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I bury my face in his shirt. “I love you too, Huxley. So, so much.” I can’t believe how wonderful it feels to say that. It’s as if there have been tight metal bands around my chest, and they’ve finally snapped. I’ve been so afraid to say how I feel, to tell him what’s in my heart.
“Let’s get married soon,” he says. “I don’t want to wait.”
“Okay.”
“Will you take my name or keep yours?”
“Elizabeth Huxley,” I whisper. “I like the sound of that. I suppose I’ll have to start calling you Oliver now, will I?”
He snorts. “Not unless you want me to be permanently grumpy.”
“I don’t know why you don’t like your name. I think it’s elegant. Oliver.”
“Actually, although I don’t like Ollie, I don’t mind Oliver. It wasn’t my decision not to use it. It was Mack—he started calling me Huxley and everyone else just followed suit.”
“I think he’ll be pleased we’re getting married,” I say.
He laughs. “Yeah. He’ll be over the moon.”
I rest my left hand on his chest. “I can’t believe this ring. It’s so incredibly beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you,” he says simply. “You outshine it, Elizabeth. You’re a hundred times more precious to me than any diamond. I’m just crazy about you, and I always will be. I can’t wait to promise to love you forever in front of everyone we know.”
And as the tears finally spill over my lashes, he kisses me, while Nymph sniffs around us in the grass, and the warm autumn breeze ruffles our hair.
*
Friday
Huxley
When I turn up for our usual Friday meeting, Titus, Mack, and Victoria all cheer when I walk into the boardroom. Although Elizabeth and I have told them all that she’s agreed to marry me, it’s the first time we’ve had a chance to celebrate together. Victoria has organized a slightly more luxurious lunch for us all today, with hot food brought in from the nearby Chinese restaurant. A bottle of champagne is chilling in an ice bucket by the table. We don’t usually drink alcohol at lunch, but Titus pops the cork now, and fills our glasses with a splash of the champagne.
“This looks nice,” I say, taking a seat.
“We were just admiring the ring,” Victoria says. “It’s so beautiful.”
“I know.” Elizabeth looks at it, “I’m almost too afraid to wear it.”
She smiles, but her face is pale, and I feel a twinge of concern. I know she, Mack, and Titus had a conference call with Alan Woodridge from Acheron Pharmaceuticals this morning, and they were going to tell him that she wouldn’t be going to England. I don’t know how it went. Was it bad news?
“We’re all absolutely thrilled for you both,” Mack says. “Have you set a date?”
“We don’t want to wait,” I reply, “like you and Sidnie. We’re thinking about August, actually, because Heidi will be home then.”
“Will it be here?” Mack asks.
“Maybe Queenstown,” Elizabeth says. “We’re still thinking.”
“That would be amazing,” Victoria states. “In the snow! How romantic.”
“Let’s have a toast,” Titus says, “to Huxley and Elizabeth.”
We all lift our glasses and have a sip of the champagne. I meet Elizabeth’s eyes. She gives me a tentative smile, but I know I was right—something’s upset her.
“Tuck in,” Victoria says afterward, “before it gets cold.”
We all help ourselves to the delicious-smelling containers of dim sum, Sichuan beef, chicken in black bean sauce, and the various vegetarian dishes including rice with cashew nuts and a stir-fried vegetable selection.
