I do as he asks, and he lifts my hands up to my face, wanting me to cover my eyes in case I get tempted. As the numbers decrease, I feel a little movement next to me on the bench. I have no idea what he’s doing.
‘Five… four… three… two… one!’
When I withdraw my hands, the lights in the grounds have been turned on and in the distance the pond that I’ve often stopped to admire has a cascade of water shooting up into the air in a flurry. The uplighters surrounding it create the most glorious chandelier-effect, as the droplets turn into little silver shards of light, glinting as they fall.
‘I had no idea the fountain even worked!’ I exclaim.
‘It didn’t. But it does now.’ Ronan reaches out for my hand and our fingers entwine.
Lapsing into silence for a short while, I just savour the moment. When I look back at the partygoers, everyone is gazing out across the grounds in awe.
‘No regrets, then,’ Ronan eventually murmurs. ‘And you approve of the ring?’ His voice is low, hesitant, and I can tell he wasn’t sure until he saw my reaction for himself.
‘I love the ring. I love you. I suppose my only regret is that I so wish the story had a happier ending for your grandfather, Ronan. It’s clear my grandma struggled to accept what I think she later saw as the inevitable outcome. I’m sure she carried a sense of guilt for that, throughout her entire life, and that’s why she could never bring herself to talk about it. She wasn’t one to give up on people and it would have hurt her so much to think of his suffering.’
Ronan extends his arm to draw me even closer and I shuffle up on the bench alongside him.
‘She did what she could and, most importantly, she cared. No wonder they all admired the Rose, and it’s those same qualities that made me fall in love with you, Lexie.’
I lean my head against Ronan’s shoulder.
He turns to place a soft kiss on my cheek, lingering for a moment before pulling away.
‘Versailles has always touched people’s hearts,’ he half whispers. ‘I keep remembering something I found amongst my grandfather’s personal effects. He wrote that “Nature is a reminder of the fundamental principles that are the fabric of life and sustainability. Cherish the habitat around you, for it is a healer for all.” I think what he meant wasn’t necessarily linked in with the effects of modern-day living, but he was talking about people’s mental well-being. He found his peace when he was alone, tending the plants; it was the only time he was able to truly relax – a little respite from the thoughts and fears that haunted him.’
I turn, touching Ronan’s cheek as our eyes meet.
‘We don’t live in a perfect world and that will always cause those who are visionaries to suffer. But without people like that, people who care so much that it becomes their reason for being, so much could be lost. Plants, trees, animals… you name it. People like your grandfather make us all stop and think, and ultimately that’s a good thing, Ronan.’
‘I know, but I’m done with the past. Now it’s all about us and the future.’
He adjusts his position to throw his arm around my shoulders and we both feel the promise of what’s to come.
Ronan leans in to kiss me so softly that when I close my eyes the touch tingles, like a spark of electricity arcing.
Staring down at my hand, I touch the shiny stone that glints back at me, reflecting shards of light from the floodlight situated behind the bench.
‘But Versailles will always be in our hearts, for good reason,’ Ronan continues. ‘And one day, we might even be whisking our child – children, even – off to show them where we met and fell in love.’
The legacy doesn’t end with the story contained within a poignant and beautifully written hardback book. It’s time for Ronan and I to begin the next part of the journey. I can’t wait to discover what the first chapter will hold, but I know the perfect man to help write the story, at some point in the future.
The story of us.