The fact that he slid the engagement ring on her finger publicly, declaring to everyone just who she was to him, was not lost upon her. She giggled at first as he kissed her finger, her other hand going up over her mouth and trembling. It was like he was asking her all over again. Karen knew she couldn't throw herself at him in embrace right then and there, but she certainly wanted to.

The ring looked lovely on her finger, even as she had callouses and servant's hands. Now it was the time for her to come out of her gloom as a widow and move on.