Rupert stared at the silver-framed photograph of his beloved, transported in his mind to the magical springtime day it was taken. A smile burst across his square-jawed face as he recalled how he and Jocasta had strolled along the river, cherry blossom falling from the trees and decorating her raven hair.
'Oh Lord', whispered Rupert. 'Thank you. Thank you for creating this equisite creature. And thank you, thank you for entrusting her to me'. Rupert sighed as a dark cloud formed over the sunshine in his thoughts. 'Oh Jocasta', he murmured, 'would you still be pledging your troth to me if you knew my terrible secret? If you knew Rupert Ellsworth-Smythe was a sham?'
'You don't have to worry about that. Not anymore'. Rupert's head swerved at the sound of his father's voice in the doorway. 'I've taken care of everything'.
'Dad! You don't mean... you didn't?'
'Yes son', said Frederick, smiling. 'I've made sure Jocasta will never know. Your brother's been slipping it to a girl who works at H Samuel. He got her to smuggle a couple of ring boxes into her knickers. Jocasta never has to know you bought the rings from Joe's Jangly Jewels on the market'.
'Thank Christ for that', said Rupert, relief flowing from his body like a hot spurting geyser. 'I don't want her thinking she's marrying a bloody cheapskate'.
