Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Day 26 (Friday 18th June)

   I woke up at 7am and went for a shower and dried myself and as I dried
Ellen woke and rolled over looking for me, she looked at me and pouted and
she said "What are you doing?  You should be here worshiping me" "I have to
go shopping today darling or my life won't be worth living tomorrow" She
smiled and said "Well there might be a morsel of truth in what you say" "A
morsel, I think a little more and I will be taking our daughter as she is
an expert in these delicate matters" "Very wise you're getting my love, but
the shops don't open till 9am and it's only just after 7am so you could do
a little worshiping first" I started to say something and she interrupted
me "Come into my web, fly" So the fly did.  She took over and I almost laid
back and enjoyed the ride, not quite, I did tweak a couple of nipples and
caress a few places, but we worshiped together and came pretty close
together as well and she collapsed on top of me, I said "I think I'll take
another shower before venturing out" "That maybe a good idea, I'll race
you" She jumped out of bed in a flash, I was close behind and she giggled
all through the shower while I worshiped her again by washing her down, she
was exquisite, it was a labour of love.  We were finally dressed at 8:30
and we went downstairs only to find Libby already making the porridge, she
said "If I had to wait for you two lovebirds I would starve" "It's not my
fault, I got out of bed and was showered by 7:15 then you're mother woke up
and wondered why I wasn't in bed looking after her so I did" Libby said
"But you don't smell of love" "I've just had my second shower this morning"
Libby just said "Oh" I said "We are going shopping this morning Libby, I
need you're expertise in looking for a present for `you know who' so I hope
you haven't made any plans?" "I'm all yours after I tell Charley I'm going
shopping" "Ask her if she would like to come too we are going into the city
centre to a place I looked up on the internet" "Okay" We had breakfast then
Libby left and I got ready and phoned for a cab, Ellen said for me to take
care and not to flash too much money about as you don't know who's
watching. Libby came back and said Charley would meet us in the street.  We
waited about 3 minutes and heard a car horn I kissed Ellen and we were off,
I got Charley into the cab and told the driver to take us to Victoria
Arcade on Argyle Street, Libby just looked at me and said "How do you know
where we are going?" "The internets not just for sex lessons you know" It
didn't take long, about 15 minutes and we had arrived, it seemed so unusual
having this old arcade of fine jewellery shops all in one place amongst the
modern city centre streets.  We walked through first just looking in the
window's Charley said "What is it exactly that you are looking for, Daddy?"
"I don't know I'm hoping that by looking in the windows I'll get some
inspiration" Libby said "I know what I would like, I'd like friendship
rings for Charley and me" "That's a lovely thought Libby, why don't you
both see if you can find them and I'll see if I can find whatever it is I
need" So that was our mission.  I found one of mine first, the one Ellen
was going to get on our date now all I had to do was get the real thing. 
Libby and Charley shouted out to me to come and look in a shop window, I
saw two beautiful matching silver rings with Celtic designs on them, they
were quite wide and thick.  We entered the shop and a young woman behind
the counter asked if she could help and I said "You have two unusual
matching silver rings in the window that we would like to see" She said "If
one of you would go outside and point to them I'll get them for you" I've
never seen Charley move so quickly, she was outside in a flash and as the
woman leaned over the display Charley pointed them out.  They were
retrieved and Charley came back inside beaming.  The woman said "These are
very old and were found in an attic by someone after a relative had died,
we have tried to find out about them but haven't had any luck so we don't
know for what purpose they were made, I'm sorry to be so negative but I
would rather tell you the truth" "Well can these two friends try them on?"
She handed them over and they tried them on, they both fitted perfectly on
each of their third fingers of their right hands, they looked so right, I
asked them how they felt with them on, Libby said "It's strange, I feel as
if I've had it on for ever, it's so comfortable" Charley said "I'm feeling
the same way, it's uncanny, I feel as if it was made for me" I said "This
is weird, can I ask were they were found and when" The woman looked in a
book she had and said "It was a house in Hillhead about a year ago, she
said obviously I can't give you the address" I said "I am going to give you
our address" I gave her our address and she looked faint and dropped the
book, I asked her if she was okay and she said "I think you had better read
the entry in this book" She bent down and picked up the book, opened it and
handed it to me, I read the entry and it clearly said they were found in
the attic of our house.  I said "I have just bought that property this last
week" She said "Can I have your name?  I know your address now.  I would
like to contact the previous owner and see if he can throw some light on
these extraordinary circumstances" "My name is Ken Richards" I gave her my
contact details and she wrote them down.  I said "I'd better pay for them,
how much are they?" She said a ridiculously low price and I said "No, I
meant for the two of them" "That's the price for them both, the previous
owner asked that they not be split up and to sell them for a fixed price
and because we got a load of other jewellery from him we agreed" I paid
with my debit card and we all shook hands with her and walked out.  I
stopped them both outside the shop and they faced me and I said "There's
something special about those rings as if you two were meant to have them,
so I am going to say there had better be a damn good reason for you both to
take those rings off again, do you hear me?" They both nodded and looked at
the rings then looked at each other and Libby leaned over Charley and gave
her a peck on her lips and said "I swear" Charley answered "I swear" I said
"Okay, now I have to look for something special" We just looked first in
the window of the shop we came out of but nothing caught my eye, we had
walked past about 6 shops when I saw it glistening in a window, a ruby
surrounded by diamonds in a heart shape, I thought `that's it' I called
them over from another window and asked them if they could see anything in
the window and they both pointed together at the ring, I nodded and they
both beamed smiles, I said "Lets go in girls" As we entered the door had a
bell attached to it warning the people inside they had a probable buyer.  I
walked to the counter and an elderly man said "Can I help you?" "I hope so,
I've seen a ring in you're window I'd like to see closer" He went to the
display and I described to him and he brought it out and put the box and
ring on the counter, he said "This is a rather expensive ring if you don't
mind me saying" "I don't mind you saying but I still want to see it closer"
He picked it up out of the box and handed it to me and said "She must be a
very beautiful and special lady for you to even consider this ring, can I
point out that all the stones in this ring are flawless and that is why
it's so expensive.  I'm sorry to keep on about the price but a lot of
people have viewed it and baulked when I tell them" "I guarantee to you I
will not be put off, I have a lady who deserves this and more, so please
tell me?" He said a price and I thought `If those stones are that good that
is what she will get'.  I said "I'll take it" He looked at me a bit
gobsmacked and said "I'll get my assistant to wrap it for you" He pressed a
buzzer under the counter and a girl of about 20 came out.  He said
"Actually she is my step-daughter and she's learning the trade" He turned
to her and said "This gentleman is going to buy the ring" She looked at me
and to Libby and Charley and said "We have had this ring for a long time,
it attracts a lot of people into our shop, we will have to go a long way to
find something else so exquisite, what's her name?" "Ellen and she deserves
this and more" I handed over my special card and the proprietor said "I see
these from time to time, I have one myself to pay for the type of purchase
you are making" He put it into his machine and I put in my pin number, I
looked up quickly and he was watching me and smiling and he said "I sorry
for staring but you do understand don't you, we have to be very careful
nowadays" "Of course, anyone would under these circumstances" His
step-daughter had finished wrapping it and handed it back to her
step-father, he handed it over to me and said "My congratulations to you
both" "Thank you" I put my hand out and he shook it, I also shook his
step-daughters hand and she said "You certainly make up your mind fast like
a whirlwind" She laughed as I said "I am more of a whirlwind than you know,
the lady and I have known each other less than a month" She gasped "WOW" I
said "Goodbye" To them both and we left the shop and Libby said "I have
never heard of anyone paying that much for a ring" "This is between you two
and me, okay" They nodded, I said "Let's go home and tell you mothers about
you're rings" So we went out onto the main road and hailed a cab that took
us home.  We arrived in good time for lunch, homemade soup and chunky
bread, the amount she made would last a couple of day's, I suddenly
realised she doesn't know we are going away.  I'll have to get some plastic
containers this afternoon so I can freeze it, don't want to waste it. 
Stella is in and the talk centred around the rings the girls have, Stella
asks Charley to take hers off so she can see it, Charley say's she can't as
they have made an oath to me that they'll never take them off so she has to
put up with seeing it on her finger.  Stella is fascinated with the design
and the story and wants to make a drawing of it and see if she can do some
research on them, Libby gets a notepad and a drawing is made.  Stella say's
she has some old books in her house from when she was teaching and will see
what she can find out.  I took a photo of her drawing on my phone and said
"I'll try the internet, Stella" We finished the soup, I complimented Ellen
on it as did the others, I said I hadn't had homemade soup before and Ellen
said "Now that must be an exaggeration Ken, surely you're mother would have
made soup?" "My mother never made soup to my knowledge and none of our
neighbours did either" "How extraordinary, there can't be many households
in Scotland that doesn't have homemade soup on the menu every week, I'll
make this last a couple of days by adding a little water tomorrow and
Sunday" I smiled, not at the comment she made but at the thought of the
next few days.  We tidied up, not much to do really, only soup bowls and
plates for the bread and the glasses we had milk in.  The kitchen was
tidied quite quickly.  I said to Ellen "I'm going to `Devonshire Mobility'
this afternoon to give my talk to the tradesmen, do you want anything while
I'm out?" She said "No, I'm going out myself this afternoon, I'm going to
get my hair styled and I've asked for tips on makeup, I want to look good
for you tonight and don't worry I'm not getting my hair cut only maybe the
split ends if there are any" "Ellen, my darling you would look good if you
went out wearing a black bin liner" She giggled at me and added "I'm
thinking of getting a bit of jewellery and a nice dress, maybe a little
black number but it won't be plastic, okay?" She giggled again, I walked
over to her and put my arms round her and kissed her and gave her a big hug
and whispered in her ear "I love you very much, anything you do will be
alright with me" Someone cleared their throat behind me "Don't mind us will
you, we'll just leave you lovebirds to it," Stella said.  I said "I'm sorry
I just get carried away with things" Stella said "What are you doing about
dinner tonight Ken?" "I almost forgot, I've booked a table at 8pm for two
and the car will pick us up at 7:30, can you cook for an extra mouth
Stella?" She said "Of course Ken, this is you're night but didn't you mean
the cab would pick you up?" "No, I've ordered a car to pick us up and it is
booked for the evening to take us wherever we go" Ellen said "Oh, I have to
get something special for this, I feel like a queen" "Tonight you are going
to be treated like one" I looked at my watch and said "I'm sorry I have to
go, I'll take the car, I have their postcode and I'll be able to park in
their car park" I pecked Ellen on the cheek, touched Libby on her face and
Charley, said goodbye to Stella and left.  I put the top down on the car
and put the postcode into the sat-nav and thought to myself `I think I have
planned things well for tonight, I may have bribed a lot to get my way but
it will be special and I was looking forward to it'.  It didn't take long
to drive there and I swept into the car park, there were a few people in it
that stared, well the car deserved it, I put the top on and walked into the
building and went to the receptionist.  I asked to see Shirley or John and
she recognised me from before, she said "Are they expecting you?" I said
they were and gave her my name, she lifted her phone and spoke into it and
told whoever I was here.  She said to me "Shirley said to come up" She
directed me to some stairs and said to turn left at the top and Shirley
will meet you, I thanked her and climbed the flight of stairs, Shirley was
at the top and gave me a quick kiss and said "We have a training room at
the end of the corridor and some of the men who will be doing the job are
in there, I'll introduce you to them" She led me and opened the door and we
walked in.  There were about 10 men sitting in chairs facing a whiteboard
like a classroom.  I walked to the front and faced them and Shirley spoke
up "Guy's I would like to introduce Ken Richards to you, he is a very
experienced Construction Manager.  I'll let him continue" I walked forward
and started shaking hands with them all and once that was finished I went
back to the front and started speaking "As you have been told I will be a
consultant on this project, I'd like to give you a bit of background to me
if you don't mind, I started my construction life as a Carpenter/Joiner and
worked my way up the ladder to become the person you see standing here, I
have worked all over the world doing this on very large and prestigious
contracts.  However a while ago I won the Euro Millions and since that time
I retired.  The amount I won means I don't have to earn anything for the
rest of my life to have a good living.  This contract was sort of thrust
upon me by a friend (I looked towards Shirley and she smiled, I turned
back) so you see when I was offered the money for doing this I said my fee
had to go to charity and any bonus I was due should go to you guys as you
are the ones doing the hard graft, of course if you don't want it, it can
go to charity as well" I laughed and they all laughed nervously.  "So in
conclusion can I take it you want the bonus?" They all stood and clapped
and moved forward to shake my hand again and thank me, one or two asked how
much I had won but I kept that to myself.  I left finally and Shirley
showed me into her office, she closed the door behind me and came into my
arms for a kiss and pushed her pelvis into mine, I resisted and broke off
the kiss and said "Shirley much as I love you and want you, today I have to
save myself for Ellen, sorry" "Of course, its your date tonight, what time
are you going out?" "I have a car coming for us at 7:30" "Can I come and
see you off?  I'll have plenty of time to get back to my fathers for
dinner" "Of course" I said and she pouted and said "I'd better let you go
then.  Thank you for talking to the guys, I do appreciate it" She opened
the door and led me downstairs to the reception and she said to the girl
"This is Ken Richards he is going to be working with us on the student
accommodation project, when he comes in again can you just let him come up
to my office or show him where I am?" I put my hand out and the girl shook
it and smiled "Yes Shirley, welcome Ken" Shirley said "I'll get a cab for
you" "No, its okay, I brought my car" "In that case I'll walk you to it" We
walked side by side out to the car park, she said "Can you take me for a
quick trip round the block if you have time?" "Jump in darling" She almost
ran round the car and hiked up her skirt before climbing into the passenger
seat and looked at me when I looked at her expanse of legs and she smiled
and said "I've heard about this car and I don't want to get a damp skirt"
She buckled up and I nearly came when I saw the belt separate her breasts
"Jeeesus, Shirley I could come over them" She laughed and said "Come on big
boy, move it.  People are watching us" I started the car pressed the button
and the roof slid back and we left the car park, she directed me onto a
dual carriageway and I opened her up, I had to slow down after about 5
miles for a roundabout and went right round so we were facing the way we
had come and I put my foot down again, I saw her out the corner of my eye
telling me to slow down then directed me off onto the road leading to her
car park and drove into it and stopped, she unbuckled the seat belt and got
out of the car and pulled down her skirt, she walked a little unsteadily
round to my side leaned over and gave me a kiss and said "Ken that car
should have a warning sticker on the dashboard for women to wear a tampon
before sitting in it, I am not damp, I am bloody soaking and I feel as if
its running down my leg" "Maybe I should have got an absorbent material as
a seat cover" I laughed and she giggled and said "I'll see you this
evening, if I don't get a chance to tell you later, have a wonderful time"
I revved up and drove out of the car park.  I drove back to Byers Road and
visited a men's suit hire shop and tried on a previously ordered dark suit
and brought a shirt with the fancy frill down the front, black bow tie and
a pair of shoes to match.  I put it all in the car (I had to hire the suit
for two weeks as I didn't know how long we would be in Sussex).  I
remembered the plastic containers for the storage of the soup and I drove
back home.  I parked the car and locked it up and went into the house.  I
called out to see if Ellen was in and when I heard nothing I went into the
kitchen got the plastic containers filled with the soup and put them into
the freezer.  I took the suit and stuff up to the spare bedroom and put it
all away in the wardrobe hoping she wouldn't look in there.  Then I went
downstairs and checked all my arrangements for tonight, tomorrow and for
Charlie's birthday on the phone and the internet.  I had just finished when
Libby and Charley came in and said they had seen that the car was back and
was everything okay, they tried to get me to tell them where I was taking
Ellen but I wouldn't budge and eventually they gave up.  They said Stella
had found some designs in a book that were similar to those on the rings,
Charley said that the designs were hundreds of years old and she asked me
that did I think their rings could be that old and I said that it was
possible.  I said to the girls I was going to go round the corner to the
ice cream parlour if they wanted to join me, that drew a good response, I
said to Charley "Ask you're mum if she wants to go and we'll join you
outside whatever" She scooted off, I said to Libby "I've ordered her an
electric wheelchair so its easier for her to travel longer distances and so
she can be independent and not have to be pushed when she's wacked, what do
you think?  Its being delivered on Monday at the house in Sussex" "Charley
hates being pushed, she say's its like being a child in a pram, she will
love it daddy" "It also raises up 6" so she can be served at an ATM or a
shop counter" "Daddy, you have given her presents a father would give his
daughter and I love you for thinking like that, anyway lets go and get ice
cream" We left and found Stella and Charley outside and we walked round the
corner to the parlour and sat on high stools in the window watching the
world go by, it was great to see some of the antics of passer bys, we
finished our deserts and I invited Stella in for a coffee, she said that
their dinner was cooking so she said yes, the girls went upstairs and we
sat in the lounge and I told Stella about putting in the lift and the
present I had ordered for Charley, she said "As usual you've gone over the
top Ken but you're sentiments are wonderful" I told her what Libby had said
and she agreed, I also told Stella that my lawyer and his wife and two
teenage girls were going to be there on Monday and added "They are nice
people and I call him a friend rather than just my lawyer, I have met his
wife once and the girls and they're not over the top or snobbish, his
mother was a cleaner in our local hospital and his father was a painter and
decorator and they worked hard to put him through university and law
school, he has paid them back all the monies they used up of their savings
for their retirement they are still living and are nice people as well, he
still remembers where he came from and visits them all the time" "They
sound like nice people, I'm looking forward to this trip, Ken you have
pulled out all the stops for this haven't you?" "You'll see Stella" We
chatted about the rings that Libby and Charley have until we heard the
front door open and close and Ellen shouted "Anyone in?" I shouted back "In
the lounge" Ellen popped her head round the door and said "I'll be back
down in a minute I have to dump some stuff in my wardrobe" She was gone
again, we heard her going up the stairs, then nothing for 5 minutes then
heard her coming down again, she swept into the room, her hair was gleaming
and she had on a little makeup she looked radiant and said "That's the
first time I have been to a hair stylists and been given advice on makeup,
it's wonderful to be pampered, they even supplied an afternoon snack, they
did my nails as well, toes too.  They asked me if I wanted a massage but I
said `no' to that, it was all a little expensive but its worth it for you
darling" Stella said "Some women go every week or have them visit their
homes, I have never found I need that, I do my own hair usually on a
Tuesday evening when there's nothing else much doing" "Well you might think
about doing what Ellen has done, I think we are all going to be busy
getting rid of some of my money to the smaller charities that need it more
and that may involve some nights out" "I'll think about it when and if the
time comes" "I have discussed with Libby and Charley the opening of an
office on Byers Road so it might be quicker than you think dear, they are
trying to think up a name for it" Ellen said "There you go again like a
whirlwind, opening an office, we don't know how to start this yet" "It'll
come to me, I'll think about it tonight instead of going out" I looked at
the two of them, Stella started in first "You two are going out if I have
to kick you out" She smiled and Ellen said "I've had all my nails painted
and that's not going to waste, buster.  It's a little after 5:30 so that
gives us 2 hours before this car of ours comes, plenty of time" We all had
a chat, I told them about my meeting with the guys and we all had a laugh
about Shirlies trip in the car, I told them about her suggestion about the
tampon and we laughed at that.  Ellen told us about some of the characters
getting their hair done, she said that some hardly had any left but still
got what little they had styled and the massage area is all cordoned off so
no-one can see in.  I said the place must be huge and Ellen said there were
about a dozen girls doing different things, it looked very professional and
that's why she chose it.  Stella told us about the research she had done on
the rings and I said maybe we could follow up on what she found and look at
the internet as well, Stella said she would like to watch over my shoulder
while I did it, I suggested we be closer than that and I got a punch on the
arm for being suggestive, I grinned at them both.  I looked at my watch and
it was coming up for 6:45 I said "I'm going for a shower and change into my
clothes for this evening so I'll see you about 7:15 back down here, all my
clothes are in the spare room, so I'm going to use the family bathroom and
leave the ensuite for you darling, then we won't trip over each other" I
kissed Stella and Ellen and left them and went upstairs.  I knocked on
Libbies door, got a `come in' and entered, they were playing the console so
I said to them "I am going to be using the family bathroom to get ready and
the spare room, just so you know, I won't lock the door in case you want to
use the toilet but there's no time for any carry on's okay?" They both
nodded and I left and went into the ensuite to retrieve my shaving gear and
aftershave and anything else I would need.  I was just leaving the bedroom
when Ellen came in gave me a quick kiss and closed the door.  I went into
the bathroom and had my shower and shave and ran from there to the spare
room.  I got dressed in my dress shirt, bow tie and then the suit, socks
and shoes and another splash of aftershave and I went downstairs to the
lounge, Ellen hadn't arrived but Stella and the girls were there and I got
a clap from them all, right on 7:15 the door opened and a dream came into
the room, she seemed to float.  She looked more beautiful, her dress was
some sort of chiffon and it came to just above her knees.  She had on some
drop earrings and a necklace to match, I gasped and said "You take my
breath away with you're beauty" "You scrub up pretty nicely yourself" She
stood beside me and the rest of them just looked, Libby broke into tears,
Stella put her arms round her and said "It's alright we all know what you
are thinking and feeling" She calmed down and said "You both look so grand
and you suit one another" The lounge door opened and Shirley came in and
gasped when she saw us and she said "You will knock `em dead tonight,
Glasgow is in for a treat" The doorbell went and we all trouped out and I
opened the door and there stood a chauffeur "You're car sir" He walked back
to his big black Rolls Royce and I took Ellen's hand and we walked out, the
chauffeur held open the door and he said "Madam, please take care of the
step" We both got into the car and he closed the door, we waved and then we
moved off towards our first date.  He drove us to a place just north of
Glasgow, it looked like a castle, he stopped the car at the big entrance
and he opened the door for us and we walked to the entrance and the door
was opened for us, I stated my name and a girl came and took Ellen's
jacket, we were shown into a magnificent room with tables all set out and
we were shown to a table set out for two and a waiter attended us.  He
placed two menus down in front of us and a wine list, I looked at the list
and ordered Champagne, he took my order.  Ellen was looking at me and said
"This is all in a foreign language and there are no prices" "There are no
prices because if you have to ask, you can't afford it.  The menu is mostly
French food but I can ask for one in English" I put my hand up and within
seconds the waiter was back, I said "Can we have a menu in English please?"
He nodded and went away and returned with one and gave it to Ellen.  She
looked through it but still couldn't make up her mind, I said "How about if
I order for you?" She put the menu down and pouted then smiled, I signalled
the waiter and said we would both start with the avocados and prawns, then
salmon steaks with the mixed vegetables, we will only require three
courses. He lifted the menus and left.  The wine waiter came with the
Champagne, he proceeded to open the Champagne and poured a little into my
glass which I tasted and nodded and he poured some into Ellen's glass and
topped mine up.  I picked up my glass and leaned over the table and Ellen
picked hers up and we `clinked' glasses and I said "Here's to us and ours"
We sipped and Ellen said "The bubbles are going up my nose and tickling"
"Stop breathing up you're nose while drinking it" She tried and smiled and
the wine waiter just smiled he left the Champagne in a cooler.  The starter
and main course were great after Ellen got sorted out what cutlery to use,
Ellen had an orange sorbet and I had apple pie with ice cream and cream,
dinner was a success, I had previously asked that my chauffeur get
something from the kitchen as well so by the time we came out he had had
something too and as we climbed in the car I asked him if everything was
okay, he thanked me and said yes.  I said "To the casino please" He took us
right down and drove slowly through the centre of the city and parked at
the entrance and a bellboy came out and opened the door for us, there was a
queue but I said we were expected and gave him my name and he said "Just
follow me sir, ma'am" Ellen just held onto my arm for dear life and he took
us inside, he looked at a ledger and said "I'll get someone to take you to
you're table, will you be gaming with us this evening?" "I will but a
little later" He got a young guy to take us to a table and he said "I'll
send a waitress to you" The table was on a mezzanine floor and over looked
the gambling area.  Some people were staring at us but I just said to Ellen
"They are mesmerised by you're beauty as I am" She giggled then a waitress
appeared and she said "I will attend to you're table this evening, my name
is Sadie, if you need anything just ask" Ellen said "Be careful how you say
that" She giggled, Sadie smiled and I said "We will have a bottle of your
best Champagne and some nibbles please, Sadie and by the way I am Ken and
this delectable creature is the woman I am going to marry and her name is
Ellen" We waited a couple of minutes and she reappeared carrying the bottle
and two large flute glasses, she opened the bottle and gave me some which I
tasted then Ellen got hers and mine was topped up, I heard a little
commotion behind us and saw a crowd of men and one seemed to be arguing
with the others over something, but since it didn't affect us I ignored it
and turned back to talk to Ellen, we were talking about the meal we had
just eaten and how she enjoyed the salmon, she said that there were a lot
of salmon farms up in the Highlands where she came from, I said I would
like to take her up there one day for a holiday, just then I felt as if
someone was looking at me and the guy who had been arguing was striding
towards us.  I stood up and faced him and he said in a slurred voice
"English basta, coming up here and taking all our women, I'll just take her
off your hands" He lifted an arm as if to strike me and my training head
took over and within 2 seconds he was on the floor with an arm behind him
and my knee in his back and he was screaming blue murder, I stayed on him
and a couple of heavies appeared, one of them said "We saw him on our
monitor in the security room and we saw what you did too, you've trained
well, don't think we could have done it quicker" All the time this guy was
shouting "Lemme up at the bassa" The lead bouncer said "We'll take him now,
please accept our apologies, he is now barred for life as are the crowd
that brought him in" They lifted him bodily and frog marched him away and
two other bouncers approached the guy's he was with and they all left as
well, by this time I had sat down and an anxious Ellen was looking at me I
said "It's all over, don't worry" "Oh, I'm not really worried after all I
have my whirlwind Knight, you were magnificent even the bouncers praised
you, I am very proud of you darling" She leaned over and kissed me" I heard
someone clearing their throat behind me and found an elderly man dressed up
to the nines so I stood to face him, he said "My name is Victorio Masso,
this is my family's casino, I know your names but I don't recognise you,
are you regulars?" "No, this is our first visit" He said "I hope this
doesn't put you off coming back to us.  I would like to extend our
apologies by not billing you for your visit this evening, I have also
looked at your membership, it's a little irregular and I think you may have
been a little naughty to bypass our laws Mr Richards" "It was short notice
and I wanted to take my intended out on the town" "Well I will make sure a
proper membership is made available for you and your good lady, I will have
the forms brought over to you.  You are a very adept man Mr Richards, what
do you do for a living?" "That's a difficult question to answer, the short
answer is I am giving some of my money away to local charities that are
struggling in this economic turn down" "The world needs more people like
you, sir" He put his hand out and I shook it.  "I'll send you're waitress
over with the forms" He left and Ellen said "We are mixing in high company
now, buster.  Did you cheat to get in here tonight?" I said innocently "I
might have bribed a little" "Ken you are a wonder" The waitress came over
to our table with a couple of pieces of paper and she said "We don't know
how you got in, royalty would have a problem because of the Scottish
gambling regulations but I've been told to give you these forms, they are
already dated for a couple of day's ago so we need a form of ID from you
both, like a bank debit or credit card and your addresses" "Ellen will show
her debit card and I will pay for this with my credit card" Sadie said
"That's great, I'll leave you for a moment, do you need a pen?" I said yes
and she handed one over and left.  I quickly filled in both forms, signed
mine and Ellen signed one and I then lifted my hand and I could see Sadie
making her way back, Ellen got her debit card out and Sadie copied the
number of the card onto the form and said "Don't worry you won't get
anything taken out of this account, but Mr Richards if you will follow me
we will sort out you're card in our machine" I said "You forgot, my name is
Ken" She smiled and told me that it was company policy to call people by
their surnames, I said that's ridiculous and I want you to call us Ken and
Ellen, I said I won't tell if you don't and she smiled a genuine smile.  We
got to her machine and I got my big card out and handed it to her, she
looked at it then me and I nodded, she put it in the machine and we waited
and I said "Take enough for a life membership each" "We don't do such a
thing, we will bill this card every year now until you tell us not to"
"Okay, I'll play by the rules this time" The machine beeped, I put in my
pin and it spewed out a receipt, she took her bit and gave me mine and
handed my card back "There you are, Ken" I said "Thank you Sadie" and I
smiled.  I happened to look at the receipt in my hand and the date told me
it was after midnight, I said "It's Ellen's birthday now, I have a present
in my pocket for her" Sadie said "Well now you have the ball at your feet,
Ken.  Go and give it to her" No sooner said than done, I walked over to her
and said "Happy Birthday darling" I got out the present I had bought her,
the ring, I couldn't tease her, I got down on bended knee and held her left
hand and said "The last time I did this I didn't do it properly, I do now.
Will you marry me Ellen?" I put the ring on her finger and kissed it she
looked incredulous and then said "Oh God YES!" She leaned forward and
kissed me and I heard clapping around us and we looked and saw a good
couple of dozen people cheering and clapping I stood and faced them and
said loudly "Thank you all" I sat down and Ellen was just looking at the
ring, she said "This is a special ring isn't it, apart from the fact of you
giving it to me" I just nodded "You're not going to tell me are you, Ken"
"No" I picked up my glass of champers and she did too and we toasted one
another, I said "We have to leave now as we have to be up early tomorrow"
"Why, what's happening tomorrow?" "You will find out tomorrow, come on
darling" We stood and Sadie came over to us and congratulated Ellen and
asked to look at the ring and she just said "WOW Ellen, they are some rocks
girl.  Are you going to gamble now?" "No, we have to get up early for
something else in the morning, so we are leaving, our car will be waiting
at the entrance, I want to thank you for the service this evening, I handed
her a tip, she looked at it and said "This is too much" "This has been a
special evening for us Sadie, you go and enjoy one and we will see you the
next time" She smiled and thanked us and asked Ellen if she could kiss me,
Ellen just smiled and nodded and I leaned down a little and open mouth
kissed her, she broke away with a gasp and blushed.  We walked away and
Sadie just stood rooted to the spot.  True to my plan the car was waiting,
there were a lot of people milling about around the car but we were given a
corridor of bouncers to the car, the driver looked but never said anything,
he assisted Ellen into the car and I turned and thanked loudly the rows of
bouncers and they all waved, I climbed into the car and the door was closed
with the crowd trying to look in the windows.  The driver knew his business
and just rolled slowly forward until he was able to pick up speed.  It only
took us a quarter of an hour and we were home, the chauffeur opened the
door and we alighted, I thanked him and asked if he had enjoyed his meal,
he said that the hotel had looked after him better than he expected, I
handed him a tip and he looked at it and started to object, I stopped him
and said "This has been a special evening for us and I want you to share it
so take it" "Thank you, sir" "Next time we use you, you will have to
remember that my name is Ken, okay" He answered "Yes...Ken" We went in the
door as he drove away, I locked up and we just went straight upstairs, I
noticed Libbies door was ajar and looked in to see her in her bed sleeping
so I just left her and went into our room, Ellen was nearly ready and I
could see her eyes drooping, must have been the rush of fresh air getting
to her I thought, she managed it and sat on the edge of the bed and watched
me undress and she said "I was going to have a shower but I'll leave it
until tomorrow, what time do you want me ready?" I said we have to be ready
to go out the front door at 8:15 and she said "I know you will be setting
your BlackBerry phone alarm, so we will be up in time" She yawned and
looked at her left hand "It's not a dream is it?" She laid down and was
asleep, I thought `wow I wish I could do that, it sometimes takes me
forever', I laid down set the phone and spooned into her and held her
breast and slept.