Radiance (Diamonds of the First Water #3)

Chapter Forty-Two

E dward half expected Radiance to show up uninvited at Buckingham Palace. That would be a disaster. He didn’t know how he would protect her from the royal couple’s wrath, but it would be impossible if she were there.

For that matter, he didn’t know how he was going to protect himself.

Swallowing against the dryness that had plagued his throat all morning, he made his way through the original west wing. Having received word that Her Majesty and His Royal Highness had returned from Scotland, he’d requested an audience. Within two hours, during which he’d paced like a fiend, he’d received a summons to the Throne Room of all places.

Naturally, Edward had bypassed Garrard entirely, not wanting the Crown Jeweler blamed for putting his trust in the wrong man.

Unlike the previous visit, there would be no hopeful Queen and pleasant Prince Consort telling him how grateful they were for his service.

Upon being left alone in the Throne Room by a footman, Edward strolled the chamber. It was very ... red, as much of the royal decorating was. And gold. Massive red walls stretched up to a gilded ceiling from which sparkling crystal chandeliers, four of them, were suspended. Only the carpet in palest of golden weave, the white marble fireplace, and the wall of windows looking out over the central courtyard broke up the sea of crimson.

Even the huge mirrors on either side of the fireplace, as well as the overmantel mirror, reflected the thick red wallpaper, the window hangings, and the throne canopy. It was beginning to remind him of a butcher’s shop.

He started to pace again. Even if it had been permissible to take a seat, he couldn’t have as there were none. Except for the throne. Naturally, this, too, was red velvet with gilded wood. He approached it, glancing at himself in the large mirror, startled to see he wasn’t a pale shell of himself.

Despite not sleeping, and a general sense of dread, he counted himself a fortunate man. He had won the heart of Lady Radiance Diamond, and that was something he could take to his grave ... or to Australia.

With the eye of a scientist, he examined the seat of the ruler of all Britannia and India. The throne had been built in the same year Victoria became queen in 1837. Topped with a carved gild crown, under it were her initials, VR — for Victoria Regina — very prettily engraved in a squiggly fashion. They reminded him of gold filagree, which he knew Radiance had studied and mastered.

Underneath the fancy letters was a row of equally gilded emblems. He bent closer, then straightened. The rose for England, the thistle for Scotland, and the Shamrock for Ireland. Nothing for Wales, he noted, nor for India.

He wondered whether a master wood carver would be invited to add a few more emblems to it . And if so, what would be the symbol for India?

Probably the blasted Koh-i-Noor!

Edward was starting to think it cursed, even as the latest forgery rested heavily in his pocket.

While he was admiring the rest of the throne’s carvings, its oak and laurel leaves, a hidden door covered in wallpaper to the left behind the throne’s gold-fringed canopy opened.

Seeing the Queen’s face, Edward would prefer to be underground in an African diamond mine scrabbling in the dirt with his bare hands. In that instant, it wasn’t her and the Prince Consort’s anger he feared as much as their disappointment.

Directly behind Queen Victoria came the Prince Consort, and behind him, Radiance.

Edward did a double-take. “Lady Radiance?”

“Your geologist is by such a large measure besotted,” the Queen said to the stunning redhead who came to a halt to one side of the throne, “that he forgot to greet his Queen first and foremost.”

Edward tried to reconcile the fact that his lady-love was at the Palace when he had hoped she was safely in her Piccadilly home.

“I apologize, Your Majesty,” he said, coming to stand directly before the Queen and bowing low. He waited a long moment.

“You may rise, Mr. Lockwood. But do not forget the courtesy due my husband.”

“Of course not, Your Majesty.” Edward bowed to Prince Albert next. “I am glad to see you well, Your Highness.”

“And now you may greet Lord Diamond’s daughter,” Queen Victoria added in a teasing tone.

However, when he went to bow to Radiance, she rushed forward to curtsy at the same time.

“I would not feel comfortable if you bowed to me in this setting,” she said, “unless I may return the greeting.”

“You are above me in station,” he reminded her.

“I don’t believe I am, sir.”

While Edward enjoyed a good riddle, this wasn’t the time nor place for one.

“I do not understand,” he said, his head spinning to see everyone looking placid. “Why are you here?” It struck him that she had gone ahead of him to confess.

“Your Majesty, whatever Lady Radiance has said, she is not to blame. It is entirely my fault the diamond was stolen.”

“Is that so?” the Queen asked, taking a seat on her throne. “Husband, what do you make of this?”

“I don’t believe we should tease our favorite geologist a single minute,” Prince Albert said.

“Agreed,” Queen Victoria said. “Let Lady Radiance tell him.”

“You never had the genuine Koh-i-Noor, sir.”

He would not unman himself by fainting, but for a second, he was lightheaded with relief.

“Mr. Garrard had the diamond the entire time,” she explained.

And then a spark of anger shot through him. “Then I was used as bait.” He looked at Her Majesty, and said, “My home was broken into twice.”

The Queen had the grace to blush. “We knew you could handle anything that occurred. We never dreamed you would go to such measures as those which Lady Radiance has described.”

Prince Albert added, “And although you were unaware, we had already requested your house be under surveillance by Scotland Yard.”

“I am flabbergasted,” Edward said, “and utterly thrilled to learn this.”

“There is more good news,” Radiance said.

“I am not sure I can handle anything more.”

The royal couple chuckled before Queen Victoria said, “I am honoring your service and sacrifice with a barony.”

“Isn’t that grand, sir?” Radiance asked.

Edward wouldn’t disappoint her or the Queen by saying he didn’t give a fig about becoming Lord Lockwood. Only because it occurred to him that his wife would now continue to be addressed as a lady. Lady Lockwood. It sounded very good.

“I am grateful and honored, Your Majesty.” He knew enough about etiquette to bow extraordinarily low.

Then he recalled Radiance’s words of a few minutes earlier. “That’s what you meant about our stations.”

She smiled softly. “It never mattered to me anyway.”

“Young love,” the Queen said. “They remind me of us, Husband.”

“They do,” the Prince Consort agreed.

Edward couldn’t wait to leave the Throne Room and soundly kiss Radiance.

They didn’t even get out of the Palace, only as far as the landing of the Grand Staircase, before Edward pulled her into an embrace. Ignoring the footman who halted ahead of them, Radiance let him kiss her. It wasn’t a mere passing peck, either, but a full-on-the-mouth kiss, making her insides turn to jelly and her knees buckle.

Could she sit on the stairs of Buckingham Palace?

Luckily, his strong arms held her steady.

“How did you know?” he asked.

“I didn’t. I came to throw myself on Her Majesty’s mercy, only to find out I didn’t need to.”

He shook his head. “How did neither of us notice we weren’t holding a diamond?”

Radiance had pondered that astonishing fact ever since Prince Albert had told her.

“For my part, I was concentrating on your white topaz. I couldn’t make a mistake, knowing you had no other. I didn’t even study the supposed Koh-i-Noor with the magnification glasses. Why would I? I was concerned only that the forgery be the right shape to fool the thief into taking it.”

“I never looked closely after Garrard foisted it upon me,” Edward admitted. “The Dutch had presented it, so why would I think he slipped me a different stone?”

“The Crown Jeweler is a tricky man,” she said.

“I confess I was more interested in asking him to help me gain admission to the ball and planning what I would say to you than I was in the diamond. Until you pressed against it, I had all but forgotten I even carried it. You are far more important to me than any gem.”

Radiance initiated the next kiss. After all, the footman was giving them privacy by keeping his back to them. She might as well take advantage of the situation. Who knew when next she would be alone with her fiancé?

“The whole dastardly episode is behind us,” Edward said. “And I don’t even care about the motivation of Sully and Rathmond or how they are related.”

“Half brothers,” Radiance told him, having learned it from the royal couple. “That’s why Mr. Sully struck me as familiar. It’s their eyes and mouths,” she mused. “I vow their faces are as alike as two peas.”

“And did Mr. Sully also rub your ankle?” Edward asked, tilting his head in that way she loved.

Radiance laughed, feeling so lighthearted now that the entire mystery was concluded. “He didn’t. To be fair, though, I didn’t give him a chance.”

“I should hope not. No man had better put a finger on your ankle or anywhere else for that matter, not while I still draw breath.”

“The same goes for any female’s fingers upon you,” she reminded him.

“Of course not,” he said, dismissing the notion. “I think we should go directly to your parents and tell them the news, and then to mine. My mother will be thrilled to have a baron in the family.”

And she was, but even more so to welcome an earl’s daughter.

Two months later, Bri got her wish for a Christmas wedding. Radiance became Lady Lockwood and moved all her belongings to Berkeley Square. As promised, Edward vacated the dining room, giving them space to accommodate both their families at one seating. However, it soon became apparent they should think about moving to a larger house so there would be room for each to have a workroom, as well as plenty of space for a nursery.

One morning in January, she came across her husband motionless, staring out the window. She simply watched him, admiring Edward’s profile and the breadth of his shoulders. Eventually, however, she wanted to see his golden eyes.

“Lord Lockwood.”

He didn’t turn, nor even acknowledge her. She was used to this and took no offense. She even accepted that Mrs. McSabby might be correct in thinking Edward could easily wander into the wrong home if he were lost in thought.

She waited. Another minute passed. Monty circled her legs wanting her to stroke him, which she did. And then, she addressed her husband again.

This time, he turned.

“Lady Lockwood!” He sounded surprised. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Not too long,” she said. “How long have you been looking out the window?”

“Looking out the ...” He stopped. “No, I wasn’t. I mean, obviously, I was, but I wasn’t seeing anything.”

“You were doing nothing, then?”

“Of course not! I was working on a passage for my book. Some days, I fear I’ll be an old man when I complete it.”

She nearly laughed. “You’re not exactly ancient.” Seven years older than herself, he was not about to run out of time.

His expression softened. “I am not ancient. But I am eager to do and learn many things beyond what I’ve already done and know.”

They were similarly minded. Still, she had yet to tell him about Neble’s offer. And now that she was a married woman, she wondered if he would try to restrict her.

“I completely understand,” she said. He, more than anyone, knew how she pushed herself beyond the limitations of what was expected. “Naturally, for my situation, the boundaries are narrower than yours, and thus, my endeavors may be smaller.”

He shrugged. “I do not see why they should be. I enjoy traveling. You can travel with me. We shall plan a trip for the spring. I intend to keep learning, and I imagine, given your attendance at lectures, that you do, too. I admire your curiosity.”

With this encouragement, she couldn’t make herself ask his permission to become the head of the House of Neble, so she didn’t. Instead, she smiled at him.

“This instant, I am curious as to whether you would like to take a nap with me.”

His expression was priceless. It was two in the afternoon, after all. But Radiance considered their time spent in the bedroom to be as enlightening as any lecture she’d ever attended.

She didn’t have to ask twice. In two steps, he grabbed her hand and ran for the stairs.