23 November 1931

"Well you could sound a little more thrilled at the prospect."

"Sorry, what?" Siegfried glanced up from where he had been perusing the notebook by the side of the telephone as Tristan's irritated tone resounded in his ear. "More thrilled at what prospect, exactly?"

"At the prospect of me coming home in two weeks."

"Oh yes, of course. That. Well of course I'm thrilled at the prospect. It'll be good to see you again, especially for Christmas."

"Yes…am I keeping you from something or…someone?"

Siegfried felt himself blush at his brother's knack of being able to tell precisely what he was thinking about being, in that moment, Lily. Over the noise of Tristan's ramblings about university, he couldn't help but hear the peals of laughter coming from the kitchen where she and Mrs Hall were enjoying a morning cup of tea. "Lily is here, yes."

"Of course she is. Now, come on big brother, the hour is fast approaching."

"What hour?" he glanced at the clock to see it was almost ten am. "Unless you think something momentous is supposed to happen when the clock strikes ten then I fail to see…"

"Siegfried…" Tristan sighed. "To put it bluntly, when are you going to ask Lily to marry you?"

"Ah, yes, that."

"That."

"Well, what you don't seem to understand, Tristan, is that it's a somewhat delicate matter." Over the course of the preceding two weeks there had been a number of moments when he had thought it an ideal time to ask her the question and yet something, or someone, had always come along and spoiled it. He knew he would have asked her that day in the surgery had Mrs Hall not interrupted with tales of Mr Brown. Then there had been a pleasant Sunday stroll around the village in the crisp afternoon sunshine that had lit her hair like fire, and he had been about to ask when there had been a sudden commotion over two dogs chasing a cat. Finally, she had stayed for dinner one evening after helping with surgery and as they had sat in the sitting room together in front of the roaring fire, Mrs Hall knowingly keeping herself to the kitchen, again he had been poised to ask when the telephone had rung with someone needing a cow urgently examined. In all honesty, he had started to think that the moment was cursed.

"In what sense? You look her deep in the eyes and say…'Lily, will you marry me?' What could be more straightforward than that?"

"Well, there are other complications. Besides, you don't just ask a woman to marry you."

"Don't you? How else do you go about it?"

"You're supposed to ask her father first."

"Oh, I see."

"Yes…" Siegfried sighed as he thought of the prospect, as he had done so often of late. Despite his intentions to simply ask Lily, and not care what her father might think or say, he had enough propriety within him to realise that he at least owed the man the common courtesy of a conversation. Though he didn't consider himself cowardly by nature, there was most definitely an inherent fear that rose within him every time he imagined facing Tom Bailey and asking him for Lily's hand. When he questioned himself as to what the fear entailed, more often than not it came down to Tom perhaps refusing to give his permission, and though Lily could legally marry without her father's consent, he rather feared that she wouldn't go against him.

"Well I'm sure you'll think of some way of winning him around," Tristan said. "Anyway, I must dash, a few of us are going out for an early lunch."

"Don't you have lectures?"

"Not until this afternoon. It's a great lark this university life. Anyway, speak soon brother."

He had gone before Siegfried could say any more and he carefully replaced the receiver before heading back into the kitchen. "There certainly seems to be a lot of humour in your conversation this morning," he observed as both women stifled giggles at his arrival.

Lily looked up and met his gaze. "Sometimes a little gossip goes a long way."

"Really?" he raised his eyebrow, "and here was me thinking you were concerned about gossip."

"Gossip about other people," she clarified.

"Indeed…" he sat down and poured himself some tea from the pot on the table. "I hope you'll remain in that frame of mind during our calls this morning."

"You said you had observed that I was less concerned about what others say of late."

"I did and I am, though I confess to still being none the wiser as to your sudden change of heart." She smiled and looked away, once again to his mind deliberately avoiding the issue. Over the last few weeks, there had been a noticeable shift in her overall attitude. She had seemed, somehow, more light-hearted, less caring about what her father or other people thought about her being at the surgery. Though the change was both welcome and refreshing, it did confuse him. "In any event," he continued. "I'm looking forward to us spending the day together."

"As am I."

"Listen to you two…" Mrs Hall smiled over her cup. "It's like Mills and Boon."

"Oh please!" he exclaimed. "I remain utterly baffled why a woman of your religiosity indulges in such drivel."

"'ave you ever read any?" Lily asked.

"What do you think?"

"Then you're not really qualified to comment, are you?"

"You're not saying that you read them too?" he looked at her.

"Why not? It's just a bit of 'armless escapism, isn't it, Audrey?"

"Exactly," Mrs Hall replied. "Lord knows we all need a bit of that every now and again."

"Well Mills and Boon are hardly going to expand your mind, are they? I have a vast array of books that you're welcome to borrow any time…"

"And I 'ave, if you recall," Lily interrupted him. "But sometimes, you just need something a little bit more…engaging."

He shook his head and drained his cup, hoping to cover up the slight embarrassment the conversation had caused him. From everything he had heard, the contents of Mills and Boon books were, quite frankly, scandalous. "Well, we'd better get to it if we're going to make all these calls before the end of the day."

"Yes sir," she got to her feet and grinned at him. "Ready when you are."

They walked companionably out to his car and as he made his way through the village towards the outskirts, and the destination of their first call, she calmly placed her hand on his leg. When he looked over, she was smiling at him and, though her touch thrilled him, he still felt confused by her apparent change in attitude.

"It's your birthday next month, isn't it?" he said, breaking the silence.

"Well remembered."

"I was wondering what you might like as a gift."

"I get to choose, do I?"

"Of course." He glanced over at her. "Is there something specific that you'd like?"

She smiled and shook her head, removing her hand in the process. "I'm not needing anything."

"Well I can appreciate that, but birthdays are about wants, are they not, rather than needs?"

"I suppose so." She paused. "Whatever you see fit to buy me, I'm sure I'll be delighted."

"Will you?"

"Of course."

"I would hate to choose something inappropriate."

"Such as what?"

"Well, I…I don't know. It's been a long time since I've had to buy a present for a woman, any woman. Evelyn liked scarves so, I confess, I used to buy her one every birthday and Christmas during the time we were together. I'm sure she grew weary of them, but she never said if she did."

"I'm sure she appreciated every single one."

"I hope so," he replied, seeing his late wife in his mind's eye, but with a warm regard rather than a sad regret.

"I like scarves too if it makes it any easier for you. And 'ats."

"Hats?" she nodded. "Well that's something to think on. What about…what about jewellery?"

"Well, I don't really rightly own much. Dad passed me mother's wedding ring onto me a few years ago and I've got a few broaches and necklaces and the like. Nothing too fancy, mind."

"Perhaps we need to change that."

"Oh…I'm not one for glittery things," she laughed and looked out of the window.

"Well, every woman deserves at least one glittery thing, don't you agree?"

She turned back to meet his gaze and he couldn't help but wonder if she knew what he was alluding to. Surely she must, after all, hadn't he said about 'three Farnons' working together under one roof? What other conclusion could be drawn from that other than that he intended to marry her?

"I suppose so," she replied carefully.

"Well then," he said, swinging the car into the yard of the Rudd farm. "At least we agree on something."

XXXX

Dick Rudd and his wife were kind people, Lily had to admit. They were one of the few who hadn't raised an eyebrow when she had started accompanying Siegfried on his calls or expressed words of hesitation when she assisted him with anything. The first time they had visited, Linda Rudd had offered her tea and cake in the kitchen whilst Siegfried was examining one of their cows, but he had quickly stepped in and said that she was there to assist him, and nothing more had been said. It was simply accepted, and for that she was grateful.

Siegfried had been right in what he had said earlier. She had had a change of heart regarding what people thought of her and actually felt all the happier for doing so. She only wished it had come out of happier circumstances. In the same way as she had resolved to no longer allow her father to dictate her future, so she had also resolved to let go the feelings of inadequacy that she felt regarding her work with Siegfried. If people wished to talk about her then that was their problem. She was tired of constantly feeling as though she had to justify her existence and her association with him. Besides, if he were to propose, which she was almost certain he would, it would no longer matter.

"So, what do you think?" Siegfried's voice broke into her reverie and she looked at him before looking back at the cow he was examining.

"She seems very listless," she replied, moving to the cow's head and running her hand over its face. "'er ears are cold and 'er nose is dry."

"Yes…"

"What about 'er 'eart rate?"

He held out his stethoscope. "Why don't you check?"

Feeling a slight nervousness in her stomach and acutely aware that she was being watched, she took it from him, slipped the buds into her ears and then pressed it to the cow's side. For a moment, all she could hear was her own heart beating wildly in her chest then, slowly, she felt the heart of the animal reverberate in her ears. "It's very fast," she said, straightening up again.

"That's what I thought," Siegfried said. "And you said she had been constipated, Dick?"

"That's right, terrible like," Dick replied.

"Well?"

She racked her brain, thinking about the books she had read that weren't Mills and Boon. "Could be…could be milk fever?"

Siegfried smiled at her. "Exactly what I was thinking."

Relief flooded her at having made the correct diagnosis and she smiled in return. It felt good, really good, and she couldn't help but feel that perhaps it wasn't such a ridiculous idea after all that she work with Siegfried. Perhaps his dream of 'three Farnons' under one roof wasn't so fanciful.

As they drove back to Darrowby, the last call having been made, and he chatted beside her, she felt her mind wander. She wondered how he would ask her. Would he come right out and say it, or would there be some elaborate ruse behind it? She couldn't help but hope for the former. Simple, to the point, from the heart. Everything she had ever wanted and more.

"I could have dropped you at Windy Hill rather than bring you back here," he said, pulling to a stop outside Skeldale House.

"Then 'ow would I 'ave got the van 'ome?"

"True…" he looked over at her. "You did very well today."

"I've got a very competent teacher."

"I've got a very eager student…" he leaned over and kissed her before pulling back. "Are you sure it's all right for me to come over on Saturday night?"

"Of course," she replied. "And we'll 'ave the place to ourselves given me dad's going to visit Cousin Joe." It was something that she had been looking forward to since the moment her father had announced it. His second visit of the year to Cousin Joe. She would have the entire house to herself and she had wasted no time in inviting Siegfried for dinner. They would be alone together, completely alone. Perhaps…perhaps he might ask her then…

"Well, as long as you're sure your father won't mind."

"I don't give a toss whether 'e minds or not," she said stridently. "Really, I don't."

"I can tell." He paused. "You would tell me if something had happened, wouldn't you?"

She paused on his look. "'ow do you mean?"

"Well, I can't help but notice that things seem to have changed lately. You're far more…dismissive of your father and his thoughts on our relationship than you ever were before and…well…I suppose I just find it a little strange, is all."

"Aren't you 'appy?"

"Well of course I am. I'm delighted that you don't seem to be as, I suppose, fearful of his reaction any longer but, well…"

"I'm done with my father dictating my life to me," she said. "I'm a grown woman and if I choose to spend my time with you, socially or at the surgery, then that is my business, not 'is." She paused, aware that the change would seem strange given he wasn't in possession of all the facts, and she was still unwilling to divulge them. "We've reached an understanding, 'e and I."

"Oh, I see. Well, that's good. I confess that I enjoy seeing you as happy as you seem to be."

"I'm very 'appy," she leaned over and kissed him. "Very 'appy indeed."

"Well then," he smiled. "I'll see you again soon. Thursday, you're going to come back and assist?" She nodded. "I look forward to it."

"As do I. Goodnight."

"Goodnight darling." She opened the car door, closed it and then started walking in the direction of the van. "Lily?" She turned at the sound of her name to see him standing beside the car. "I love you."

"I love you too," she replied, before waving quickly and continuing on her way. It gave her such a joyous feeling inside, not only knowing that he loved her as he did, but that he was quite prepared to proclaim it in the street for anyone to hear. The only thing that could feel more wonderful, she thought to herself as she climbed into the van, would be knowing that we never have to live apart.

XXXX

After they had eaten dinner, Siegfried and Mrs Hall retired to the sitting room, her to do some darning and he, ostensibly, to read the newspaper. Yet he found that his mind was elsewhere, focused on Lily and the future they would have together. He had to ask her, needed to ask her, but it was one of those things that a person was often afraid to do lest the answer they get destroy the hopeful anticipation. Not that he believed Lily would refuse him, but he wasn't sure he could bear the heartache if she, in fact, did.

"What are you thinking about?" Mrs Hall broke into his thoughts and he started slightly.

"Oh, nothing. Nothing really."

"I've been around you long enough to recognise a lie when I 'ear it."

"Well it's just…" he hesitated, aware that it would be entirely improper to confide in her and yet, almost desperate for another sensible perspective on the matter, Tristan notwithstanding. "I'm going to ask Lily to marry me."

Mrs Hall dropped her darning and grinned broadly at him. "And it's about time too!"

"You think so?"

"Of course I do! She's a lovely lass who clearly cares a great deal about you and it's obvious 'ow you feel about 'er."

"Is it?"

"Oh, come now Mr Farnon," she chided him. "If you 'aven't been in love with that lass for months now then I'm a monkey's uncle. It's written plain on your face every time you're with 'er. I think it's wonderful, really I do. 'ave you decided when you're going to do it?"

"Well, there have been a number of occasions when I thought I might, but then…" he trailed off, unwilling to cite her as one of the reasons why the proposal had not gone ahead before now. "I was thinking about asking her on Saturday night, over dinner at Windy Hill."

"Well, that sounds lovely. And you'll be on your own so Tom Bailey won't be around to spoil it. 'ave you…'ave you thought about whether or not you're going to ask 'is permission?"

He sighed heavily, "I know it's what society dictates…"

"But?"

"But Lily's a grown woman, almost twenty-nine years of age. Does she really need her father's permission to accept my proposal? And what if he were to say no? Where would that leave us? Would she go against him?"

"If you'd asked me that six months ago, I would 'ave said no, but now…I think you'll find she'll say yes despite whatever misgivings 'er father 'as."

"Then you've noticed it too," he sat forwards, keen to glean another person's insight. "You've seen a change in her?"

"I most certainly 'ave due, in no small measure, I might add, to 'ow much I reckon she loves you."

"You don't think it could be anything else?"

"Like what?" she frowned.

"I don't know. I just…can't help but think that something must have happened. She said they had reached an understanding, but knowing Mr Bailey as I do, I find that somewhat hard to believe."

"What could 'ave possibly 'appened? An argument of some sort?"

"That would make the most sense," he mused. "But perhaps I shouldn't dwell on it."

"Perhaps you shouldn't. Perhaps you should just focus on asking 'er." Mrs Hall leaned forwards. "Do you 'ave a ring?"

"No, not yet. In fact, I was going to ask your opinion on that. Should I purchase the ring in advance, or should we choose one together? When I asked Evelyn to marry me, I used her grandmother's ring that her mother gave me for that exact purpose. But then that was so long ago, a different era altogether. This time, I'm rather at a loss."

"Well, I never 'ad an engagement ring as such but, if I 'ad, I think it would have meant more if my 'usband 'ad chosen it for me 'imself. It would 'ave shown that 'e took the whole thing seriously."

"What if you hadn't liked it? What if I choose something for Lily and she hates it?"

Mrs Hall smiled. "I reckon she loves you enough to be delighted with anything you would choose for 'er."

"You really think so?"

"Yes, I do." She sighed happily. "A Darrowby wedding. There 'asn't been a good one of them in a while. It'll be very exciting."

"Do you really think people will care?"

"Absolutely they will! Lily's lived in these parts all 'er life, everyone knows 'er and 'er family. And, of course, what with you being the new, local, dashing vet…"

"Oh, I would hardly use those terms," he blushed and then paused. "I only hope that I can make her happy, as happy as she deserves to be."

"You will," Mrs Hall said encouragingly. "There isn't any reason in the world why you won't make 'er the 'appiest woman alive."