Looking out the window to the back garden, th
e sun was already high in the sky. I must have overslept terribly.
Quickly making the bed, I noticed that the red marks around my wrists had faded considerably. Thank goodness for that. I didn’t want anyone to think I needed to be pampered any more.
Once I had put on the pale white-pink dress, I felt like a princess.
Thankfully, Clementine had set out a hairbrush set for me. Instead of my usual braid, I left my hair loose, sweeping it over one shoulder.
There was a tiny tap at the door. “Maggie?”
“Come in.”
Cookie’s round face peeked in, his mouth falling open in a wide O. “Heavens to Betsy, lass. Prettier than a picture.”
“Thank you.” I could feel myself blushing. “I’m so sorry, I must have slept in. What time is it?”
“Half past eleven. Don’t worry, we all knew you needed a good rest.”
We went down to the dining room, which was laid out for a formal lunch. It seemed a bit fancy for our lot, but perhaps Clementine was the sort of person who looked for any excuse to bring out the best china.
Everyone but the Captain was in the kitchen, helping Clementine and getting in her way at the same time.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” she smiled to me. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better, thank you.”
She nodded, turning back to the stove to smack Dwyer’s finger away from where he was trying to steal a taste.
“Good, then you wouldn’t mind doing me a favor?” Willy asked me.
“Of course not.”
He handed me a small basket that contained a pink ribbon and a pair of scissors. Then he leaned in and lowered his voice.
“Clementine has been so sweet to us, and I thought I should make a bouquet for the dining room table. But I stood there for the longest time not knowing what flowers go with what.” He shrugged. “It’s probably a lady thing, right?”
I laughed, taking the basket from him. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Stepping out the back door, the scent of roses and lilac was so refreshing. Enjoying the warm sun on my face, I threaded my way through the garden.
The flat wicker basket made it easy to lay out a small selection of pink and white roses on a bed of greens and lily-of-the-valley.
Tying the stems together carefully with the pink ribbon, I held it up, turning the bouquet around to examine that everything was well balanced.
“Is that you, my sweet lass?” I heard the Captain call from the far end of the garden.
“Yes, where are you?”
“On the other side of the hedge. Bring the flowers with you.”
Setting the basket down, I walked around the corner of the tall cedars to see the Captain on one knee. I stared in amazement as he held out his hand.
Walking toward him slowly, I saw that his other hand held a golden ring with a deep, bright ruby.
Taking his hand, I felt a prickling rush of warmth through every inch of me. Yet this wasn’t fear. The complete opposite. It felt like I was floating outside of myself, staring in at this perfect moment.
The Captain cleared his throat.