Page 42 of Shy Innocent In The Spotlight

She glanced down and realised they were standing in a puddle, but she had barely noticed. ‘Wow, so there is.’

‘How far away is your flat?’

‘Just a couple more streets.’

‘Good, let’s go there so I can do this properly.’

They ran along the footpath, their footsteps splashing as they went. Finally, they came to Elspeth’s front door and she quickly unlocked it and they went inside. Mack placed the soaking umbrella in the umbrella stand and smiled. ‘Now, where was I?’

‘You were about to propose to me on bended knee.’

‘Oh, yes, that’s right.’ He took her hand and then went down on one knee in front of her, his eyes holding hers. He took a familiar-looking velvet box out of his jacket pocket and, deftly flipping it open with one finger, handed her the diamond and sapphire pendant and earrings, but this time, there was a gorgeous engagement ring as well. ‘My darling Elspeth, would you do me the very great honour of becoming my wife?’

Elspeth stared at the ring for a long moment, her heart pitter-pattering like the drumming rain outside. ‘Oh, Mack...’ She dragged him up so he was standing in front of her. ‘Of course I will. I love you and want to be with you for ever.’

‘Thank goodness for that.’ He took the ring out of the box and then, setting the box to one side, slipped the ring on her left hand. She wasn’t a bit surprised to find it a perfect fit. ‘There. I should have given that to you the first time. I had to fly back to France to get it.’

Elspeth grinned at him. ‘Couldn’t you have got it posted?’

His eyes were twinkling as bright as the diamond on her hand. ‘I wanted to tell the lady who sold me the ensemble she was right. She must have sensed my love for you even before I realised it myself.’ He lowered his mouth to hers in a long and loving kiss that sent her senses spinning. She hadn’t thought it possible to feel so happy, so overjoyed, so blessed. He finally broke the kiss after some breathless minutes and gazed down at her with adoration shining in his gaze.

‘You are everything I could ever want in a life partner. I can’t believe I’m so lucky to have found you. And I’m ashamed that I almost lost you out of my stubbornness to admit how much I loved you. I didn’t even recognise my own feelings. How stupid is that? When you had that episode of anaphylaxis, I was so terrified of losing you, but I didn’t recognise that as love. I insulted you by offering you an extended fling. And you were right to call me out on it. I’ve wasted so much time not opening up to how I really felt. Time we could have spent planning our wedding.’

Elspeth linked her arms around his neck, gazing up at him in rapture. ‘I can’t wait to marry you. I didn’t realise how much I wanted the fairy tale until I met you. I’ve spent most of my life hiding away, missing out on the things other people take for granted. But meeting you changed all that and I found I couldn’t go back to being happy with my old life. I’d outgrown it. You have made me outgrow it.’

He hugged her close, his expression full of love. ‘I’m so glad we found each other. I can’t imagine how lonely my life would be without you. You’ve taught me so much. I’m even playing the piano again.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, really. And it was like finding a part of myself I’d lost a long time ago. You gave it back to me, my darling. You taught me how to be whole again.’

Elspeth stroked the lean length of his jaw. ‘You taught me things too. I took on board what you said about handling my mother. I now check in with her first thing each day and last thing at night and guess what? She’s improved out of sight, and, not only that, she’s started seeing someone. She hasn’t had a partner since the divorce because she’s always been so preoccupied with taking care of me.’

He smiled. ‘I’m glad for her and for you. I’m looking forward to meeting her. Do you think she’ll approve of your choice of husband?’

‘I’m sure she will,’ Elspeth said. ‘And Elodie will too. I just hope she finds the same happiness one day.’

‘That’s one of the things I adore about you,’ Mack said. ‘You’re always thinking about others. The way you worried about Sabine at the wedding, for instance. I was so touched by that.’

‘I ran into her a few weeks back,’ Elspeth said. ‘She turned up at my regular lunch spot close to the library. She was lovely about everything. She seems to be coping quite well without Fraser in her life. How is he doing, by the way?’

‘Surprisingly well,’ Mack said. ‘He’s enjoying his career and seems determined to turn his life around. I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive him for everything that happened between him and Elodie. I know he can be a bit of a jerk but, this time, I think he’s genuinely trying to work on himself. Losing Sabine has made him grow up at long last.’

‘Do you think he really loved her?’

Mack shrugged. ‘Who knows? But it’s too late. Sabine has moved on.’

Elspeth raised her eyebrows. ‘Really? You mean she’s found someone else? She didn’t say anything when we met but, then again, that was weeks ago. I haven’t been in touch since.’

‘She’s dating an old school friend, apparently he was her first boyfriend. It looks serious.’

Elspeth smiled. ‘They do say you never forget your first love.’

Mack gathered her close and brought his mouth down to just above hers. ‘Especially when they are as unforgettable and adorable as you.’ He brushed her lips with a soft kiss and added, ‘I think this occasion calls for a bit more Robert Burns, don’t you?’

‘What did you have in mind?’

His smile was warm and full of devotion as he quoted, ‘“But to see her was to love her. Love but her, and love for ever”.’ And then his mouth captured hers in a kiss that swept her away on a cloud of happiness.

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