Radiance (Diamonds of the First Water #3)

Chapter Forty

O utside Lord Diamond’s home, Edward helped Radiance from the carriage, followed by her maid. Fittingly for what they’d been up to in creating a monstrous forgery, Sarah was reading Wagner, the Wehr-Wolf . He was sorely looking forward to the day Radiance became his wife and they no longer had need of her shadow.

“Thirty-three crown facets, twenty-three pavilion facets,” Radiance said, not for the first time, “and eight planes around the culet.”

“It looked perfect,” he reminded her. Except the diamond was now a white topaz. “And you finished early because you are a genius.”

Scotland Yard had been put on notice and given what had happened in Houndsditch and because Edward had mentioned the Queen and the Koh-i-Noor, they sent a detail of their finest to hide in his shrubbery, in his neighbors’ houses, and even in the ancient planetrees in the Berkeley Square’s central gardens.

After a single conspiratorial glance, he’d left the fake in plain sight on a bed of velvet in a wooden container on his workroom table. Moreover, at Radiance’s urging, rather than carrying the Koh-i-Noor on his person, he’d found the perfect hiding place. Even she’d agreed it was.

All they needed to do was wait until Mr. Garrard summoned them to Buckingham Palace. Then, the diamond would undoubtedly gain new life as a brooch, a pendant, or in a tiara for it was still magnificently sized and now would outshine most others.

“I hope the thief strikes again today. For I would hate to have to present the forgery to the Queen,” Radiance said.

“I agree,” Edward said. “That would be difficult.”

“As well as treasonous,” she added.

Indeed, one wasn’t allowed to lie to one’s sovereign. And he was fairly certain their unorthodox behavior would be seen as an egregious lie.

And then they entered Radiance’s home together to face her parents.

In very short order, Edward found himself sequestered with Lord Diamond. A series of questions ensued, during which he assured the earl he could support a wife and children while keeping Radiance in a style that would be comfortable, although perhaps not as luxurious as what she was used to.

That part was a decided understatement. Edward hoped he understood his soon-to-be wife well enough to know she would not wilt nor lose her shine because of a less prestigious address and fewer servants at her disposal. They had a meeting of the hearts and minds, which had only grown stronger over the past twenty-four hours.

Having passed the earl’s examination, Edward accompanied Lord Diamond to the drawing room for a chat with Lady Diamond and Radiance. Their meeting was no less intense as the countess questioned him on any number of topics to do with children — “have plenty to keep you young” — purchasing a country home — “very much advised to get out of the sticky, late-summer heat and to see your offspring gamboling like lambs,” and dinner parties — “throw as many as you can afford because they will keep your staff busy, your home always at its best for show, and your friends and family close.”

“As to the latter, let us start tonight,” the countess said.

Radiance yawned behind her hand, obviously tired from her long endeavor, but at his questioning look, she nodded.

“How fun!” said Lady Brilliance, who had just wandered in carrying a violin and bow.

“Do you play?” he asked politely.

“No,” she said and mysteriously left it at that before plopping herself down beside her mother.

Edward didn’t see the problem in enjoying a dinner with his future in-laws until he realized that Lady Diamond wanted him to throw the party at his home. In that case, he begged a stay of execution.

“Until tomorrow evening,” he suggested. “In order that Lady Radiance may rest.”

“Then we shall be there at seven tomorrow,” the countess agreed.

“Yes,” he said, still trying to sound enthusiastic. “I look forward to it.”

Dining with one’s fiancée was better than dining with any other woman. Of that, Edward had no doubt. However, hosting a dinner for her and her parents and her younger sister, who seemed ready to say anything that came to mind, was more terrifying than being attacked in the jungle by a knife-wielding thief. Of that, he also had no doubt.

When they were finally alone, as he had been granted a few minutes to take leave of his fiancée, Radiance suggested Edward invite his own family, too. He had put his foot down.

“My dining salon is not large enough. We shall be cramped as it is. After we marry, I intend to move my workroom. You must choose a new table and chairs, and we will host properly in our dining room. Besides, if it is any consolation, my parents will invite yours to dine next week. I can practically hear my mother shouting with joy already. She will adore having you as a daughter-in-law.”

Radiance had beamed her approval by way of a heart-stoppingly beautiful smile, and then he’d kissed her behind a large potted palm in the Diamonds’ drawing room.

How on earth had he gained her love? He could almost believe she didn’t know what she was getting into by marrying him.

“If you want an attentive, fawning doormat, then I am not your man,” Edward confessed. “Similarly, I am not known for my flowery speech or witty turn of phrase.”

“I don’t care about any of that,” she promised, “as long as you are passionate about me, at least as much as your gems and geodes.”

“That I can promise for the rest of our lives.”

“Then I don’t need any fawning,” she assured him.

He tilted her chin up and held it in place for another kiss.

“Well, maybe a little fawning,” she admitted.

“‘ The diamonds of a most praisèd water doth appear to make the world twice rich ,’” he whispered against her lips.

She reared back. “You did not just say that trite phrase, did you? Except in an Elizabethan tongue.”

He chuckled. “If you won’t let me say it straight from Chambers’ Encyclopedia, the way every other man in London says it, then I must quote Shakespeare’s Pericles .”

“That was Cerimon’s line, not Pericles’,” she teased him, “and I thought you just said you weren’t one for flowery speech.”

“I have nearly depleted my entire repertoire,” he confessed, having felt the urge to brush up on all the best sayings regarding gemstones. “‘ If heaven would make me such another world, Of one entire and perfect chrysolite!’ I had to wait a long time to find a woman who knew what a chrysolite is before I could heap such praise,” he added, earning another smile from Radiance’s perfect lips.

He couldn’t help dropping a third kiss upon them.

When he drew back, she bit her lip, making his insides dance. Then a flash of recollection crossed her lovely face.

“In return, I can praise you. ‘Methought all his senses were lock'd in his eyes as jewels in crystal,’ for I do very much adore your eyes, Mr. Lockwood. And that was Love’s Labour’s Lost , by the way.”

He nodded, beyond grateful to have been given a second chance when he least expected it. “I adore you with every molecule and facet of my being. I shall endeavor to make you happy for the rest of our lives, and I want to give you boundless pleasure in our bed.”

She gasped softly, appearing eager to experience it.

“Or on a table,” he added, teasing her. “Or on a rug by the hearth.”

She laughed. “Not flowery but very passionate.”

His mouth claimed hers one final time. He was certain he’d pressed his luck, and her father would storm in and toss him to the street. Yet when she parted her lips for him, he delved in.

Afterward, Edward raced home to tell Mrs. McSabby to prepare for the onslaught of guests the following evening.

Then, fortune shone upon him like a diamond in sunlight. Just before midnight, while he was already abed, he heard the thwack, thwack, thwack of police rattles, loud and large, the size of a man’s shoe. The policemen surrounding his home for the night watch were twirling their noise-makers, indicating they had caught an intruder.

Grabbing his dressing gown, Edward darted down the stairs, meeting Mrs. McSabby in the hallway.

“Lord, sir, I fear I’ll be killed in my bed one of these nights.”

“Never fear, good woman. The police are all around us.” He strode into his workroom.

After lighting a lamp, he surveyed his surroundings. The container was open, the velvet was lying on the tabletop, and the fake diamond was gone. The rattles sounded again, and he went outside in his slippers.

With a policeman holding each of his arms, Rathmond struggled.

Edward was not surprised by the perpetrator’s identity. He and Radiance had realized in the long hours while she crafted the fake that the gem dealer was the only one from the committee who could possibly have a reason.

While the police were slipping their lead-filled rattles and their truncheons into the specially designed, swallow-tail pockets of their coats, Edward asked him, “You are connected to Sully, are you not?”

But Rathmond remained mulishly silent.

“No matter. It will all come out in court,” Edward promised him, “and you shall undoubtedly join him in Australia.”

“He had this on him, just as you predicted,” the constable in charge said, showing Edward Radiance’s forgery. “I shall have to take it with me, sir. I was in trouble last time for not bringing those Houndsditch gemstones to the Yard.”

“As you wish,” Edward said. Then he stared into Rathmond’s eyes as he added, “In any case, it’s a fake. The real one is safe.”

The gem dealer’s eyes widened before his mouth flattened into a line of disgust.

“Although I would like it back at the court’s convenience, as the stone belongs to me.”

In fact, Edward realized he cherished the white topaz Radiance had worked on more than any other gemstone he owned.

Thanking the constable for his night’s work, he wandered back indoors and went to bed. After all, he would have a long day come morning.

The following afternoon, Edward could almost smell success in the air. His small staff had dusted, swept, and polished every surface, brought in fresh flowers, beaten the drawing room rug, and all but repainted the house’s interior. Even his staircase banister was gleaming with thick polish.

Delicious aromas were emanating from his kitchen, too, indicating his cook was doing her part. And as far as he knew, Mrs. McSabby was handling her role perfectly, making all in readiness for when his guests would arrive at seven.

Until she ran into his workroom at six o’clock.

“The wine is sour, sir. Sour as vinegar. I should have known something was up when it wasn’t Mr. Wright’s normal lad delivering the cask.”

Edward dropped his pen as two thoughts came to mind. The first he asked at once. “How do you know the wine is sour?”

Her cheeks reddened. “Well, sir. I have to taste it, don’t I?”

“Do you?” he asked.

“I often do, sir. Cook, as well, just a sip to make sure.”

“What about the scullery maid?” Edward asked, thinking it a wonder there was ever any wine left in the house. “Is she having a tipple, too?”

“Oh, no, sir.” His housekeeper chuckled as if the notion were absurd. “Besides, she probably wouldn’t know the good stuff from the bad.”

His second thought circled back into his mind. “Aren’t all the wine merchants closed at this hour?”

“I believe so, sir.”

He tried to quell his rising panic. One could not have an earl and a countess and their two daughters over without any wine to offer. And then the answer came to him.

“I shall rush over to the Athenaeum Club. The manager was especially pleased when I helped him purchase an inexpensive sapphire for his daughter’s engagement ring. He will sell me a cask, even without a license. I am certain of it.”

“Very good, sir.”

Thus, he hastened into a cab and returned less than an hour later with the problem solved.

Yet Mrs. McSabby tried to corner him as he started upstairs.

“Our guests are nearly on our doorstep,” he reminded her. “Is your matter important enough that I am forced to greet them in this frock coat, dirty collar, and with my hair standing on end?”

“No, sir.” She smiled. “I am pleased you’re sprucing up. It can wait till later.”

Sprucing up , he muttered to himself. He had done well enough so far to capture the heart of a beautiful lady. Still, he took the stairs two at a time and made sure he looked his best when the Diamonds arrived.

A few hours later, Edward thought himself the most fortunate of men. Mrs. McSabby had created a welcoming environment. She knew how to swiftly take his guests’ coats and offer them the hard-won wine. Even though the meal was served in his modest-sized salon, his cook had outdone herself with a seven-course feast such as he’d heard the Queen dined on at state dinners — from creamy pottage through an elegant dessert.

Moreover, Lord and Lady Diamond were kind and warm, and Edward could openly praise Radiance on her amazing skill since her family was aware of what she’d done.

“Your permission for her to stay here to work that night and the following day saved the Queen’s diamond,” he said, bursting with pride. “I only wish I had Lady Radiance’s magnificent forgery to show you.”

“May we see the Koh-i-Noor?” Lady Brilliance asked.

Radiance’s green gaze shot to his, halting the words on his lips. He was going to say no, not wanting to tempt fate by bringing it out into the open. Yet his lady appeared excited at the prospect of sharing something so special with her family.

Into the hesitation, Lady Brilliance added, “I didn’t mean you had to interrupt the meal, sir. After the pudding course would do nicely.”

“As you wish,” he agreed.

Edward tried not to let the evening’s success inflate his pride, but how many of Radiance’s suitors had been able to show off a royal jewel to their prospective in-laws? Thus, after inviting them all into his drawing room, he went to the hiding place he and Radiance had chosen upon considering the particular qualities of what they were trying to conceal.

Hiding in plain sight , they had agreed. Opening the small door on the right of his sideboard, he drew out the mirrored tray of glassware and set it on the low table in front of his guests who’d taken seats on the sofa and chairs.

“Lady Radiance may do the honors and pick it out,” he said.

She peered down into the glasses while her sister put her head close, black hair against red, and gave an excited clap.

“Oh, that’s very clever, sir,” Lady Brilliance exclaimed. “I vow it is invisible, for I cannot see it at all.”

He waited until Radiance looked up at him, her expression perplexed. “Nor can I.”

Both Lord and Lady Diamond leaned forward.

“I would wager my favorite horse those glasses are empty,” the earl said.

Edward felt the skin on his neck prickle. At last, he, too, peered into each of the six crystal glasses.

Well, the devil take him!