She gave a warm grin. ‘That’s brilliant. You must be very pleased.’
‘I am.’
She had not suggested that Derek sit down, but he did so anyway. ‘I came to ask you something.’
‘What is it?’
He took a couple of deep breaths. ‘Well, I...You know how I’ve always felt about you. I love you, Peggy. I always have and I always will. There’ll never be another girl for me. And now it looks as though I can give you what you deserve. I mean, a nice life, lots of money, a home of your own. So...’ Derek fumbled in his pocket and brought out a small leather-covered box. He handed it to her. ‘I want to ask you to marry me.’
She took the box and opened the lid. There, nestling in the velvet, was a delicate solitaire diamond ring. She stared at it for a moment, then sighed and shook her head slightly.
‘Oh, Derek, you really are so sweet.’ She reached forward onto the coffee table, put the box down and picked up a packet of Embassy. ‘Want one?’
‘No, thanks. I don’t smoke. It’s bad for my voice.’
‘Of course.’ She took a cigarette out of the packet and lit it, inhaling deeply as she did so. She sat down opposite him and stared at him intently for a few seconds before she spoke again.
‘Derek, I can’t tell you how flattered I am. Nobody has ever asked me to marry them before.’
Derek’s hands twisted round on themselves. ‘So?’
‘So, I’m almost embarrassed that you’ve bestowed the honour on me. I really don’t feel as though I deserve it.’
‘But you do, you do. You’re the most wonderful woman in the world, Peggy,’ he answered wholeheartedly.
Guilt consumed her. She took another heavy drag of the cigarette. ‘Derek, have you at any point felt as though I’ve led you on? Given you the impression that I might accept a marriage proposal from you?’
‘No, you haven’t,’ he shrugged.
‘I’m glad. Because I’m terribly fond of you. I always have been. And who knows? If the situation was different, then...’ Her voice trailed off and she stared into the distance.
‘What “situation” are you talking about, Peggy?’ Derek croaked from a dry mouth.
She took a last drag then ground the cigarette into an ashtray. ‘The thing is, Derek, and believe me, there is no easy way to say this, I’m afraid I can’t accept your proposal because I’m in love with someone else. In a few weeks’ time I’m moving in with him. I want to spend the rest of my life with him, Derek.’
Derek did not speak. He couldn’t. His heart beat so hard against his chest he could hear it in his ears.
‘Are you okay, Derek?’
He didn’t reply, just stared at her, horror on his face.
‘I’m so sorry. I really don’t want to upset you or hurt you. I feel terrible that I might have given you the wrong impression, but really, I don’t see how I could have done. After all, I only came to one of your gigs. We haven’t even been out on a proper date, have we, Derek?’
He continued to stare at her.
‘Derek.’ She swept her hair back from her forehead in agitation. ‘Say something, please.’
At last he shook his head. ‘I can’t.’ He stood up, his body visibly shaking. ‘I must go.’
‘Derek, please don’t leave like this! Can’t we talk about it? Maybe I could make you understand. I still want to be your friend. I...’
She followed him as Derek lurched towards the door and almost tumbled down the stairs in his eagerness to leave. ‘Derek, the ring! You’ve forgotten the ring!’
The door slammed shut behind him.
She slowly made her way back to the sitting room, sat down heavily and lit up another cigarette. She pulled the ring out of its velvet nest and tried it on her finger. It fitted perfectly. She sighed and removed it, replacing it back in its box. When she had finished her cigarette, she took the box into the kitchen and placed it at the back of the kitchen drawer, next to the necklace.
22
