Radiance (Diamonds of the First Water #3)

Chapter Twelve

“ I have a ... a keen interest,” Radiance trailed off and sent Edward a nervous glance as a mumbling of questions went around the table.

“You are not a guild member, I presume,” the Lord Chamberlain added, “nor are you in the goldsmith’s company.”

“No, my lord, I am not.”

Edward cleared his throat. “Is there a man here who wishes to ask the Queen or the Prince Consort why they invited us ?” Purposefully, he included himself. “I am not in the goldsmith’s company, either.”

The muttering ceased.

“Everyone in this room is here to assist,” Edward reminded them.

The meeting ended with the grudging agreement to send an inquiry to Coster Diamonds in Amsterdam, suggested by Garrard as being the best cutters in Europe. They would have to agree to send their two most skilled polishers to England for the Koh-i-Noor was not to leave British soil.

When they all stood to leave, Professor Tennant approached Edward to converse upon the recent developments in Australia. Not only had Menge discovered an opal two years earlier but recently, sapphires were discovered during gold mining on the Cudgegong and Macquarie rivers in New South Wales.

Neither of them had yet laid eyes or fingers upon one of the Australian opals.

“They say they are dark blue, yet with a strong green dichroism,” Edward repeated what he knew.

“Some say they are more green than blue,” countered Tennant. “If one falls into my hands, I shall let you know immediately. Or at least, the very moment after I am finished examining it.”

Edward grinned, then promised to do the same. Their discussion continued on opals since he had a fascination with them. Upon the conversation’s conclusion, he was out the door and halfway along the hallway when he recalled he’d arrived with Lady Radiance.

As he turned, he saw her hurrying after him with her maid in tow.

Radiance was sure he’d forgotten her. The way Mr. Lockwood strode along the Palace corridor, without looking right or left, perhaps lost in thought. She couldn’t recall ever having been neglected in such a fashion.

However, he suddenly halted, turned, and waited.

“There you are, Lady Radiance,” he said, but she had an idea he was only saying that to cover himself.

“Yes,” she said. “Here I am, where you forgot me, trailing in your wake.”

His cheeks flushed slightly.

“Nonsense. I am just clearing the way for you.”

“Truly? As if I am the Queen? Goodness, I cannot have people looking upon my face as I pass.”

He coughed. “Yes, well.” When he said nothing more, they continued in silence, leaving by the east frontage exit under the balcony the Queen had specifically requested be built. From it, she could watch parades or bid her troops farewell and later welcome them back. Or she could simply allow her subjects to catch a glimpse of her growing family on its second-story perch.

When Mr. Lockwood went to hail a cab, however, Radiance stopped him.

“I would prefer to walk, sir.”

Thus, they strolled through Green Park toward Piccadilly, with many other pedestrians enjoying the temperate weather.

“Did that go as you had hoped?” Radiance asked.

“Truthfully, I had no expectations, although the plan to consult the Dutch is a sound one. If Mr. Garrard hadn’t suggested it, then I or Professor Tennant would have. Nevertheless, it was better coming from the Crown Jeweler.”

“A pity the model was more pleasing than the real stone,” she mused.

“It will take a skilled hand to cut around the Koh-i-Noor’s yellow inclusions,” he said. “Obviously, the diamond will lose carat weight, but if it greatly increases in clarity, then it will be worth it.”

Of course, that was important, but the Koh-i-Noor hadn’t been Radiance’s primary reason for going to the Palace.

“The meeting with the Queen and Prince Albert gave me a lot to think about. Do you have any notion where we should begin our investigation?”

He sighed. “I do not.”

Keenly aware that he hadn’t asked her whether she had any ideas, she would share hers anyway.

“We ought to speak privately with Mr. Garrard as soon as possible and then with poor Mr. Minton.”

“ Poor Mr. Minton?” Mr. Lockwood repeated. “How so?”

“It seems he has become a scapegoat.”

“A scapegoat ? An interesting word,” he mused, “as are scapegrace and scapethrift . But let’s hope Mr. Minton isn’t a scapegallows !”

Mr. Lockwood had an interesting brain, what some might call irksome, though. Radiance was trying not to be annoyed by the way his mind caught on something that engrossed him, making him dive in up to his eyeballs, forgetting what was on the shore.

To divert him from etymology and back to the business at hand, she said, “The man to my left, with the dark hair and eyes, I believe his name was Mr. Rathmond. He was quiet. Do you know him?”

“Only that he is a gem dealer. But I had never met him before today.”

“He was fidgeting with his pen, except when you gave me the glass model. I thank you for that, by the way. Even though it wasn’t the real stone, it was thrilling nonetheless.”

“You’re welcome. Anything else about Mr. Rathmond?” he asked her.

“He stared very hard at it as if he wished he could snatch it from me. And he took notes about who would be handling the Koh-i-Noor.”

When Mr. Lockwood shrugged, she decided to disclose why the man had actually made an impression upon her.

“He also rubbed my leg with his ankle. I thought it an accident until he did it again. Rather disconcerting and most unpleasant.”

She had Mr. Lockwood’s full attention. He looked appalled. “You should have said something.”

“I couldn’t, really. The blame would have fallen upon me, as if I had no place in a meeting of men who were discussing anything important, without inciting one to a lust so deep he had to rub against me like a randy dog. I would have instantly become the object of pity and ridicule.”

Apparently embarrassed, he glanced behind them at her maid, but she was deaf to their conversation. Even while walking, Sarah had her nose buried in a book again as Radiance had known she would. After all, when they reached home, her maid’s duties would call her from the gripping tale.

“Never mind, sir. I only wish I could have helped in some way.”

“Perhaps you still shall,” Mr. Lockwood said kindly, “and I shall, too.”

“How?” she asked.

“I honestly have no idea. But we will do as you suggest and speak with those involved.” They reached her front steps. “And we shall keep our eyes open, mine and your pretty green ones.”

His unexpected compliment had her mumbling her farewell before she slipped inside, momentarily leaving Sarah on the step until she remembered her.

Opening the door again, Radiance urged the maid inside, nodded to an amused Mr. Lockwood, and closed the door. A lovely warmth spread through her at the idea of a continuing entanglement with the attractive geologist. He had a calming way about him, yet at the same time, he made her insides tingle excitedly.

The following day, Radiance returned to Mr. Bonwit’s in Hatton Garden. Before she’d even taken a seat at her usual table, he approached her to ask questions about the important gathering at the Palace.

“How did you know?” she asked.

“There is a jeweler’s grapevine as strong as any servant’s one. An hour after you and the others dispersed, I doubt there was a gem worker or goldsmith in London who hadn’t heard of the meeting and knew everyone who was at the table, including you. Why were you there, by the way?”

Although she couldn’t speak of the fake stones that had been set in the Queen’s jewelry, she could discuss the topic of the second meeting.

“The Queen and Prince Consort are dissatisfied with the appearance of the Koh-i-Noor. And I have a good eye,” she said, then smiled since he was the one who always said it.

“You do, as do others,” he pointed out. “Myself, for instance.”

“True, but I have a friend who is a geologist. He was invited to give his opinion on the diamond, and he kindly invited me. I was honored.”

“Most assuredly so. Are they inviting the Dutch over?”

“They are,” she said. “What is your opinion?”

He sighed. “I think that is the correct decision, but not because there isn’t a man in England who could cut the diamond just as well. However, should something go wrong, it only makes sense that those in charge, the Royal Keeper of the Jewels and the Lord Chamberlain, can blame the Dutch. And if it goes well, those same men will take credit for choosing the best cutters and directing the entire process.”

She hadn’t considered that it was a calculated decision to protect the Crown Jeweler. Knowing Mr. Bonwit for an honest man, she wished she could tell him about the fake jewels. But she could ask him a question.

“Do you know Mr. Rathmond, the gem dealer?”

Mr. Bonwit nodded. “In the past, I purchased some stones from him but not anymore.”

“Why not, if I may ask?”

Mr. Bonwit shrugged. “I thought his price to be too high for the quality of what he was selling.”

“Is that all?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“He didn’t try to sell you any stones that weren’t genuine?”

Mr. Bonwit bristled. “He wouldn’t dare insult me in such a manner. I would know upon examination at once if a stone was fake.”

After that, he showed her how to make prongs so strong they would not let slip a precious stone, then allowed her to set a single ruby in a ring.

Before she left, she asked, “I would very much like to make my own earbobs.”

He nodded. “What stone? Emeralds to match your eyes, perhaps. The Prince made them even more popular with his engagement ring to the Queen.”

Prince Albert’s gift of a ring featuring a serpent with an emerald set in its head had spurred an entire decade of the popular motif as symbols of eternal love. Radiance didn’t care for snakes and couldn’t imagine why they represented the deepest emotion, with pretty emerald eyes or otherwise. When the Royal couple purchased their Balmoral home, she’d much preferred the jewelry with delicate Scottish designs that had quickly come into fashion.

“Actually, I very much like the golden topaz stones you purchased last week. I think there are two of a similar size.”

“Indeed. A good choice for your coloring.” Then Mr. Bonwit smiled. “If you make them, I will sell them to you at a fair price.”

“I trust you will,” she said. “And then you will be able to tell everyone in London you have an earl’s daughter as your special patron.”

The man chortled. “Believe me, I already do.”

At home that afternoon, Radiance was surprised to receive a note from Mr. Lockwood.

Dear Lady Radiance,

I have made arrangements to speak with Mr. Minton mid-morning tomorrow. I will spare your tender sensibilities and go to Newgate alone. Never fear, however. I shall keep you updated.

Yours sincerely,

Lockwood

Keep her updated! Radiance wasn’t going to be left out of meeting the man who might hold the key to such a magnificent deceit as well as be a master jeweler on a scale to commit a forgery upon the Royal family.

She could write back to Mr. Lockwood and risk being denied, or she could show up at his home the following day. Naturally, she would have to go early so as not to miss his departure.