Chapter 30: Chapter 30
Mrs. Goss did not want to argue with Mr. Gladman but thought that the man had forgotten or not heard that the first event in the morning, Christmas Eve, was to be a
visit by a group of carol singers, and this would be the most tasteful item of the whole day. She did not mention the proposed program as she did not like to upset Mr.
Gladman any further and was glad that it was James Pryor and not her that would be
presenting the bill for all this activity."
She threw dustcovers over the larger instruments while Mr. Gladman counted up the takings that had come into the shop after his last visit to the bank. He put it all with the change into a canvas bag to take home. Mrs. Goss hoped that he would not forget the bag in his present distracted state and leave it on the train. An engagement.
The next morning Gabriel came to the shop in a dazed state. The ball had been everything a young couple could hope for. Because her father was a clergyman and her mother
disapproved of modern dancing Amy had never been to a dance before.
''She was delighted to discover that Gabriel was an expert dancer and easy to follow.
He led her through the waltz and the polka, covering her missteps until she had
learned it all and they moved in perfect unison.
Late in the evening, they won a prize and a round of applause. It was for the best couple in the room. Nothing much, just a small metal cup inscribed on one side with the date and place, the other side with the name Johann Strauss Junior. Amy said she
would never part with it.
However, the crowning moment of the evening came later, after supper was served and eaten they went out, to the balcony overlooking the street. The next dance would be to the strains of The Blue Danube, a melody that was Johann Strauss' greatest hit. It seemed everyone wanted to dance to this tune or watch the musicians as they played.
Amy was about to follow the crowd into the ballroom when Gabriel caught her hand and stopped her.
''We'll dance here,'' he said. He took her in his arms and they twirled silently round
the tables and chairs, moving to immortal music dedicated to a great river that was certainly not blue. except to lovers. They waltzed to the end of the veranda and back
to see through the open door that the other dancers were entranced, serious, clasped
gently, gazing into the eyes of each other.
''Amy darling, will you marry me?''
''Her head was resting against his shoulder and she didn't have to think about the dance steps anymore, she was floating in his arms. Her forehead gently bumped his
shoulder as she nodded.
''Of course, I will. We'll grow old together, but I will always remember the young man on the ship who came looking for me. I'm so glad you found me.''
''I would always look for you no matter how far we were apart, and I'll be with you, no matter whether you go or stay.
Both knew what he meant, but neither wanted to talk about it at that precious moment.
She said, ‘I've been kissing you lately even though I promised mother not to. Well, I
won't do it anymore, it's your turn. You can kiss me instead. Nobody has warned you
not to, and I can't stop you, so make it a good one.’
Their lips met and both felt as though they might never breathe again.
They were interrupted after a few seconds by a round of applause. They were so concentrated on each other they had not noticed people who had escaped the heat of the ballroom to sit out in the darkness of the veranda and listen to the music from the ballroom. These strays had watched the young couple gliding past, lost in their own
world
They had seen them dancing, heard the proposal, and enjoyed the kiss. In the darkness, they could not see how red was Gabriel's face. Amy's. was not.
The little minx could not help laughing when she realized that they had been found out. She surprised the dancers by giggling helplessly as Gabriel held her up through the ballroom to the door. Some people came off the veranda to give them a parting
round of applause.
Amy had recovered pretty well by the time they stumbled downstairs and were out
in the street, walking towards Mrs. Byer's establishment.
She relapsed into giggles two or three times on the way home, needing to be held up,
and after each fit had passed she demanded more kisses. By this time Gabriel was laughing with her.
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were sitting up, waiting for their daughter when she came in hand in hand with Gabriel to tell them her news.
Her father congratulated them both and seemed to mean it but Mrs. Taylor burst into tears. ''She's too young,'' she said when she could speak. ''It seems only yesterday that Papa gave her a little doll as her first toy; she loved that doll. And what will happen to us when our only daughter is on the other side of the world. Perhaps never to see her again. I won't forgive you, Mr. Fox, if we have to sail away while she stays
here.
''Mother,'' said Amy, ''You are talking to my future husband. Whatever decisions he makes about our lives will be the right ones, and I will support him. Now it's too early to panic and quarrel. There are weeks to go yet before everything is finalized, let's not argue now. She turned to her father. ''Father, will you marry us?''
''Gladly my dear. I will see the Vicar at St Paul's and arrange a date. Now, my boy, Amy
tells me your parents are no longer living.''
Yes, sir, they both died in a cholera outbreak. It was very painful to lose them like that,
and I miss them terribly. I have relatives in England, but I just wanted to get away.''
''Would you object to going back to England?''
''I'll go where Amy wants me to go.''
''She's too young,'' said Mrs. Taylor forlornly. ''She doesn't know her own mind yet.
Don't rush into marriage dear, you may live to regret it.''
''I am going to marry him, and I will never regret it.'' She turned to Gabriel. ''Now
you're not part of the family yet, my dear. You will be but I don't want to embarrass you right now, so I'm telling you to go home while we sort this out. I'll see you tomorrow and father can arrange the marriage date. By the way, ask James to be best
man, he'll be superb at that.''