Page 65 of The Granddaughter's Irish Secret
Sylvia stared at the necklace. ‘Fake? What do you mean?’
‘It’s not white gold but silver and the stones are not real topazes.’
‘What?’ Sylvia stared incredulously at the necklace. ‘But that’s impossible.’
Rose nodded. ‘Sadly, no. It’s true.’
‘But…’ Sylvia stared at Rose. ‘How could this be? You’ve been wearing it at parties ever since I gave it to you nearly two years ago. How can it be fake?’
‘It’s a long story,’ Rose said.
‘Tell me,’ Sylvia ordered. ‘I’m not moving from this spot until I know everything, even if it takes hours.’
‘Of course,’ Rose said. She went on to tell Sylvia all that had happened since the jeweller had told her the necklace was a copy.
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Sylvia chided when Rose drew breath.
‘I didn’t want to upset you. There were so many things going on. I wanted to spare you this problem. I thought I’d be able to solve it on my own.’
‘With Noel’s help,’ Sylvia said.
Rose felt her cheeks go pink. ‘Yes. He’s been wonderful. We didn’t find the real necklace though.’
‘You poor thing. It must have been so frustrating to learn that the Lincolns’ necklace was also a copy,’ Sylvia said.
‘It was a huge shock,’ Rose agreed. ‘But now I don’t know much more. We think Iseult didn’t know about it either. She had a copy made of the fake one she had. Or at least that’s what we think.’
‘You’re probably right,’ Sylvia said, touching the necklace. ‘But why did someone have this made in the first place? And when?’
‘Around nineteen hundred, according to the hallmark,’ Rose replied.
‘Nineteen hundred…’ Sylvia mumbled, deep in thought. ‘Who could have… It couldn’t have been Iseult. She was only eighteen, and she must have been given this fake one.’
Rose nodded. ‘Yes, that’s what we think.’
‘This is so strange,’ Sylvia said. ‘I find it difficult to figure out.’
Rose tried to gather up the courage to mention what might be in Sylvia’s safe. ‘Granny,’ she said, putting her hand on her grandmother’s arm. ‘Please don’t get cross, but I know about thebox in your safe. The one with some valuables from Caroline’s estate.’
‘The box?’ Sylvia frowned. ‘Who… Did Noel tell you about it?’
‘Yes, but he was desperate. Don’t worry, he only told me, nobody else.’
‘He shouldn’t have,’ Sylvia said, looking annoyed. ‘That was confidential.’ Then she sighed. ‘I understand the circumstances all the same. He thought the real necklace might be in there.’
‘Is it?’ Rose asked.
‘No,’ Sylvia replied. ‘I’ve gone through it and made a list that Noel will put in my new will. There’s a gold watch and a few bits and pieces of jewellery, some of it valuable. But the necklace isn’t there. I’d have told you if it had been, of course.’
‘Oh,’ Rose said, feeling disappointed. ‘That was our last resort. Now we’ll never know what happened to it. I’m so sorry, Granny, you must be so disappointed. What with losing the manor, and?—’
‘Is this why you didn’t tell me?’ Sylvia interrupted.
Rose nodded.
‘I’m completely at peace with the family home being renovated,’ Sylvia declared. ‘Don’t forget that the senior apartments were my idea,’ she continued.
Rose looked up into Sylvia’s eyes and felt relieved. Had she been worrying over nothing? ‘Are you sure?’ she asked.
