‘Come in,’ she said, feeling rather foolish.

Stepping inside, he took her into his arms and kissed her on the mouth. When she drew away, he asked with concern, ‘Is something the matter?’

‘Fanny’s gone away,’ she explained, returning to the parlour. God, but her head was spinning. So much for Fanny’s good stuff, she thought.

‘What? You mean she’s gone away for good?’ He wasn’t sorry. Fanny was a good sort, but she took up a great deal of Bridget’s time when it could have been his.

‘Yes, she decided to take Billy away for a while.’

‘And just now, when you threw open the door, you thought it was Fanny come back?’

Bridget smiled. ‘It doesn’t mean I’m not glad to see you,’ she assured him, and strangely enough, she was delighted that he’d chosen to come round tonight of all nights, even if it was going on for ten o’clock.

He held out his arm and opened his hand to reveal a small, velvet box. ‘Open it,’ he urged softly. ‘I’ve been carrying it around for weeks. Tonight, I plucked up the courage, and here I am.’

Nervously, Bridget took the box; it was smooth and soft in her fingers. Unsure, she glanced up at him.

‘Open it, my love,’ he whispered. And she did.

There, nestling in the box, was the most striking ring she had ever seen. Set astride slim gold shoulders was a dazzling blue opal, its iridescent colours flashing and burning in the lamplight. ‘Oh, Bob, it’s beautiful!’

Tenderly, he took the ring from her hand and slid it on her finger. ‘I’ve known you for so many long years,’ he murmured, ‘and I’ve loved you all that time. I know I’ve asked you, time and again, to be my wife, and each time you’ve backed away. But I won’t give in. I mean it, Bridget.’ He looked into her eyes and saw there the smallest encouragement. ‘All I ask is to look after you and Ruthie. I can provide you with the best that money can buy. All I want is to love you, to see you happy and content, without worries or burdens of any kind.’

Placing his fingers under her chin, he made her look up at him, saying in the tenderest voice, ‘I know you love me, Bridget. It may not be a burning love, or a love that will move mountains, but I know you feel something for me.’

‘Yes,’ she admitted, ‘I do, but—’

He pressed his finger to her lips. ‘No. Don’t give me an answer right now. I don’t want to rush you into saying the wrong thing. Just promise me you’ll sleep on it.’

Just then, Ruthie came downstairs. Half asleep and rubbing her eyes, she saw who it was and ran to him. ‘Uncle Bob!’ she cried, the tears starting to flow. ‘Billy’s gone away. I want him to come back. Please make him come back.’

Astonished that she had gone to Bob and not to her, Bridget wondered if Ruthie blamed her for not keeping Fanny and the boy here. Or maybe she had heard her refuse when Fanny invited them to go along.