Radiance (Diamonds of the First Water #3)

Chapter Six

R adiance watched the party’s hostess walk away.

“Your mother is nice.”

“Is she?” Mr. Lockwood asked. “If you say so, but she can test one’s patience,” he said with a complete lack of self-awareness as to his own faults in that regard.

“Anyway, let us go take a look at my aunt’s necklace.”

“You mean introduce me to her while doing your duty as a loving nephew.”

He shot her a wry grin, a little crooked and producing a dimple on one side. Her breath caught. My, what a rum duke when he smiled.

“That’s precisely what I meant,” he agreed and offered her his arm.

They approached a lady perhaps ten years older than Mr. Lockwood’s father.

“There’s my Ned. I missed you earlier by my arriving more than fashionably late and being whisked directly into the dining room.”

“I am glad to see you, Auntie,” Mr. Lockwood said. He pressed her proffered hand between his before leaning forward to kiss her cheek. When he drew away, Radiance could tell he was examining the necklace she wore.

His mother had been correct in the stone being large and ugly. What’s more, Radiance was stumped as to what the pendant was. Not onyx, yet it was dark. It had a sheen to it, but it revolted her. Truly, it was far worse than an old fish’s tooth that Diana wore.

Before she could tidy up her expression, Mr. Lockwood introduced them, and she knew his aunt had plainly seen her distaste.

“I am pleased to meet you,” Radiance said, rearranging her features into a smile.

“And I, you. What an unusual and lovely name if I may say. And I noted you were admiring my necklace?”

Was the lady teasing? With no way to know, Radiance had to say something.

“It is ... interesting. An unusual piece, to be sure. Why, I don’t even recognize the stone.”

The older lady laughed, and Edward joined in.

“Not a stone,” his aunt said. “And absolutely hideous. I only wore it to annoy my sister-in-law. I bet she made remark of it.”

While Radiance digested this bit of inter-familial teasing, Mr. Lockwood gave the answer. “It’s gutta-percha.”

When Radiance could do no more than shrug, he added, “Mostly a resin compound from Malaysian trees. Like rubber.”

She nodded. “I did see a great deal of rubber at the exhibition, including an ingenious little boat, like a rowboat, made out of it. Entirely unsinkable, but I didn’t see rubber jewelry.”

“Perhaps you missed Mr. Goodyear’s booth,” he suggested.

“Indeed, I had my attention elsewhere,” she agreed. “But why would someone use it in place of a gemstone?”

“Why indeed?” the aunt replied. “But I saw it and had to buy it. It wasn’t as cheap as such ugliness warrants but not nearly the cost of a pretty gem.”

Radiance looked to Mr. Lockwood for his opinion.

“I suppose the material is something of a rarity, and thus a jeweler felt the need to display it. I’ve seen a few rings set with a blob of gutta-percha. Even better, I saw a walking cane made from it recently. It won’t rot in the rain the way a wooden cane might.”

“A cane seems like a very good use for it,” Radiance said. “Or perhaps for the soles of shoes.” Then she gasped, realizing the insult.

“Do not worry,” Aunt Gertrude said. “I take no offense.” She gave them a curious stare. “Do the two of you have an arrangement yet?”

Yet? Radiance’s glance shot to Mr. Lockwood’s surprised face while her own cheeks warmed.

“No, Auntie. We are merely ... that is, Lady Radiance came to a couple of my lectures. She has a keen interest in gemstones.”

“Does she?” his aunt asked, her tone utterly amused. Then she gestured for a footman to come over. After accepting a glass of port, she let the man take her empty one. “Isn’t that charming? But the obvious is apparent as my father used to say.”

“My interest in gemstones is true,” Radiance told her. “I even study the craft under a master jeweler.”

This clearly shocked the woman who sat up straighter. “At a jewelry shop? But you are Lord Diamond’s daughter.”

“I am not working there for payment,” she assured Mr. Lockwood’s aunt, “but for what I can learn.”

His aunt’s eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline. “You are a rarity, indeed, but not such a kind as my ugly pendant.”

“Thank you,” Radiance said, although she wasn’t entirely sure whether she’d been complimented.

“The party is nearly over,” the older woman added. “Thank goodness.” And she swallowed down the rest of her drink before holding the glass out to Radiance, who took it, and her other hand out to her nephew, who grasped it.

“Help me up, Ned, and get me to my carriage.”

Radiance still hadn’t had a chance to speak privately to Mr. Lockwood and feared she wouldn’t.

“Of course,” he said, offering Radiance a rueful look. “I shall see you in a few —”

“For goodness’ sake, Ned, the girl won’t melt away while you’re outside.” And she seemed to be the one leading him as the two walked away.

However, by the time he returned, his parents were already saying goodbye to their guests. Radiance offered them her gratitude for the invitation to the interesting evening. Then she slid on her gloves and accepted her mantle. Mr. Lockwood lingered nearby.

“Shall I walk you to your carriage?”

“That would be lovely,” she said, relieved for the opportunity.

Thus finally, as her father’s barouche pulled up out front, she could speak plainly.

“I need to see the Hope Diamond again. May I come to your home tomorrow? I promise to bring my maid and have her come inside instead of awaiting me in the carriage.”

He hesitated. “I could bring it to your home.”

Radiance thought about that. Her mother would be intrigued, and her father might wish to speak to Mr. Lockwood in his study.

“Won’t it appear to the world as if you are courting me?”

Mr. Lockwood took a step backward.

Radiance added, “Only because your parents invited me here tonight. And if you come calling the very next day...” She ended with a shrug.

He considered. “Perhaps you are correct. I would hate for your family to be misled.”

And thus, Radiance arrived at eleven o’clock the following day for the second time at Mr. Lockwood’s home on the southeast side of Berkeley Square. As promised, she had Sarah beside her and even allowed her to use the knocker.

This time, a round-cheeked housekeeper opened the door, her face a picture of surprise when she beheld a lady and her maid.

“I believe I am expected,” Radiance said.

“Oh, no,” the woman retorted. “I believe you are at the wrong house.”

Radiance was tickled, glad to know Mr. Lockwood didn’t have a stream of female callers.

“I assure you I am not. I am here to see Mr. Lockwood. Didn’t he mention my visit?”

“No,” the housekeeper said, but she quickly swung the door open. “The man is as absent-minded as a March hare,” she muttered.

More loudly, she added, “It’s only that Mr. Lockwood doesn’t have much company.” Another mutter came out, “None at all, in fact.”

Radiance and her maid followed the woman into a moderate-sized parlor that was spotless but seemed neglected nonetheless, at least regarding furnishings.

“Excuse the lack of a wife’s touch, but this is the home of a bachelor who goes out for his entertainment.”

As if realizing she’d said something to dishonor her employer, she added, “May I bring you some tea or coffee while I tell Mr. Lockwood of your arrival?”

“Nothing, thank you.”

The housekeeper spent another moment looking her up and down. “To think he forgot the likes of you,” she said. “Don’t that beat all. And with a maid as well! My word!”

Then the woman ambled out. Half a minute later, Radiance would swear she heard an oath uttered loudly, twice, followed by hurried footsteps. Mr. Lockwood appeared in the doorway.

“My sincere apologies,” he stated, running a hand through his hair until it stood on end. “I was working last night, rather late, and forgot about ... I mean, your visit slipped my mind.” He groaned. “There is no way to say that without it sounding dreadfully ...” He shrugged.

Radiance wasn’t used to being forgotten, but he was so charmingly aware of his flaw, she didn’t mind.

“Your apology is accepted, sir.”

“Thank you.” He glanced at the maid and nodded to her. “Would you both come to my workroom?”

“That’s all right. Sarah may stay here. She has some reading material with her.”

As soon as she said it, the young woman took a seat on the sofa without being asked, pulled a thin book out of her pocket, and settled in.

Radiance trusted that would suffice. Having Sarah come into each room like a shadow or a pet had never appealed to her. Moreover, it showed a level of distrust that might insult the geologist. “I promise I have no qualms that you will turn into a desperate marauder the moment we are alone.”

More’s the pity, she thought. For she’d been unable to rid herself of the notion that he had a passion running deep, like an underground river in a diamond mine.

Nodding as if he hadn’t really heard her, he gestured for her to accompany him. They went no farther than the doorway at the end of the hall.

Radiance wandered in, and something warm and furry brushed her skirts as it entered with them.

“Oh!” she exclaimed. “Where did the cat come from?”

“That’s Monty, and he’s always around. He was probably watching from the top of the stairs. I hope you don’t mind cats or are afraid of them.”

“Cats are fine by me,” she said, even as Monty jumped onto one of the tables filled with a variety of clutter. “So wild and yet domesticated, too.”

And then, there they were, alone finally except for his cat, who stretched and rubbed its face on a purple and white geode. She glanced around, taking in his workroom, as he’d called it. From the placement of the chandelier, Radiance assumed it was meant to be a dining room.

However, in place of a single polished table and tidy chairs, there were cases and shelves, two smaller tables covered in bric-a-brac, and a desk strewn with papers and maps. Large split geodes displaying their crystal interiors rested upon stacks of books, and gemstones, shining in the lamplight, were in evidence, dotted here and there around the room as if mislaid and forgotten.

She half expected to see the Hope Diamond simply abandoned on one of the surfaces.

“Do not worry,” he said, watching her scrutiny of his workspace. “The Hope is safely tucked away.”

“I didn’t doubt it,” she said, although she had.

“Mr. Hope returned last night and sent a message this morning. Therefore, today, I must take him his diamond.”

Nodding, Radiance wandered around to the far end of the room, still examining the curiosities. “I would wager Mr. Hope wouldn’t want it out of his sight for too long, especially not with a man who conducts important discussions on his front step.”

For her remark, she received a small smile as Mr. Lockwood undoubtedly remembered trying to make her tell her purpose while keeping her at bay.

He did recall, for suddenly, he stood straighter. “You’ve gone to a great deal of trouble to speak privately with me.”

“And to see the diamond again,” she reminded him, for Radiance wouldn’t know the truth until she did.

“Tell me what is your concern with the diamond?” he demanded.

“May I see it first?”

“No,” he said, surprising her. “Not until you tell me. I have spent too many hours wondering.”

Radiance took a deep breath. She would have to explain, it seemed, before he would allow her the satisfaction of seeing the stone again to be sure she was correct.

“Does the Hope Diamond have a flaw?”

At once, he shook his head. “No. It is as close to flawless as one can ... well ... hope for.”

“Then if what I saw is real, the diamond you presented at your lecture is not the Hope Diamond.”