I liked all three gems, the cut and clarity, and shrugged. “Pick the one you think suits it best. I like them all.”
“Then this middle one, here.”
“Okay then.”
“As for yours…” She put the drawer back into her row of gems, coming back with a different selection, this time of sapphires. “Pick the gem, I’ll base the design around it.”
She’d done this with me many times, so I had every reason to trust her. I let my eyes rove over them, and when I saw one I particularly liked, I pointed. “That one.”
“I somehow knew you’d pick that one. You like the radiant cuts.”
I shrugged, no apology on my lips.
“It’ll be a rush job to have them done by the Founder’s Ball, but I can manage,” she said over her shoulder as she put the drawer back. “I’ll send word when I’m finished.”
I stared at her, nonplussed for a moment. “Did I mention I wanted to propose by then?”
She gave me a long, speaking look. “James. I am not an idiot.”
Apparently, I was predictable. “Thank you, Nora.”
“And bring him by so I can meet him!”
“You’ll design our wedding rings,” I promised her with a light chuckle. “Assuming I can convince the man to take temporary leave of his senses and marry me.”
She patted my cheek before shooing me out the door. “It’ll be fine.”
Why was no one else worried? Dammit, thinking about it too long terrified me. Perhaps because his answer meant the world to me, literally, and no one else was as invested?
Or I was overthinking. Probably because I was overthinking.
My knights ushered me back home, and by now it was well into evening. We caught a quick bite at a fish-and-chips street vendor on the way back, so I had nothing else to do this evening but relax and indulge in Edwin’s company. He’d already promised to meet me in our rooms tonight, and upon my entry, he greeted me with a kiss.
Then gave me this Look like he knew I’d spent the better part of the day overthinking things, and I was silly, but he knew precisely what to do about it. In short order, without any discussion, I was stripped of boots and laid out on the sofa with my head pillowed on his thighs, a book propped open on my chest.
“I believe,” he stated in that quiet way of his, “we left off on chapter three.”
I listened with eyes closed as he read, his fingers lightly carding through my hair, and felt every worry and tension riding in me slowly escape. I smiled and basked in his affection. I might have fallen in love with the man all over again.
Those other people who’d only belatedly realized his worth could gorot.
Edwin was mine and I wasn’t sharing.
Forty-eight
James
I’d had a splendid time with Edwin the night before and woken up refreshed and raring to go this morning. I slipped out of bed early, trained for a few hours, then came back to find Edwin dressed and eating breakfast. After a quick wash, I joined him, feeling all was right in the world. For the moment.
We walked to our office hand in hand, Edwin not at all shy about it. I knew he had been in the beginning, but then, it had to be hard in some ways to date your boss. I didn’t begrudge him the adjustment time.
I greeted people as we came in, and they didn’t even tease us much about our obvious affection. See? Everyone had adapted nicely. I didn’t know what Edwin was worried about. The only people who would care were Patrick and Beatrice and they were so used to Victor having nonstop dalliances, they’d likely turn a blind eye to Edwin. At least until I made it absolutely clear he was not just a dalliance. That was when trouble would actually start.
Well hmm, I’d already made my stance clear, so trouble from their quarter might start soon… I hoped not, but I didn’t know how to plan accordingly other than basic precautions. I’d have to handle the objections as they came.
Edwin released his hand from mine so he could continue to his own desk, which made my hand sad. It gave a little twinge as if in protest and I tried not to pout. Even I knew when I was being ridiculous.
Well, most of the time.
