Gentle arms surrounded her.
A warm chest formed her pillow.
And a familiar smell gave her comfort as she came round.
She tried to sit up.
Tender eyes gazed into hers.
"Harry….the message…the Cathedrals…"
"Ruth, you found the message. The Cathedrals are safe."
"But…."
"This was an elaborate and seemingly not very well thought out proposal, Ruth."
"No. No," said Ruth struggling upright, she paused, "it was beautifully thought out, Harry."
He smiled.
"But how did you do it, how did you get the message in the painting, or the painting in the exhibition?"
"Best not to ask, Ruth."
She shook her head, still incredulous at finding a marriage proposal hidden in a mock Titian, in the Musee d'Orsay, in Paris.
"It was wonderful," she whispered.
"I'm not sure. You weren't meant to collapse from shock. You were just meant to say yes."
"Can't a girl do both?" she said with a smile that mended his heart in a second.
"Yes, Ruth, you can do whatever you choose."
"That's nice," she said.
Harry waited.
"So are you actually saying yes, Ruth? I think I need to hear you say it."
"Yes, Harry. A thousand times, yes. Will that do?"
"Yes, Ruth, that will do."
"Harry?"
"Yes."
"You did so much better, this time."