Chapter Twenty eight

The final curtain had fallen and David took Lynnie aside and away from the rest of the company who were busy congratulating one another.

He placed his hand on her cheeks and bent down to kiss her as a feather might caress the ground after it had fallen to the Earth. His kiss grew deeper, more urgent and passionate and she took her cue from him and parted her lips to allow him access to her tongue.

She was pressed against him and could feel his and her own desire charge through their bodies like an electric current. Finally they parted to breathe and he slid down her body to kneel at her feet. She gazed down at him unaware that the entire company was looking at them. Nothing and no one existed in that moment for David or Lynnie but the other.

Kay and Susan had arrived in the wings and had been about to rush on stage to congratulate their star crossed lovers, but they had stopped in the wings and were now grasping each other's hands as if their lives depended on it. Was this the moment?

David fumbled inside his costume for a moment and pulled out the ornate box Kay had seen all those weeks ago, "Oh God I know what that is." breathed Kay.

"Shhhhh!" hissed Susan at her.

David opened the box and held it up to Lynnie. Her hands flew to her mouth as he spoke, "Maralyn Claire Pomfrey, I have loved you my entire life and I will love you till I die. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

Lynnie dropped to her knees in front of him and whispered, "Yes, oh yes. David I love you too, so very much," before engulfing him in a second more passionate kiss. The company erupted in to cheers and applause and those still in the hall turned to look at the curtained stage before slowly leaving.

Piers, Brendan and the children joined Sue and Kay in the wings just as David slid the ring on Lynnie's finger.

"Did my little girl just get engaged?" asked Piers in a hushed tone.

"Yes, yes she did." replied Susan her voice thick with emotion. Piers took her in his arms as Brendan did the same with Kay.

"Our baby boy is engaged?"

"He is." whispered Kay in response.

Jenny and Christopher held Evie, Kate and Lucy back who were itching to see the ring.

Finally realising that others were in the room, David and Lynnie rose to their feet. Lynnie stretched out her hand just as the younger girls broke free and bounded over to her. Jenny and Chris followed as did their happy parents and everyone made appropriate noises about the ring and proposal.

Everyone that is except Jeremy, who had held back. He had volunteered as a backstage runner primarily to have an excuse to see and speak to Lynnie for the entire rehearsal period.

While their families were busy laughing and talking Lynnie and David slipped away from the main group. Jeremy stalked away and Lynnie spoke to David, "I should go and say something to him. Your Mum and mine both said I led him on back when…"

David shook his head, "Don't say it. You haven't given him anything to go on since then. He just wanted something you didn't."

"I need to say sorry to him. Nothing more I promise you."

"I believe you. You go on. I'll be here."

She kissed him and left to follow Jeremy. David did believe and trust her but he didn't trust Jeremy not to hurt her so he stole after her and listened to the exchange.

"Jeremy can't you be happy for me?" questioned Lynnie.

"He's not worthy of you. A drunk who got lucky."

"He drank too much ONCE and that was my fault as much as his! You know he is much, much more than that to me and always has been. I'm sorry if I led you to believe otherwise. It was wrong of me and I hope one day you will forgive me for behaving like a child but to be fair, none of that would have happened if you hadn't wanted to get in the way. But I didn't follow you to argue. I followed you to say sorry."

"Sorry? What for? I never wanted you! I just thought we could have fun! After all we are of the same social standing, while he, he's a commoner. Who'd have thought you'd want him?"

"He may not be as free with his money as you are but I returned every one of those gifts you gave me. Take them back get the money back and keep your Father sweet. Or aren't the rumours true?"

"Rumours?"

"Rumour has it your Father is about to cut you loose. Making you start paying your own bills."

Jeremy was furious that Lynnie had heard about what his father was planning. He had hoped that he could bluff his way until he had secured a nice rich girlfriend to pay for his extravagances. He lashed out. "And I will! That old coot won't rein me in!"

"And that is why I can't and never could love you. That *old coot* is your Father and if you don't respect him you would never respect me. I came back here to say sorry but you're not worthy to hear that from me. I'm sorry for your Father though."

Lynnie turned and left and David ducked back and around to the stage without being seen. He didn't hear Jeremy shout "BITCH!" after her but when he held her quietly as she dried her face before rejoining their families she told him. David wanted to deck him but knew that Lynnie held respectful behaviour in high esteem so he just kissed her hair and soothed her, "He's just jealous and angry. Probably embarrassed as well. He'll get over it."

"No more tears or our families we think we have argued." She said shakily.

"Aren't women allowed to cry when they get engaged?"

"I do believe they are." She smiled up at him, "Let's go back before they send out a search party."

He kissed her lingeringly and put a smile back on her face and when she looked like a woman in love again he took her by the hand and led her away.

They returned to their families and after changing back in to their civvies they all left together.

Everyone was standing in the car park at the families respective vehicles.

"Mum can I go back to David's… please Dad?"

"You have uni tomorrow."

"Oh Piers! It's the last week of term, muck up week, of course you can go back to David's. That is if Kay and Brendan agree." She looked at Kay who nodded. Kay had tears rolling down her face and was unable to form coherent speech so a nod was all she had to offer.

Susan laughed at her and embraced her whispering, "Make sure David locks his door tonight." before walking back to her husband.

A short while later David closed his bedroom door behind them both and turned the key in the lock. He whispered to her, "We don't have walls as thick as the Manor house here, but we won't be disturbed."