‘HE’S SUCH A nice young man,’ sighed Esther’s mum from her prime position on the sofa. She hadn’t taken her eyes off him since they’d been introduced in the hospital and Harry had put all the arrangements in place to get her back to her new temporary home.
She ran her hand along the yellow sofa. ‘This place is so nice. It was lucky you were able to get it at such short notice.’ She lifted her chin and looked out of the window. From here she could see right along the coastline to Leith. ‘I’ve never had a sea view,’ she murmured.
‘Do you like it?’ asked Esther curiously.
‘Of course I like it.’ Her mother smiled. ‘It’s my dream house.’
Harry walked up behind Esther with some papers in his hand. ‘Then it’s lucky you don’t have to move out.’
Esther blinked. ‘What?’
Harry gave her a quick glance, then smiled at her mother. ‘This house was up for rent, with the chance to buy. With the insurance money to fix your home, once that’s done, you could sell your other place and move permanently here if you like.’
Esther reached behind her and grabbed his hand. She knew exactly what he was doing. There was no insurance money, but they’d both agreed not to tell her mother that.
‘But isn’t this place much more expensive than my house?’
Of course it was. But Harry spoke smoothly. ‘This is a flat. Not a house. Esther can take care of things regarding the sale and purchase, but if you like this place best, there’s no reason you couldn’t have it.’ He bent down next to her head and glanced out the window. ‘You’re right, the sea view is nice.’
Now he was bending things a little further. Letting her mum feel as if all of this was being done within her own budget.
Her mum pulled the blanket up to her chest and gave Esther a nervous glance. ‘You know, I wouldn’t need to worry about the garden, and there’s a security entrance here, and a lift.’ She ran her hand back along the sofa. ‘And everything is just so new.’ Esther could almost see her mum’s heart jump. ‘And there’s room enough for you and Harry to stay too when you visit.’
Oh dear. For about the tenth time in twenty-four hours, tears threatened to spill. But these were happy tears. Esther sat on the sofa next to her mum and gave her a giant hug. The lines on her face didn’t seem quite so deep, and she had a little colour back in her cheeks. ‘Leave it with me, and Harry,’ she added as she shot him a smile. ‘We’ll take care of everything for you.’
He gave a nod and knelt down in front of them. ‘There is one final thing,’ he said, reaching into his back pocket.
Esther caught her breath at the sight of the small black velvet box. When on earth had he had time to go shopping for that?
It flipped open, showing one of the biggest emeralds she’d ever seen, with a diamond set on either side. ‘Family heirloom,’ he said. ‘It belonged to the last duchess who had Scottish blood in her veins, my great-great-grandmother, so I thought it might be fitting.’
He pulled it from the box. ‘Esther McDonald. You’ve brought light and life and joy into my life and I hope to do the same to yours. Now, and always. Will you do me the pleasure of becoming my wife?’
She couldn’t speak at first, just gave a nod as she held out a trembling hand and let Harry slip the giant ring on her finger.
Her mother let out a squeal and started clapping as Harry picked her up and spun her round and round and round.
As he set her back down he whispered in her ear. ‘So, Duchess of Montrose, what will be your first wish?’
Her eyes gleamed. ‘That? Oh, that’s definitely for later, and for just you, and me,’ she said as she kissed him once again.
Welcome to the London Hospital Midwives quartet!
Cinderella and the Surgeon
by Scarlet Wilson
Miracle Baby for the Midwife
by Tina Beckett
Both available now!
And next month, look out for
Reunited by Their Secret Daughter
by Emily Forbes
A Fling to Steal Her Heart
by Sue MacKay
Keep reading for an excerpt from Miracle Baby for the Midwife by Tina Beckett.