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Tahlia’s worry increased tenfold as she lifted a string of rubies and diamonds out of the small box. The myriad hues of the gems glistened in the candlelight like a million stars in the night sky. The way they sparkled so vibrantly made them come alive in her hands. It was mesmerising, but it also felt incredibly wrong even to hold them.
“I don’t like it,” Tahlia whispered as she dropped them back into the box.
“What?” Cecily cried in protest. “Why don’t you like them?”
Tahlia sighed. “I didn’t say I didn’t like them. I meant that I don’t like the fact that they are here. Who would send me something like these?”
She looked at Oscar for confirmation that he too found something odd about the whole scenario. It was a relief when he nodded and stepped closer to view them better.
“I have never seen anything like them,” Cecily whispered.
“They look awfully expensive,” Oscar remarked bluntly, clearly unimpressed.
“They are not the kind of thing a suitor usually sends someone, especially a lady he hasn’t seen for many years, and has previously had no affection for,” Tahlia muttered.
While she spoke, Tahlia shook out the packaging, searching for a note or something to indicate who had sent them. There was nothing.
“Why would someone send something like this and not send a note to say who it came from?” Tahlia asked.
“Maybe he is assuming that you will guess they are from this Bingham fellow seeing as he has already sent you those green things,” Cecily replied.
“Emeralds,” Tahlia corrected. “They are emeralds.”
“Are they expensive?” Cecily asked innocently.
“Yes, very. They are very expensive. They are not something you usually send to a stranger,” she whispered.
“Send them back if you don’t want them,” Oscar suggested with a shrug.
Tahlia looked at him. “I am going to return both of them. It isn’t done to receive expensive gifts like this from anybody. I haven’t seen this Bingham fellow for nigh on three years. We weren’t even on speaking terms. I don’t understand.”
“Why would he send you something like this?” Oscar challenged. “He clearly has because the packet is marked clearly for you. The note inside is also for you.”
Tahlia was completely at a loss to find an answer. “Cecily, get me the other package would you?”
She shivered with distaste and tentatively unfolded the first package of unwanted gems when Cecily returned with them. She positioned the package and note beside the latest arrival.
Both sets of jewels were undoubtedly expensive, but also bulky. The emeralds were considerably older than the diamonds. They weren’t at all modern, or fashionable. In fact, they looked like they had spent the last decade tucked away in the bottom of someone’s jewellery box. In contrast, the diamonds were bright, sparkly, and of a modern design. Unless she was mistaken, they were new and had never been worn.
“What do you know about this Bingham?” Oscar asked curiously.
His brows lifted when Tahlia levelled a glare on him that would have withered marble.
“Not only is he extremely overweight, but he is bold, has at least four chins, and is twice my age and then some. His attentions are most definitely not wanted. Besides, he is a traditionalist. He is not the kind of man who would understand, or accept, my situation,” she added pointedly.
Oscar nodded. He suspected that most of the aristocracy in London would not consider her situation with any favour whatsoever. After all, he had witnessed first-hand how spectacular her downfall from grace had been when she had caused the scandal of the century not but a handful of years ago. While her uncle had graciously supported her, he had been unable to do anything about preserving her good name; her character had been tarnished forever. A traditionalist like Bingham wasn’t likely to forget past indiscretions the kind of which turned out to be a scandal most daring.
“Well, I think the green gems must be sent back to him then seeing as we know they came from him,” Oscar replied confidently. “Do you want me to deal with it?”
Tahlia nodded, and shoved the emeralds toward him. “Please.”
Oscar nodded. “Consider I done.”
“Thank you,” she said fervently. “Now, what about the diamond set? What do we do about those?”
Everyone remained quiet while they considered the options.
“They don’t fit the packaging,” Cecily remarked suddenly. “Something that new and expensive wouldn’t usually be sent in wrapping that grubby. It looks like it has been used to polish the hearth.”
