This is a story about Phillip Carlyle and Elizabeth Gray - a close friend of Anne's who joins the circus with her. Elizabeth and Phillip instantly attracted to one another. However, Elizabeth knows her place in society and questions whether or not P...
I showed them the ring a few moments after I announced that I was going to propose. Looking for any sign of Lizzy, I pulled the small box out of the pocket sewn inside my jacket. I opened the box and placed in on the table separating myself and Anne from the others. Anne had helped me get the ring when Lizzy fell ill and Megan was taking care of her.
The jeweller had described it as having a rose gold band, I didn't know there were different shades of gold to be honest but nevertheless. It had three small diamonds; one positioned in the centre of the ring while the other two were placed either side of it. Holding the diamonds in place was another band of gold, studded with tinier diamonds- this was repeated along the front band of the ring.
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It wasn't as fancy as the others in the store, but it was still beautiful. It was uniquely beautiful and different...just like Lizzy. I had ensured that no part of the ring was raised, so Lizzy could still wear it while she was performing.
"How? Did you get this?" W.D asked as he looked between the ring and me.
"Yeah, I actually did you afford the ring Phillip? I mean after purchasing a house outside the city....where did you get the money from?" Anne said as she referred to W.D's question.
"It is simple really." I began. "I sold the pocket watch my father gave to me as a child. It was gold with some other qualities and had enough value to purchase both items. But enough about that. I don't know exactly how I am going to propose." I confided, keeping an eye on the stairs.
"Keep it simple. Away from everyone. Just you and her." Mrs Barnum informed.
Everyone through possible ideas for where and when I could propose to Lizzy, Anne ended up moving towards the window to look at the snow. But none of them felt right.
"What about ice skating?" Anne piped up, still gazing out the window. "It is the perfect setting, I mean a winter wonderland. And just as you are about to leave the ice and head home. You ask her."
Ice skating.
Simple but elegant and not over the top. It is away from the public eye and Lizzy has always talked about how much she loves the snow.
"Ice skating." I repeated. "It Is perfect."
"Okay, I think we should go back downstairs now." I heard Lizzy call out to the girls as I quickly chucked the ring box inside the pocket.
"Act normal." I whispered before Lizzy and the girls came back down stairs. The girls telling us all about there twenty minute adventure with Lizzy.
"What were you guys talking about while I was kidnapped?" She joked as she sat down besides me, her fingers intertwining with mine.
"Nothing much." Anne stated plainly. "Just admiring the winter weather."
"It is beautiful isn't it? A fresh start for all aspects of life"
"How did last nights performance go?" Barnum asked, pulling Lizzy away from her train of thought.
Lizzy began to talk all about last nights show, illustrating every single detail to P.T. I, on the other hand, couldn't help but drift away from the conversation as I planned the ice skating trip with Lizzy.
We could do it this evening, before the show. Spend the rest of day at the lake which is not to far away from the house. My mind drifted further and further away from the conversation as I formulated the plan for this evening.
****
Lizzy's Pov
We bided the Barnum's goodbye after staying there for nearly three hours. Anne and W.D were unusually quite as we road back towards the market place, Phillip claiming he needed to get something.
To quietness of the carriage didn't bother me, I just sat and watched the scenery, occasionally looking at Phillip , who was lost in his own thoughts. I slid my hand into his as I turned my head to look back out side the window. His fingers linking with mine.
"How were Caroline and Helen shows?" Anne asked, looking up from the book Mrs Barnum had let her borrow for the week.
"Wonderful. Caroline showed me her ballet while Helen demonstrated how to be a tree, asking that she could perform one night at the circus."
"And what did you say?" Anne laughed.
"I said that she would be welcomed anytime."
Anne and I both laughed as we pulled up at the market place. Phillip lurching out of the carriage immediately and heading towards a store a few meters away from the carriage, before remembering that I was in the carriage and returning to help me out.
I said goodbye to Anne and W.D as they headed towards there apartment and Phillip lead me into a shop. A shoe shop to be exact.
"Phillip? What are we doing in here?" I whispered, smiling at the store owner as he glanced up from his paper.
Phillip ignored me as he searched for what he was looking for, pulling out two boxes when he did.
"I thought we could go ice skating at the lake near the house, this afternoon. He said as held up two pairs of ice skated. Phillip walked away to purchase the skates, handing over a brooch of some sorts to the retailer.
Once we were outside, I immediately began to ask questions. "What was that? The thing you payed with the shoes for?"
"Something from my old life which I do not need anymore." He announced as he hoped into the carriage, helping me into it as well.
"What was it?" No reply
"Phillip?" Still silence.
"Are you hiding something from me?" I finally asked.
Phillip looked at me as if I had told him that two plus two makes four, before placing a kiss on my forehead. Stating that he was not hiding anything.
I am pretty positive that he is lying.
How do I know?
Since I have known Phillip I have noticed three things that he does when he is stressed, upset or lying.
1. He runs his hands through his hair.
2. He gives my hand a re-assuring squeeze
and the all too common
3. He says "I'm fine" which is accompanied by smile that someone gives you when they pretend they are okay, but they are really not.
And since he just did all three things simultaneously I am pretty positive that he is lying to me.
I shook off the feeling of hurt as we arrived at the house, Phillip racing inside to grab me a jacket so we can go ice skating straight away.
He seemed pretty set on going ice skating right away, since it was the only thing he talked about all the way here.
I slipped on a green jacket, one to match the thick winter dress I was wearing, as well as a pair of gloves I kept in the pocket of my dress.
It was a small but enduring walk to the lake. The snow was soft, making it difficult to walk in, Phillip often having to stop and pick me up out of the snow.
Once we arrived at the lake, Phillip did a quick check to ensure the lake was stable enough to hold the pair of us before helping me put my skates on.
"Shall we?" he asked eagerly, as he held out his arm for me to take.
