Not a quick kiss of greeting.Not one so long as to become awkward.When their lips parted, they simply stared at one another until Patrick swallowed.
“I know we spoke of logical locations where marriage proposals should take place, but after careful consideration, I thought it best I simply ask you in your own home,” he said, lowering before her until he was on one knee.“In the place you feel most comfortable.In the place where I have fallen in love with you even more than I already was.Armenia D’Avalos, will you marry me?”
She stared at him for several seconds.Despite suspecting they might use that evening to discuss marriage, she hadn’t given a thought to him actually proposing.To seeing him kneel down on one knee as he pulled a hinged box from his top coat pocket.To seeing him opening it to reveal a huge ruby ring.
The light from the chandelier reflected off the stone, casting a shower of red glitter about the parlor.Or perhaps the effect was due to the tears that had collected in her eyes.
She blinked several times, and a barely there, “Oh,” sounded as one hand went to her chest.“Patrick.It’s gorgeous.”
His face suddenly screwed into a grimace.“Apologies, my love.”
“What’s wrong?”she asked in alarm, thinking he had changed his mind.Pity, too, since she was about to give him her answer.
“Kneeling seemed appropriate when I rehearsed this in my head early today, but I didn’t give a thought to what would happen once I was down here, and now I fear if I...if I don’t stand up now, I might not be able to.”
The comment struck Armenia with a combination of relief and humor.She tittered.“Oh, dear.Let’s get you up,” she said, gripping his free hand with her own to pull on it.
Patrick straightened, still holding onto the ring box with his other hand as he stared into her eyes.When he was finally standing, he allowed a tentative grin.“May I put it on your finger?”
A tear escaped one of her eyes and made its way down her cheek.“Sì,” she whispered.She waited as he plucked the ring from its velvet bed and reached for her left hand.When he slid the ring onto her fourth finger, it was as if she was watching it happen to someone else, as if her hand wasn’t her own.
Until he brought it to his lips and kissed the back of it.
“I know it seems impossible—it’s only been two days—but Idolove you,” he said in a quiet voice.
“Obviously,” she replied, her gaze on the enormous ruby.On her slim finger, the stone seemed entirely too large despite the snug fit of the gold band.The two diamonds on either side of the ruby winked as she wiggled her finger.“When?—?”
“This morning.I actually had the benefit of Viscount Penton’s counsel whilst I shopped,” he said.
Armenia widened her eyes at the mention of David.“Oh?”
“He was buying a betrothal ring at the same shop.”
She blinked.“He...He knew you bought this?”
Patrick nodded.“He did.Gave me guidance on what to look for.He’s obviously familiar with jewelry shops.With gemstones,” he said, gently lifting her hand so he could once again kiss the back of it.“I’ll never tire of doing this.”
Another tear ran down Armenia’s cheek.She had spent most of the day on David’s arm, and yet he hadn’t said a word about a ring purchase.“You said he was buying abetrothalring?”
“He did.One with a ruby.Not as large as this one, of course, but it’s quite pretty.”
“For Vittoria?”
Patrick angled his head first to one side and then the other.“Probably.He seemed, uh, a bit uncertain, but by the time he had the ring and we had gone across the lane to arrange for a pair of boots to be made for her...”He shrugged.“I would make the wager there’s a marriage proposal in her future.”
Relief swept through Armenia, and she stepped closer to Patrick, wrapping her arms around his middle as she rested the side of her head against one shoulder.“If Vittoria agrees to marry him, my work is done,” she murmured.
He embraced her, settling the side of his face onto her head.“Because you were seeing to her come-out?”he remembered.
She nodded.
“Does that make you sad or happy or?—”
“Relieved,” she said on a soft chuckle.She pulled her head away from his shoulder to glance up at him.“Relieved,” she repeated.“It’s not as if my life was in some sort of limbo, but I did feel as if I shouldn’t be?—”
“Seeing me?”he finished for her.
She nodded.
