CHAPTER 60

As they went to enter the shop an elderly lady was just leaving, Bea went in and Nathan held the door while the old lady shuffled out. There were two sales ladies and one customer and they all turned to look at Bea,

" Afternoon ladies," she said, Nathan followed her in, the lady who had served him wasn't there.

"Can I help sir?"

"We are looking for the sales lady who served me a few weeks ago, I promised the next time we were here in town we would call. It is such a shame we have missed her. Would you kindly pass a message on to her from us?"

"Of course Sir."

"Could you tell her that I was right, the ring was made for my beautiful wife to be and she adores it."

The girl looked at Bea's hand, "Oh goodness our Cinderella ring, you are the gentleman that bought it and it fit, oh my, how exciting. Mrs. Baker is just having her lunch but I will go and get her, she would never forgive me if I let you go. Two minutes sir."

Bea was trying very hard to keep a straight face as she could hear the commotion out the back, "Mrs. Baker she is so beautiful, she could be Cinderella" "Calm down girl, you will give yourself heart failure" that was a man's voice.

When the sales assistant who had served Nathan appeared she did get a shock. You could see it in her face, the other girl was all a dither and then there was the gentleman. He too was memorised by Bea, but looking into her eyes he knew.

An elderly man he introduced himself as William Duncan, Bea picked up on the accent straight away, dulled maybe but still there,

"Toilichte coinneachadh riut Mgr Duncan" ( Nice to meet you Mr. Duncan.)

He smiled such a smile "Agus thusa, abair iongnadh iongantach (and you, what a wonderful surprise.) It has been many a year since I have heard or spoken my mother tongue, and am I right in believing you are the lady our ring fits?"

Bea held out her hand to show him, all the ladies had to have a look too.

"We have kept the outer two rings for now, we are getting married soon and they will be Bea's wedding band."

"How romantic, you were absolutely right constable, when you said they were made for your lady, they certainly were. Wait until we tell Mr. Herman, that is the gentleman who made it, he would have loved to have seen you."

"I am afraid we are only here until tomorrow. We head back in the afternoon."

"One of the things we would like to buy while we are here is a wedding band for Nathan, we would love our rings to have come from the same place. We would like white gold to match mine if you have any."

It was Mr. Duncan who jumped in, "I am sure we can help, let me show you what we have, the choice in white gold is limited but we do have some, or we have platinum, they look very similar."

Pulling a couple of trays out he tried a few for size first, once that was established he checked what they had in Nathan's size. Both he and Bea were drawn to the same one as at the same time they pointed and asked "what about that one?"

Even Mr. Duncan laughed, "it would seem this is the one if it is the right size, yes, you had better try it on Constable."

Bea filled up seeing it, well just seeing a ring on his finger really " Not more happy tears" he laughed, she just nodded. Mrs. Baker started crying because Bea was crying.

"Goodness, this is such a happy day and I have never seen so many tears."

"This is the one Bea, with the etching around the edges it looks like three bands the same as yours, what do you think?"

"It's perfect, that is the one."

"Then we will take it please Mr. Duncan, wasn't there something else you wanted Bea?"

"Sorry, yes, I am so full of happy tears at the moment. Would you have any silver hair combs, I need a matching pair if you have any. They are to wear on the day so pretty ones would be nice."

"Are you wanting just silver Miss, I do have a lovely pair that would sit beautifully in your hair but they have crystals and amethysts in them, let me show you."

When Bea saw them her luck from the morning had continued, they were perfect. Fairly long-toothed, she would need that in her hair, the gems formed a flower-like spray on each one and the colour would tie in so well."

"These are the ones, thank you we will take those as well."

"All sorted Princess?"

"Yes I think so, oh I know I am pushing my luck here but so many things have fallen into place today, no harm in asking. You wouldn't by chance have a necklace with a Celtic knot or thistle on it would you?"

Mr. Duncan just smiled, " Two minutes," he said and disappeared out the back, He came back with a little box,

"Tha mi air a bhith a 'sàbhaladh an tè seo airson cuideigin sònraichte, is e sin an seann fhear agad." (I have been saving this one for someone special, that is for you old one.)

Bea just smiled at him and nodded. He touched her hand, "if this is suitable then it is a gift from me."

It was a fine silver chain from which hung a very dainty engraved Celtic cross,

"Tha an seann anam seo a 'toirt taing dhut Mgr Duncan, tha thu air a dhèanamh glè thoilichte." (This old soul thanks you Mr. Duncan, you have made her very happy.)

"It is beautiful, thank you so much."

"I think that is it then Nathan unless you can think of anything else."

"No, if you have your things then that is more off our list, we are winning princess."

"Thank you for calling in today, it has meant a lot to meet the lady of the ring, or Cinderella as these ladies were calling you, and please drop in again when you are next in town. Maybe you would make an old man very happy and let me buy you lunch or dinner and speak in my old tongue once again?"

Bea laid her hand on his " I will do that Mr. Duncan, it would be as joyful to me as it would to you."

Nathan took her hand as they left, and squeezed it, "What a kind thing to do Bea, was that Gaelic, I have heard you use a few words of it before:"

"It is and it was lovely to hear it again, Mr. Duncan recognised me for what I am, he knew. That was why he gave me the necklace, it was a very special gift."

"Then we really must meet up with him again Bea, there are so few who know."

"Sadly Nathan, if I am right, that won't happen."

"That is what those tears were for?"

"Some but also for the sight of that ring on your finger, now I am going to start again."

"Come on, let's head back to the hotel, I think you have done enough shopping and walking about today, a stiff drink is needed I think. The couple of things we have left we can get in the morning."

Having dropped the packages in Bea's room and a quick freshen up they went down to the lounge and were having a drink before going in to dinner. It was lovely to be able to just sit like this, just the two of them.

"What did you think of the stables then Bea, pretty impressive aren't they, Vic's pride and joy. His whole life has been given to that place and the horses, I meant to ask if he actually knew how many had passed through his hands."

"You missed me having a moment," she laughed.

"Where? I thought I was getting good at spotting them."

"Well it was when I was washing that whisky-soaked cloth, so maybe you weren't watching. Does he have a family?"

"No one, he is like many a Mountie, you know when we marry I will be one of only a few, it isn't really the life for a married man, that is why I said we will see how it goes. He hasn't even got a home to call his own as far as I know. I honestly think that is why he has put off retiring, not sure what he plans on doing. When he comes up we will need to ask him, I would hate to think of him on his own."

"Don't worry sweetie, he won't be, Vic is our liveryman. We can offer him the job and he can move in the rooms above, he would be perfect don't you think?"

"He would indeed, the work wouldn't be anywhere near as tough as he is doing now, Colin and I would help when we could, it would a perfect solution. Do you still feel Jed is going to sell?"

"Even more so, I can't wait to be able to start and practice again, just pulling that tooth today felt so good. I have missed it."

"Well we will stick to our way, one step at a time, it has worked for us so far, that is our way princess."

"It has, and you are right. We won't go wrong if we stick to that."

Having eaten a wonderful dinner, they had another drink then headed off to bed.

"Good night Princess that is one more gone, it will be Tuesday soon."

"Night night, see you in the morning and that will be another one closer. Love you.

He kissed her again, this was so tough but no he could wait, he could.