Page 33 of Trust in Truth
Anna smiled. She had managed to pull it all off and more. She had asked Katherine to marry her, not the other way round. “I’m sorry if I stole your proposal and that you didn’t get a chance to ask me in Bath.”
Katherine frowned at her. “How did you know?”
“Dad muttered something at the hospital about you asking me something, and I put two and two together. You certainly get ten out of ten for your choice of location.” A thought sprang into Anna’s mind. “Rewind a second. What did Margaret take?”
“The ring I had planned on proposing with.” Katherine’s hand dove into her pocket. She placed the two rings on the palm of her hand and pointed to the one with the diamond.
“What’s this one?” Anna asked, pointing at the other. “It looks like a replica of Jane Austen’s turquoise ring. It’s gorgeous.”
Katherine twisted her head; the corners of her mouth lifted a little. “It is. I bought it in the shop as a replacement as I thought I’d lost the other one. It turned out she’d taken it so I couldn’t use it to propose in Bath. She put it back after, of course.”
“Little did she know how determined our Katherine was that she’d buy another. How did she even know you had it or your intentions?” Anna’s face dropped. “You didn’t tell her your plan, did you?”
“Of course not. I think she must have overheard me on the phone to the jewellers.” Katherine paused. “Thinking about it, she could have even snooped in my emails.” Katherine shuddered. “Its absence did initially make me wonder if it was a sign, especially after Harry.” Katherine took Anna’s hand. “Even with all that, I knew how I felt and what I wanted.”
Anna scrunched her face up; she felt a little teary. “I haven’t bought you a ring at all and you’ve bought me two.”
Katherine smiled. “I don’t mind. Which one would you like? I really like the diamond, if you don’t, then I won’t be offended.”
Anna picked the diamond ring up and placed it on Katherine’s finger. “If you like this one, you have it. I’m paying you back for it, though. I prefer this one.” Anna held the replica ring out to Katherine.
She took it and placed it on Anna’s finger. “I think this one suits you better actually.” She kissed the back of her hand. “Hang on, when did Harry tell you I was going to propose?”
“On Christmas day.”
Katherine’s mouth opened. “You’ve known since then. Have you been planning to steal my proposal since then too?”
Anna shrugged. “Pretty much.”
Katherine tapped her on the nose. “Sneaky.”
“Come on, we better help clear up. This is still my show, you know.”
They walked back hand in hand amongst the ruins, away from the crowds all trying to exit at the same time. As they reached the car park, Anna pulled Katherine to a stop. “I just want a moment to take in all these happy faces in case this is my last event.”
Carrie appeared from behind them with an enormous torch. “Margaret’s quit. Someone saw her clear her desk. She left before the fireworks even finished. Are you going to be our new boss, Katherine?”
“I’m sure you’ll hear everything in due course, Carrie. Happy New Year,” Katherine replied, leading Anna away.
Carrie nodded. “And to you both.”
Anna wiggled the ring on her finger at Carrie as she walked away.
Carrie’s mouth dropped open, and she wiggled on the spot. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” Anna called back to her.
Katherine whispered in her ear. “How can I take Margaret’s job when I’m responsible for her losing it?”
“You’re not responsible; she is,” Anna said stiffly under her breath.
“I suppose you’re right, as always apparently, and you made a success of tonight. If… if I’m offered Margaret’s role, I’ll appoint you into your role.”
“Isn’t that going to be a conflict of interest?”
Anna felt her hand being squeezed.
“I think you’ve earned it off your own back, don’t you?”
