AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Slayde heard Courtney’s sharp intake of breath. “I don’t understand. How could a jeweler craft a replica of something no living soul has seen? What did he model it after? And how could he make it authentic enough to fool a discerning eye?”
“A never-before-seen gem is far and away the easiest one to duplicate. After all, there’s no one to contradict the authenticity of its form. Its worth? Ah, that’s another thing entirely. So, in answer to your last question, my copy wouldn’t fool a discerning eye. Fortunately, Armon didn’t possess that eye; nor, for that
matter, does the man he worked for—unless he happens to be an authority on jewels. More likely, only the expert who eventually purchases the stone will be proficient enough to discern the truth.” Slayde stared, unseeing, across Pembourne’s lawns. “I was in an unthinkable quandary. So far as I knew, Aurora had been kidnapped. The bastard who had her was demanding something the whereabouts of which I knew nothing. My only choice was to convince him I could produce the stone in exchange for Aurora’s life. Oh, I suppose I could have ransacked the caves of Cornwall, praying I’d stumble upon the diamond. But, given that generations of men have done so and failed, the odds and the timing were against me. I had mere days to come up with an alternative. So I did. I sought out a brilliant jeweler who happens also to be a colleague—a trusted one. He fashioned a makeshift diamond for me. It was easy enough. After all, we weren’t concerned about the accuracy of each and every facet; as I said, no one alive today has ever seen this gem, and descriptions of it are as legendary as they are varied. In terms of color, onyx made a fine substitute. The damned fake was so good, I myself half believed it was genuine.”
“Why did you lead everyone, including Aurora and me, to believe you’d conveyed the actual diamond to Armon?”
Slayde’s lips thinned into a determined line. “That protective instinct you just referred to. Aurora is terrified of the curse. If you recall, she believes it to be fact. I had no intention of destroying her peace of mind with the truth. And you? You have the same active mind as Aurora. Had I told you the truth, you would have immediately begun contemplating the possible ramifications: would Armon discover the switch? If so, would he retaliate? And how? No, Courtney,” Slayde gave an adamant shake of his head. “You needed no further worries to hinder your healing process.” A pause. “Moreover, I’m not in the habit of confiding in others.”
“I realize that,” Courtney replied softly. “And I’m grateful you decided to make an exception. You have my word: I will never breach your trust.” A hard lump formed in his throat.
“I know that.”
“Then why, Slayde? Why can’t we happen?” He released the curtain still clenched in his fist, watching it unfold and float back into place. “I made a vow to myself the day my parents died,” he revealed, his voice low and rough. “I vowed never to permit another soul to be hurt by that bloody curse.”
“What has that to do with—” Courtney inhaled sharply. “You’re afraid that if you let me become part of your life, I, too, will be endangered?”
“Precisely. ’Tis only a matter of time before my hoax is discovered. Then, we’ll be right back where we started, with every fortune-seeking vulture on earth pursuing the black diamond—and the Huntleys.”
“But how could they possibly reach—much less hurt—me? You keep Pembourne guarded like a fortress.”
“And living within the walls of a fortress would please you?”
“I’m doing so now.”
“You’re injured and weak now. Moreover, Aurora needs you. None of those situations is permanent. When they change, you’ll be able to leave Pembourne, unafraid and unconnected to the Huntleys.”
“Slayde…” He heard the rustle of her gown as she rose and came to stand beside him. “I can never be unconnected to the Huntleys. Not after all that’s happened.” She touched his sleeve. “Physical joinings are not the only type that bind people together. In fact, I suspect they pale in comparison to other, more profound types of joinings, such as those of the mind, the heart—”
“Stop.” Slayde caught her elbows, dragging her close enough to see the torment in his eyes. “Don’t you understand what I’m telling you? I intend the Huntley name to die with me. There will be no wife, no children, no legacy to keep the curse alive. There will be only generations of greedy men, casting themselves into a living hell as they ransack the globe for the diamond, breeding others to do the same. But there will be no more Huntley prey upon which to feed.”
Courtney gasped as she realized the implication of Slayde’s assertion. “You’d do that to yourself? Live and die alone just to protect those who might not seek such protection if they were asked?”
“Yes.”
“What about Aurora? She’s a Huntley. And, as you just said, you can’t chain her within Pembourne’s walls forever.”
“I don’t intend to. My goal for Aurora is to see her safely wed—to a man who will give her his name and his protection—after which she’ll cease to be a Huntley.”
“So that’s what you meant when you said Aurora’s need for me is temporary.”
Slayde nodded tersely. “Soon Aurora will leave Pembourne, move on to her own life—one of security and freedom. And wealth. In addition to whatever affluence her future husband can and will provide, she’ll also inherit the entire Huntley estate.”
“After you die,” Courtney qualified.
“After I die,” he repeated.
“Damn you.” Golden sparks ignited Courtney’s eyes. “How can you speak of your life as if it were nothing more than an extraneous but necessary evil, a mere steppingstone for others? You’re a wonderful man. You will not condemn yourself to a lifetime of loneliness just to stave off a tragedy that might never occur.” She raised her chin a notch. “I won’t let you.”
“You won’t let—” Slayde broke off, staring in astonishment. Whatever reaction he’d expected, it hadn’t been this. Actually, now that he considered it, the reaction he’d expected, knowing how tender-hearted Courtney was, was aching compassion followed by saddened acceptance. Or, given the intensity of their recent physical encounter, maybe even disenchantment that he’d allowed things between them to progress so far when there was virtually no hope for a future.
Instead, she was renouncing his decision and vowing to resurrect his life, intent on saving him from himself.
His autonomous heart yielded a bit more. And his precarious resolve intensified.
“Thank you,” he murmured solemnly, brushing his knuckles across Courtney’s cheek. “I’m humbled. No one has ever…” He cleared his throat. “I’m also adamant about my vow. Now more than ever.” He silenced her protest by pressing a gentle forefinger to her lips. “Don’t. I won’t change my mind. And I assure you, not even your will is strong enough to bend mine.” With an excruciating effort, he released her and walked away. “I’ll be leaving Pembourne first thing in the morning.”
“Tomorrow?” Courtney sounded shaken, whether from his pronouncement or their discussion, Slayde wasn’t certain. “But Mr. Oridge is here,” she added.
