Page 93 of The Spinster (Emerson Pass Historicals 2)

My gaze darted to Papa. He nodded and smiled.

“Josephine, I’ve loved you from the first time I set eyes upon you. You’re everything I’ve wanted all my life. A place to call home. Will you be my forever home? Will you be my wife?” Phillip smiled up at me. “Please say you will.”

“Yes, I will marry you.”

He slipped the ring on my finger as my family clapped and cheered.

“You may kiss her,” Papa said. “Since you’re officially engaged.”

“As if they haven’t already,” Cymbeline said.

“Cym, hush,” Fiona said.

Phillip leaned close to brush his lips against mine. “Thank you for making me the happiest man in the world. I’ll not let you down.”

“I know you won’t.” I touched my hands to the sides of his face. “I trust you with my heart. With everything.”

When he stood, Delphia said, “Phillip, you may sit next to Jo now since you’re engaged.” She blinked her big blue eyes to show us all what a sacrifice she was making before sliding from the chair and heading to the one formerly occupied by Phillip.

I gazed down at the ring on my finger. “I’ve never seen this, Papa. I had no idea.”

“It was a secret,” Papa said. “A surprise from the past and a reminder of how much you’ve meant to this family. Your sacrifices and the good example you’ve always set for your younger brothers and sisters has never gone unnoticed. Your mama and I are so very proud of you.”

Tears spilled from my eyes at his kind words. “It was easy to be good with these people as my siblings.”

“Not that good,” Cymbeline said.

“Speak for yourself,” Fiona said, smiling sweetly.

Mama raised her glass. “Shall we toast our lovebirds?”

We all clinked glasses and then dived into our soup.

“When will the wedding be?” Addie asked.

“What will your dress be like?” Fiona’s eyes grew even bigger than usual. “Aunt Annabelle will make it for you, won’t she, Mama?”

“I don’t think we could stop her,” Mama said. “When would you like to marry?”

As soon as possible, I thought to myself. “What do you think, Phillip?”

“Whatever my bride wants is what I want.”

I placed my hand on his knee. “Should we have a winter wonderland wedding?”

“Wait until spring,” Cymbeline said. “So you can have it outside in the yard with all the flowers in bloom.”

“I’d like to walk you down the aisle at the church,” Papa said. “The first of five.”

“Yes, Papa. I’d like that too,” I said.

“Can I be the flower girl?” Delphia asked.

“How do you know about flower girls?” Mama asked.

“A book.” Delphia dipped her spoon back into her soup as if the answer were so obvious it wasn’t worth asking.

“A spring wedding does sound lovely,” Mama said. “And would give Annabelle time to make your dress. She has a lot of clients these days.”