‘Mascara,’ Lily, Zoe and Victoria all cried in unison.

‘Forget the mascara, what about the wedding cake?’ Victoria demanded. ‘You can’t miss the pièce de résistance! Come on,’ she said, grabbing Lily with one hand and Henry with the other and dragging them out of the melee and back towards the house.

‘We’ll be there in a minute,’ Henry said, reaching for Lily by the waist, anchoring her to him as if he was half afraid Victoria would whisk her away.

‘Go,’ Lily insisted, relishing the feel of Henry’s arms around her, leaning back against him finally believing that he’d always be there, supporting her, loving her.

‘OK, but I swear to God, if that dog gets anywhere near the—’

‘Come on,’ Malie said, drawing her away before passing her back to Ollie and reaching for Todd just as Finn hauled Zo towards him for a kiss. Within moments they had disappeared back into the orangery. Lily took a deep breath, turning back to Henry, who was gazing at her as if she were the most incredible thing and that he couldn’t even begin to figure her out.

‘What is it?’ she asked.

‘Well, I was hoping to hear you say that you loved me, but if it’s too much—’

She silenced his teasing with a kiss. The most perfect kiss yet. With her lips pressed against his, she said, ‘I love you. I love you. I love you,’ knowing that she would say as much each and every day for the rest of her life.

‘Well, that’s a good thing, because I wanted to give you this.’

Henry reached into his pocket and retrieved a small red leather box.

‘A true proposal needs a ring,’ he said, offering her the box to open.

Lily’s hands shook as she lifted away the tiny clasp and opened the lid to reveal the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. Her eyes flitted between the ring and Henry, wondering if this would all disappear.

‘Is this real?’ she asked in wonder.

‘Well, it’s not cubic zirconia, if that’s what you’re asking.’

‘No, you silly bugger, this moment,’ she said, playfully swatting him on the arm.

The ring was perfect. Three pearls nestled in a gold band, the central and largest of the pearls was bracketed by diamonds laid on top of each other either side of the beautiful pearl.

‘It was my grandmother’s. Blake’s mother,’ he clarified. ‘On the way back from the Averys’ I went to see my mother and told her all about you. It was everything I could do to stop her from getting in the car with me to come here,’ he said, smiling at the memory. ‘My father had refused to take it back and insisted on her saving it for his future daughter-in-law.’

Goosebumps crested over her skin as she gently touched the ring with her finger.