by Duke, Regina
Tony shook his head. “I was careful. Come on, I’ll show you.”
They paraded into the barn. Axel greeted reindeer and alpacas as they passed. “Hey, Ruby, whatcha doing? Betty. Wilma. How’s it going?” He stopped in front of Jackson’s stall.
Darcy couldn’t hide her amusement. “They all have names?”
“Of course,” said Axel. “How else do we tell them apart when we need to discuss them?”
“Good point. But Betty and Wilma?”
“And Pebbles for good measure,” said Axel. “Here we are. What did you leave, and where did you leave it?”
“Over there,” said Tony. “Up on that cross tie.”
“Cross tie?” Darcy tried to spot what he was referring to.
“That brace timber up there,” he said, moving toward it. He stood on tiptoes and reached up to feel around for the prize. For half a second, he looked alarmed. “It was right here.” A moment later, he closed his eyes in relief when his hand located the necklace. He opened his palm to show Axel what he’d hidden.
“This is the infamous necklace that our father thought you stole?”
“I didn’t steal it,” said Tony, getting his hackles up.
“Sorry,” said Axel, patting the air to calm his brother down. “I believe you.”
“Good.”
Axel frowned at the necklace.
Darcy frowned, too. “Tony? The gems look different than they did in the hotel.”
Tony held the necklace up, letting it dangle. “Oh my God.”
“You have mice?” asked Darcy.
“Of course. We live in the country.” Axel pulled the necklace closer. “Yep. Little furrows caused by some curious rodent.”
“But that’s impossible!” Tony turned the necklace over and over in his hands. “That means….”
Darcy pressed her palms against her cheeks. “That means it’s fake! What now?” asked Darcy. “Do you think the countess knows it’s not real?”
Tony shook his head. “I don’t think she would have jumped on a plane for the States if she thought it was worthless.”
Axel plucked the necklace from Tony’s hand. “Let’s make sure,” he said, “before we ruin her day.”
“Or her life,” said Darcy, feeling a wee bit guilty about the inner joy she was feeling over the countess’s misfortune.
Axel carried the necklace out of the stall and laid it on a workbench against the barn wall. He picked up a large knife.
“Wait!” cried Tony.
“What for?” He set the knife aside, and reached for an awl. “If they’re real, they won’t be damaged. Rodents don’t have diamond teeth, and rubies are the hardest gems next to diamonds. They have a Mohs number of nine.”
Darcy couldn’t control her sarcasm. “Please don’t tell me all rich people know about precious gems.”
Axel replied wryly, “Not all of us. But I was a geology minor in school. Fascinating stuff.”
Tony added, “And we used to have a summer job sweeping floors for our mother’s cousin Basil, who was a gemologist.”
“You’re joking.”
“No, really.”
“I mean, no one is named Basil these days.”
Tony grinned. Axel picked up an awl. “This should tell us if the gems are fake.” One by one, he pressed the sharp tip of the awl against them. Every one of them scratched like glass.
“Wow,” said Darcy. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually feel sorry for Lysette. She thinks it’s worth a lot of money.”
Tony said glumly, “Half a million.”
“Ouch. And what is it really worth?”
Axel shrugged. “Twenty bucks? Maybe less, now that we’ve scratched it up.”
“Who’s going to tell her?” asked Darcy.
“I will,” said Tony. “I can email her.”
Axel’s cellphone pinged. He checked his message. “Or,” he said drily, “you can tell her in person. She just showed up at Lulamae’s suite.”
“Good grief,” said Tony. He sighed heavily. “So much for the easy way out.”
“Don’t people usually keep gems like this locked up? I mean, surely she wouldn’t be wearing it around.”
“Sure she would,” said Tony. “She’s never without bodyguards. Well, except for here. I didn’t see any with her in Gunnison. The weird thing is, she told me that the count won’t divorce her because he doesn’t want to lose out on her family fortune.”
Axel offered, “Maybe she’s not as rich as he thinks she is.”
“Hmmm,” said Darcy. “Or maybe the count wants to stay married so she won’t find out he stole her necklace and replaced it with a fake.”
“I like it when you’re devious.”
“I learned a lot in LA.”
“Let’s get this over with,” said Tony. He picked up the sad excuse for a necklace. “I’m not fond of Lysette, but it’s never fun to ruin anyone’s life.”
* * *
Darcy and Tony paused outside the door to the suite. “Ready?” she asked.
“No, but I have to tell her.”
“Okay.” She used her key card, and they went in.
Lulamae was holding court on the long sofa, with Thor on one side and Uly on the other. Pacing in front of the big window was Countess Lysette, looking fit to be tied. She turned immediately when Darcy and Tony approached. “Where is it? Where is my necklace?”
Tony glanced at Darcy for moral support, then said, “I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
“You lost it?! I will pursue legal action, I promise you.”
Darcy said, “Not against Tony. He’s just the messenger.”
“What do you mean?” Lysette stood, arms akimbo, and glared at them.
Tony said, “She means the necklace is a fake.” He pulled it out of his pocket and tossed it to Thor. “A mouse gnawed on some of the so-called gems, and the other little scratches were made by Axel when he tested for hardness.”
“Liar!” screamed Lysette. “It was real when I slipped it in your bag.”
Darcy’s color rose. “You’re calling Tony a thief again? You…You…” she sputtered, looking for the right word.
Tony knew where she was headed and cut her off. “You’re greatly mistaken,” he said. “I didn’t even know it was there until I got to Colorado, and then I thought it was real. I put it in a safe at first, and Darcy is my witness. Then I…” He ran a hand over his mouth. “Okay, I took it to Axel’s place and hid it in his barn. I just wanted to make you sweat, for using me like that. I didn’t know he had mice. And if the gems were real, it wouldn’t have mattered.”
Thor finished examining the necklace and held it out for Lysette to claim. “This is a cheap fake,” he said. “Assuming there was ever a real one.”
Lysette snatched it out of his hand. “How dare you! Of course it was real. It belonged to my late mother…” muh-zair “…and she had it certified by the best jeweler in Paris.”
“In that case,” said Tony, “I think you’d better look closer to home to find someone to blame.”
“What are you talking about? You obviously have hidden away the original and replaced it with a fake.” She looked mad enough to spit.
“No way,” said Darcy. “I’ve been with him practically every minute, and so has Lulamae, for most of the time, and he thought it was real when he put it in his room safe. He was worried sick about the darn thing, and he even felt bad when we found out it was fake.”
Lysette clutched the fake and cursed in French.
Darcy looked to Tony for a translation.
“She just called the count a few choice names,” he supplied.
Lysette screamed in rage and hurled the necklace across the room. Then she collapsed in tears on the ottoman.
Tony ran a hand through his hair and blew out a lungful of tension. He reached for Darcy’s hand, and she took it sympathetically.
Lulamae finally spoke. “You see, Lysette? I told you Tony would never do such a thing.�
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Sobbing, Lysette replied, “I would rather blame him than my husband.”
“Oh really?” said Tony. “That’s not what you said in your email.”
Lysette jumped up and ranted at him in French again.
Lulamae raised her voice and commanded, in her Louisiana French, “Tais-toi!” Hush up! “You told me months ago that you wanted to leave him and he won’t let you have a divorce.”
Tony and Darcy exchanged looks of amazement.
“Shame on you. Losing half a million is enough to send anyone into a fit of pique, but I won’t have you blaming Tony when your scoundrel of a husband may have decided to cash in on some of your family wealth before he lost you for good.”
Lysette slumped back down on the ottoman. She’d lost all her starch. “That rat.” She accepted a tissue from Uly. “How could he be so mean?”
Uly asked, “Is he totally broke?”
“He was when I married him. I helped him refurbish his chalet and his family estate. I guess that was not enough for him.” A hint of anger returned to her voice.
Darcy was puzzled. “Why did you marry him? Why not just loan him the money?”
Lysette struggled to regain some of her dignity. “I wanted his title,” she said coldly. “You can’t blame me for that. Not after the way your father treated me.”
Tony waved a hand in the air, an I-told-you-so look on his face. “Here we go. I knew it. You and my father are old friends, and you were spying on me all over Europe.”
“Not true,” she snapped. Then she conceded, “Only in Switzerland. And the Pyrenees. He sent someone else to watch you when you went to Finland.”
Darcy went to the bar and came back with cans of Coke for her and Tony. “So…what did Tony’s father do to you? Exactly?”
Lysette glared at Tony for a second. She was so distraught, she was lashing out at everyone. But she answered his question. “We dated after your mother died. He made promises. He needed company. And then he met that Bambi bimbo.”
“Hey,” said Tony. “That’s not fair. Bambi saved his life.”
Lysette pouted. “She looked just like your mother! I did not stand a chance against her. So I went home to France with a broken heart. I married the count on…how do you say?…the rebound.”
Tony perched on the arm of the sofa near Uly. Darcy stood close by his side as he remarked, “Well, frankly, this answers a lot of questions for me.”
Uly piped up, “Including how she met Lulamae.”
Lysette waved her hand tiredly, “Oh nonsense, Lulamae introduced us.”
All three Garrison men stared at Lulamae, and Darcy said, “Do tell.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Lulamae didn’t answer right away. At last, she said, “I believe you’ll have to save your third degree for Lysette. She’s the one with no self-control.” The barb at the end of that statement was obvious to everyone, especially to Lysette.
“I am not going to say another word,” she snapped. “I will go now.”
Tony asked, “What next, Lysette? Back to Europe?”
“If I thought you really cared, I would answer you,” she said coldly. “I must have time to think.” She clutched her disappointing necklace. “I must also call the insurance people. Forgive my bitterness, Lulamae. We are still friends. I am just too devastated to make conversation. Au revoir.” She moved to the door as dramatically as she could without boas and furs and bodyguards.
After she left, Uly said, “Me and Thor, we better get moving. The women are in town, and Belle is probably running up a bill for kids’ toys. She’s in love with her niece and nephew.”
Thor grinned. “Lucky for Ashley,” he said. “Belle has been a blessing. We’ve been having trouble keeping nannies. Speaking of which….Lulamae, you’re so good at influencing folks. Would you mind letting my mother know that the next time she comes for a four-month stay, she’d better stay at the Cattleman’s? Or buy her own house. I would like to stay married.”
Lulamae dipped her head to hide a shrewd smile. “I’ll talk to her soon,” she said. “I’m getting homesick, so this morning I imposed on the Darbys again for a flight back home.”
Thor bent over his godmother and planted a kiss on her forehead. “It’s always a pleasure to see you.”
Uly took his turn at saying goodbye. “We love you, Lulamae. Good to see you. Come on, Thor, before Belle spends all my money.”
“Ha! Not likely,” teased Thor. But a moment later, they were headed for the door.
Darcy didn’t realize she was holding hands with Tony until he, too, began angling for the door. She started to go with him, but Lulamae called her back.
“Darcy, cherie, I need to talk to you for a moment. Tony, do you mind waiting outside?”
Tony shrugged, as if helpless to ignore his godmother’s request. He kissed Darcy’s knuckles and let go of her hand to follow Uly and Thor out the door. Darcy waved fingers in farewell. Once the door closed, she sighed and returned to Lulamae.
“Yes, ma’am? What would you like to talk about?”
Lulamae patted the sofa cushion. “Come sit down here. I just wanted to speak to you privately about your feelings for Tony.”
Darcy felt a blush creep up her cheeks. “It’s that obvious?”
Lulamae smiled. “He’s made quite an impression on you, I believe.”
Darcy confessed. “Yes, he has.” She stared at her hands. “I don’t know exactly how he feels about me, but meeting him has been pretty special.”
Lulamae patted her hand. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you. I miss my house and my pool, like I told Thor, and I plan to go home today. I’ve already arranged a limousine to the Pueblo airport. My question for you is, are you coming to Vegas or do you want to stay here in Eagle’s Toe with Tony?”
Darcy was caught off guard. “Oh dear. I’m not sure. I need my job, but Tony….”
“If you decide to stay, I’ll understand completely. I think I’ll be fine at home, with my servants and all. But having you with me has made this recovery so much easier. That said, I just wanted to give you the option.”
“Wow,” said Darcy. She’d been so busy having fun with Tony, she hadn’t even thought about what would happen when Lulamae wanted to go home. They’d been in Eagle’s Toe almost a week, but for her, it had flown by. Lulamae, on the other hand, had spent her time mostly in the hospital and the hotel. But the thought of leaving Tony so abruptly made Darcy cringe. “May I check with Tony about this?”
“Of course, cherie.”
Darcy nodded and stood up, wringing her hands. She’d been having a lovely time with Tony, but now she had to actually talk to him about where this relationship might be headed. Were they just good friends? No, that couldn’t be all it was. Their evening of dancing in the lounge had sparked with electricity and left her longing for more. Not to mention their ski trip and snuggling in front of Godzilla movies. She could swear that he was feeling the same.
Giving herself a mental pep talk all the way, she took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and opened the door. But she paused with the door open an inch when she heard the guys talking next to the elevator.
Thor’s voice lamented, “I hope Ashley gets over this depression. I can’t help but feel she’s regretting our marriage.”
“No way,” said Uly, sympathetically. “She’s just tired. Mostly, tired of our mother showing up two or three times a year and planting herself at your house.”
Tony’s voice was third. “And Lysette and the count are headed for the divorce court, too. I don’t know. Maybe staying single is the only way to stay happy.”
Thor responded, “Not with two little kids to take care of. I love Ashley, and I’ve got to figure out how to solve this. I just wish I knew how. I’m at my wit’s end.”
Uly added, “Hush! We’ll scare Tony off the idea of getting married.”
Tony said, “Are you unhappy, too?”
Thor objected. “We are not unhappy. Calm down. A
shley’s just going through a rough time right now. She needs less mother-in-law and more help.”
Uly said, “And Belle and I are still head over heels.”
Tony’s voice was filled with doubt. “I don’t know. If you two are having to work this hard at being married… Maybe single is the way to go.”
Darcy felt like she’d been stabbed in the heart. She closed the door as softly as she could and grappled with her emotions for a few seconds before returning to Lulamae.
“Well, cherie? What is your decision?”
Darcy struggled to put on a brave face. “I should go back to Vegas with you,” she said. “My mother will need help paying back her loan, so I definitely need my job.”
“Is everything okay? Is that what Tony said? About the loan, I mean?”
Darcy forced a tight smile. “It’ll be fine. If Tony and I are meant to be, well,….” She shrugged. “No worries. I’m going back to Vegas with you. Maybe your doctor will give the all clear and we can be floating in the pool this evening.”
“Excellent. I’m so glad. But only because I’m so fond of you. Frankly, I’m a little surprised that Tony is letting you go so easily.”
“Oh, he doesn’t object at all,” said Darcy, fighting back tears.
A moment later, Thor opened the door to the suite and called out, “You ladies talk as long as you like. We’re kidnapping your movie producer for a beer downstairs.”
Darcy heard the door close, and it felt like the rest of her life was on the other side, going down the elevator shaft.
* * *
After his second beer, Tony couldn’t remember why he and Uly had been at odds all those years. He watched Uly and Thor playfully going at each other, about money, physical prowess, and marriage, and he realized it was their way of showing each other affection.
After their laughter died for the hundredth time, Tony leaned back in the booth in the Il Vaccaro Lounge and shook his head slowly. “I don’t remember you two being this much fun.”
Uly leaned his forearms on the table and poked one finger in the air at Tony. “And I don’t remember y’all ever being this relaxed in our presence.” They all laughed again, aided by the alcohol.