Chapter Five
Phineas watched LadyEleanor walk from the shop, admiring the elegant line of her back, the proud tilt of her head, and her graceful stride. She was truly stunning. He’d thought her beautiful beyond measure at his sister’s ball. But here in the muted light of Mishra’s shop, her loveliness had struck him even more acutely. As had her voice, filled with silky warmth.
But her manner was curious. Tentative and resistant. Tense and…shielded. Not nearly as distressed and panicked as she’d been the last time he saw her, but still… He couldn’t help but wonder at it.
“The lady is not for a scoundrel like you,” Mr. Mishra chided firmly, breaking into Phin’s intimate thoughts.
Turning back to the man he’d known for nearly seven years, Phin lifted his brows as humor curled his lips. Though he was inclined to agree, he couldn’t let such an insult go without at least some attempt at defending himself. “A scoundrel? You know well enough that I come from a fine, upstanding family.” He grinned, unable to keep up the ruse of thinking any of that mattered. “Most ladies think me rather dashing.”
“Is that another word for reckless?” Mishra asked irreverently. Then he gave a subtle bobble of his head. “You are of a good family, yes. But you, my lord, are a wayfaring rascal. A man with no purpose.”
“I’ve got purpose,” Phineas argued good-naturedly. “It is my life’s goal to experience the world and live as broad and big as possible.Surely, that counts as an honorable pursuit? Noble, even.”
Mishra’s expression was decidedly unimpressed as he replied, “That lady is granddaughter to a princess from one of the most revered and ancient families of my country. And if that isn’t quite enough—though it should be—her father and her mother’s father are both English dukes.”
“Hmm,” Phineas replied, his mouth pressing into a rueful smile, acknowledging the elite pedigree. “I see what you mean.”
Mishra nodded, assured that his point was well-made, as he glanced back to the drawing on the table. Phin followed his gaze and wished he’d managed to do the necklace greater justice. It was impossible for a sketch to properly display the magnificence of the piece.
But—despite Mishra’s opinion of him—he was not quite so reckless or careless that he’d wander the streets of London with the invaluable fortune tucked into his pocket. The drawing would have to do, for now.
“Is there anything you can tell me about this piece?” he asked.
Mishra made a sound in his throat and leaned closer. He extended a finger to trace the pattern of jewels along the triple strands before he almost deferentially circled the honeybee design featured in the center.
“What is this?” There was a weighted thread of awe in the man’s lowered voice.
“That’s what I was hoping you could tellme.”
Mishra glanced up at him and there was an odd glimmer in his dark eyes and a subtle furrow between his brows.
“It is an honest likeness?”
Phin shrugged. “As best I could manage.”
His words caused Mishra’s brows to lift dramatically as his eyes widened. “You drew this? So…you have seen this item? You’ve had it in your possession?”
A brief flicker of caution danced through Phin’s blood, but he’dknown Mishra a long time. His trust in the man had been forged through many precarious situations.
“I have,” he answered, holding the other man’s stare. “Still do.”
Mishra’s expression darkened as he leaned closer. “Keep it safe, my lord. An item like this…” He let the words trail off as his head bobbed side to side and he released a sigh. “There will be many who desire it.”
“Do you know anything about it?”
Mishra returned his attention to the drawing as he replied. “It’s certainly a bridal necklace. Very traditional in design. The jewels…I imagine it holds rubies, emeralds, diamonds.” He listed the precious stones as he moved his fingertip gently over the drawing, as though imagining where each type of stone would be set. And he wasn’t wrong. “Perhaps lapis lazuli, pearls, and coral…” he added before circling the honeybee, which had been fashioned of diamonds and yellow sapphires. “This, here, is a symbol of divinity. Many deities are associated with the honeybee. There are the nectar-born ones, Vishnu and Krishna. And others…Bhramari. Kama. It’s a symbol of love—both sacred and erotic.”
“Fitting for bridal adornment,” Phin observed.
Mishra looked up with a furrow in his brows. “More than that, however, it is likely that it was taken as a family symbol to honor a sacred Devi.” He gave a small start and tilted his head as his scowl deepened. “In fact…” He glanced toward the front of the shop, his body suddenly tense and alert.
“What is it?” Phin asked, sensing a significant shift in the man’s manner.
Mishra continued to stare at the front door with a dark stare and a distracted expression. Then he shook his head. “That would be…” he muttered beneath his breath.
“What?” Phin pressed, having never seen his friend behave so strangely.
“I must research,” Mishra replied abruptly. “May I keep the drawing?”
