Page 76 of Ten Lords for the Holidays

Mr. Cushing paused beside her and granted her an engaging grin. Daphne returned his smile politely. “What good fortune is mine,” he said gallantly, sweeping into the seat beside her.

“I could argue that it is mine,” Daphne replied in kind, though her heart was not in the words. She might have said something else, but Mr. Cushing suddenly leaned forward.

“I say! Is that the legendary Eye of India, Tamsyn?” he fairly shouted, peering down the table at one of the brides-to-be.

“It is, Nathaniel.” Lady Tamsyn’s hand rose to touch the brooch. “Great uncle Timothy sent it to me as a wedding gift. He said it belonged in the coffers of the Earl of Banfield and since I’m oldest, it should be mine.”

“Is he truly our uncle?” asked Lady Morgan.

“Technically, he’s probably a cousin,” said Lady Rose.

“Or a great uncle,” Lady Morgan suggested.

“I thought he was dead,” confided Lady Gwyn, raising a horrified hand to her lips.

“We should have heard if he was,” jested Lady Marjorie. “There would have been a ruckus when his gem collection was sold or given in bequests.”

Daphne couldn’t help but stare at the brooch. She’d never seen such a splendid piece of jewelry. In its center was an enormous sapphire of clear deep blue. The stone was surrounded by swirls of silver, each jammed with sparkling clear gems. It caught the light and glittered.

Surely those stones couldn’t all be diamonds?

It would be worth a fortune, then.

“What a handsome gift,” Daphne said.

“It is!” Lady Tamsyn said. “I was so surprised.”

“I’m glad he sent it to you instead of me,” Lady Morgan said. “I should be terrified that it would be stolen.”

“Oh, it won’t be,” Lady Tamsyn said lightly. “Not here at Castle Keyvnor.” She smiled at her betrothed. “And after the holidays, Gryffyn will take it to Lancarrow to be locked up for safekeeping.”

“You won’t be wearing it daily, after all,” he replied with a teasing smile.

“Only until the wedding. Uncle Timothy asked me to wear it for luck until then. It seemed the least I could do.”

“Although we have no need of luck,” her beloved agreed.

The pair beamed at each other, so happy that they evidently had forgotten every other soul in the room. Daphne knew that she herself had too many expectations of a suitor to hope for love, as well.

She might hope for desire, perhaps.

Respect.

She spared a glance down the table to the duke, flushing when she realized he was watching her. His expression was serious and his eyes vehemently blue.

Then he lifted his quizzing glance and spoke in that falsely high voice. “Upon my word,thereis a gem!” Evidently not satisfied with the view, he rose from his seat and trotted down the side of the table to Lady Tamsyn’s side. He peered at it. “What a marvel! Do you know that the Prince Regent himself has a brooch similar to this, but admittedly somewhat smaller, that he often wears in his cravat?”

“I didn’t know that,” Lady Tamsyn said. “Although I wouldn’t be surprised.”

The duke gazed at the gem, nodding to himself. “A prize, to be sure.” He flicked a glance across the table. “Do you not agree, Miss Goodenham?”

She colored more deeply to be so singled out. “I have never seen the like, Your Grace, although my experience of gems is limited.”

“Marry well, my dear, and that may change,” he replied jovially, then winked at her. Daphne blushed as Mr. Cushing chuckled.

“There is sound advice,” he murmured.

Meanwhile, the duke took another look. “A magnificent sapphire,” he pronounced, then returned to his seat, his heels clicking as he walked.

---