“I hope so.” I extended my fingers.
Rett slid the ring onto my finger and then followed with the diamond.
“So sign the certificate and wear the rings and be Emma Ramses...” I said. “Tell me how that’s a deal. What concession are you making?”
Rett inhaled as he turned a slow circle. “I will give you time. I’d prefer you took it downstairs, but if it’s up here you want, it is yours.”
I looked at the rings and back up. “I want something else.”
“What is it?”
“By the time the clerk gets here—I don’t care where you get it or how you get it—I want you to also wear a wedding ring.”
The tips of his lips curled. “Is that all?”
“No. I reserve the right to come up with additional clauses to this agreement as they occur to me.”
Rett’s lips came to my hair. “You drive a hard bargain, Mrs. Ramses.” He started to walk away and stopped. “I’d like you to join me for dinner.”
I wasn’t sure if we were back to courting, but I couldn’t deny that I enjoyed the attention of the courtship-Everett Ramses. “The conservatory.”
He nodded. “After we sign the certificate. Our second wedding meal.”
“I didn’t bring anything appropriate to wear.”
He grinned. “It’s why you should be downstairs.”
I shook my head. “I have connections. I’ll be downstairs in less than an hour.”
As the door shut, I was uncertain of all the emotions coursing through my thoughts.
The emotion that I thought was gone was the one I found the most welcome.
Hope.
Emma
After Rett left, I sent Ian on an errand. I knew the dress I wanted to wear and where he could find it. I’ll also give him credit; he too tried to encourage my relocation. “If you were downstairs,” he said, “you would have your entire closet.”
“But I don’t need the entire closet. Remember what you said?”
Small lines formed near Ian’s gray eyes as he grinned. “Yes, one dress at a time.”
“And, Ian?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“The shutters?”
“Thomas will work on them while you’re at dinner.”
It was my turn to smile “Thank you. And please thank Thomas.”
As I stepped into the bathroom, there was another knock. Making my way through the bedroom and opening the door, I began speaking, “Did you forget...” I was met by Miss Guidry’s worried expression. “Miss Guidry.”
She wrung her hands. “Why are you here?”
“I believe it’s where I live?” I said as I opened the door further. “Would you like to come in?”