Reaching For The Stars
Chapter 19

Two hours after landing it was getting towards dusk when they all left the spaceport. Peter had managed to obtain a loan pool car for Bill to use to save him riding his motorcycle in the snow. Chris didn`t have his car at the spaceport as he and Fiona had travelled in to the spaceport before their trip with Peter and Maureen, so he and Fiona were travelling with Peter and Maureen again now as it saved time and was considerably easier than going to Chris`s flat to collect his car. Peter had called his parents earlier and asked if they could all come down for a few days and they had been eager to see them and a meal was promised for when they arrived. The roads around the spaceport were relatively clear of snow but once out on the motorway the weather deteriorated and it started snowing again and it wasn`t long before a full blizzard was raging. The hover cars were not affected by snowy or icy roads like the old fashioned wheeled cars but nonetheless extra care was needed so the journey to Lymington took just under two hours. It was full dark when they arrived and the snow was still falling steadily, although not with quite the same intensity as earlier. Peter swung the car through the gates and stopped by the front door which was promptly opened by Peter`s father. They rapidly unloaded their luggage and got inside out of the weather. Peter`s mother appeared from the kitchen and after giving everybody a hug, announced that dinner would be ready in twenty minutes. Over dinner, Fiona said that she had an announcement to make and proceeded to tell her parents about her recent engagement to Chris. Both parents were overjoyed at the news, and her father went down to his wine cellar and returned with a huge bottle of vintage champagne which they managed to finish between them during the evening. The parents had met Chris on several occasions when he had come to the cottage with Peter on a few occasions and knew that he had always had a soft spot for their daughter. It was well past midnight when they all retired to bed.

Over breakfast the next morning the subject of weddings came up in conversation and Maureen suddenly suggested a joint wedding for herself and Peter and Fiona and Chris. Everybody thought this was a great idea and the conversation changed to venues and dates. Peter and Fiona`s father asked how long they were on leave for and then suggested a Christmas wedding. Everybody said it was a great idea, so they then began the detailed planning. It meant that they would have to move fast as Christmas was only ten days away. Peter and Fiona`s mother took charge of the two girls and announced that she was taking them shopping straight away and that the men could clear up! So saying she harried the two girls into rapidly getting ready and whisked them away to Southampton to hit the shops.

Peter and Chris helped Peter`s father to clear up and make the place tidy then they too headed for the shops to organise suits for themselves. They went in the opposite direction to the girls and headed towards Bournemouth as Peter`s father knew and used a high class tailor there. The snow had stopped sometime during the night and it was cold and crisp, with a weak sun shining. Peter`s mother had taken the family car with the girls so Peter drove them to Bournemouth.

The men were back from shopping first which was no real surprise as they all agreed that the girls wouldn`t return until well after the shops closed. They made themselves a quick snack and then headed out again, this time to speak to the register office and a few churches to see what dates were available. Peter said that he had always dreamed of a wedding in the new forest so his father suggested going to Beaulieu or Bucklers Hard and speaking to the vicars there. The vicar at Beaulieu was fully booked and said that Bucklers Hard was out as well as he administered both churches but thought that Palace House might well be able to oblige. They were all taken with the idea of getting married in a stately home so headed to the house to speak with someone who might be able to assist. The estate also housed the national motor museum and both Peter and Chris thought it would be quite a unique venue. At the house, they were greeted by a uniformed lady who showed them into an office and proceeded to take down their details. After consulting her diary, she announced that they could do a double wedding on Christmas day at two in the afternoon in the abbey church. She suggested that the ceremony could be followed by a reception in the museum hall which would be closed to the general public. She said that they could arrange everything, including catering and entertainment and also the use of two state rooms within Palace house itself for the wedding night. The figure she presented them with was very good and they promptly made a firm booking and paid for everything in advance.

When they got back to the cottage in Lymington the girls and Peter`s mother were already back and were preparing the evening meal. The girls were very curious to replace out how the men had got on but they wouldn`t say anything until they were all sitting down for dinner.

“We`ve actually found a venue for a double wedding and I think you`ll like our choice. We get married at two in the afternoon, on Christmas day in the abbey church at Beaulieu followed by a reception in the museum hall, including catering and entertainment. We have also got two state rooms in Palace House itself for the wedding night. The place is also providing two vintage Rolls Royce limousines to convey everybody from here to the abbey, and then within the grounds of Palace House between the various buildings.”

There was a whoop from the girls as Peter finished speaking.

“That sounds absolutely fantastic”. Maureen replied. After dinner and when all the clearing up was done the girls all retired to the lounge to sort out invitations. Peter decided to phone Bill as he wanted him to be his best man. Chris had also had the same idea and Bill happily agreed to act as best man for both of them. He said he and Maggie would come down in two days to spend a little time with his parents before the ceremony. He asked what dress he should wear, and Peter jokingly replied that he would look wonderful in a dress! Then told him that he and Chris were wearing full dress suits with tail coats and top hats, in a dark maroon colour and that if Bill gave him his clothing sizes he would make sure that Bill got the same as he and Chris. He said he didn`t know what the girls were wearing as they refused to say but suspected that it would be traditional white bridal dresses. While he was speaking to Bill on the phone Maureen called out to ask Bill if Maggie would like to be matron of honour, as both she and Fiona would love it if she agreed. Bill relayed the message to Maggie who was in the same room and everybody heard her scream of delight so that was soon answered!

The next few days were a blur of frantic activity as they got all their plans for the big day in full swing. Chris contacted the student`s at Lincoln and as quite a few were away it took a bit of detective work and many phone calls to track them all down and invite them all to the wedding. Fiona suddenly remembered to ask Peter what entertainment he had arranged with Palace House for the wedding and was thrilled when he told her that he had arranged for a five piece band to perform. Everybody was fond of country music and this was one of the south coast`s top country bands who also did more traditional dance music, jazz, and modern popular music as well so there should be something for every one`s taste.

The time passed very quickly and it was soon Christmas Eve. Bill and Maggie had been staying for a week now, all at Peter`s parents cottage as there was plenty of room. Maggie had never been to this part of the country and fell in love with the scenery which was still covered in a coating of crisp white snow. It hadn`t snowed again for a few days but as the temperature had remained cold the snow already on the ground had stayed pristine and beautiful to look at. The students had arrived from Lincoln the previous day by train and were staying at a hotel between Lymington and the small village of Sway. The name Sway always made Fiona giggle as in her mind she pictured a village swaying in the wind as if the whole village were either drunk or on a rough sea!!! By tradition, Peter and Chris were not supposed to see their brides before the wedding ceremony so accordingly had booked into the same hotel, The Passford House in Sway. This was a five star luxury establishment and had been a hotel for over fifty years, originally being a manor house. The famous New Forest ponies were quite tame in the area and frequently wandered into the hotel`s gardens much to the disgust of the head gardener. Peter and Chris arrived at the Passford in the early afternoon of Christmas Eve and the student`s threw them an impromptu party.

Meanwhile back at Peter`s parents cottage the girls were making final preparations to their dresses and accessories. The lady hairdresser used by Peter`s mother had very kindly agreed to give up her Christmas morning and would come to the cottage to do the girls hair. In mid-afternoon, the phone rang and was answered by Peter`s father. He listened for a few minutes and then passed the instrument to Bill. Bill took the phone with a question on his face which changed into a broad grin as he listened. He hung up after about five minutes and turned to face Peter`s father.

“That was Palace House; they have a problem with the transport tomorrow”. Peter`s father groaned and looked crestfallen, but Bill soon reassured him.

“Don`t worry, it`s all sorted and I reckon the girls will love the change that they have made”. He wouldn`t say anymore except to ask Peter`s mother quietly to get the girls ready an hour earlier than originally planned. He wouldn`t be drawn any further and left both parents guessing.

The following day, Christmas Day was a lovely day with a bit of winter sunshine. It had snowed again during the night and the ground was covered with a fresh coating of crisp snow. As per Bill`s request the previous day, Peter`s mother had the girls ready for twelve noon. She and her husband were all dressed up in their best clothes and looked really smart. Her outfit was a pale lilac colour with matching accessories, while her husband was in a tail coat to match Peter and Chris`s outfits. At a quarter past twelve there was a ring at the doorbell and Peter`s father opened it to reveal a smartly dressed young man. Behind him parked on the drive were two horse drawn sleighs with white ribbons decorating them along with a variety of winter flowers, and silver bells, which tinkled softly as the horses moved. The young man explained that due to the state of the roads between the cottage and Beaulieu there was doubt as to whether the vintage Rolls Royce`s would manage the journey without becoming stuck and therefore ruining everything. He said that they had substituted the cars for the horse sleighs as out in the country between the cottage and Beaulieu the snow was lying about seven inches deep, but the horses were used to snow and slippery conditions which meant that they wouldn`t get stuck. The sleighs had hoods over the seats and a transparent screen that rolled down across the front to protect the passengers from the elements. There were plenty of warm rugs and each sleigh could carry three people. This was fine as there were five passengers to carry. Maureen, Fiona, Maggie, and Peter`s mother and father. Bill had gone on ahead in his loan car to be at the abbey when everyone arrived. The young man said that there was another sleigh already at the abbey to assist with transport between the buildings after the actual ceremony. Peter`s father called out that the transport was ready and waiting and when Maureen and Fiona came out and saw the sleighs they both burst into tears. Peter`s mother also had a tear in her eye while her husband looked really pleased with the substitution. Once they were all seated in the sleighs and wrapped up in the rugs, Peter`s mother set to, repairing the girls make up. She travelled in the front sleigh with them while Peter`s father and Maggie took the second one. The sleighs were both pulled by matching white horses, two per sleigh and when everyone was ready they set off. Many of the neighbours came out of their houses to wave and wish them all good luck. Many had been invited to the reception after the ceremony and would follow shortly in their own vehicles. Several of the women walked alongside the sleighs and gave the girls bunches of flowers, which nearly set the tears flowing again.