“Well, you should have.” Morgan paused. “You look pensive. What are you thinking?”
“Do you know where our grandmother got the pearls?”
Morgan rubbed his chin and studied over the question. “No, can’t say I do. There was never a reason to ask. She seldom wore them.”
“That is what I’m thinking, too. I can remember her wearing them only at private dinner parties in her home.”
“I think you may be right about that. I haven’t thought about the pearls in years. Not until her will was read and they were left to you. Why do you ask? Did the duchess accuse Grandmother of stealing them?”
Race quickly shook his head. “She didn’t go that far, but she did ask me how Grandmother obtained possession of them.”
“I’m sure one of her four husbands must have given them to her,” Morgan offered.
“Probably.”
“Or, knowing our grandmother, she could have bought them from someone for herself.”
“That’s very likely, too. We both know how she had a penchant for going after any anything she wanted.”
“Maybe Gibby will know for sure,” Morgan suggested. “Ask him.”
“I will.”
“Have you heard again from any of the men who wanted to buy the necklace?”
“I hope I made it clear that I didn’t want to hear from them again,” Race said firmly.
“Any chance you think the duchess is working with one of them?”
Race shrugged. “It crossed my mind, and I questioned her about that. She denies any knowledge of them. She seems very believable to me about that, but I can’t say anything for certain.”
Morgan seemed to study over their conversation thoughtfully. “Maybe there is something about the pearls you don’t know.”
“Like what?” Race asked.
Morgan blinked slowly, and then his eyes narrowed. “I don’t know. Maybe they were stolen. There has to be an underlying reason for the sudden interest in the necklace. It’s just too coincidental that four people have come to you in the past month, wanting the pearls.”
“I agree that it’s unusual. How about the fact the pearls are old, extremely rare, and there are probably more than six hundred pearls on the five strands? The duchess said she wasn’t aware of where the pearls were until it was written in theTimesthat they were left to me. Mr. Winston said the same. I remember that somehow it was leaked to the scandal sheets that you were left Valleydale and I was given the pearls.”
“I remember when that happened. So you are thinking that nobody but our family, and maybe a few friends, knew Grandmother had the necklace until a few weeks ago?”
“That we know of.”
Morgan sidestepped some furniture and walked over to the window. He pushed the floral-printed drapery panel aside. “I see the duchess walking to her carriage.”
Race saw the desire for Her Grace in his cousin’s eyes, and he was struck with sudden jealousy. That took him aback. He’d never objected to one of his cousins vying for the same young miss, lady, or mistress as he. He often welcomed it just for the challenge. But somehow with this woman, Race felt differently about that.
Morgan turned back to him. “Who is her companion?”
Why was Morgan asking about the older woman?
“I think her name is Mrs. Princeton. Why?”
“She must be widowed if she’s a companion.”
“I have no idea, Morgan. I wasn’t exactly interested in the woman.”
“I don’t see why not. She’s absolutely stunning. Perhaps I’ll find out more about Mrs. Princeton while you find out about the duchess.”
