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He waited until Leo had gone through his bedti, Dimitri went downstairs to wait for Erin in the library while she read a bedtime story

He lit a fire, which crackledover the rows of books which lined the rooround He spoke to Svetlana and soon two crystal flutes were standing beside a bottle in an ice bucket, but Erin’s footsteps were so quiet that he didn’t realise she was in the rooht in front of him

She had changed and brushed her hair, so that it gleamed like a dark waterfall around her shoulders, and a soft woollen dress was hugging her slender hips He noticed that she frowned slightly when she saw the bottle standing on the table next to the peach blossom bonsai tree

‘Cha?’

‘I don’t know’ He lifted the bottle froers ‘At least, not yet’

‘Is this soame?’

‘Do you want to try guessing?’

‘Okay’ She screwed up her face ‘We’re celebrating a successful trip?’

‘That’s one thing we could drink to, I agree It has been a very successful trip’ He peeled away the foil and let it flutter to the table ‘Which is why I think we should get married’

Erin stared at him

‘Did you say married—just out of the blue like that?’

‘Why not?’ There was a hissing little pop as he eased the cork from the bottle ‘What do you say?’

What did she say? Erin sed She didn’t have a clue how to respond She felt perplexed—and bewildered This had co whatsoever And noas pouring cha up the sides of a flute so delicate she was terrified her shaking hand ile stem She shook her head as he held the flute out towards her

‘Not right now, thanks This has co understatement in her words She tried to rid her voice of any hope or expectation ‘I mean, why? Why do you want to marry me, Dimitri?’

‘You don’t know?’

‘If I kneouldn’t have to ask’