My eyes suddenly fell upon the black lacquer box upon the vanity. I raised the lid, even though by now I knew its contents by heart. Gaudy baubles and glass beads, feather hairpins, and the comb of bone ivory with its curious strand of embedded black hair.
I gave a little cry of surprise. Resting on top of the costume jewelry was the amethyst brooch that had belonged to my mother. Who had returned it? Lydia? Ian?
I opened the vanity drawer, and saw that the letters from my grandfather had also been returned. They rested in a neat stack, just as I had left them. And on the very top, was the missing letter.
My dear Louise:
I can no longer guard the treasure, for the wolves are at my very door. As my darling May’s daughter, I know that you can be trusted. In a short time you will receive a package. Within the package will be a black lacquer box. The contents are invaluable. Keep it with you until you hear from me again.
Raymond Dereux
Lydia and Ian had been right. Raymond had sent, or at least had intended to send, the jewels to me for safekeeping. But that still did not explain what had become of them.
I stared at the box, realization coming to me suddenly. The frivolous ornaments that seemed so unlike my mother, the strand of dark hair that couldn’t have been hers—With a sudden shock I realized that the black box had never been Mother’s, after all. It had belonged to Elica. I was certain now that the jewels had once rested in the ebony box.
What could have become of the jewels? Had someone tampered with the box before it was ever sent, replacing the items of value with costume jewelry? If so, who? If the jewels had been taken by Ian or Lydia, they would not still be searching for them.
Grandfather could have become suspicious of Lydia and Ian. Grandfather himself might have removed the jewels from the box. Then he could have sent the package off to trick Lydia and the others into believing that he had sent the jewels away!
Once more, I read the last letter that had been written just before Grandfather’s death. I am weak, Louise. Can feel myself growing weaker by the day. Why haven’t you contacted me? Don’t you understand how important this is?
Please hurry, Louise. There must be a change of plans. Until I hear from you, the guardian will keep our secret safe.
There was only one person left that he could have trusted the jewels with. Edward! Unless—
I passed a weary hand over my eyes. What could it all mean? Staring out the window, I thought about my grandfather, crippled by age and the fire, taking his morning walk in the garden, perhaps thinking of me, hoping that I would soon come. Something clicked in my mind. Suddenly, I understood. I slipped silently down the hall to Grandfather’s room.
The photograph of Grandfather and my mother was still in the desk, where I had left it. I studied the two of them, smiling against what looked like a stone wall, the backdrop of blooming roses. Taking the photograph with me, I slipped silently out into the moonlight garden.
* * * *
Nicholas was coming up the walk toward me. He took my arm and we began to stroll along the garden path. The morning air was sweet with roses and blooming magnolia. Far away, the charred remains of Evangeline made a dark spot against the sky. But someday I knew that another house would stand where Evangeline had once been. Maybe not as elaborate as the old house had been. Perhaps not as beautiful. But it would be our home, a place where our children would laugh and play and be happy. The sun was bright and promising. We had a lifetime to build together.
“There’s just one thing I want to know. The figure in black I was dancing with at the masquerade—was it really you?”
A mysterious smile played upon the corners of Nicholas’s lips. “I don’t recall any dance.”
“Nicholas—”
The dark fleck sparkled in his eye as he caught me close, twirling me around to invisible music. “Who else did you think it would be, my darling?”
“I love you, Nicholas,” I whispered against his hair.
“Ah, Louise. You’re everything I need to be happy.”
“And the jewels?” I tried to keep my voice light.
One dark brow arched in surprise. “The devil take them! I don’t care if they’re ever found!”
“Nevertheless ...” I said, catching his hand and leading him toward the ruined fountain where my grandfather used to sit.
Up above, the winged creature seemed to grin down at us. He no longer appeared evil now that I knew his secret. I knew now my grandfather had not trusted the jewels with anyone but had hidden them the best he could himself, in a place that reminded him of my mother. The missing letters upon the fountain that used to sit in the gardens of Evangeline made up the single word GARDEYN, the old English spelling of “guardian.” The strange and fierce beast was more than just a gargoyle. Like the brave dragon of a man who had been my grandfather, he was guardian of a treasure. Carefully, I reached for the loose stone. “I know exactly where they can be found.”
To my husband Gary
and son Ed
Copyright © 1991 by Vickie Britton
Originally published by Zebra [ISBN 0821733737]
Electronically published in 2012 by Belgrave House
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. For more information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228
http://www.BelgraveHouse.com
Electronic sales: [email protected]
This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.
The Seven Sapphires of Mardi Gras Page 33