The afternoon had turned into early evening by the time they had made their way to the sitting room.
"The jackets still a bit damp," Audrey sighed as she lifted Richard's jacket from the back of the settee.
"I'll be alright without it," Richard replied
"Come here, your tie isn't straight," she said reaching up to adjust his tie.
Richard placed his hands on her hips as she did, enjoying being able to touch her in this new way.
"Can I take you out to dinner tomorrow?" He asked enjoying the look of concentration on her face as she made a final adjustment of his tie.
"Yes, you may," she grinned patting his chest, but then her face fell. She was still unsure what would happen now between them.
Richard sensed her unease and quickly moved to reassure her. "Audrey you do realise I want to marry you don't you?"
"After what we've been doing this afternoon I should insist on it," she joked but then turned serious again, "but this isn't the 1920s and I don't want you to feel pressured,"
"I don't feel pressured in the least...The question is do you?"
Audrey shook her head, "No, in fact I feel incredibly happy," she smiled.
"So do I. That's settled then," Richard said with authority.
"Is that it! Not even a proper proposal. You are an impossible man, I'm not some business deal you can just agree on you know," Audrey fumed pushing away from him.
"I never said that." Richard defended while grabbing her hand to stop her moving further away.
The afternoon had turned into early evening by the time they had made their way to the sitting room.
"The jackets still a bit damp," Audrey sighed as she lifted Richard's jacket from the back of the settee.
"I'll be alright without it," Richard replied
"Come here, your tie isn't straight," she said reaching up to adjust his tie.
Richard placed his hands on her hips as she did, enjoying being able to touch her in this new way.
"Can I take you out to dinner tomorrow?" He asked enjoying the look of concentration on her face as she made a final adjustment of his tie.
"Yes, you may," she grinned patting his chest, but then her face fell. She was still unsure what would happen now between them.
Richard sensed her unease and quickly moved to reassure her. "Audrey you do realise I want to marry you don't you?"
"After what we've been doing this afternoon I should insist on it," she joked but then turned serious again, "but this isn't the 1920s and I don't want you to feel pressured,"
"I don't feel pressured in the least...The question is do you?"
Audrey shook her head, "No, in fact I feel incredibly happy," she smiled.
"So do I. That's settled then," Richard said with authority.
"Is that it! Not even a proper proposal. You are an impossible man, I'm not some business deal you can just agree on you know," Audrey fumed pushing away from him.
"I never said that." Richard defended while grabbing her hand to stop her moving further away.
"Will you come here and listen to me," he said pulling her towards the patio doors.
He had to think quickly and the spot where they had first danced together seemed a good place to formalise their relationship.
Once they were standing on the patio Richard still holding her hand, got down on one knee, "I thought you might like something a little more romantic than this for a proposal but it will have to do," he explained.
"Audrey fForbes Hamilton, I've fallen completely in love with you, Will you marry me?"
Audrey gripped his hand tightly, completely forgetting she was supposed to be mad at him. "Oh Richard...Yes, I'll marry you," she grinned.
Richard stood and pulled her into a passionate embrace, so engrossed in each other they didn't notice when Brabinger came through the doors.
"Oh I'm sorry madam, excuse me," Brabinger said quickly, blushing.
"That's alright Brabinger," Audrey giggled removing her arms from around Richard's neck, "Actually Mr DeVere and I have something to tell you,"
"Shall I fetch a bottle of champagne madam to celebrate your engagement," Brabinger smiled.
Audrey narrowed her eyes at the old butler, "I didn't know we had any champagne Brabinger,"
"I kept a bottle of your late fathers special supply when we left the Manor madam, I thought it would be fitting to have on this occasion." Brabinger replied happily
"Very fitting," Richard agreed.
"Should I telephone Mrs. Polouvicka to invite her here to celebrate Madam?" Brabinger asked.
"Richard?" Audrey asked
"If it's alright with you darling I think it would be better to go to the Manor and celebrate there,"
Audrey nodded, "Yes of course, fetch the champagne please Brabinger, then we can all go to the Manor,"
"Very good madam,"
Richard stepped forward, "Before you go Brabinger, I would like to have a word with you tomorrow about a pay rise. I think you deserve a significant increase in pay, if you would like to be butler at Grantleigh again,"
"Thank you very much Sir, Yes that would be most agreeable," Brabinger grinned before making his way inside.
"You really are a very sweet man Richard DeVere," Audrey smiled wrapping her arms around his neck and pecking his lips.
"I know, but don't tell anyone else, I have my reputation as a ruthless business man to maintain," he joked.
"I won't tell a soul, now I think we should go to the manor before I'm tempted to take you upstairs again."
"Well I wouldn't say no, but you're right. We need to tell Mother, she will be so excited we're getting married."
"Not as excited as me."
Richard released her from his embrace and reached for her hand, "Let's go home,"