Summer 1592
Checking the hidden inner pocket of his ornate silk doublet, William breathed a nervous sigh of relief. It was still there. He had been anxious that it might have been lost on the ride out to the picnic spot under the giant oak. Their favourite spot within his father’s estate. When Elizabeth had insisted that they give their horses their heads and set off at a gallop, he had been forced to give chase.
Glancing at the headstrong young woman who had stolen his heart, he knew this was his moment.
“Lizzie,” he began as he went down on one knee before her. “Will you do me the honour of agreeing to become my wife?”
Tears of joy filled her blue eyes as she replied, “Yes. Yes, I will.”
Smiling, William slipped the gold pyramid diamond ring onto her slender ring finger then lowered his lips and kissed her hand.
Autumn 1992
Around her, the house was blessedly quiet after her fraught day in court. In the bedroom next door, her twin daughters lay sound asleep, oblivious to the bitter divorce battle that had raged in the courtroom all day. Hearing that she had been granted sole custody was that Lizzie had needed to hear. She didn’t want that monster near her precious girls. Details of the generous divorce settlement had washed over her. Afterwards her lawyer had said she should have pressed Bill for the house in Devon and for a larger share of the firm that they had run together…her firm originally.
Seven years of a toxic, emotionally abusive, adulterous marriage were finally over. She could scarcely believe it. There was only one thing left to be undone.
Carefully, Lizzie slid her antique Tudor gold engagement ring with its pyramid point diamond from her ring finger.
She was finally free.
Winter 2022
An old-fashioned bell jingled as the young man entered the high-end jewellers. Dressed in black leather from head to toe, his long dark hair falling over his slender shoulders, Will wasn’t the usual style of customer that the antique jewellers attracted.
With two free days between gigs, he had seized the opportunity to check out a Tudor ring that he had seen advertised online. He needed the ring to be authentic when he finally plucked up the courage to ask Lizzie to marry him.
When the manager brough the ring out for him to view, he knew instantly that this was “the one.” A pyramid point diamond, set in a simple gold rectangle with some worn engraving on the ring’s shoulders.
As he slipped the ring in its black velvet pouch into his inside jacket pocket, Will wondered how many true loves it had shared over the last five centuries.
(credits to the owner of the image – sourced via Google)
Coral McCallum 