Radiance (Diamonds of the First Water #3)

Chapter Seventeen

R adiance did not have long to cool her heels. Moreover, since Mr. Lockwood apparently didn’t employ a fleet of footmen, he brought the answer in person.

While seated on the drawing room sofa, she plainly heard him in the front hall.

“Is Lady Radiance at home?” he asked Mr. Dunley.

She smiled. Not exactly what Purity would deem the correct question from an uninvited guest. He ought to have asked if she was seeing visitors. It was none of his business whether she was at home or not.

As expected, their proper butler didn’t give him a direct answer. Moreover, since she was in the drawing room, he didn’t invite Mr. Lockwood in. Instead, Mr. Dunley told him to wait in the foyer.

Radiance went to the drawing room door, still holding the newspaper she’d been perusing. There was much to be gleaned about the state of the jewelry industry and its current trends by looking at the shop advertisements. She also read the stock prices for diamonds, gold, and silver, as well as the general business news about who was now working where, who had closed up shop, and who had opened a new one.

“Good day, Mr. Lockwood.” She nearly called him Edward. She only thought of him as Edward now that his mouth had been upon hers, not to mention his hands.

“What a pleasant surprise,” she said.

“I have come to apologize.”

Oh dear! “No,” she warned. “Say no more.” Then after glancing at Mr. Dunley, she beckoned Edward into the drawing room. When he stepped over the threshold, she asked, “Would you care for any refreshments? Tea, perhaps?”

“Thank you, no. I shan’t stay long. As I said, I came only to tender an apology.”

Radiance shut the door with a polite shake of her head to the butler who had awaited any request for her guest.

“You really must stop saying that,” she beseeched. “I accept your apology.”

“But you cannot since I haven’t said it properly or expressed why I was apologizing.”

“I know why. Because of ... your actions.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “In the library.”

“No,” he blurted.

At her expression, somewhere between stunned and shocked — for how else could she look? — he hurriedly added, “I mean, yes, I suppose. Not my actions exactly because I don’t regret our kiss for an instant.”

She winced that he’d said it aloud under her parents’ roof. Had he never heard the expression of the walls having ears ? The ears belonged to any number of their staff.

However, since he wouldn’t stop apologizing or mentioning the regrettable behavior, she repeated herself.

“I accept your apology and don’t blame you at all, sir. If you will only stop mentioning it.”

“I am apologizing for cheapening the delightful experience by talking of possible recriminations. Were there to be any, I would greet them with dutiful acceptance.”

Dutiful acceptance? Worse and worse! Radiance couldn’t help shaking her head.

Mr. Lockwood appeared concerned. “It is you who would suffer from being tied to someone who answers his own doors.”

That made her laugh despite herself. “Indeed. The benefit would all be on your side.”

His face fell. Men had pride. And while he could joke about it, plainly, she could not. She had well and truly put her slippered foot in it. Deeply, too.

They couldn’t seem to get on an even keel.

“Mr. Lockwood, if you will not accept a refreshment, will you at least take a seat?”

“No,” he said stubbornly. “Since you have accepted my apology for almost inadvertently saddling you with the likes of me, then I shall be on my way.”

Radiance sighed. “Do you accept my apology for leaving you without a dance partner?”

“Yes, of course.” He waved it away as if he hadn’t known what a terrible offense she’d committed.

“Good. Do you know who was involved with the second forged gemstone?”

He appeared caught off guard. After a moment, he took a seat after all.

She sighed again since he failed to notice he’d committed an egregious error. Quickly, she sat beside him.

He frowned. “Mr. Neble is a notoriously reticent man. As far as I know, he doesn’t leave his workroom for the floor of his shop and never speaks with customers.”

“He spoke with someone from Buckingham Palace, and he shall speak with us. Why should Mr. Minton rot in jail while someone else goes free?”

“You are determined to become Minton’s champion.”

“Indeed, I am.”

Edward had regained his good humor. He smiled at her, showing his single dimple, and her heart twinged. “Then, my lady, I shall find out how we can gain an audience with the slippery fellow.”

“Meanwhile, we must visit with Mr. Garrard, agreed?”

“If you say so,” he began, sounding amused by her enthusiasm. “When?”

“If you are free, then why not now?”

Thus, within a very few minutes, Radiance was in a hansom cab with her maid and Edward. Traffic was its usual nightmare, and they ended up departing the carriage at the corner of Haymarket and Panton Street, walking the rest of the way to R. & S. Garrard & Company.

“We must be careful ,” Edward reminded her. “We cannot insult Mr. Garrard. His shop has a royal appointment, after all.”

Whereas Edward had nothing but his reputation, which he would like to keep.

“I shall be careful,” Lady Radiance promised.

But he feared her idea of careful might not be the same as someone more prudent.

Who was he to talk, after the library entanglement? Moreover, in his head, having had his tongue in her mouth, he thought of her as simply Radiance. Edward also recognized a new sensation of propriety and protection. Neither had ever been needed nor felt regarding Miss Maura.

They entered Garrard’s establishment to the sound of a bell on the door announcing them. With her maid immediately taking up a place in the corner and pulling out a penny dreadful from her coat pocket, Edward waited for a shopgirl to approach.

“Please tell Mr. Garrard that Mr. Lockwood and Lady Radiance are here to speak with him.”

“Which one, sir?” asked the young woman wearing a starched white apron over a striped gray dress.

“ Sebastian Garrard.”

In short order, they were taken from the main floor of the shop up the stairs to an office. It was a spacious one, staid and elegant, with not only an immaculate, uncluttered desk positioned so that Mr. Garrard’s back was to the window, but also a seating area placed before it around a mahogany tea table. The furnishings were all in shades of dark blue, gray, and white — a nicer workspace, Edward thought with a pang of embarrassment, than his own home.

“You recall Lady Radiance from the meeting,” Edward said.

“Of course,” the Crown Jeweler gestured for them to sit. “A pleasure to see you again, my lady. I hope your parents are well.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you for asking.” And she took the blue velvet chair offered her.

“Shall I send for some refreshments?” Garrard asked, as if they were visiting at his home.

“Thank you, no,” she said as Edward and the jeweler also sat.

Before Edward could dive in with their questions, Garrard leaned forward with a beatific smile.

“What brings you both here today? A nuptials ring, perhaps?”

Edward coughed, somehow choking on air, while Lady Radiance simply smiled before offering a smooth response.

“If and when, Mr. Garrard, then I shall certainly consider your fine establishment. I cannot speak for Mr. Lockwood.”

“Jolly good!” Garrard said.

Edward decided they had best move on to the topic at hand.

“We don’t wish to take up too much of your time, but we have some questions about the situation to which few are privy.”

“But I am?” Mr. Garrard asked.

“Indeed, as Royal Keeper of the Jewels —”

“Actually, since 1843, I am the Crown Jeweler, a slightly different title.” He preened, but Edward could not blame him. It was an honor, indeed.

When Edward hesitated, Radiance added, “And as such, you more than anyone know the importance of keeping safe the royal jewel collection. We were told that there have been two imitations passed off as gemstones.”

Mr. Garrard eyebrows rose. “You know about the forgeries, do you? It’s a sad situation since they are still unrecovered. I have the best detectives in London keeping their eyes and ears open for any possible sale of the stones.”

“We didn’t know that,” Edward confessed. “I imagine it is like looking for a grain of sand on Brighton Beach.”

“Just so,” Mr. Garrard agreed. “Two grains! The stones themselves, as I am sure you’re aware, are not particularly memorable except for having been used in two pieces of jewelry worn by the Queen. It’s not as though either stone is the Koh-i-Noor.” Then he paused.

“That explains your inclusion in our little committee. Because you’re searching for the lost jewels.”

Radiance glanced at Edward who looked back at her and nodded.

“We are trying to determine the perpetrator of the replications,” she confessed. “And that is why we wished to speak with you.”

“Me?” Garrard shook his head. “I assure you I had nothing to do with it.”

“Perhaps you could speak to us about Mr. Minton, sir,” Radiance persisted.

The Crown Jeweler turned somber at once. “A bad apple amongst us, and what a dreadful thing to do to our Queen.”

“Indeed,” Edward agreed. “And, as you say, even worse since the stones were never recovered.”

“If the sapphire and emerald are still in Britain, then they are most likely safely hidden away.” Mr. Garrard shook his head in dismay. “And to think I hired Minton myself, although he was trained long before. He worked for Rundell and Bridge prior to coming here. And you cannot ask for a better reference.”

“But why would he steal the stone if he couldn’t sell it?” Radiance asked.

“Who said he couldn’t? He could sell it easily outside of Britain,” Mr. Garrard insisted. “Some collectors would pay more, in fact, because it belonged to the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.”

Edward hadn’t thought of that. Someone would pay dearly for the thrill of owning something Her Majesty had worn.

“Then it may never be recovered,” Radiance said morosely.

“Not unless someone is very foolish,” Garrard said, “and wears it in a recognizable setting amongst those who know the Queen’s jewels. And anyone who did what was done to procure the sapphire is certainly not a fool.”

“You are no longer speaking of Mr. Minton, are you?” Radiance asked. “Is everyone else who works for you above suspicion?”

Edward cringed. It certainly was a question that might raise the ire of the Crown Jeweler.

“Mr. Minton could very well have worked alone. We have sketches in our archives of all the royal pieces we’ve created, and he had access to them. In any case, no one else was anywhere near the brooch.”

Edward watched Radiance frown, clearly thinking up more questions, but when she chewed her luscious lower lip, he felt a tugging ache in his groin.

Finally, she spoke again.

“May I ask why Mr. Minton was given the brooch to clean rather than doing it yourself?”

Edward gaped. She was all but implying Garrard had been derelict in his duty.

She was lucky to be both beautiful and an earl’s daughter. Still, Mr. Garrard’s jaw worked as if he were chewing bread, and he gritted his teeth. Finally, he answered her.

“I had important business with a gem dealer. You met Mr. Rathmond at the Palace.” Then he cleared his throat. “And my entire company is on the royal warrant, my lady, and thus all those who work for me, including Mr. Minton at the time.”

Radiance looked as if she was satisfied by his response, but Edward wanted to know more about the ankle rubber.

“I had never met Rathmond before, but I understand he buys and sells all over the world.”

Garrard nodded. “Indeed. He often has interesting stones. His prices are high, though.” He looked at Radiance. “I wouldn’t try to purchase your engagement stone from him. He’ll lead you on an expensive dance before you knew what was happening.” He winked at Lady Radiance.

Edward was embarrassed for his sex and their condescending ways.

Luckily, before Garrard could do something equally belittling, such as pat her on the head, he rose to his feet, and Edward understood their meeting had come to an end.

However, as Radiance stood, she had another question. “Do you have any idea how the emerald might have been switched out of the Queen’s coronet?”

Mr. Garrard stiffened. “You must try to speak with Mr. Neble, and in that endeavor, I wish you good luck. He has become somewhat ... difficult in his later years.”

“Then why was he given the coronet to look after in the first place?” Radiance asked.

Mr. Garrard wore an expression of chagrin. “He created it many years ago for the Queen’s mother, and thus, he was sent the coronet because the House of Neble has always been sent the coronet. That is how these situations are handled.”

“Thank you for your time,” Edward said. With that, he put a hand on Radiance’s arm and steered her from the establishment, making sure to retrieve her maid on the way out.

“Everyone knows the task of creating each article of jewelry for the royal family is protected and fought over,” he said. “You can only stir up hard feelings by asking about another jeweler’s piece.”

“I had no idea it was such a touchy subject,” Radiance said. “I would think Mr. Garrard ought to be satisfied at having made Prince Albert’s wedding gift for the Queen and being the Crown Jeweler. In any case, he seems to think the matter of Mr. Minton is done and dusted.”

“And you do not?” He knew the answer.

“No. I believe the discovery of the second counterfeit stone should have cleared Mr. Minton.”

“Not necessarily. Even if he was incarcerated at the time it was discovered, he could have done it beforehand.”

“But he never worked on the coronet,” Radiance protested. “Mr. Garrard made that clear. It is time we pay a visit to the House of Neble.”

Edward smiled at her take-charge tone. “As I’ve said, he is quite the recluse now. I have never met him.”

She shrugged, and it was the prettiest thing he’d seen.

“Mr. Neble will undoubtedly see me if I say I wish to have something created especially for the House of Diamond.”

Her tone left no doubt she was entirely serious.

“Moreover, if the esteemed geologist, Edward Lockwood, were the one to send him my request acting as my personal consultant for jewelry, I am sure we will be invited rather swiftly.”

“We can but try,” he agreed. She was probably correct, although Edward liked to think he could see the man even without subterfuge or using the impressive name of Diamond.

“I shall send word to Mr. Neble’s establishment that Lady Radiance Diamond wishes to have a consultation.”

“Thank you,” she said. “Now, would you care to come home with me to tea?”

Edward stopped in his tracks, his arm raised to hail a passing cab.

“I prefer coffee, but why are you inviting me to your home?” Edward had the sudden notion all the talk of nuptial rings and of her being his lady-friend was going to her head.

For his part, he had decided to pay a visit to Maura on the weekend and relieve the pent-up frustration in his loins. If Radiance had some pent-up emotions of her own, he didn’t know what she was supposed to do about them. As far as he knew, nice young ladies hadn’t much choice of release.

“We have the finest coffee,” she interrupted his salacious thoughts with more mundane ones. “And I wish to oversee the letter we’re sending to Mr. Neble. After all, you are writing it on my behalf.”

“I assure you I am capable of composing a missive that will gain us entry.”

She gave him a long stare.

Edward was almost certain there was some pressing reason he ought not to go off with the pretty lady, but for the life of him, while looking into her intelligent eyes, he couldn’t recall what it was.