Wedding Bells in Oporto

With a grin, Newbury stepped aside. "Go on, then."

The waiting crowd raised a cheer in anticipation.

The cheer made Maggie grin even more. She switched her grip to Cotton's hand instead. "Here goes!"

Cotton grinned. "Let's not keep 'em waitin'," he said, and led her towards the broomstick. "You... You sure, real sure, you want to do this?" he asked quietly.

"Come on, Gabe!" was her only answer.

"All right," he answered, gripping her hand a fraction tighter. There was no going back now.

He watched as she gathered her skirts in her hand and then they jumped over the broomstick together.

About time, Newbury thought with a grin. He waved his shako in the air and cheered.

Maggie added her own voice to the little cheering crowd. She put her arms around Cotton's neck - her husband's neck - and laughed. "Gable, we're married!"

"So we are!" He clasped her round the waist and spun her round. "Hello there, Missis Cotton."

Pye cheered with the rest of them,grinning at the pair. Maggie, would be known from that day forward, as Miss Cotton. They had jumped the broom, which looked relatively simple!

Vickery cheered with the rest, before crossing over to the happy couple and shaking the hand of a very bemused Rifleman Cotton. "May I kiss the bride?" he asked. The only answer he got was a stunned look, so he turned to Maggie. "Congratulations, Mrs Cotton," he said, and kissed her hand.

Maggie flushed deeply, but it did not spoil her expression of happiness. "Thank you, sir."

Vickery smiled. "May you have many happy years together," he said, and pressed a couple of coins into her hand. "Just a little something from me." He touched his shako peak to her and headed back to his billet, leaving the Riflemen and their women to their celebrations.

The coins startled her, and after the quick initial glance she clenched her fist over them so no one else would see. She was too surprised even to thank the captain before he disappeared through the crowd of riflemen, women, and spectators. "Gabe!" she whispered, holding her palm open for his viewing. "You take those. I don't have pockets."

Cotton blinked and looked down at what she was showing him. He was sure he saw the gleam of gold before she closed his hand around the coins, but couldn't swear to it. It was probably a couple of shillings - or possibly a couple of Spanish dollars. Whatever it was, he slipped the money into his pocket.

"Dunno if we got time for a proper celebration, like, Maggie, not if we'm s'pposed to be on p'rade for half-past nine o'clock." It wouldn't stop them having a short party; they had an hour and a bit to themselves.

"Here, you two," Newbury said, appearing out of the crowd of well-wishers. He had managed to find a spare mug to go with his own when he'd gone back to the billet to retrieve the bottle of wine. "Better get this down now."

And he offered the two brimming-full mugs with a broad smile.

Maggie laughed with surprise as she accepted one of the mugs. "Joe Newbury, where did you get this?" She took a gulp and then offered it back to him. "I won't drink all that by myself."

Cotton grinned, accepting a mug from Newbury. "That looks just grand," he said, and tasted it. "Oh, that's great. Jus' what a fellow needs on a day like this." He took a couple more mouthfuls. It was good wine, not the usual thin, sour stuff.

"Bought it," Newbury replied cheerfully. "Seemd only fittin'. Hope it's all right."

"You got some of the good stuff here," Cotton replied cheerfully. "Hope you kept the rest for yourself, like. This don't come 'long every day, this don't." He grinned and raised his mug. "To Maggie Evans as was, an' Maggie Cotton as is, an' the Rifles - the best mates a man could hope for!"

Maggie smiled up at him as everyone cheered. "Maggie Cotton," she repeated, and stood up on her toes to kiss him.

He returned the kiss, mindful of the mug of wine he was still holding, but not mindful at all that there might be people watching. In fact, there undoubtedly were people watching, but he only had eyes for Maggie right now.

"I'll take that for you." Jenny Ross helpfully liberated Cotton from the cup to allow his hands greater freedom. She smiled at Newbury and clinked the cup against the one that he was holding before taking a sip. "Not a bad choice, rifleman. Not bad at all."

Still grinning, Newbury took a healthy swallow of wine as well. "Aye. Sometimes I get it right. This was no time to be wrong, anyhow." He clapped Cotton on the shoulder, then lifted his cup in toast. " 'Gratulations, mate. And to you also, Missus."

Pye observed merrily from the ring of the riflemen. The deed had been done and the pair was now married. Now it was time for a short festivity before heading off again. And also to take the broom back to whomever was the owner of it, and then the ribbons and flowers.

Timidly, he walked up and turned to Maggie, to congratulate her first. "Miss Cotton." He smiled. "Congratulations on marriage, miss!" He held himself more to the side,so as not to intrude on the two.

"Thank you, Joe! Thank you, Zack!" Maggie was flushed with pleasure at all of the well-wishers. Everyone had been incredibly kind, from all the women of the baggage train, to Captain Vickery with his gift, and all the riflemen in between. There were even a few friendly redcoats in the crowd, men she recognized but did not know well. Some curious Portuguese were watching from upper story windows, and she waved at them and smiled, wanting to share her happiness.