She was still blushing hard at what he said when she got out of the shower. He really does want to marry me! And the kiss he gave me! She was still swooning over it. He really was concerned about her, though. He wanted me to live with him. With all of his puzzles. She could only sigh at that. But, obviously by now, he knew that she liked puzzles.

While she was finishing up her shower, he was signing off on the parcel that contained her gown. He was able to walk out to the main gate to receive it. Right after that, a package from the jewelry shop arrived. He had almost made it to the door when the delivery man rang the buzzer. Chuckling softly, he made his way back out to receive it. He set the parcel with her gown in her guest bedroom. The jewelry package he took into his study on the second floor to open up.

What he had were several various rings of solid gold. There were fittings for gems, but the gems were missing. He already had them separately. Getting out a small silver chest, he set them next to the displayed ring pieces. Sitting back in his leather chair, he waited patiently.

She walked up to him in a modest, dark green dress. He smiled softly and gestured for her to have a seat in front of him. On looking at what he had, she paused in thought.

"My dear, can you find me a small pillow? I may have one in the parlor," he said.

"Of course," she nodded. He waited for her to bring him the small reddish-cream colored pillow. He took it from her and thought.

"Do you still have that silver key you found from my clock?" he asked quietly.

"I do. Oh! The chest?" she asked when she saw it.

"Yes. It's time to open it," he nodded. She went and grabbed the small key to bring back. Unlocking the small chest, she was momentarily dazzled by the gems within it. "Thank you, my dear. Now, can you put this ring puzzle together? After it's put together, I need you to set it with any gems that fit it. If you could, I would appreciate it."

"Very well," she nodded. She had to sit down to do this, and she took her time to piece each slender ring together. The parts that held the rings together were also designed to have gems lock into them. There was one large stone holder and six smaller ones. The larger one obviously locked on top. The rest attached to various rings. When the small ring was put together, she went through the silver chest with a set of tweezers that were included. She fit the gems within the clasps and realized that it was a beautiful gold and diamond ring that she pieced together.

"Lovely," he smiled. "May I have it?"

"Here you go," she chuckled. On taking it, he moved in front of her and gestured for her to stand. Then he set the pillow on the ground and knelt on it. Only then did her jaw drop. She knew what was happening even when he presented the ring to her.

"Marjery Delury," he said with a controlled voice. "Will you marry me?"

"I..." she trembled at how neatly all of this fell into place. "Yes!"

He slipped the ring on her finger, stood up, and kissed her fully. He was still trembling with her, as he held her. "You are moving in with me. Tonight. After the event."

"Okay," she managed to whisper.

"I'll pay off whatever debts you have left of the month you owe. I'll have several officers with us, too. We still have a couple hours before we need to leave. I'll call for a coach to come for us to take us there. Don't worry about anything, my dear. I'm handling everything."

"To think that...just yesterday morning...none of this was..."

"I know. Trust me. I do," he chuckled and kissed her again. "I love you."

"I love you," she said back. Oh, my heart is beating so fast! He pressed another kiss to her mouth and hugged her to him. A heavy sigh of relief escaped him now.

"You should get ready. I'll do the same," he said. When she left to her room, he grabbed his cane to lean on it. Closing his eyes, he gave a soft, quiet smile. Then he heard something.

"Beware the coachman!" a ghostly voice hissed. His eyes popped open, and he frowned. The coachman? On thinking about what he planned to do, his jaw dropped. Did a ghost from her old town follow us? If it did, he was grateful. Then he remembered something. The crystal that was given to me. I didn't hear the ghosts until she gave it to me. Did it not only lead me to Marjery, but allowed me to hear her ancestors, too? He took it out and studied it. It looked like a clear, ordinary crystal. But, it did seem to shine oddly in various ways. He put it back into his breast pocket and pondered. Licking his lips a touch, he went to his phone to call for a carriage to be sent over shortly. Then he stopped himself. I was told to beware it.

"I think I may have been spared from a trap," he muttered to himself. He called up the authorities for a far safer way to get to the Officer's Ball. At the same time, he would remind himself to look at the one driving the carriage. That would be the best thing to do. He would do the same, as they left. Any coachman could be someone I couldn't trust. He was in a purely protective state right now. His new, official fiancée would be protected with everything he had.

As he was now getting ready for the event, she had just slipped into the cream-colored gown of ruffles and silks. It gave her a dramatic, plunging cleavage and clung to her figure. Matching shoes were also included, much to her surprise. She was able to pull out her brush and some hair pins to have parts of her hair up, but kept most of it down to compliment her figure in the dress. She never had her ears pierced, or had any other jewelry. She simply had no need for it.

She tested her walk in the new shoes carefully. They were platform heels of a sort, and she wasn't used to wearing such shoes. Once she got her balance down, she examined herself in the mirror to put on a little of the makeup she did have. Then she walked out to wait at the base of the stairwell. She was very nervous about meeting him dressed so scantily. To her, a gown like this was considered risqué.

He walked out of his room and down the dark red velvet-lined stairs. On seeing her waiting for him, he stopped and stared at her unyielding beauty. She thought she wasn't pretty. To me, she was absolutely stunning. She simply didn't wear anything that fully complimented her figure. And the way her hair cascaded down her shoulders in soft coils from being pinned up was completely hypnotizing. He was dressed in his best suit of dark blue with gold highlights. His favorite golden ball-tipped cane was at his side, and his hands were adorned with the usual white satin gloves.

"Hello, Dupin," she smiled. He cleared his throat, neatened his dark blue top hat, and walked the rest of the way down. He offered her his arm, and she accepted it. What she didn't see was the small pistol in his inner jacket pocket. He had warned the officials that he would be armed.

"Just stay at my side. All through the night," he muttered to her softly. "I refuse to let you go."

"I wouldn't want to leave," she shivered. He put his arm around her.

"Good," he nodded. "Just so you know, I do have a gun on me."

"What?"

"A sense of foreboding. I'm taking precautions."

"Very well," she frowned.

"And...I'm going to tell you something else," he smiled.

"What's that?"

"Dupin is actually my last name. In time, I'll tell you another name," he chuckled. At that, her jaw dropped a touch. "And to know that you will be Mrs. Dupin in due time, I am extremely happy."

"I..."

"Hush, my dear. Come. Our carriage awaits," he said. Very gently, he guided her through the gates to the waiting carriage. On studying the man driving the carriage, he noticed that it was an officer. There were also three other officers in the carriage, too, to ensure a safe passage. They took his warning very seriously. Letting her sit next to him, the carriage began to move. They all didn't seem to recognize Marjery from her new finery and looks. At the way Dupin had her at his side, it clearly showed that this girl was rather special to him.

"An honor to meet you, Detective Dupin!" one of the men said.

"Likewise. This is Marjery Delury. My assistant and new fiancée," he chuckled with a touch of pride. She actually blushed at him, but she nodded all the same.

"Truly?! Congratulations, Sir!" a second man said.

"When is the big day?" the third officer asked.

"Ah, that's still to be decided," Dupin laughed softly. He kept a casual arm around her waist through the whole ride. "Are you well, my dear?"

"I'm fine," she smiled.

"Many women are going to be quite jealous," the second officer grinned.

"Well, only this one at my side can solve my puzzle locks with ease," he grinned back. "And, she's been there at my side for a numerous amount of my cases. I wouldn't have made a better choice."

"Very true," the first man agreed. They chatted about various things throughout the twenty minute ride. Marjery could only blush from the soft squeeze he gave her now and then.

"I think we're here," the third officer said when he looked out a window.

"That we are. Come, my dear," Dupin gestured for her hand. Giving it to him, she let him lead her into the Officer's Ball.