‘Aw, diddums. I feel so sorry for you,’ Giselle teased.
‘You’d hate it,’ Izzy pointed out. ‘I’m beginning to dislike it, too.’
Giselle’s tired eyes widened. ‘You are?’
‘I’ve met someone.’
‘Ah.’
‘His name is Edoardo. He’s thirty-seven, divorced and he adores cooking.’
‘Is he a chef?’
‘A plumber. We met when he came to fix a leak in my shower.’
‘When was this? And why didn’t you tell me?’
‘Six months ago, and I didn’t say anything because…’ Izzy shrugged. ‘You know me, easy come, easy go. I didn’t think it would last more than a couple of weeks. They rarely do. I wanted to be sure before I said anything.’
‘Sure about what?’
‘That it’s the real thing. I love him, Zelle.’
Giselle cautiously asked, ‘Does he feel the same way?’
Eyes sparkling, Izzy nodded. ‘He’s asked me to marry him!’
Giselle was thrilled for her. That explained her sister’s glow. Izzy was in love. Bending forward, Giselle gave her twin a hug. ‘That’s fantastic news! Congratulations! Can I be your bridesmaid?’
‘You’d better be. I’m depending on you.’ Izzy’s voice was muffled by Giselle’s hair. When she pulled away, she was beaming, but her expression quickly sobered. ‘Are you OK with this?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m so happy and you’re…’
‘Heartbroken?’ Giselle supplied. ‘Of course I’m OK with it. I’m more than OK; I’m over the moon. You deserve all the happiness in the world, Izzy.’
‘So do you. I worry about you up here, alone.’
‘I’m not alone. I’ve got Avril and Jinny, and Tara, and everyone else at Coorie Castle.’ Everyone except the castle’s owner.
‘What happens if the craft centre is forced to close?’
‘I don’t know.’ It made her heart ache to think of the happy band of crafters drifting apart. They’d keep in touch, of course, but it wouldn’t be the same. ‘Anyway, no more talk of me and my problems. I want to hear all about Edoardo and the wedding. And where’s your engagement ring?’ Giselle’s gaze flashed to her sister’s conspicuously naked finger.
‘We haven’t bought one yet. We’re going to choose it together.’
Giselle knew how particular Isadora was, and knew she had excellent taste and a keen eye, but it was hardly romantic, was it? Neither was their meeting; a meet-cute it most definitely wasn’t. If Giselle ever received a proposal of marriage, she wanted to be presented with a ring that the man she loved had picked out for her, which would be perfect becausehe’dchosen it, and also because he’d know her so well that he’d know what she’d like.
Then again, Giselle’s own meet-cute hadn’t worked out too well, despite it happening in one of the most romantic cities in the world and with one of the handsomest guys she’d ever seen. So maybe Izzy’s way was better. Romance didn’t always lead to happily ever after. In her case, it had led to a broken heart that she despaired would ever be whole again.
Rocco examined the ring. It was a ruby, oval in shape, with tiny diamond chips on its built-up shoulders and around the band. Was the metal platinum? He thought it might be. It felt substantial as he weighed it in his palm, and he tried to make out the hallmarks but they were tiny, and he wouldn’t know what he was looking for anyway.
It wasn’t the most noteworthy of Mhairi’s jewellery – a diamond necklace had that honour – but it was the most poignant since it was the only one with a story. A love story, one with the saddest of endings. It explained why Mhairi never married, because Pip, the man she loved, the man she’d been engaged to, the writer of eleven of those letters tied up with green ribbon, had died before they’d had a chance.
The last letter had been written by his brother Ken, the other man in the photo, informing Mhairi of Pip’s demise. It had been heartbreaking to read, and Rocco had had tears in his eyes at the end. Pip’s last words had been for Mhairi, his final thoughts for the woman he’d hoped to marry.
The ring had been in the twelfth envelope, wrapped in a scrap of ivory silk.Cut from a wedding dress?Rocco wondered. He’d never know.
