Page 18 of Things We Do for Love and Science
Once outside the chapel, she gulped in the fresh air. “What do you want me to do with these?” She lifted Emmerentia’s jewels.
“Let’s do a straight swap.” He took the teeth from his pocket, wrapped them into a handkerchief and held them out to her while placing the palm of his other hand underneath hers.
“Excellent idea.” She let the necklace slide off her hands into his, then took the handkerchief with the DNA sample from him. They walked around the building and stopped in front of the main entrance in awkward silence.
He shifted from one foot to the other. “Can I offer you anything? A drink?”
“Oh, no thanks. I’m kind of desperate to head home and shower.”
He scraped his teeth over his bottom lip. “Understandable. I’ll do the same once I’ve locked the necklace in the safe.”
She tugged at the hem of her jacket and averted her gaze from his mouth. “I’ll see you at our next painting session.”
“Yes, see you then.”
Chapter Six
Mortified, that washow Delia felt. She’d used Gabriel to keep her boss happy and her job prospects good. That necklace would better not be some sort of cheap replica. It’d better be worth a shed load of money. At least then Gabriel would get something out of the bloody Renwood Longevity Project.
John had been exultant when he’d received the second set of teeth while dishing out stupid remarks of her having ‘the touch.’ Maybe sitting for another three to four portrait sessions would help expiate her sin.
At least her visits cheered Gabriel. He’d told her his mum had died ten years previously, and he was an only child. He must be so lonely and up to his neck in a financial mess.
She saved her document and shut the laptop. Time to get ready for another stint at pretending to be an artist’s model.
No need to rush, though. Her little Fiat would get her there in ten minutes. The moment she entered the tree-lined country lane that led to Renwood Hall, her heart lifted. Rolling hills as far as the eye could see, and nestled among them was the baroque manor house Gabriel was fighting so hard to save.
“So good to see you.” He took her by both hands and led her into the corridor.
She raised her eyebrows. “You’re chirpy today.”
“And I have reason to be.” His face was bright with joy. “You may very well have saved Renwood Hall with your request for more teeth.”
“The necklace?”
“I had it cleaned, valued, and insured. It’s worth around two-hundred-fifty-thousand pounds and covers the entire cost of a new roof for the Hall. It’s a miracle, and all thanks to you.”
