When she returned a short while later, she strode into the room wearing the necklace. Prince Esterhazy gasped at the sight of the Crusader Ruby.
The length of its long silver chain was encrusted with diamonds. The pendant at the end had been formed into a large diamond shape with an enormous stunning ruby set in the middle. At four other points on the pendant, smaller rubies had been placed.
For an instant, Julian’s mind was filled with the memory of the last time he had seen his mother wearing it. It had been at a ball held at Newhall House. She had paired the jewel with a dark silver gown which showed off the rubies and diamonds to stunning effect. She had been breathtakingly beautiful, a queen fit to rule over all her guests.
The painting his father had commissioned did little justice to the real thing.
Even now, the years had been kind. The hint of crow’s feet at her eyes barely made a mark against her beauty. It was only the cruel lines of her smile at the corners of her mouth which revealed any sign of her age.
Julian’s heart was racing. Could he actually walk out of the embassy with the Crusader Ruby in his hand? His palms itched as he fought the temptation to reach out and take the necklace from her.
She remained where she was as he took a step toward her, her back ramrod straight.
“Madam, I would ask you to remove the necklace and hand it over. If you do, I shall forget about any of the other pieces of jewelry you have kept. You and I shall never have to deal with one another again,” said Julian.
The countess slowly shook her head. The smile which now appeared on her face grew wide. From out of her skirts, she produced a piece of folded paper. She waved it at him. “Read it, boy,” she commanded.
With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Julian took the paper and opened it. He recognized the handwriting immediately as being that of his father. As his gaze drifted over the words, the countess remained silent.
The silence continued as Julian handed the letter to the prince. It was only when the ambassador shook his head that the countess let out a soft sigh of satisfaction.
“I think that makes my position clear. Until my son marries, I am well within my rights to retain the necklace,” she said.
The prince looked sadly at Julian. There was nothing he could do. Even with the letter from the royal court, his hands were tied. The note from Julian’s father was clear. Until Julian married, the necklace rightfully belonged to his mother.
“I hear your house party was a disaster, so there won’t be any need in the foreseeable future for me to relinquish ownership of the jewel. Now if you don’t mind, I have things to attend to this afternoon,” she said.
As she closed the door behind her, Julian turned to the prince. “I will have that brandy now, Your Highness.”
