* * *
Elizabeth’s eyeslit up when she saw the opulence of the Alain Ducasse dining room. The Michelin-star restaurant was filled with the soft murmurings of guests, the clink of crystal, and the rich scents of fine French cuisine as we followed the tuxedoed maître d’ to our table.
She looked up at me in confusion when he stopped before a large oval curtain of shimmering optical fibers located in the center of the dining room. Pushing the luminescent curtain aside, he gestured for us to step forward.
“This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen.” She slowly walked around the enclosed space, circling the private table as she ran her fingers over the curtain of dancing light. Taking our seats, I waited for the headwaiter to pour us both a glass of Krug Rose Champagne in their signature Saint-Louis crystal flutes before turning to her.
“To the beginning of what I hope will be a very special relationship.”
Watching as she raised the glass to her still slightly swollen lips, I felt the truth in my toast. She was special, of that I was absolutely certain. In her, I had finally found the one.
Reaching into my coat pocket, I pulled out the deep blue jewelry box and slid it across the tablecloth between us.
Elizabeth bit her lip and didn’t reach for it. “Look. I really love the dress and I know I probably shouldn’t have accepted it; I didn’t have a way to reach you and didn’t want you to be offended if I didn’t wear it, but….”
Lifting my glass to my lips, I took a sip of champagne to hide my smile.
“…I don’t want you to think, I mean, even though I know now, I didn’t know before and I already liked you by then so it doesn’t really change anything for me and I don’t want you to think that it would or that I would in any way expect things like this and… and… well, whatever that is because I definitely wouldn’t and you’ve probably heard that before but I really do mean it; I’m not sure how I can prove it other than to not accept…”
Cutting off her rather impressive rambling, I remarked, “Baby, are you trying to tell me you don’t care about my money?”
Relieved, she nodded. Holding a hand up to her heart, she said, “Honestly, I had no idea who you were when you saved me from that cab. This is absolutely beautiful but you could have taken me for fish and chips at the corner pub and it would have been just as nice.”
Lifting the lid on the signature royal blue Chaumet Paris box, I opened the sleeves on each side to reveal a pink gold, diamond, and sapphire brooch nestled within.
Elizabeth’s pretty mouth opened. “Oh, my God, it’s beautiful.”
Lifting the bird-shaped brooch out of the box, I leaned over to pin it to her dress, knowing in advance the pale rose gold would complement it.
“Richard, you really shouldn’t have.”
“It’s only the beginning of all the things I have planned for you.”