Chapter 47
Cynthia wasn’t returning to Turner Hall until she found Jonathan and warned him of what had happened.
Where could he be?
She ran to the quayside as she knew he liked to fish. Running full pelt to the stone wall at the end, there was no one she could see. Then, out of breath and crazy desperate, she looked over to see if he was in a small fishing boat. She looked up when a yell came from the other end of the quay. Jonathan was waving frantically. When she stood still, he set off to her at a run and hugged her fiercely when he reached her—kissing her deeply.
“What has happened?” Jonathan said, peppering kisses all over her face. “Pete found me in the pub and said I had to find you immediately.”
Cynthia burst into tears, sobbing into her hands as she rested her forehead against his chest. He hugged her to his body, smoothing his hands up and down her back until she calmed.
“My father knows about us.”
Jonathan took a long breath in. “How the hell did he find out?”
“Imelda was talking to my brother about us. Pete and Betty overheard and then decided to discuss us. My father was waiting in the shop and overheard.”
“Bloody hell,” Jonathan said, scrubbing his face with his hand.
“It gets worse, my love. Last night, I was introduced to my future husband.”
Jonathan’s body stiffened for a moment, and then he pulled her tighter against him. “What the hell?” he whispered.
“I don’t know when my father found out, but I think it wasn’t that long ago. He brought a man to dinner last night and told me this morning I would marry him in two weeks. It’s all arranged. Reverend Sheldon has been informed.”
“You can’t marry him. You’re going to marry me.”
“I won’t marry him, Jonathan, but what will we do?”
“We’ll get married sooner. You’re over twenty-one, so you don’t legally need your father’s permission. I have my school job, and you have your secretarial job. Nothing has changed. We’ll buy the small terraced house like we planned and live happily. You never have to return to Turner Hall if you don’t want to.”
Hope blossomed in her heart, and she beamed at Jonathan. “Do you think it will work?”
“Nothing has changed. We’re just going to do things in a different order.”
Jonathan dropped to bended knee and pulled a box from his pocket.
“I’ve been carrying this ring since Christmas waiting for the best time to propose. Now is the time. Cynthia Turner, love of my life, will you marry me and make me the happiest man alive?”
Cynthia stared at the open box to see a square-cut sapphire ring. It wasn’t huge, nothing like the jewels up at the mansion, but it was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.
“Yes, Jonathan. I’ll marry you as soon as we can arrange it.”
Jonathan slipped the ring on her finger and kissed where it settled.
“I’ve got some arranging to do. I’ll meet you back here tomorrow. In this very spot, at this time.”
“Okay, I’ll be ready,” she said.
“Hurry back home so you don’t raise their suspicions. I’m not going to tell a soul, not even Pete. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you,” he said.
“I love you too,” Cynthia replied, kissing him before she ran along the path up to Turner Hall.