“I can’t ask you to do that,” Colin said.
“You aren’t asking,” Griff said. “We’re offering.”
“But...” Colin began again.
Griff held up his hand to forestall the argument he knew Colin was about to make. “This is one time you shouldn’t allow your pride to stand in your way.”
“I have no pride,” Colin retorted. “Or I wouldn’t have laid this problem at your door.”
Griff laughed. “You’re the proudest, most stubborn Scot I’ve ever met. And the finest.” He reached over and placed his hand on Colin’s arm. “Don’t worry, Colin, after nearly twenty years of friendship, I know enough of your character to know you’ll repay any amount I advance you or die trying.”
Colin frowned.
“What now?”
“I keep thinking about Shakespeare.”
“Shakespeare? You?”
“Aye,” Colin answered. “I keep worrying about Polonius’s speech to Laertes in Hamlet. ‘Neither a borrower or a lender be for a loan oft loses both itself and friend and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.’”
Griff laughed once again. “Aren’t you the fellow who once scoffed at Shakespeare’s grasp of human nature?”
“I am,” Colin admitted. “But this is different.”
“I vow it is,” Griff agreed. “’Tis a world gone mad when Viscount Grantham purchases jewelry, gets engaged, and quotes Shakespeare in the same day.”
“Griff…”
“One more word,” Griff warned, “and I’ll make you a gift of the money.” Griff lifted the coffeepot from its resting place in the center of the table. “Here. Have some more coffee while I get dressed, and then we’ll go roust Dalrymple out of bed.”
Griff was as good as his word.
A quarter of an hour later, Colin had stood before the jeweler’s impressive display of original designs. After studying everything the jeweler had to offer, Colin had finally selected a large oval pink sapphire surrounded by a dozen matched round diamonds in a delicate gold setting.
He had purchased the simple gold wedding band he held in his hand because it complemented the betrothal ring Gillian had just unbuttoned her glove to reveal.
As he stared down at her hand, Colin was enormously pleased with his choice. Although he’d debated over the purchase of the blue sapphire or the pink one, Colin realized that the unique setting and the pink sapphires suited Gillian’s delicate hand and coloring much better than the more common blue sapphires.
He took her hand in his once again, held the gold band at the tip of the ring finger on her left hand. Colin’s gaze never left her face as he repeated his final vows. “With this ring, I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” He removed her betrothal ring, slipped the slim gold band onto her ring finger, and then placed the pink sapphire ring behind it.
The pink sapphire betrothal ring was the most beautiful ring Gillian had ever seen. The elegant design of the setting and the color, cut, and arrangement of the stones reminded her of the graceful dance costumes worn by the ballerinas at the Royal Ballet. And the sparkle of the gems added to the illusion of movement and dance. The beauty enchanted her. And the plain gold wedding band matched it to perfection. The rings fit her hand as if they’d been made just for
her, and Gillian couldn’t help but admire the way they sparkled.
Gillian had not dared hope that Lord Grantham would think to send a betrothal ring on the morning of the wedding—especially after such a brief engagement. After all, Colin Fox had planned his elopement with her for weeks, and he hadn’t remembered to provide rings for the ceremony. And Lord Grantham had only had one evening in which to prepare. Gillian sighed. She was aware that in aristocratic families, betrothal rings oftentimes were heirlooms passed from one generation to the next. Gillian was grateful that this particular ring was part of Lord Grantham’s family treasury. And she was particularly glad that he’d been able to persuade his mother to part with it As she bowed her head and closed her eyes for another prayer, Gillian selfishly prayed Lady McElreath wouldn’t want it back, because she would be loathe to return it
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
They didn’t budge.
“Lord Grantham?” The rector spoke.
“Yes?” Colin looked at him.
“That concludes the ceremony. You may kiss your bride if you want to do so.”
“May I?” Colin focused his attention on Gillian’s mouth and the way she bit her bottom lip to stop its tremor as he turned to ask permission.