Page 68 of The Granddaughter's Irish Secret
‘Maybe he should wait until the new lift has been installed?’ Rose suggested.
‘I think you’re right.’ Noel turned from the window. ‘But what about us? We need to decide where we want to live. We’ve been together for a year now, and I’m practically living with you in the gatehouse. But that doesn’t feel permanent to me.’
Rose put her arms around him and pressed her cheek against his chest. ‘I know. I feel the same. But I needed this year to get the Magnolia project off the ground and the museum started. Now that everything is nearly in place, I’m ready to get on with our life. And our home. The gatehouse isn’t really ideal if…’ She stopped.
‘If what?’ he asked tenderly.
‘If we want to have a family and a real home that’s ours and not just mine,’ Rose continued. ‘We have to look around for a place of our own, with a garden and enough bedrooms. I have seen a few houses that might suit us. We could start looking soon.’
Noel nodded, looking pleased. ‘Terrific. It’ll be fun to go house hunting together.’
‘It’ll be fabulous,’ Rose agreed. ‘I’m so glad you agree with me.’
‘Of course I do. But I want us to do it properly. We should get engaged,’ Noel said. ‘I thought we’d go to Killarney after the launch and pick a ring. Then we should get married as soon as possible. I mean…’ He paused, took her hand and kissed it. ‘I should propose, but I’m not sure what to say.’
‘Let me say it.’ Rose laughed and hugged him. ‘Noel, my darling, will you marry me? As soon as possible?’
Noel grinned and squeezed her tight. ‘Yes, my darling, my most wonderful Rose. I will marry you and live with you wherever you choose.’
‘Can we be married here, under the magnolia tree? We could have the reception in the orangery as the museum isn’t ready yet. I think it would be fabulous.’
‘That would be perfect,’ Noel declared. ‘But when?’
‘In about three weeks?’ Rose asked. ‘Or is that too soon?’
‘Not soon enough,’ Noel declared. ‘I’d marry you tomorrow if I could. But we have to have the launch first, of course.’
‘Absolutely. It’ll be such a grand event.’ Rose looked out over the gardens and heaved a big sigh. ‘Finally all is finished and ready to go. I can’t believe it, after all the hard work. It’s Granny’s big day. She’s so excited about it.’
‘She’s been such a trooper all through this year,’ Noel said. ‘You’d think that, at her age, she’d be ready to retire. But I don’t think she ever will.’
‘Not as long as she’s alive and kicking,’ Rose declared. ‘It’s her life’s work, and she would never hand over the reins to anyone.’
‘You’re very alike,’ Noel remarked. ‘I’m trying to decide if that’s good or bad.’
‘It’s good, of course,’ Rose said, pulling away from him. ‘But come on, we have to go down to Granny’s place for dinner. Everyone’s there. Even your father. I saw his car coming up the drive just now. And Lily and Dominic and little Naomi are already here.’
‘Oh good. All my favourite people together for dinner.’
‘Even Henri?’ Rose teased.
‘Even him. He’s turning into quite a grand lad.’
‘He has a way to go yet, but yeah, not bad,’ Rose agreed.
They went down to dinner and joined everyone at the big table in Sylvia’s kitchen. Rose looked around at them all: Sylvia,Arnaud, Henri, Lily, Dominic and little Naomi in her high chair, and Noel’s father, Maurice, who she was already very fond of. Violet, the youngest Fleury sister, had also arrived for one of her rare visits while on a break from filming. They felt like a big family, even if they weren’t all related by blood.
The year and a half that had passed since she came back to Kerry had been eventful and full of surprises, both good and bad. The best thing was finding love that she knew would last all her life. As Noel passed her a big platter of sliced roast beef and French beans, she smiled at him and felt a surge of happiness. How lovely it was to have come home at last.
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