‘Naturally,’ Freddie said agreeably.
‘And I’ll be taking Sukey with me too.’ Daisy glared at each of them in turn, as if daring them to disagree.
Eliza tried not to look too pleased. She would be more than happy to see the back of lazy, sullen Sukey. ‘Of course,’ she said, nodding in agreement.
Daisy eyed her suspiciously. ‘And you’ll manage the chandlery until Tommy is old enough to take over? Like Aaron said?’
‘I’ll help you choose the stock. But you’ll have to find someone else to run the shop. I’m going to be busy here.’
‘What? But that will cost money.’ Daisy frowned, and then she smiled and tossed her
head. ‘Well, see if I care. Brandon will give me all the help I need.’ She glanced at the clock on the wall and her smile faded. ‘Oh, lawks! He’ll be here any minute and I got to get myself dolled up for a night on the town. He’s taking me to a place called the Ship and Turtle. He says their turtle soup is famous and even rich people go there to sample it.’ She flounced across the room, pausing in the doorway. ‘And don’t wait up for me.’
‘Wait,’ Millie called out anxiously. ‘I promised Tommy you would go to the nursery and kiss him goodnight.’
‘He’ll be asleep by now. I’ll see him in the morning. Tell him Mama loves him.’ Daisy left the room with a careless wave of her hand.
‘Let’s hope the kid believes you,’ Davy said grimly.
Daisy popped her head round the door. ‘I heard that, Davy Little.’ She pointed her finger at Ada. ‘You. Send Sukey to me right away.’
‘Yes’m.’ Glowering, Ada picked up the saucepan and stomped out of the kitchen in the direction of the old servants’ hall.
‘Oh, I nearly forgot,’ Daisy said, baring her teeth in a smile. ‘Congratulations, Eliza. He says he’ll marry you, but I’d keep me legs crossed until I got the ring on me finger, if I was you.’
She closed the door just as Millie pitched a hunk of bread at her, missing her by a fraction of
an inch. ‘Bitch. Take no notice of her, Liza. She’s just a jealous cow.’
‘I need some air,’ Davy said, making a move towards the door.
‘I’ll come with you.’ Millie slipped her hand through the crook of his arm. ‘We’ll leave the lovebirds to themselves.’
Davy stared at her for a moment and then he nodded. ‘All right, but I was thinking of going to the pub.’
‘No matter. I’ll go with you.’
‘We might get preached at by my dad.’
‘I’m a big girl now, Davy. In case you hadn’t noticed.’
Eliza held her breath, willing Davy to see Millie for what she was: a loving, sweet-natured girl on the brink of womanhood, who would stand by him no matter what difficulties life had in store for them.
There was a stillness about Davy as he looked into Millie’s upturned face and his stern expression melted into a smile. ‘You’ll need to wrap up warm then, girl. It’s bitter outside. Perhaps we’ll go for a walk along the river first. I’ve a fancy to say goodbye to the old ship, seeing as how I won’t be sailing on her ever again.’
‘I’d like that, Davy.’
As they left the room, Millie glanced over her shoulder, meeting Eliza’s gaze with a wink and a smile.
The door closed on them and Freddie jerked Eliza into his arms, claiming her mouth with a kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, luxuriating in the sweet sensations that flowed to the core of her being. She had waited so long for Freddie and now it was official, he had told everyone that they were going to be married. She hardly dared to open her eyes in case she discovered that it was all a dream. If it was, then she did not want to wake up.
‘I love you, Liza,’ Freddie said, kissing her eyelids, the tips of her nose and brushing her lips with a teasing caress. ‘Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
Eliza opened her eyes wide. ‘You said you wouldn’t propose until you’d got me a ring.’
He slipped his hand into his waistcoat pocket and drew out a small box covered in shagreen. ‘And I have, my darling. I had to guess at the size, but we can always change it if it doesn’t fit or if you don’t like diamonds.’
She opened the box and let out a gasp of delight. ‘It’s beautiful, Freddie.’
He took it from its velvet bed. ‘Will you marry me, Eliza?’
‘Oh, yes. But I don’t want to wait another six years for you.’
‘There’s no question of that, my darling.’ Freddie slipped the ring on her finger and scooped her up in his arms. ‘I’ll get a special
licence tomorrow.’ He opened the door with the toe of his boot and strode through the narrow corridors to the entrance hall.
‘Freddie,’ Eliza said, giggling, as he mounted the stairs. ‘What are you thinking of?’
‘Of making love to you, Eliza, my dearest. All night long.’
She nuzzled his neck, closing her eyes; dizzy with the scent of him. ‘And I thought you were going to be a gentleman.’
‘Not tonight, my love. Tonight, and for always, you’re mine.’
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Copyright © Dilly Court 2007
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