"What road did you say it was?" Chummy asked as they walked along. Peter had one suitcase in either hand so she was slightly ahead of him, looking out for their destination. It was not as though she had not offered to carry her case, but back at the exit from the train station he insisted and she was not so much of a fool to turn down the offer as they walked from the brightly lit station into the darkening streets of Ramsgate.
"Bellevue" Peter replied. "If we keep walking down here and it should be quite the way down on the left and then along there until we get to Augusta Road and its number 33. Fairview Guest House" he concluded, having memorised the address. He knew vaguely where it was, relatively sure that a friend of his aunt had lived somewhere around there, but there was still the little note with the Landlady's directions in his pocket that he had scribbled down when he booked their honeymoon; just in case his childhood memories failed him.
"Do you think we will get there in time?" Chummy responded, stealing a glance at her watch, concerned as it was really quite dark now; suddenly thinking they might be locked out.
"Its fine Camilla" Peter assured. but still seeing her stride on ahead. "Slow down!" She stopped immediately realising she had been setting quite the pace as he caught up, resting the suitcases down for a moment. "I spoke to the landlady the day before yesterday and told her what time train we would be getting and she said she will make sure that the door is open and she won't lock up until we get there".
"Stop panicking" he said finally, taking her hand giving it a quick squeeze before he picked the suitcases up again and she calmed immediately. It was quite something wrap her sensibilities around that a few words from him could soothe her so. "It will all be perfectly fine" he added and she believed him.
Chummy nodded and smiled and as they walked along, side by side this time, as she took his word for it. Being late always made her quite nervous, well most things made her quite nervous, but she certainly didn't fancy being spirited onto the street in a place she didn't know, even with her new husband by her side. She had only found out on the night before the wedding where they were going and she had never been here before. Everything today was suddenly so new that they were both still struggling to quite take it all in.
They walked in companionable silence, sneaking daft smiles at each other as they went along, until Chummy spotted the turn into Bellevue Road, a leafy street lined with residential houses and the odd car and the next road turning into their final destination.
"Its just that one I think" Peter said, gesturing down the road in the vicinity of a small white stucco Edwardian house with window boxes at every turn and a sign heralding 'Fairview Guest House' that Chummy's eyesight would only just about let her see. She glanced at her watch again; quite pleased they had made it from the station in relatively quick time.
The pair stood outside surveying the building for a moment, odd lights dotted here there and everywhere from the rooms above them, as Peter caught his breath before going to lift the suitcases again. "Do you know something?" she asked.
"Go on?" he replied, flexing his fingers around the handles. They were hardly heavy as they certainly had no plans to be dining out dressed up or bedecked in the crown jewels, but after what must have been a good mile walk, perhaps a mile and a half, the suitcases that had been quite light were now starting to feel as though his arms had started to grow an inch or two.
"I am just entirely looking forward to getting to bed" she announced, just out of the corner of her eye seeing Peter raise an eyebrow.
"Behave!" she replied, the pair of them going quite the shade of pink. Despite the close proximity of their relationship now they both knew they still had a lot to learn and they were still harbouring that slight shyness of what was still quite a new relationship, although founded now in front of God. "No, not that... well…... Be quiet!" she scolded; herself more than him at saying something so blatantly open. "But just to sit down somewhere comfortable after that train and take these wretched shoes off and breathe!"
"Well hurry up then" he said nudging her arm with his. "The landlady will think we are keeping her awake or have got lost if we dawdle on the doorstep!"
They stepped inside and the very welcome warmth hit them immediately. The reception around them was certainly wearing around the edges, dark oak wood everywhere and they stood on a rather floral carpet that wound its way into what looked like a dining room to their right and up the stairs. As Chummy gently closed the front door Peter placed the suitcases in the hallway and immediately heard footsteps down the staircase in front of them.
"Mr and Mrs Noakes, I presume?" the Landlady asked. She was a rather slight, elderly woman with hair more white than grey but the smile was genuine and convivial. Chummy noticed immediately the glistening garnet and gold ring she wore on her right hand.
Peter smiled back at her and nodded as Chummy appeared by his side. "Yes, sorry we are late, Mrs White" he replied for both of them.
"Oh now don't you worry about that" she replied, seeing Chummy still in her wedding dress and him in his suit. "You have had a busy day I gather and I am still waiting to hear with one other couple who are meant to be with us tonight so you are more than early in comparison!"
Chummy felt Peter take her hand. It was almost an 'I told you so' but in a goodnatured way.
"Now if you could just sign the book for me dear" the landlady asked, handing Peter a pen that was chained to the scratched reception desk. He scribbled his name as the landlady carried on.
"Now breakfast is served between half past seven and nine o'clock. Half past nine on Saturday and Sunday. Dinner if you wish to have it with us is served at half past six but if you do I would be grateful if you could let me know that morning so I can consider numbers. There are plenty of lovely little restaurants and café's on the seafront so just ask and the front door is locked promptly at quarter to eleven every night".
Both Chummy and Peter smiled. "And I do hope you do not mind stairs" she continued. "The rooms at the top of the house I always reserve for you young ones who have the energy and no aching joints to contend with!"
"That's quite alright, Mrs White. Thank you" Chummy replied, smiling as Peter picked the cases up again. A key was pressed into Chummy's hand. "And the key needs to be returned to me whenever you leave". She saw the number 22 embossed in gold in the maroon leather, cracking and fading with use; much like the whole guest house if she was being honest with herself. Not that she minded; anywhere with a whole ten days in his sole company was entirely perfect.
"Now your room is on the top floor, just keep going!" Mrs White trilled, disappearing off somewhere with a smile.
"After you…" Peter said, arm outstretched as they reached the bottom of the stairs just a few paces away.
"No, no" she teased. "You go first. You are doing the heavy lifting after all…."
"I was trying to be gentleman" he replied deadpan but entirely genuine as it was the case.
"I know you were" she smiled running her hand down his arm. "But if you go first and topple over with the weight of our clothes; I am sure I can catch you!"
Peter felt a not so gentle push in his back when they were half way up the seemingly endless flight of stairs to their room, the staircase getting narrower and narrower as they climbed up and up. "What was that for?" he asked.
"Hurry up" she replied. He stopped and turned on a small landing before the next flight, the suitcases on the floor again, half wanting to finally put them down but also wishing to take up the push in the back, albeit that he was certainly not upset or being remotely serious.
"If you would care…" he started, gesturing for her to make a choice between his or her suitcase. "I am sure milady could perhaps take her suitcase up the last flight to speed the staff up?"
"No, its quite alright! Just be careful!" she responded, flouncing past him and up the last handful of stairs to where room 22 stood, finding the door easily. Yes it was certainly the top of the house and there was little head room for someone who was as tall as her.
Peter knew full well she was doing it deliberately but right now he could not have cared less as he could imagine the smile on her face that she would be, and was, trying to suppress. There were things though in her suitcase that certainly weren't breakable, but she didn't want them creased. Her purchase of material which she had fashioned quietly in secret into certain items in her room was the only positive to come from that trip to the West End with her mother, apart from the wedding dress itself of course.
"Now if we are going to make the best of what one certainly considers a bad job we can at least purchase your trousseau from a respectable establishment"
"Camilla? Camilla?" Vaguely she saw Peter's hand wave in front of her face as she had stopped still at the door marked '22', her skin still tingling in a most unfortunate manner for having to discuss linens and bedsheets and nightwear with her mother. Chummy swung her head around as she snapped out of her brief daydream.
"Key, door, lock?" he suggested, seeing her smile sheepishly at him.
"Sorry" she whispered, turning the key and pushing open the door for them both to walk in.
Butterflies in her stomach started to dance as she heard him put the suitcases down and lock the door again as they stood in the dark, atmosphere changing immediately when the pair realised that for the first time today they were truly alone.