Page 21 of Triumph at Pemberley

“How may I be of service?”

“I need to find a way to hide something in my clothing. Rana Akshaya says I must keep it with me, but I do not want anyone to see it. I thought about a locket, but people might ask what is inside.”

“How big is it?”

Elizabeth opened her fingers to reveal the pouch, the shape of the stone showing through the fabric.

Chandrika tilted her head as she examined it. “Small, then. Will you need to have easy access to it, or could it be pinned inside your skirts?”

“Pinning it could work. She only said it must be with me.” Why was she being so shy about showing the ruby to Chandrika? Her maid would have to see it sooner or later. She untied the drawstring and poured the stone into her palm, tilting it to reveal the star within it. “It is so embarrassingly large for a gemstone.”

Chandrika jumped back, wide-eyed, her hands raised to cover her mouth. “Rana Akshaya gave you the Star of Travancore?”

“It has a name?”

“Wars have been started over it! Everyone knows of its beauty and power.”

Now she was truly confused. “What power does it have? I can tell it is an Artifact, but not what it does.”

Chandrika edged closer, peering down at the ruby as if it were a snake that might suddenly bite her. “I do not know, but men would kill for the Star of Travancore. Wars were started over it.” Her brow furrowed. “I wonder why Rana Akshaya thought you needed it.”

Elizabeth laughed hollowly. “She did not mean to give it to me. By complete accident, it cut my skin, and then she said it was bonded to me. She seemed rather annoyed about it.”

“Not surprising. It is a great treasure, and one she would not part with lightly. But if it is bonded to you, then it cannot be used by anyone else while you still live.”

Well. A priceless Artifact that did…something. Perhaps it would become clear with time.

Chandrika continued, “We must keep it secure. Pins can fall out. What if I sew a tiny pocket for it in the side of your stays? It is flat enough not to be seen.”

Elizabeth nodded slowly. It would be safe from theft there. “A good idea.”

Darcy indulged himself in the very great pleasure of undressing Elizabeth. What a delight it was to gradually expose her silken skin and run his hands down her lithe body as her passion awakened!

He stood behind her, caressing the sensitive nape of her neck with his lips until she shivered. But his fingers ran across something unexpected, an odd bump in her short stays. He paused his kisses long enough to whisper, “What is this? A new fashion?”

To his surprise, Elizabeth stiffened. “Oh, that,” she said flatly. “I had been trying to decide how to tell you about it.”

Something was wrong. Swallowing his desire, he turned her to face him. “What is the matter?”

“Nothing, not really. It is just something I cannot explain, a gift of sorts from Rana Akshaya that I am supposed to keep close to me.”

“Another Artifact?” He reached up to touch the swelling. Yes, the tingle of magic was there, as soon as he felt for it.

“I assume so.” She removed a pin in a flap just above the bump and slipped her fingers inside. Then she sheepishly held out her hand to reveal a large red cabochon that reflected the candlelight.

He blinked and then stared. It had to be paste. Any jewel of that size and clarity would belong in a royal crown, not hidden away. But Rana Akshaya would never own a paste gemstone.

Impossible. “She gave you that? What have you possibly done to earn it?”

Elizabeth shrugged. “She refused to explain, only said it was bonded to me, and I must keep it with me.”

Bewildered, he said, “But it must be worth a small fortune. It is not something that can be worn every day. What if you lost it?”

She took a deep breath, as if something about this conversation made her uncomfortable. “Losing it will not be a problem. I can tell where it is, even if I cannot see it. I had Chandrika hide it from me in different rooms, and I could always go straight to it.” She smiled suddenly. “Except the time she hid it inside a clock. That fooled me for a few minutes as I searched the mantlepiece and even the fireplace beneath it.” But then she sobered again.

More dragon magic. Sometimes he missed the days when he had believed magical Artifacts to be vanishingly rare. “What does it do?”

“Chandrika does not know, only that it is famous and important, and men would kill for it.”