm. ‘Oh Jack, you were
wonderful! I never knew you could sing so beautifully,
you dark horse. you.’
‘That song was my mother and father’s. I loved them a
great deal, and ‘Danny Boy’ reflected their love for
each other. Now that song is for us.’
Elizabeth caressed his cheek. ‘It will be ours for
always. Whenever I hear that song I will think of you
and this moment together.’ She gave him a soft slow
kiss, savouring the sweet moment.
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