Radiance (Diamonds of the First Water #3)

Epilogue

T o Radiance’s amazement, front and center in the window of Asprey’s on Bond Street, known for its tasteful decorations, furnishings, knick-knacks, and jewelry was a pyramid of dainty, black jewel boxes, all with their lids open. Upon the blue satin of each interior sat a Koh-i-Noor replica.

Wisely, the fakes appeared like the original, irregularly cut, lumpy stone that last displayed at the exhibition, and thus, with no possibility one could be used in exchange for the current brilliant cut diamond.

With Sarah, she went in and purchased one just for fun to give to her mother. As for herself, she still had her own cherished replica she’d made from Edward’s gorgeous white topaz. On the eve of their wedding, he’d presented it to her as a brooch, and currently, it was pinned to her winter wool mantle.

And then she went along to the House of Neble to see how Mr. Minton was doing as the primary jeweler. Beyond that, Radiance was ready to tell Mr. Neble her decision regarding the business proposal he’d made months earlier.

“My answer is yes,” she told the old jeweler when seated across from him in his room full of lamps. “I will be honored to take over the House of Neble and handle the day-to-day management, and I vow to keep its name as requested. What’s more, I will study your designs and make sure we continue to create your signature pieces.”

The jeweler bowed his head momentarily over his steepled fingers. When he raised it, he looked directly into her eyes. “You have relieved me of much worry. It will be almost as though I still have family to carry on my name. I know it is the vanity of an old man —”

“I don’t see it that way at all. Neble is the name of this fine establishment because you have built it up from nothing. I completely understand why you would want that to remain the same.”

“And you won’t feel as though you are working in the shadows? As if you would like to see the name Diamond etched in the sign above the door? It is a very good name for a jewelry store.”

Radiance laughed. “In a way, sir, women are used to working anonymously or behind the scenes, as it were. Regardless, you may not have heard, but I am no longer a Diamond. I married Mr. Lockwood a fortnight ago.”

He nodded, appearing unsurprised. “My vision may be cloudy, but even I could see the two of you made a fine couple. It is a pleasure to share a mutual interest with one’s spouse, is it not?”

“Yes, sir.”

Then he cocked his head. “I am a little surprised you are not away on a honeymoon trip. In my day, that’s what Mrs. Neble and I did.”

“We shall do so, sir. My husband is still making preparations for a long voyage, in fact. We are going to Brazil so I can see actual diamond mines for myself. We shall be away for a few months.”

“Jolly good,” he said. “I shall be ready by then, I think.”

“Ready, sir?”

“To step down. I am looking forward to putting my feet up and letting you take over.”

Her heart beat a little more swiftly, imagining returning to the shop once she was its owner and manager — and even one of its jewelers.

“At that time, sir, I shall buy you a new ottoman for your comfort, as long as you promise to be available for consultations when I need assistance.”

By dinner time, Radiance could hardly wait for Edward to come out of the small upstairs chamber he now used as his workroom. In fact, she gave up waiting. When she felt as if she’d been patient long enough, letting him work without distraction, she intruded upon his lair, a place she tried hard to stay out of.

Not that he minded, but they usually ended up in a horizontal position on one of his worktables. It was the most peculiar and inconvenient place to become extremely aroused.

His head was bowed over a pad of paper and next to him were three small stones.

As usual, he was so focused, he didn’t even hear her enter. She crept toward him, determined to place a kiss upon the back of his neck, although his hair was currently covering it. She would blow gently to uncover his skin and then quickly drop a kiss.

She did both, laughing when he startled and dropped his pen. In the next instant, however, he had hold of her arm, pushed his chair away from the table, and tugged her onto his lap.

“Are you trying to steal my gemstones, Wife?”

“Perhaps.” She perused the colorful jewels. “I could make a bracelet.”

“Would you take my precious work into Bonwit’s and turn it into something useless?”

“Useless?” She shook her head, knowing he was teasing. He always exclaimed with fascination over the intricate designs she could now make. “I shall not be going to Bonwit’s much longer.”

He grinned. “True. Soon, we shall be sailing out of Liverpool. Exciting, isn’t it? I cannot wait to show you South America.”

“I am beyond ready to sail away with you,” she told him. Her trunk was already packed. It had been packed, unpacked, and repacked while she made sure she had what she wanted for the long voyage and overland trek. “However, that’s not what I meant. Edward, do you mind having a wife who works?”

“If I did, then I married the wrong one, don’t you think? If you don’t mind having a husband who works instead of enjoys living off the rents of his tenants, then I don’t mind having a wife who makes jewelry. Although I recall you once snapped at the term work .”

“That’s true. At first, I thought it unseemly for me to be anything but an amateur. Now, however, I have changed my mind.” Still, she could hardly speak the words for the excitement fluttering in the pit of her stomach. Life was grand and everything good seemed to be ahead of her.

Threading her fingers behind his neck, she pulled him closer for a kiss.

“Lady Lockwood is feeling frisky, is that it? Before dinner?”

She giggled, but he claimed her lips, growling softly when she parted them for his exploration. However, when his tongue slid alongside hers, she nearly forgot what she had been going to tell him. And as his teeth sank gently into her lower lip, tugging at it, her most sensitive place reacted.

The next instant, she felt his fingers drawing up her skirts. If he continued, then they would be caught in flagrante delicto by Mrs. McSabby — again! — when their housekeeper came to announce their dinner was ready.

With that thought, she pushed against his chest.

“Edward!”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “Do you know how much I adore you? As soon as you’re near I want to devour you.”

His nearness was making her eyes cross, so she squeezed them closed and laughed.

“I can only hope you adore me as much as I do you, but I have something to tell you.”

“Do you?” He leaned back. “Then why didn’t you say so?”

“Because you are such a dash-fire man, you distract me from my purpose.”

“Which is?” He let his finger trace her nipple under the satin bodice of her gown.

Radiance felt it harden, and the other one joined it for good measure. Maybe they would skip dinner and go upstairs. They could always eat later. That seemed an excellent idea as he leaned down to nibble the soft skin at her throat. She arched back to give him access while still talking.

“Which is that I am going to own the House of Neble.”

“Are you?” he asked against her neck, before nipping at her skin making her shiver all over.

“Yes. And I am going to run it.”

“Will you?” he asked as his tongue took a little trip down the column of her throat to her collar bone.

She sighed. “Yes. What’s more, I intend to be one of its principal jewelers.”

“You should be the primary jeweler,” he said, pushing down the décolletage of her gown and cupping one of her bare breasts.

Gripping his shoulders with both hands, she lay her head back upon the table, giving him room to suck her nipple into his mouth and roll it, easing the tension she was feeling.

Except it didn’t. His mouth upon her breast sent a hot tingling sensation straight between her legs.

“Edward!”

“Yes!” he agreed. In another moment, she was once more on her feet, yanking up the neckline of her dress and letting him take her hand in his. They ran for the door and then for the stairs.

“Dinner,” Mrs. McSabby called from the hallway, and Radiance was thrilled they had escaped past her.

“Keep it warm,” Edward called down to her.

Radiance knew she should be embarrassed, but surely a newlywed couple were allowed to feast upon one another as often as they fed on their cook’s offerings.

In their bedroom, they came together like two gemstones in the perfect setting. He eased into her gently, but their lovemaking was bright and rich — like rubies in the sunshine.

With their passion played out, when the powerful storm of their climaxes had rushed through them, shaking and shattering, leaving them damp and spent, Edward rolled over onto his back.

“Ow! What the devil!”

Reaching under him, he withdrew the fake glass Koh-i-Noor she’d bought earlier and had been examining before she’d changed for dinner. He held it up in the air.

“Thank God!” Edward said. “I thought Monty had left us another mouse.”

He started to laugh, and Radiance couldn’t help joining in.

“I already have one gorgeous Diamond in my bed,” he declared, tossing the worthless piece over his shoulder. Taking hold of her hand and bringing it to his lips, he added, “I most certainly do not need another.”

Finis