Read Online The Girl with the Creel by Doris Davidson - Free Book Online

when he let her go, he fished in the breast pocket of his jacket and produced a small velvet box. ‘I bought the ring last week after I spoke to your father.’
    Feeling a niggle of irritation that he’d taken her answer for granted, she nevertheless opened the box as if it contained the crown jewels. It wasn’t an expensive ring, she could see that even in the feeble rays of the moon – just one tiny diamond on a raised shank – but it was likely all he could afford. ‘Oh, Peter, it’s right bonnie,’ she assured him.
    â€˜Let me put it on,’ he said, lifting her hand. ‘The jeweller said he’d change it if you didn’t like it, or if it didn’t fit.’
    She did like it, and when he slid the ring down her finger it fitted as if it had been made for her. His arms came round her again, and his kisses were all a young girl could have desired – if she hadn’t been comparing them with another man’s. ‘My dearest darling,’ Peter muttered hoarsely, ‘you’ll never regret this.’
    Already half regretting it, she could only say, ‘I know I won’t.’
    â€˜I love you, Lizann. I love you with my heart, my soul and my body. I’d wed you tomorrow if I could.’
    â€˜My mother’ll want me to fill my bottom drawer first, so it’ll be a year or so yet.’
    â€˜A year or so yet?’ He grabbed her again. ‘What if I say I can’t wait another year? Will you let me …?’
    His heavy breathing alarmed her. She wasn’t ready for this. It did seem like a sin when it was Peter. ‘No! I’ll not let you, not till you put the wedding ring on.’
    â€˜Is the engagement ring not enough?’
    She pulled away from him. ‘No it’s not, and if you’re going to carry on like this, Peter Tait, you’d better take it back.’
    He took a deep breath. ‘I’m sorry, Lizann. It’s just that I haven’t held you for so long … I didn’t mean it, and I’ll not do it again.’
    â€˜You’d better not!’ She was on the point of saying she wasn’t a girl like that when she remembered that it would be a downright untruth. Less than a week ago, she had … No! She mustn’t think of that! ‘It’s better to wait,’ she said, gently.
    â€˜Aye, and as long as I know you love me …’ He broke off and gazed earnestly into her eyes. ‘You do still love me?’
    â€˜Yes, Peter, I still love you.’
    His breath came out in a long contented sigh. ‘That’s all I wanted to know.’ Slipping his arm around her waist, he pulled her forward. ‘We’d better move; we’ll be frozen to the spot if we stand here much longer.’
    Just before they reached Portgordon, Peter swivelled her round to make the return journey. ‘I wish there was a place we could sit down and have a real cuddle … and I just mean a cuddle,’ he added, hastily.
    â€˜There’ll be plenty time for cuddling once the better nights come in,’ Lizann murmured, already apprehensive as to where cuddling might lead. She didn’t want to spoil their marriage by giving in to him beforehand.
    â€˜It’s funny,’ Peter reflected, ‘a couple of years ago, if anybody had said you’d be my wife some day, I’d have laughed in their face.’
    â€˜Was I so ugly?’
    â€˜That’s not what I … you were Mick’s wee sister, always there.’
    â€˜Like the furniture?’ She couldn’t resist teasing him.
    â€˜You know what I mean. I didn’t realize you were growing up till I saw you in that pink frock.’
    She was seventeen and a half now, but it was still difficult for her to accept a compliment. ‘You fell in love with the frock?’
    He stopped and pulled her against him. ‘I fell in love with the lovely young girl inside the frock. Your lips were