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He laughed softly, as though slightly embarrassed by the tremor in his voice. "The first time I saw you, you had on pink velvet. Your radiance recalled the pink rubies which belonged to my mother." He took the necklace from the box and fastened it about her slender neck. Unable to speak, she pressed the cool jewels against her porcelain skin and looked at him through misted eyes. "I wanted to wait for the perfect gift for you – one that would have special meaning." His voice was tender and his eyes held hers for a long moment before he added laughingly, "But I almost lost it when the Yankees blocked the port!" Lifting a matching ruby ring from the box, he slipped it on her finger. Grasping her hands tightly, he whispered, "You haven't changed? You'll still be mine?" "Oh, Jonathan, of course," she breathed. "You know I have little dowry ... I couldn’t have a fine wedding, but I m sure the Reverend Reeves will .... Jonathan dropped her hands and leaned heavily against the porch railing. "Emma " he hesitated. "Dearest Emma, please understand. I didn’t mean this for a wedding gift. I can’t marry you now ... I must be leaving soon." He swallowed hard. "The C.S.A. is dependent upon people like me to slip through the blockade." "People like you!" Her voice rose and her lower lip trembled. "You re a worse daredevil than that hot-air balloonist. You risked your life for these rubies and then ----" She flung out her hand and the stone clanked against the column. "I thought you were done with childish adventuring. Blockade runners ---- " The necklace followed the heaving of her chest. "Blockade runners are ---- are foolhardy!"
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