“This belonged to my father, and to his father, and now I want you to wear it. Noël—” His voice died. He took a breath and tried again. “Noël, marry me?” His voice was nothing but a whisper. “Hitch your star to mine, and let’s spend the rest of this life in long certainty with each other. Let’s raise children and grapes and cattle together. Marry me, Noël?”
