"Will you marry me?"

Hugh's words hung in the air and Dot's breath caught in her throat. It was more than what she was expecting tonight—she had wanted to give him just a nudge, but here he was making the declaration of a lifelong commitment! Her fingers instinctively reached up to touch the crucifix that she'd taken off earlier that evening, only to find bare skin in its place.

"Dot? What are you thinking?" Hugh asked in a low voice, as his fingertips reached up to touch her face. She felt her skin tingle, a buzz that matched the thrumming of her heart, and Dot leaned her head into his warm palm, feeling Hugh's own pulse leap as her fingers wrapped around his wrist. She looked into Hugh's kind eyes, and below them, at the lips she had felt so many times press lightly into her cheek. He grinned, and he had the kind of smile that made Dot feel warm inside. People say that when your heart does somersaults you are actually not feeling love, but infatuation. Whatever this was, she couldn't help but enfold her arms around Hugh's neck and reach up for a kiss. The feeling of his warm lips and his hands on her bare skin spread through her whole body and her felt herself go weak in the knees. Her blood raced in her veins, filling her with a high, pure exhilaration. She never felt more alive—a dash of the unknown only made it more interesting.

When finally they parted for breath, Hugh asked, "Is that a yes?"

Dot shook her head. "You won't like my mother, Hugh."

"You won't like mine, either, I'm afraid."

"I also have lots of faults and imperfections. Would you rather know them now or later?"

Hugh gasped in mock horror. "I'm flabbergasted. I think you're perfect. I, on the other hand, have a bachelor's living habits. You might be put off by them."

She laughed, bringing her hands down to his chest. "But in all seriousness, Hugh, do you think that what we're feeling now will last? Maybe this will fade with time. Maybe over time we'll find that we don't like each other as much as we do right now."

Hugh kissed her hand. "Or maybe with time we both discover that one cannot live without the other. We don't have many chances for happiness in life."

"I can't give up my faith. I don't think I could become a Protestant."

That gave Hugh some pause. It would break his mother's heart if he became a papist. He considered what he would be giving up, and what pain he would be causing to his family. But he also knew that Dot couldn't give up the sacraments. He knew the question of religion would loom large when they decided to take this step. It was only a matter of who would make the sacrifice.

Seeing Hugh's expression change, Dot's eyes searched his face. "So…what are you thinking?"

A few months later

The soft violins of Pachelbel filled the church and from the narthex, Dot took a deep breath as she waited for her cue. Even as far away as she was from the altar, she could smell the bright and beautiful flowers that adorned the pews. Like bees around their queen, Dot's sisters adjusted her dress and her train, while her mother frantically searched the back of the church for her father. Amidst the fuss, Dot remained a calm and collected bride, beautiful in draped silk and in her exquisite veil of Brussels lace, a gift from Miss Fisher.

Dot peeked around the intricate wood screen at all the family and friends that were gathering on this bright spring morning at St. Andrew. She peered through the filigree of flowers and leaves on her veil and caught a glimpse of Hugh's mother, a dragon of a matriarch that did not take too kindly to Hugh's conversion to the Catholic faith. She almost didn't recognize Hugh's friends and work colleagues, who had exchanged their silver-buttoned black police uniforms for their Sunday best. She saw dear Cec and Bert, dressed in sharp grey suits, fidgeting in their pew. As Cec always looked neat and polished, Bert must have taken a cue from him for he, too, had his hair slicked back for the occasion. Seated at the front pew between the prim Mr. Butler and dashing Detective Inspector Jack Robinson was the always elegant Miss Fisher, who swatted DI Robinson's hand as he tried to loosen his tie. There was Janey in her lavender ribbons and dress, already reaching the high altar with her petal basket. And waiting there was Hugh, standing at Father Farry's right hand. Dot smiled to herself as in a few minutes, she would be joining him in front of all their loved ones. In just a few minutes she would be promising to love and honor Hugh in every circumstance. And when she crossed over this threshold, on her husband's arm, her name would be changed to Collins. She felt her heart do that somersault and she couldn't help but smile at the memory of when the journey to holy matrimony began one enchanted evening.


A/N: Thanks to all the Guests and reviewers, and especially to the fellow MFMM authors who posted such kind comments. I enjoy reading everyone's imaginative contributions to this board—I can't wait for series 2 in America!