Tall Poppies
Page 27
‘You should take that position in Australia, Denton. You’ll probably meet a nice girl and get married.’
‘Too late. I’ve accepted the job in Poole. Despite everything, I couldn’t bear the thought of being so far away from you.’ He came to where she stood and brushed the tears from her eyes. ‘I’ve already met a nice girl I’m going to marry, and the fact that she has a family is a bonus.’
Her heart shot fireworks into an imaginary sky. ‘Denton, do you know what you’re saying?’
‘I’m saying I love you, and nothing is going to keep us apart. You know what’s going to happen when we marry, don’t you? Those who think I fathered Meggie will be convinced that I did.’
He patted his pocket and came out with a ring box. The remains of a pheasant feather fluttered to the floor.
He stooped to pick it up and laughed. ‘I knew you were going to be my woman from the moment you gave me this.’
‘You stole it.’
‘So I did. It’s a bit short now; the dog ate the other half.’ He flipped open the box lid. ‘I’ve been carrying this around since I first sent you that letter. I hope you like it.’
It was a gold band with a bridge of diamonds and rubies. ‘I love it, and I love you.’
He hesitated, then slid Richard’s wedding ring from her finger and replaced it with the engagement ring.
He gazed at the inscription in the wedding ring and gave a faint smile before slipping it into her hand. It bore the words, Olivia and Richard, with the date of their marriage. ‘You don’t mind not wearing it, do you?’
‘No, I’ve been hiding behind it. Now I’ll put it away for Meggie to have when she’s older.’
‘Come here, my love,’ he said, and she moved into his arms.
He kissed her, a long and tender caress that set her heart racing and the nerves tingling through her body.
On the mantelpiece, the photograph of Richard smiled down at them.