Martin called Ian first thing the next morning. Even with the fires, and the heat running all night, the shop held a chill that reminded him too much of his time out in the storm.
He had spent half the night watching Maggie while she slept, marveling at her courage. She came after him, without hesitation, planning on the fly. He had never met another woman quite like her.
It was time to make her his own. For good.
“Martin?” She stood at the doorway leading to the back of the shop, that wild, beautiful red hair tumbling past her shoulders. Lord help him, she was stunning. “What are you doing up?”
“Calling Ian.” He sounded as croaky as she did, and suspected they would both sound that way for the next couple of days. “I was just on my way up.” His heart pounded, because he knew now was the time to ask her, while he still had her to himself. “Maggie—there is something I want to—”
“What are the two of you doing up?”
He almost groaned aloud when Enid bustled out of the room on the other side of the shop. She had been ensconced there, sleeping in the trundle bed, next to the second fireplace. Martin had hoped she would still be asleep.
“Enid—how did you sleep?” Maggie walked to her, smiling at Martin as she passed him. Once again, his chance had slipped out of his fingers. “I’m sorry if we woke you.”
“I should be getting home, while I can.” She glanced out the window. “There looks to be a break in the storm, so I will hustle home, leave you two alone.”
Enid picked up her coat while she spoke, and Maggie helped her slip into it. “You don’t have to—”
“I want to be tucked in before the next wave. Thank you for your hospitality, my dear. I will see you soon. Martin.” She nodded at him, and waited for Maggie to disable the alarm and unlock the door. “Thank you again, Maggie. I will never forget what you’ve done.”
“Anytime, Enid.”
Maggie stood in the doorway, watching Enid until she opened the door to the flat next to her shop and disappeared inside. With a sigh, Maggie closed and locked the door, then moved to the window.
“The wind is starting up again. Looks like we’re getting more snow soon. All those people here for the festival—they must have been trapped by the weather.”
Martin frowned, not certain what she meant, until he joined her.
People rushed along the high street, huddled in layers. Most of them carried takeaway bags from The Tea Caddy, or the bakery just up the street. The thought of warm bread, or one of Lilliana’s scones left his mouth watering. His stomach agreed by rumbling. Loudly.
Maggie glanced up at him, amusement in her crystal blue eyes. “Hungry, Professor?”
“Starved. Exhausted. Sore. I’m not certain which condition I should address first.”
“Poor man.” She linked her arm with his, heading for the stairs. “I think I can help you put them in some order. Like a list.”
He smiled, shaking his head. Trust Maggie to turn his condition into a potential for a list.
“I will bow to your expertise, madam.”
“Good. Let’s start with this.” She stopped in the doorway, next to the sideboard he had coveted since the first day he walked into her shop. “Marry me.”
He blinked at her, his mind stalling. “I—what?”
“I know you’ve been trying to ask me since the festival. I thought I’d get it out of the way.” She slipped her hand into the pocket of her robe, and stunned him by pulling out a gold ring. It was decorated with a vine and leaves motif, curling around the square sapphire at the top of the ring. “I hope you like it, and that it fits. Oh,” she halted, the ring inches from his finger. “You didn’t answer.”
“I—wanted to ask you. Drop to one knee, in a romantic setting, and give you the perfect engagement memory.”
“So, is that a no?” She studied him, eyebrows raised, amusement in her eyes.
“Put that ring on my finger, Maggie Mulgrew. The answer is yes.”
She laughed, but her fingers trembled as she slid the ring on his left hand. “Thank goodness. That could have been embarrassing.”
He cupped her chin, looking into her eyes. “My turn, love.” She blinked, obviously surprised. Martin lowered himself to one knee, managed to stifle a groan, and took the small, exquisitely carved rosewood box he always carried now out of his pocket. She let out a gasp when he opened the box. “Marry me.”
“Martin—it’s—too much. That ring is too much.”
“A family heirloom.” He took the ring out of the box, then cradled her hand. “I used one of your other rings as a guide for the jeweler to resize it. What is your answer, Maggie?”
“Yes—oh, Martin.” She watched him slip the ring on her finger, then touched the teardrop sapphire, surrounded by diamonds. That she had chosen a sapphire for him without seeing her own ring told him that they were a match. “It’s perfect,” she whispered. She sank to her knees and framed his face. “I love you so much.”
“I love you back, my beautiful Maggie.”
He kissed her, his heart finally at peace.
She was his now, and he was hers.
Whatever happened in their lives, whatever challenges were thrown in their path, they would face them. Together.
***
The shop phone rang just as Maggie reached the bottom of the stairs.
She ran through the shop, cursing every ache, and grabbed the phone on the fourth ring.
“The Ash Leaf.”
“Maggie?”
“Hello, Ian.” She already knew why he was calling, and braced herself.
“I found the body Martin reported this morning. His ID and a cross check confirms that he was Doug Norman, late of London. I will need all three of you at the station, as soon as you can get here.”
She glanced out the window. The weather was holding, for now. “I don’t want to keep Martin or Ashton out long. They’re still recovering from the last storm.”
“So I heard. That was a brave thing you did, Maggie.” She was waiting for him to tell her it was stupid, but he surprised her. “You saved Martin’s life, and Enid’s as well, I understand.”
“I couldn’t sit and do nothing.”
“One of the qualities I admire about you. When can I expect you?”
“Within the hour.”
“Good. I will wait for you in the front area.”
He ended the call, and Maggie set the phone on the counter, already dreading the conversation she was about to have. She headed for the staircase, and found Martin halfway down, already dressed.
“Was it Ian?”
She nodded, climbing the stairs to meet him. He looked tired; even his glasses couldn’t camouflage the circles under his eyes, and nothing could hide the pallor.
“Martin, maybe you should—”
“I am fit enough to walk up the street, Maggie.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about, it’s the weather. What if—”
“It starts snowing again? I’m certain Ian will allow us to stay until it passes.”
Maggie let out a sigh. She knew she wasn’t going to win this argument, so she let it go. “Let’s go while the weather is still somewhat clear. Is Ashton still up there?”
Martin frowned. “No. I thought he was downstairs with you.”
“He’s not.”
She ran down the stairs and into the back room. The alarm had been disabled. She closed her eyes briefly as she remembered that she hadn’t reset it after letting Enid out earlier. When she got closer to the door, she saw that the deadbolt was unlocked. Dread made her heart pound as she yanked the door open.
Ashton’s car was gone.
She turned to Martin, and saw the shock she felt in his eyes.
“He ran.”