After having stolen the Conningham Ring, it was important for the members of the VS Rosanne 7 to keep a low profile for a while. Sitting around the map-table in the main room, Jack and Elsie recalled the night’s events with much vigour, and the crew laughed at marvelled at their exploits. “Congratulations, Mr. Heartwing, you’re officially a master thief. But don’t let it get to your head; I don’t want you thinking that you can get away with taking my stuff.”
Jack laughed merrily. “I wouldn’t think of it, Robert.”
Meanwhile, back in the city, the moon shined brightly upon the park where Mr. Oliver Tanner and Miss Sylvia Parlow first officially met. Oliver knew that he was expected at the Rosanne, however he dared not waste this moment. Under the night sky he took Sylvia’s hand and they danced, swaying and stepping side to side to some imagined melody. Tanner had imagined this moment a thousand times in his head, but he found himself breathless as he was drawn into the closeness of her eyes, the soft warmth of her skin and the sweet taste of her lips. He was never going to let her go. Or so he thought.
Suddenly Sylvia could no longer meet his eyes with her own. A tear rolled down her lovely cheek and dripped like a diamond in the moonlight to the ground. She became timid, and held him tightly, and he held her back. “What is it, my dear?”
She kissed him on the cheek and faced his eyes. “Oliver, I’m afraid I’ve been a fool! I will not deny that my heart belongs to you, but beyond that I cannot go with you. I have decided to stay.”
Her words were like a dagger to Oliver’s heart. “No, Sylvia you can’t. We had a plan remember?” Dismally he fell down to one knee before her, and presented the Conningham Ring – its jewels shining. “You see, I have this beautiful ring. It was a gift from your fiancé. I was going to ask you to be my wife, right here under the stars.”
Sylvia smiled and closed the ring inside Oliver’s hands. “Goodbye, Oliver Tanner. I’m so sorry.”
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