But it was some time before they arrived home, and by then Catherine
’
s cheeks were scarlet, and her lips warm with being kissed.
‘
Could I ask you something, darling
?’
she said at length.
‘
Could my pearl be made into an engagement ring
?’
He frowned thoughtfully.
‘
Wouldn
’
t you prefer diamonds and we could have the pearl put into a pendant?
’
She shook her head.
‘
I think it would be the wonderful link I need between you and
...
and my old home.
’
‘
You
could sell it for lots of money, probably.
’
‘
Do you want me to have lots of money?
’
John glowered.
‘
You
need spanking for that.
’
He kissed her instead.
‘
The firm has been going through poor times, but every week brings improvement, so I
’
ll have something decent to offer you.
’
‘
Now you need the set-down,
’
she told him.
‘
What about the pearl, though?
’
‘
I don
’
t see why not, if it
’
s really what you want.
’
‘
It is,
’
said Catherine.
‘
Come on, let
’
s tell Aunt
Lucille and Uncle James. And Elizabeth. Will they be pleased, do you think?
’
‘
What
do you think?
’
asked John.
‘
They
’
ve been pushing me into it for weeks
!’
His eyes glinted again with laughter, but she had learned to laugh with him.
‘
And if Michael writes to Elizabeth, and she decides to reply
...
you
’
ll welcome him back again, for her sake, won
’
t you, John? I know Un
cl
e James and Aunt Lucille will, when he explains properly. They
’
re the kind of people who don
’
t bear grudges.
’
‘
And I
am?
’
Again she was learning.
‘
No, darling
...
sorry. Only it will be nice to see Elizabeth happy, too.
’
He grinned.
‘
I
’
ll give him two days, then I
’
ll go and bring him here by the hair of the head. Will that
do?
’
‘
That will do fine.
’
Together they went, arm in arm, to tell the family.