The Royal Gazette played Cupid for lovestruck Ross Nearon yesterday, who popped the question -- inside the daily news.

Mr. Nearon spent hundreds of dollars on a heart-sprinkled St. Valentine's Day ad asking Sacora Bean to be his bride.

And Ms Bean laughed last night: "I said `yes' of course. But I'm never going to live this down.'' Mr. Nearon, 39, hatched a plot to announce his marriage in style weeks ago.

And he said: "It was well worth the money -- I was thinking of doing something really different and this is what came to mind. I didn't doubt in the least she'd say yes.'' But Mr. Nearon, of St. George's, left little to chance when he asked Sacora, 27, of St. David's, to become his "Ebony Queen'' and spend eternity with him.

For She was asked to tick one of five boxes -- sure, yes, of course, definitely or all of the above.

And he revealed he had secretly asked Ms Bean to marry him before placing the ad -- but didn't tell her he was planning to make it public through The Royal Gazette Mr. Nearon laughed: "She was a little bit embarrassed but at the same time she was pleased. She said she never expected anything like that.'' Ms Bean, a cook at Angeline's Coffee Shop in St. George's, said the phone at work had been ringing off the hook since the newspaper hit the streets.

She said: "I'm really excited by the whole thing -- he's very romantic and everything has to be different with him. No matter what you expect, he always does something different.'' Mr. Nearon, a manager at Bermuda Photo Craftsmen in Pembroke, said he was also planning a romantic wedding service.

He explained: "I want to get married on January 1 next year -- it's a new year and a new beginning -- all romantic-type stuff.''