Saturday morning came and Elizabeth laid in her bed before getting up for the day. She was excited like a kid on Christmas because today was her first date with Nathan. He was keeping it secret as to what he had planned for them. He wouldn't even tell them where they were going, just to be ready after lunch. Elizabeth got up and dressed for the day, wearing her favorite white blouse and pink skirt. She walked across the hall to see if Jack was up.

What Elizabeth didn't know is that Nathan had gone to Rosemary the day before. He wanted to ask for her help in planning the perfect date for Elizabeth. Nathan knew that Elizabeth was still recovering from her illness so he had to adjust his initial plans. He had been out on rounds when he came up with the perfect idea. Rosemary agreed that it was romantic and something Elizabeth would love. She even offered to watch the kids for the day.

Elizabeth sat at her desk, working on her novel. She had fed Jack and settled him on the blanket in front of the settee with his toys. She was working on the story when she heard a knock on the door.

"Rosemary, what are you going here? Did we have plans?"

"I thought we could have lunch today. And there were some lovely new outfits in the dress shop I wanted to show you."

"Maybe another day? I have plans with Nathan this afternoon."

"I know, and we will be back in plenty of time. Lee offered to watch Jack too."

Elizabeth looked confused at her friend. She couldn't remember telling Rosemary about her date with Nathan, or at least what day it was on. She thought she must have said something and she was grateful for some time with Rosemary. They hadn't had lunch in a long time.

"I'd love to Rosemary. Let me get some of Jack's things and I will be over shortly."

"Excellent. See you then!"

Rosemary walked out and shut the door behind her. "Ok, sweet boy. Are you ready to go spend the day with Uncle Lee?" Jack clapped his hands while smiling at his mom. Elizabeth cleaned up in the kitchen and packed up a bag for Jack.

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Rosemary looped her arm through Elizabeth's as they walked to town. "Isn't this fun? We haven't had a girls day in so long."

"I was just thinking that. Thank you Rosemary. I needed this."

"My pleasure. Let's go to the dress shop first. It is closed for the day so we will have the whole shop to ourselves."

"Really? Rosemary, what is going on?"

"Nothing is going on. Can't I want to help my friend find a new dress for her date today?"

Elizabeth smiled at the thought of something new. She wanted to start out her new relationship with Nathan on the right foot. He had seen most of her dresses already, so it might be nice to surprise him. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a look," Elizabeth said with a smile.

The two of them walked into the dress shop and Rosemary locked the door behind them. Rosemary led Elizabeth over to the curtain in the back of the room. Rosemary had hung up three dresses in the changing area before closing for the night. Two dresses were hung up in front of the third one. The two dresses in front looked exactly like other things that Elizabeth had in her closet. Elizabeth walked closer to the dresses, pushing the other ones aside. She pulled the third dress off the hook and held it out in front of her.

The dress was a light blue that reminded her of the color of Nathan's eyes. It had capped sleeves with a thin, gauze like material. The dress gathered at the waist and went into a skirt that fell to the floor. Elizabeth had seen Fiona walk around in a shorter length skirt but she wasn't sure she was quite ready for that yet.

"This is beautiful Rosemary."

"I was hoping you would like that one. Honestly, I put the other dresses in front of it in the hope that if you tried on something you usually wear that maybe you would take a chance on that one."

"I think I am ready to take chances." Elizabeth went behind the curtain and tried on the dress. When she came out and stood in front of the mirror. Rosemary gasped. Elizabeth smiled. Neither of them needed to say a word. Elizabeth nodded at Rosemary and went to change back into her other dress. She would take it home and put it on before meeting Nathan later.

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Rosemary had convinced Elizabeth to change back into her new dress before walking home after lunch. Elizabeth wasn't sure why she couldn't just wait until she got home but she decided it might be easier to just go along with it than argue with Rosemary. Besides she was excited about the dress and the date with Nathan. Rosemary told Elizabeth not to hurry to get Jack after her date and she could pick him up in the morning if she needed to. Elizabeth was grateful to have such great friends living next door.

Elizabeth walked up to her door and opened it as Rosemary walked up her own steps. She didn't see her friend watching Elizabeth's reaction as she opened the door. Elizabeth's eyes opened wide and she walked slowly into the house, shutting the door behind her. There were dozens of bouquets of wildflowers set up around her row house. 'Where did they come from?' she thought as she walked through, touching each one and bending down to smell them. She saw the back door of her house was open and she walked through her kitchen to look outside.

Nathan was standing outside next to a blanket set up in her backyard. There were more flowers on the blanket with a picnic basket. Lanterns were set up around the yard but they weren't lit yet. Nathan was dressed up in a suit but he had removed the jacket and he didn't have a tie on. Nathan eyes looked into Elizabeth's as she walked to the doorway and then he looked over her outfit. He smiled as he recognized that she had dressed up for the occasion just as he had. Both of them knew what an important step this was.

"Nathan, what are you doing? Are all the flowers inside from you?"

"Why, Mrs. Thornton. Did you not remember our date?"

"You know I did. But I thought we'd go to the cafe or something."

Nathan walked over to her and took both of her hands in his. He brought her hands to his lips, kissing them slowly. Elizabeth felt her breath catch as the butterflies fluttered in her stomach. "Elizabeth, I wanted the chance for us to be alone and to talk. I know that you are still recovering and I didn't want to push you by taking a ride somewhere. I hope that this is ok. If you would rather go out to dinner, we can pack this all up and I will take you to the cafe tonight. It is your decision."

Elizabeth watched Nathan's face. She knew that he meant every word and he would be as happy with whatever she decided. "This is perfect! I can't believe you did all this. How did you know I'd be gone earlier?"

"I may have had some help from Rosemary," Nathan said with a wink, leading Elizabeth to go sit down on the blanket.

"Of course she helped."

"She was happy to help in some small way. And she said she would watch the kids all night if we needed her too."

Nathan and Elizabeth sat and talked for hours. Elizabeth told Nathan about being back in the classroom and how she missed her students. Nathan talked about visiting some of the citizens outside of town and the conversation he had with Rosemary to ask for her help. After a little while, Nathan asked Elizabeth about her book.

"Elizabeth, I wanted to let you know that the book I read of yours was amazing. You are a gifted writer. How is the novel you are writing coming along?

"I haven't had a chance to work on a lately but I have a few chapters done. I am trying to decide on what happens next."

"You still won't let me read it?"

"I will, just not yet. I want to have more of it written before I do. It's not that I don't trust you, it's just…"

"I know, Elizabeth. It's a big thing to have me read it."

"It is."

Both of them stared at each other for a minute until the wind blew through Elizabeth's hair, moving it in front of her face. Elizabeth laughed as she smoothed it back into place. Nathan smiled thinking how beautiful she was.

"Elizabeth, there is something I need to talk to you about."

"Oh?"

"I didn't want to have to talk about this tonight, but it seemed better while we were alone. You know that Bill and I have been looking into Edward Morton right?" Elizabeth nodded, waiting for Nathan to continue. "Well Fiona has been monitoring the calls to and from Edward's office. The other day he called Charles Kensington."

"He called Charles? Why?"

"We aren't sure why. Bill said Charles Kensington used to work for your father and maybe you would know more about his business."

"Did Bill say anything else?"

"No, should he have?"

"It's nothing, I just don't want us to have any secrets if Charles could be involved in something with Edward Morton. My family runs in the same circles as the Kensingtons in Hamilton. Our families have been close for years. Charles even worked for my father once but he opened his own business a few years ago. It was after I came to Hope Valley so I don't know much about it. Charles did come to Hope Valley once."

"He did?" Nathan asked.

"Once. After Jack and I started courting. I went to Hamilton after my mom got sick but I came back to town a few weeks later. Charles came to Hope Valley after that to ask me to marry him. I said no because I have never had any feelings like that for him."

"So you broke his heart?" Nathan said with a smile, leaning closer to Elizabeth.

"I doubt it was broken long if at all. I heard he courted and married a socialite shortly after returning to Hamilton."

"So no regrets in not marrying Mr. Kensington?"

Elizabeth reached for Nathan's hand. "If I said yes, I would have moved back to Hamilton. I wouldn't have married Jack and I wouldn't have my son. And right now, the important thing is I wouldn't be sitting here with the most handsome man in town on the most perfect date."

Nathan leaned down and softly kissed Elizabeth. After pulling back and looking in her eyes, he knew he loved her but he wasn't sure if it was too soon to tell her. But there was one thing he knew he wanted to do. "Elizabeth, there is something I want to give you tonight."

Elizabeth looked down and Nathan was holding the black box she had seen in his desk in the Mountie office. He hadn't even said that he loved her, would he really ask her to marry him. What would she say if he did. Her heart began to race but then Nathan opened the box. A pair of diamond earrings shined back at her. She put her hand out and touched the box. She smiled back at Nathan at he looked back at her.

"Elizabeth, you mean so much to me. These earrings were my mother's. She gave them to me before I left for my first posting. When I first met you, I knew that you were the woman that I wanted to have them."

"Nathan, they are beautiful. Thank you. I will treasure them always. You mean a lot to me too." Elizabeth put her hand behind Nathan's neck and pulled him in for a kiss. She put all the emotion into it that she was feeling. Both of them sat back to catch their breath. Elizabeth went to put the earrings on and Nathan stood to light the lanterns in the yard. The two of them spent more time laughing and telling stories, sharing kisses underneath the stars.