Page 22 of Be More Lucy

‘But they don’t make that on Wednesdays.’

‘They do if you ask nicely,’ he said.

‘Was Nancy in on this?’ Em asked as Jack busied himself in the kitchen

‘I might have suggested that I’d like you out of the way for the afternoon. But she doesn’t know why. I just said I wanted to surprise you with a meal. Have you said anything to her about the weekend?’

‘I told her all about the wedding and Lucy’s situation with Adam. But I didn’t mention that we got engaged. I thought we said we were going to tell her together once we’d sorted out a ring.’

Jack appeared with a bottle of Chablis. ‘Would madame like to try the wine?’

‘Merci monsieur,’ Em replied. She may as well get into the spirit of the occasion.

He poured her a glass, which she sipped delicately.

‘It’s perfect. My compliments to the sommelier.’

‘The soup will be ready in ten minutes. Mind if I join you?’ he asked, grabbing the other glass from the table.

‘Be my guest,’ she laughed. ‘Where did you get all this stuff?’

‘I borrowed the candelabra from Nancy. I ordered the rest online and had it delivered to Phil at the gallery. I didn’t want you to open the parcels by mistake. Phil and Simon have had it stashed at theirs for a fortnight.’

A fortnight? So he’d been planning this for a while. Well, if Jack was getting all romantic, she ought to change into something more beguiling than the jeans and baggy t-shirt she’d been wearing all day. Time to break out her posh lingerie again. ‘I’m sure I don’t meet the dress code for Restaurant Jacques. Do you mind if I get changed?’

‘That would mean going into the bedroom.’ Jack looked less than keen on the idea.

‘Yes, it would. What have you done in there?’

‘I suppose I could let you have a look.’

Em headed back into the hallway and opened the bedroom door. More fairy lights. Rose petals were strewn over the bed, there was a diffuser heating her favourite Jo Malone scent on the dressing table, and a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket on the bedside stand, with two champagne flutes next to it.

‘You have gone to town, you old romantic you. I didn’t know we even had a champagne bucket.’

‘We didn’t, but we have now. I couldn’t find Nancy’s.’

Em kissed him.

‘Do you want any help getting changed?’ he whispered into her ear as he slid his hands under her t-shirt, a twinkle in his eye.

‘That might be nice. I think you should get changed as well,’ she said, undoing his belt.

‘I better turn the soup off first. I’m hoping this will take longer than ten minutes.’

‘Are you ready for your dinner now?’ Jack asked as he lay next to Em in bed.

‘I seem to have worked up even more of an appetite after the amuse-bouche,’ she said, rolling towards him and kissing him.

‘Before we head back to the living room. I’ve got something to show you.’ He leaned over and pulled a small box from the bedside table drawer. Em’s heart sank. It looked like a ring box. She was hoping they’d choose the ring together as she had a specific one in mind.

‘I think I’m meant to go down on one knee at this point,’ he said.

‘No need for that. Stay here.’ She pulled him close to her so he wouldn’t be able to see her expression if she didn’t like it. He flicked the lid of the box open, revealing a platinum ring with a lozenge-shaped sapphire set in a very unusual way. It was the exact one she wanted. Phil’s husband Simon made contemporary jewellery, and she had been lusting after it for weeks, working out how many paintings she needed to sell to justify buying it when she really ought to be saving any extra cash for the house fund. ‘How did you know to pick that one? I was so disappointed when Phil said it had been sold a couple of weeks ago.’

‘I noticed you were admiring this one when we went in there the other week. Phil said he thought you wanted it. If it doesn’t fit, Simon says he can adjust it. And if you’d rather have a more conventional one as your engagement ring, they’re happy to take it back.’

‘No, it’s beautiful. I don’t want anything else.’

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