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“Of course. Do whatever you want. If we find out it’s just a drawer pull, I’ll buy another or repair that one.”
But Carly’s heart was trying to pound out of her chest the more she handled it. It was too heavy to be a normal drawer pull, and it didn’t have the same appearance of brass. She was a pro at identifying metals and historical items. This was gold.
The ball warmed in her palm, and she stood with it in the sunlight streaming through the window. Her pulse thudded in her throat as she prepared to twist the ball, but her fingers didn’t want to work right as she struggled to open it. She wiped damp palms on her khaki shorts and gave it another try. It moved a smidge, just enough to make her redouble her efforts.
“It’s loose!” She gently lifted the top off.
In her palm lay the missing surprise: the exquisite hen taking a sapphire egg pendant out of a gold wicker basket. The hen and basket were on a gold stand. The brilliance and detail of the rose-cut diamonds were unmatched.
Lucas put his hand on her shoulder. “Breathe.”
“I-I can’t.” Her voice came out in a squeak. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.” She knew her aunt was dying to touch it, too, so she handed it to her.
Aunt Elizabeth took it reverently in her palms. “Oh, Carly. How wonderful.”
Everyone gathered around to stare at the treasure in her hands. Carly couldn’t wait to see it in the original egg, complete and whole. “I assume you want it reunited with the egg and sold together? We’ll split the money between you and Gram.”
“Between you and Elizabeth,” her grandmother said. “That chest was left to you.”
Carly shook her head. “It belongs to you, Gram. You and your sister. But the biggest treasure of all is that we’ve found each other. Nothing compares to that.”
“Amen,” her aunt said. “And yes, of course. The egg needs to be complete.” She let Gram hold the surprise next.
Carly had a sharp pang at the thought of the egg going into someone else’s collection. What if it was a private collector and he hoarded it so no one else got to enjoy it? “What if we specify it has to go to a museum? It might mean a little less money, but all the world could see and enjoy it.”
“I like that idea,” Lainey said. “It’s not all about the money.”
Her grandmother smiled at her. “I think you’re right, sugar.” She handed it back to Carly. “It’s in your hands.” A bell rang from somewhere. “Is that the doorbell?”
“I’ll get it.” Holt went past them out the door and down the stairs. A few seconds later he yelled up the steps for them to come down.
Carly tucked the treasure into a soft cloth she’d brought just in case and put it in her purse. They all trooped downstairs to see Holt standing in the entry with a man in a gray suit. He was in his fifties with wings of gray at the temples of his dark hair. He carried himself with an erect, almost military bearing.
His dark blue eyes scanned through the people and landed on her. “Ms.Harris? Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Ivan Bury.”
Lucas’s free hand dropped to the butt of the gun at his waist, and he stepped in front of her. Ivan held up his hand. “I am unarmed, and I mean none of you any harm. I wish to talk, that is all.”
His Russian accent was faint, and Carly didn’t get a sense of danger from him. “Let’s go into the parlor.” She glanced around. “All of us. Anything you have to say you can tell everyone.”
“Of course.”
“This way.” Holt led the way to the parlor.
Carly perched on the sofa with the older women on either side of her. Her sisters and Lainey found seats on sofas and chairs scattered around the room while Lucas and Holt stood. Even with the baby in his arms, Lucas looked ready to take on a challenge, and Holt was tense as well.
Bury smiled. “I can see you equate me with the men who have tried to harm you. That is the furthest thing from my mind. I’ve been on a quest to return as many of the lost art treasures to Russia as possible. I wish to buy the egg, not stealit. It will be on display for all people to see and enjoy in the Fabergé Museum in St. Petersburg. We have nine of the eggs so far, and yours would be a most welcome addition. I will pay you the appraised value and will add a bonus of ten million dollars.”
Carly’s heart leaped at the thought of her egg being with others where they originated, but she had questions first. “You gave a hundred thousand dollars to Kelly two different times. What is your role in all of this?”
“Kelly heard I was searching for the imperial eggs and contacted me. She sent me a picture of the provenance papers and said she and her fiancé needed funds to finish the search. It seemed to be enough proof that the investment would be worth the risk. When your husband was murdered, I knew others were after the egg, and I thought the extra funds would ensure I got the egg first. That did not turn out well, of course.”
Carly winced at the wordfiancéas it seemed to indicate Eric had made the decision to leave her. But then, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. She glanced first at her grandmother and then her aunt. They both nodded, so she turned her gaze back to Bury. “We accept. On one condition.” At his questioning expression, she smiled. “You seem to have a lot of resources. Could you find Sofia Balandin?”
He smiled. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Forty-Two
Fifty million dollars, twenty-five million for each of the twins. The amount left Lucas speechless. Even split between Carly and her sisters, it would be over six million for each of Mary’s granddaughters. He glanced at Carly riding silently beside him in the truck. It was just like her to share it even though it belonged to her.
