“What do you mean?”
“Just trust me.” She returned the pen to the man who stood to send Lillie into a spin. “Did you place the bid that Lillie’s seeing to?”
Loren stared at the art work. “What is it if it’s not a kind of modernist horse?”
Berdie couldn’t answer him because she didn’t really know herself. But as Divine mercy had it, Aggie was just passing a few feet away with a tray of drinks, obviously back in harness. And she had liked Lillie’s picture, so she must know what it is. “Ask Aggie.”
Loren looked a bit puzzled, but went to the busy waitress.
Berdie stared at the picture done in rich-colored chalks. What would she do with it if Loren’s bid was less than ten pounds? She grimaced. She’d have to display it for Lillie’s sake. In the utility room perhaps? But surely, Loren’s bid had to be more than hers. After all, Lillie was the woman he hoped to marry.
“It really isn’t a horse,” Loren’s voice broke into Berdie’s thoughts. “It’s the drawing of an angelic form that’s carved into the cornice of one of St. Baldred’s church pillars.”
Berdie and Loren both stared at the picture. Loren cocked his head to one side whilst she moved her glasses down her nose a bit.
“Oh.” Berdie hoped she sounded reassuring.
“I think I can just make it out.” Loren’s cocked head was almost upside-down.
“I shall need to do more of these.”
Berdie started at Lillie’s arrival, Loren as well.
“And?” Loren seemed expectant.
Lillie’s eyes danced, her face flush. “I’ve only gotten a bid of one thousand pounds!”
Berdie thought her glasses would tumble to the floor her jaw dropped so dramatically. “Say that again?”
“You’re pleased?” Loren’s smile could light up the pub.
Hugh joined the threesome. “I say, it’s a bit mad in here.” He turned from face to face. “Something special?” he speculated.
Loren took Lillie’s hand. “You’re pleased?” he repeated.
Lillie’s face lost some of its shimmer. “You are the bidder?”
“What?” Hugh eyed Berdie.
“I am, my love.” Loren took Lillie’s other hand.
“Loren’s put a one thousand pound bid on Lillie’s art work,” Berdie whispered to Hugh.
“On the horse?” he whispered back.
“Shh, it’s not a horse.” Berdie watched Loren. A couple beads of sweat popped on his forehead. What was he up to?
“It’s an engagement gift,” Loren said looking into Lillie’s eyes.
“For whom? Do we know someone who’s getting engaged?”
Loren squeezed Lillie’s hands then released them. He adroitly dropped down on one knee.
Hugh smiled. Berdie put her hand to her heart and caught her breath.
“Lillie, from the first moment I saw you, you took my breath away.”
Lillie went red and then she smiled. Her eyes drank in the man she adored, gallantly on one knee.
At this point, the people nearby stared at the couple. “Shh,” someone nearly yelled.
“You still leave me breathless, with just a glance.”
How could your heart not melt? Berdie was amazed how calm and even Loren’s voice was. And the entire pub had gone quiet.
“You are the woman with whom I want to share my life, if you will.”
Lillie’s eyes began to well with moisture.
Loren pulled a small grey velvet box from his pocket and popped it open. The glimmer of it was like the beam from a lighthouse. “O-o-o,” went up from the crowd.
“High fire, my desire,” racketed through the place.
Sailor! Gasps abounded. People didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Lillie’s head popped up. She looked round at the crowd, as if suddenly becoming aware of where she stood. Knit lips and crossed arms registered her displeasure. “Loren Meredith, you’re proposing marriage to me in a public house?”
“Anyone for roast parrot?” Hugh breathed.
Berdie couldn’t contain herself. “Oh Lillie. I mean really!” The words came flying out. “Loren has tried more than once since we’ve been here to give you an elegant setting for this occasion, but it was always something, and...”
Hugh cleared his throat.
Berdie paid him no heed. “Where it happens isn’t the important thing. For pity’s sake, Lillie.”
Loren arose from his knee. The snap of the closing ring box sounded like a door slammed.
Berdie stepped closer to her friend. Lord have mercy. “Lillie, do you love Loren?”
“Need you ask?”
“Do you want to lose him?”
Lillie’s eyes grew large. She caught her breath.
“Well. Then?” Berdie was nearing impertinence.
Lillie looked squarely into Loren’s rather disenchanted eyes and pulled him to her. “The abbey garden, now,” was barely audible. She ran a finger across his chest and smiled. “Do you want to try it again?”
Loren’s relief danced cross his face. He put his firm hand on her back. The two of them moved toward the door. It looked like the parting of the Red Sea when people, staring, stood aside to let them through.
Berdie and Hugh weren’t far behind.
But when Loren and Lillie were outside, Hugh stopped Berdie and closed the door. “We need to respect their privacy.”
She knew that, but still.
People were pressed against the windows like sardines, whilst others tried to be a bit more discreet, only occasionally glancing toward the garden.
Surrounded by the beauty of the church’s autumn flora and fauna, a blue Northumbrian sky, and the backdrop of Criswell Abbey, Loren and Lillie were still clearly visible from the pub windows. The two faced each other and spoke quietly. Lillie dropped her chin. Loren put his finger under it and drew her face upward.
Berdie wished she could hear what was being said. Was Loren angry? He didn’t look so. Was Lillie telling him no? She hadn’t smiled. Dear Lord.
The ring box came out of his pocket again, and he opened it.
Lillie admired it, looked at Loren, and nodded.
“I think it’s finally happening.” Hugh sounded profoundly thankful.
Loren took the ring out of the box. Lillie extended her hand. He tenderly slipped it on her finger.
The pub erupted with a cheer. Some clinked their pint glasses together in a toast to the couple.
“Kiss her,” someone trumpeted.
As if he heard the command, Loren put his hands on Lillie’s waist, and she leaned into him. Their lips lightly touched. Lillie wrapped her arms around Loren’s shoulders, and their kiss became passionate.
“All right, you lot,” Gus called out. “She’s said yes. Now, let them have a little breathing room, will ya? Get back to what you’re about.”
With smiles and abundant goodwill, people began to drift back to the artwork.
Berdie was over the moon. “At last! Now, we’ve got a wedding to plan.”
“We?” Hugh asked.
“They, I mean they,” she back-pedaled “But Lillie will need some help, of course.”
“Most definitely.” Hugh’s voice was robust. “That should keep you quite busy and out of…other things.”
“Other things?” Berdie read Hugh’s face. “Meaning?”
He paused, but she knew what he was thinking.
“Just like Brother Trustyn stayed true to his calling, so must I.” Berdie tapped her finger against her nose. “This is a gift, Hugh, and I must be faithful, whatever may be going on, to suss out truth and justice by God’s grace.”
“Of course. Still, flowers, gowns, all that wedding stuff. You probably won’t have time for any of that nosing round.”
“Oh yes?” Berdie smiled, raised her brows, and looked into Hugh’s dazzling blue eyes. “I shouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. Not at all.”
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All Hallows Dead (Berdie Elliott Mysteries) Page 23
