Authors: Christianna Brand
Heads You Lose (23 page)
A verger halted her at the big door of the church: “Pardon me, Miss, but not the little dog.”
The ancient struggle began all over again. “He’ll be perfectly quiet and no one will notice him. Do let me take him inside; he does want to see her married.”
“Is this the bride’s dog, Miss?”
“He is now,” said Venetia. She explained to him earnestly: “I’ve given her my half for a wedding present. He used to belong to us both, but—well, once, he sort of helped to save her life…”
Fran and the elderly uncle arrived in the porch. “Won’t they let Aziz come in?”
“I’m afraid he must stay outside, Miss. I’ll hold him here, if you like.”
Venetia drew her sister a little aside. “Let the man hold him; he won’t be outside for long!” She added softly: “I told him that Aziz saved your life, and it made me think—while we’re so happy, Fran, I think—just for a minute—we should remember Pen.”
“It was Pen that saved my life,” said Fran, standing there in her white dress at the door of the beautiful old church. “It wasn’t Aziz; nobody saved my life but Pen himself. It was right of you to remind me, darling, but I hadn’t forgotten. He gave his life to save mine—dear Pen!” They smiled at each other and there were tears in their eyes.
Fran went up to the altar to meet James; and outside the church Aziz began to howl.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1988 by Christianna Brand
Foreword copyright © Jessica Mann, 1993
cover design by Mumtaz Mustafa
ISBN 978-1-4532-9047-7
This 2013 edition distributed by MysteriousPress.com/Open Road Integrated Media
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CHRISTIANNA BRAND
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