by Amanda Ward
Laura smiled. “Are those for me?” she asked looking at the flowers and chocolates. Rhean looked momentarily bewildered.
“Of course, I think this is dating protocol—to bring a gift.” He handed them to her. Laura inhaled the scent from the flowers. Their fragrance was fresh and delicate.
“Thank you so much,” she said, then reached up and kissed Rhean on the cheek. As she moved toward the door away, the flowers and chocolates were taken out of her hands by Maisie with a cheeky, “Yoink!”
“I’ll take those,” she announced saucily. “Have to make sure they aren’t poisoned!”
A thought crossed Laura’s mind.
“Who did you ask to look after my darling DNA?” Laura asked Rhean.
“Graham,” Rhean called.
He came into the doorway wiping his hands on a towel. “Haven’t you left yet, sir?” he asked.
“Just going,” Rhean replied.
“You asked your butler to babysit?” Laura asked incredulously.
“Why not? He’s perfectly qualified to; he used to run a holiday park for families in the eighties,” Rhean explained.
“So what is he doing as a butler then? Sorry Graham, no offense,” Laura apologized.
“None taken Miss Laura,” Graham retorted. “To quote a phrase from the youth of today ‘slumming it’ would be the description,” he remarked dryly. He turned and went back into the kitchen.”Go!” he called.
“Better do as he says,” Laura mumbled.
“Look after Mum,” Maisie told Rhean.
“Anyone would think I was fifteen rather than forty,” Laura said to him and giggled. After she’d put on her smart black coat, the couple stepped out into the cold night air.
Chapter Five
The moon shone golden through the inky black sky and the stars sparkled like diamonds. Rhean took Laura’s elbow and they walked down the path towards an old E-type Jaguar car, which was parked behind her people carrier. Rhean opened the door on the passenger side, and helped her in, then got in, took hold of her hand and kissed it gently.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Slightly nervous,” Laura admitted.
Rhean chuckled as he started the car. “Me too,” he agreed. With a smile on his face he pulled away from the curb.
They drove through town with the heat on, creating a cozy atmosphere in the vintage car. The leather seats were sumptuous and comfortable and Laura leaned back and watched Rhean handle the car with confidence.
They drove through a couple of villages on the road to Lake Windermere. There wasn’t much traffic on the roads at that time of the evening and eventually Rhean pulled up in front of a small brightly lit restaurant.
“I thought you might like English food,” Rhean said with a chuckle. “This has a really good reputation.”
“Much better than a Chinese takeaway,” Laura agreed. She unbuckled her seat belt and as she reached to open the car door, she felt a blast of cold air and Rhean’s gloved hand. She grasped his hand firmly unused to the heels she wore. After locking the door, Rhean put his arm around her and they went into the restaurant.
Rhean held the door open and they were met inside by the maître d´, a tall thin man with a rather pompous expression on his face.
“Can I help you?” he asked.
“Yes, I have a reservation for two, name of Viscount Kirkleigh,” Rhean said in his most aristocratic manner.
“Anything he can do, I can do better,” he murmured in her ear.
Looking down at the large book in front of him, the maître d´ nodded his head.
“Follow me please, sir... I mean my lord, madam.” He led them through the restaurant lined with booths, providing an intimate atmosphere to the one near the bar set for two. It was an elegant setting with fine cream linens and sparkling tableware. The maître d´ nodded his head and a young man came over.
“Good evening, sir, madam. I am Louis and I will be your waiter this evening,” he said and bowed his head.”Would you like a drink before I take your order?”
Rhean and Laura looked at each other.
“I won’t be drinking alcohol tonight,” Rhean told Laura, “I need to keep a clear head as I’m driving. I’ll have a coffee please.”
“Could I have a dry white wine please?” Laura asked.
“Of course.” He left after handing them what appeared to be a leather-bound tome, but was in fact the menu and wine list. Rhean chuckled and flicked through it.
“Trying to choose from this list could take a while,” he retorted. “Good thing Graham doesn’t charge by the hour.” Laura grinned at the quip. Rhean reached across the table and took Laura’s hand, stroking the palm of it with his fingertip.
“You really do look incredibly beautiful,” he said sincerely, his voice deep and husky.
“And all I can say is that if you had decided to go bowling I would have looked much overdressed,” she quipped back.
Rhean smiled at her and they both went back to perusing the menu. There was a large selection, mostly very English meals overdressed, Laura thought to herself. She made her decision and shut the menu with a slap.
Louis arrived with their drinks.
They sat in silence for a while, enjoying the ambiance and sipping their drinks. Rhean continued to stroke Laura’s hand with his own large one. It engulfed hers and was square-shaped with a smattering of dark, tiny hairs. As he stroked it, Laura could not help but be very aware of him not as her friend, but as a man—perhaps a lover.
“I was surprised at your meal choice,” he remarked, bringing Laura out of her reverie.
“Prawn cocktail?”
“No. The liver and bacon. It’s not something many people like,” he said.
“Why ever not?” Laura asked with an indignant tone in her voice. “It’s good for you, ha, n lots of iron, and anyway. My children loathe the stuff,” she confessed, “so I don’t make it at home.”
Their starters arrived with warm, freshly made bread with butter on the side. Rhean and Laura tucked in with gusto, and gave each other tastes of their starters. When their starters were finished and cleared away, Rhean raised his glass of tonic water in a toast.
“To us,” he said. Laura clinked her glass to his and drank. They spent the rest of the time talking about the ongoing issues with the fayre and plans for the ball.
“Mum and Dad come back in a few weeks,” Rhean told her. “She said she will sort out the major issues just before the fayre starts.”
“Thank heavens for that, I feel as though I’m bashing my head against a brick wall with some of the stall owners.”
When their main courses arrived, the portions were very generous. Laura looked down at her plate. “I won’t need to eat for a few days after this,” she joked.
After their plates had been cleared away, Laura visibly relaxed and sighed out loud.
“Do you know this is the first meal in years that I have actually tasted?” she said. Rhean raised his eyebrows in puzzlement. “With the children and being so busy, I tend to eat what is in front of me without actually tasting it,” Laura explained, “And that meal was just wonderful. But the best part —no washing up to do.”
The waiter appeared with the dessert menu. Laura was tempted to refuse, but when she saw the profiteroles, she really had no choice.
“The profiteroles please, and a hot chocolate,” she said.
“I’ll have the cheese board and a coffee,” Rhean ordered.
“Not a big chocolate fan?” Laura asked him.
“I am, but it will be more fun pinching them off your plate,” he teased.
“You think I will let you steal chocolate and cream puffs from me?” she bantered.
“Of course.” They both laughed at their silliness
She felt the intensity of Rhean’s gaze. Glancing upwards, Laura saw the emotion radiating across his face. Unexpectedly, Rhean moved out of the booth and dropped to one knee in front of her. Laura’s breath caught in her throat at the sight.
&n
bsp; “Oh my God,” she whispered and hid her face in her napkin.
Rhean took hold of one of her hands.
“I just can’t wait anymore, Laura. I love you—have done since we met last year. Will you marry me?” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a very old, battered ring box. He opened it and inside, nestled on a cushion of cream velvet was a gold ring with a square cut, light green stone and a large diamond on either side. It looked old, yet very familiar.
“Laura, will you marry me?” he asked again earnestly, and gave her a smile filled with longing, that sent her pulse racing. The restaurant customers were standing up to see what was going on. Laura’s mind whirled not knowing what to say. She couldn’t tear her gaze from him, as he knelt in front of her.
A soft, loving curve touched her lips. She spoke only one word, a soft, “Yes.”
Rhean slipped the ring onto her finger and it fit perfectly. He held her hand as Laura stood up, her stomach in knots desperately needing reassurance. She snuggled into his arms, his spicy masculine scent creating a sensation of safety within her. Rhean kissed her gently, reverently... Laura quivered at the sweet tenderness of his kiss. The sound of clapping made her realize where they were. They pulled apart reluctantly, and with a flair, Rhean bowed to the audience.
The maître d´ walked over to them with a bottle of champagne.
“Congratulations to you both. Please accept this with our compliments.”
Rhean thanked him and asked if they could take the bottle home with them as he was driving. The maître d´ said he understood and sent their waiter to fetch their desserts. Laura still felt shell-shocked that he had proposed so soon.
Looking very pleased with himself, he reached over and began to play with the ring on her finger. As Laura looked at it, realization hit her.
“The ring, it’s the one in the portrait!” she exclaimed. Rhean nodded.
“It is indeed. I remember the color of the stone being the same color of your eyes after we kissed that first time. When I saw you looking at the portrait, I knew it was the one for you.”
“It must be so old.” Laura shook her head. “It really is beautiful, but I can’t wear anything so priceless.” Rhean held her hand tight.
“That ring was meant for you, and it will not come off until our wedding day when I place the matching wedding and eternity rings there,” Rhean stated in his headmaster tone.
The desserts arrived. Laura went red-faced. She felt as if she’d been told-off.
Laura would have loved her profiteroles had it not been for her darling new fiancé trying to steal them every chance he got.
“I thought you didn’t want dessert,” Laura said, smacking Rhean’s fingers away from her dish.”Will you please knock it off?”
“More fun to do it this way” Rhean grinned boyishly at her, a dimple making a welcome appearance.
“I should have ordered a larger portion,” Laura complained and rolled her eyes, as she heard him chuckle.
Rhean gestured for the waiter to come over. He settled the bill, and left the waiter and maître d´ a very generous tip. They were handed the champagne and again congratulated on their engagement.
When they’d left the restaurant and got back inside the car, Laura quietly looked at the exquisite ring on her finger, and tried to put the events of the night into place. A familiar sickening coldness racked her body and she could feel herself start to panic. In the car, she felt trapped and anxious. She shifted about in her seat, trying to get comfortable, but she needed to get out. Instead, she started to babble.
“I thought you said this was going to be a date. Man woman, go out, and eat food, lots of kissing,” she mimicked him. “I really don’t recall you asking me out so you could propose!” She thought back to Wednesday night. “Nope, you definitely asked me out on a date.”
Rhean pulled the car over to the side of the road. He turned the engine off and switched on the internal light.
“Are you having second thoughts?” he demanded, turning to face her. “Because if you are, so help me I will have you down at the nearest church before you can say antidisestablishmentarianism,” Rhean told her.
“It just seems a bit fast, as though I’ve stepped onto a magic carpet with you and we’ve gone zooming into space before we’ve learned to fly.” Even as Laura said it, she knew it sounded ridiculous. She felt claustrophobic, and suddenly the need to get some air felt essential. She opened the car door and got out. Walking around the small layby, she tried to get enough air into her lungs. The strange thing was though, that each time she looked at the ring, it seemed as if it was meant to be there. Lifting her face up, Laura eyes blinked away the threatening tears, before the frigid air chilled them. She quickly wiped them as she saw Rhean get out of the car holding his overcoat.
“Here,” he said gruffly and put it round her, “its freezing.” Then he turned away from her. As she watched him walk away, her heart sank. She knew she needed him
“Rhean. Rhean,” Laura called.
He stopped and turned around to face her.
“Laura?” Rhean’s eyes never left hers, as she walked toward him and put her arms around his waist. She felt so young compared to him, so small and feminine too in his arms. She needed for him to understand what was going on in her head as well as her heart.
“Rhean, I’m sorry.” She looked up into his face, and saw unshed tears glistening in the moonlight that would have fallen, if she called their engagement off.
“I panicked, that’s all. I needed some time to put things into perspective. Our relationship has just gone way too fast for me. . A few weeks ago we were friends, good friends, and now as you said in a matter of weeks we are going to be married.” She started to cry.
“Is that what you want? To slow it down?” Rhean tightened his arms around her.
“No, I don’t.” Laura sniffed into his chest. “My head is telling me to slow down, and take it one step at a time.” She held on tighter, needing his strength. She reached up with her hands and pulled his face down to hers. She kissed him gently, hoping and praying Rhean would understand.
Rhean pulled away slowly and shook his head.
“I’m sorry Laura. Call me male, but I really don’t understand. Just tell me!” His voice held a note of desperation. “Tell me please, Laura, if we are still engaged and that you want to spend the rest of your life with me.” His voice broke. “I don’t play games; I don’t know how to.” He stepped away from her.
Laura looked down at the ring on her finger. She desperately wanted to slow things down, afraid to be hurt again. With Rhean, her heart told her that she would never be hurt. He would look after her and treat her the way she so rightly deserved. Her mind and heart spoke for her.
“Yes, Rhean...I’ll marry you.”
“Yes!” he whooped. He picked her up and, as in the musicals she’d watched as a child, swung her around. Then he stopped and kissed her deeply and passionately, sealing their vow.
Laura shivered with cold and the aftereffects of her anxiety attack. She leaned into him, absorbing his strength.
“This ring is a promise that I will never hurt you or the kids for as long as there is a breath in me.’Tusa gan aon duine eile,’ I belong to you, no one else,” Rhean told her solemnly. His hand held hers tightly. Laura felt the intensity and the beauty of the Gaelic language, and they comforted her like a prayer.
“Back in the car ‘bean mo chroi,’“ Rhean said in an exaggerated Irish accent.
Laura turned toward him. “What does that mean?”
“Woman of my heart. Something my mother told me.” He smiled at her through the dim light of the car.
“You sound like Liam Neeson,” she said, teasing him. The Irish accent he used turned her to mush. He seemed so accepting of her, no matter what emotional ride she was on.
“Are you angry with me?” Laura asked. Rhean took her left hand and kissed it.
“You had a meltdown, that’s all.”
“I a
lmost called off the....”
He put a finger to her lips. “You panicked. I gave you space to work things through. We worked through it together.” Rhean dropped a gentle kiss on her lips and started the car. “Roll on New Year’s Eve,” he muttered as they drove off into the night.
The car drew up to the curb and came to a stop outside their cottages. They got out and holding hands, walked up the path. Just before she inserted the key Rhean turned her ʼround so that she faced him. He gently lifted her face and leaned down to kiss her gently.
“You will have to get used to me kissing you, because I love the feel of your mouth on mine,” he said in a quiet voice. “Let’s go in and face the rabble. I know we are back much earlier than expected. I just thought you may feel better at home after what’s just happened.”
The living room was dark with only the flickering light of the television. Graham and the children were so engrossed in the film that they didn’t notice the couple walk in. When the door shut with a slight bang, and a light went on, they all turned to face the couple.
“May I get you a drink sir?” asked Graham rising to his feet. “What will it be? Tea or something else?” he inquired.
“Oh, I think this is in order Graham,” Rhean replied, holding out the bag with the champagne. “It should still be nicely chilled.”
“I take it congratulations are in order then sir?” Graham took the bag and as he went into the kitchen, the children stood up and gathered around the couple.
“Indeed they are,” Rhean replied. He held up Laura’s left hand and the ring sparkled on her finger.
“Well, now, you’d better look after our mum,” said Theo in an exaggerated deep voice. James nudged him.
“Oh, and us as well.” He held out his hand toward Rhean and they shook. Then James held out his hand and they did the same. There was a loud pop and fizz from the kitchen.
Laura flashed a glance at Maisie.
“Are you okay with this? I mean, this must have come as a bit of a shock to you all...” her voice trailed off as she saw the guilty looks on her offspring’s faces.