"I assure you. Nothing sneaky was done. No
one else knows about this," he said. "Please," he
continued, "don't get the-wrong impression." I played with the ring, tugging it as if to take it
off and then turning it on my finger. He watched, his
eyes widening in fear and anticipation.
"I do believe with all my heart that we can have
a wonderful life together, and I hope you feel the same way," he continued, his eyes fixed on my fingers. "We share interests. We share ambitions. I hope I haven't upset you," he added when I didn't
respond.
"It's so sudden. I hate being surprised. I like
preparation."
"I know, but why can't good things be sudden?
Bad things often are, as you know yourself. Anyway,"
he went on, "I decided that today, a day we're going to
Nelson's engagement party, would be a great day to
announce our own."
I thought about it and smiled to myself. Yes,
wouldn't it though, I thought. I wondered about the
expression on Nelson's face when he saw the ring on
my finger, and the expressions on the faces of all
those people who were satisfied in believing I would
never be married. They were convinced I would end
up a spinster, running my father's enterprises, while
my sister, my beautiful sister, landed some rich and
handsome young man. Wouldn't they be shocked? "Don't you think it would be a good day to
make such an announcement?" Samuel pursued. I snapped out of my reverie and gazed down at
him. He was looking at me as if I were about to
pronounce a verdict in a court. His eyes were filled
with anxiety and the dread of hearing a refusal. "Yes," I said. "It would."
His face exploded in a smile. He kissed my
hand and jumped to his feet.