Chapter 3: Cover Up

A/N: I had the idea for this chapter ages ago, thought it was a good one, and then really struggled to get it down on paper!

Molly at the jewellery store seemed so excited when Richard came to pick up the ring anyone would think she was the one getting married. Her high emotions were caused by the prospect of the island holding a "royal" wedding. Richard had given up trying to explain the difference to the locals between Royal Dukedoms and Inherited Peerages such as his Father's title. He was pretty sure even Camille thought he was related to the Queen in some way.

"So, have you sorted all the other details?" She asked as she carefully placed the ring in the box. She had asked him if he had any preference on boxes, but at his look immediately suggested she could also just select a suitable one.

"I think so," he said. He still had to decide what he was actually going to say when he asked, but he had a week to work on that. There probably were books in the library to help him. Or he could go on to YouTube and type in "marriage proposals" to get some inspiration.

Molly leaned across the counter, looking almost conspiratorial, and asked in a low voice, "So where you going to ask then?"

"Oh, um, on top of the volcano?" he didn't know why it came out as a question, her quizzing him had suddenly made him feel a little insecure about the whole idea.

"Oh that is a beautiful spot!" Molly replied, reassuring him about his choice. "Have you been up there a lot then?"

"Uh, no, actually. I thought I would find an excuse to go up there before hand though, find exactly the right spot."

His admission made him feel a little ashamed, he was worried Molly might judge him for never having bothered to go to what was meant to be the island's most beautiful spot. He really had been meaning to. In fact, if anyone was to blame for him not having gone yet it was Camille. Every Saturday they had off together he had always awoken with the intention of proposing they go up there. But before he could speak she would always give him this smile that usually resulted in, well, them not getting much further than the bed for the rest of the morning.

The look he was receiving from Molly was probably actually closer to concern than displeasure. "Um, what is it?" He asked her.

Her expression instantly changed back to cheerful and she said brightly, "Oh you'll be fine, you're a police officer after all! But me, I doubt I'd have enough breath to propose by the time I got to the top of the volcano!"

There was absolutely no suggestion in her tone that she was trying to drop a hint, but Richard got it anyway. He asked casually, "Oh, it's a somewhat difficult climb then?"

"Well, one of the things that makes it so nice is how quiet it is up there because most of the tourists don't make it to the top!"

Unbidden, an image came into Richard's mind. Him, covered in sweat and close to dehydration, croaking out a proposal and fumbling and dropping the ring due to sheer exhaustion. Naturally, in this mental picture, Camille looked as lovely as ever – perhaps a slight colour in her cheeks put there by the exercise. She would take one look at him, realise how old he was, and decline.

Luckily, nearly a year of being with Camille had done wonders for Richard's self-confidence. There was probably a time when this mental image would have been enough for him to toss the whole idea of proposing out the window – and further more declare to Camille that she was wasting her time with him and should go find somebody younger, fitter and more handsome. However in the time they had been in a relationship she had never showed the slightest interest in other men and he was quite assured of her feelings for him. If he wasn't, he would never have considered proposing in the first place.

As a consequence, he quashed the image as being unhelpful, and instead resolved to simply delay the proposal from Camille's birthday to their anniversary instead. This would give him plenty of time to climb the volcano multiple times ensuring that, on the day, he would in fact have enough breath to be able to propose when they reached the top. Of course the main difficulty now would be how to hide his activities from Camille…

It had been more than a little embarrassing asking for Fidel's help with the whole proposal 'training'. The younger officer had naturally readily agreed to help. Richard would only need his assistance as a guide the first couple of times, then he'd just be able to make his way up there on his own. Though it would be important for somebody to know where he actually was at those times, because if they didn't he would probably trip, break an ankle, be unable to get phone signal and end up trapped overnight half way up the blasted volcano.

Now he was in the front room, doing his very best to not lie to Camille – instead, he was simply omitting the truth. Today was to be his first solo foray up the mountain, and Camille was interested in what he was up to – especially given he had had to take the afternoon off especially, and that he had spent time away from her both Saturday and Sunday in his effort to get prepared.

"You said that you thought it was important that we spend time away from each other, and pursue our own individual interests," he pointed out once again.

"Yes, but when I said that I imagined my interests would be going out with my friends and your interests would be staying in and reading a good book and thus you would be here when I got home. But first off you switch to reading in the library and then, well, I didn't realise you were going to suddenly start socialising with other people!" She sounded quite annoyed, though her statement if anything gave Richard the right to be the annoyed one.

"So, slight double standards there."

As soon as he said it she looked guilty, staring at the floor morosely, "I know, I'm sorry. I am just completely spoilt and used to having you whenever I want. You, go on, have fun…what are you doing again?"

"Chess, with Father Charles." He phrased it carefully, so it was technically true. He actually was popping in to see Father Charles for all of five minutes to borrow a book about chess strategy from him, but Camille didn't need to know that. He leant over to give her what was meant to be a brief kiss goodbye, but she placed a hand on the back of his neck to keep him in place for something much more thorough. When they did finally break apart, he felt an overwhelming desire to say something to cheer her up, "Well perhaps I can cut back a little on being away from home." She looked ready to drag him off to bed, so he had to add resolutely, "But not this afternoon, I already have plans."

One of the saving graces of his complete inability to cope with the heat, and his refusal to wear more climate appropriate clothing, was that it was in no way unusual when he returned home covered in sweat. It was not unusual for him to shower nearly as soon as he got home from work so he was certain it would not arose suspicion if he were to do so as soon as he got in the door. God knows he needed one.

However his progress towards the bathroom came to an abrupt halt when he realised Camille was sitting on the bed crying soundlessly. This triggered his normal reaction to her tears: complete and utter panic.

"Oh my God, Camille, what's the matter?"

She stared at the quilt as she told her tale, "I decided to go out to the market and I bumped into Father Charles. I was surprised, asked if you'd already finished your game and he said I must have misunderstood because you had only popped in for five minutes to borrow a book! But you said you would be out all afternoon, so that begs the question – where have you been?"

He opened his mouth to offer an explanation. Even though she still wasn't looking at him she must have sensed what he was about to do, because she held up a hand to prevent him speaking, "Then I got to thinking that you know, this wouldn't be the first time you'd been away and vague about where and why. And how you'd come back from the library but you never seemed to have any new books. You've found somebody else, haven't you?" At this point she burst into noisy, messy sobs that took Richard back entirely. Camille, to be fair, had enough evidence to be suspicious but he would never have expected her to react in this manner.

"You aren't denying it! I'm right, aren't I?" She half wailed.

"NO! No, it's not that. Of course I haven't found anyone else. I think you know that too, because if you really thought I was having an affair you'd have killed me by now – or at least caused actual bodily harm." He moved cautiously towards her as he said this, still a little afraid the tears may be a front to lure him into a false sense of security before she smothered him with a pillow.

"I love you too much to kill you!"

He couldn't help himself, a short burst of laughter escaped him at her pronouncement. "It's not funny!" Camille protested. "You're an Earl, there are loads of woman on this island who would give anything to be a Duchess and most of them are probably more suitable than me as well!" Oh God, she was just feeling insecure. It was normally the role he took on in the relationship.

He took his cue from the way she behaved towards him when he started believing she was too good for him. Sitting down on the bed next to her, he lifted her chin and told her firmly, "I love you and there isn't anybody else in the whole world, let alone on the island, that could take me away from you." It was probably the cheesiest, most cringe-worthy words he had ever uttered – but it did seem to calm her down a bit.

"Where have you been then?"

That was a good question, luckily he was hit by a flash of inspiration and told her cheerfully, "Well, its somebodies birthday in a couple of days!" That was not a lie, it was her birthday. Not that his activities had anything to do with it.

Camille took the bait, interpreting his statement exactly as he hoped, "You've been working on a surprise for my birthday? Oh God, now I've ruined it, I'm a terrible girlfriend!"

"You are not a terrible girlfriend," he told her sincerely before pulling her into a hug.

So, now not only did he have a proposal to prepare for – he also had to arrange a surprise party in two days! God help him.