Page 2 of The Little Shop on Silver Linings Street
‘And may I ask how much that is?’
‘Around three thousand? I don’t know… Is that even enough?’
She nodded. ‘Well, it does depend somewhat on your expectations… but yes, I can find you the perfect ring for that.’ And she smiled reassuringly, just to show she wasn’t kidding.
‘So, what do you think?’ he asked, scanning the display case. ‘Because they all look pretty. Where do I start?’ He looked up, holding her gaze, his blue eyes intense.
She cleared her throat. ‘Well first, I think you’re incredibly brave buying a ring in secret. That takes a lot of courage, but it’s also incredibly romantic, if you don’t mind me saying. Your girlfriend will know how special that makes it.’
He blushed. ‘Do you really think so? It seemed like the right thing to do. You see, she’s the most thoughtful person I know. She’s always doing things for other people, organising surprises, going that extra mile even when she doesn’t have to. She makes sure everyone’s all right before she even thinks about herself and never asks for reward, or even any thanks. Just once I’d like her to have something that she isn’t expecting and that shows her how much I love her.’
Daisy could feel her insides begin to melt and she looked down quickly to hide how she was feeling.
The next few minutes were spent discussing what the man’s girlfriend liked, disliked, what shape of stone she might like, the number of stones, indeed which type of stone. And Daisy nodded and smiled, filtering the options in her brain before she began to really fine-tune things.
‘And you say she doesn’t like fussy things? Then I think a single stone would suit her best. And definitely a diamond you said, so…’ She lifted two boxes from the case. ‘Brilliant cut diamonds are the most expensive,’ she said. ‘And possibly the most sought after. They’re usually what most people think of when they say a solitaire.’ She pushed forward the first of the boxes, pausing while he took in the detail of the ring, a glittering stone in a very traditional platinum setting.
She was about to add something else when the shop door opened, distracting her for a second. It was Bertie, Kit’s elder brother and not someone she expected to see today. Her heart leaped into her mouth. Bertie was incredibly good-looking; he had only to look at her to tie her tongue into a series of knots. But he was bad news, a reckless party animal who fascinated her and scared her in equal measure. Though that wasn’t the only thing making her anxious; Bertie also looked after administration and accounts at Buchanans, and his arrival usually heralded big discussions about the business. Change was not something Daisy embraced. At all.
Kit jumped off his chair as soon as Bertie entered, but she tried to ignore them both and turned her attention back to her customer.
‘And then you have something very different in style such as this emerald cut stone,’ she continued, showing the man another ring. ‘The stone is larger but they’re a little less… well, bling, and often appeal to people who like a more vintage look. I’m showing you two extremes of style deliberately as both rings say something very different. I think that’s a really important thing to consider when you’re choosing the ring for someone else.’
The man smiled. ‘You can say that again, but that’s where I’m going to struggle.’ He pointed to the larger emerald cut diamond. ‘Suzanne has beautiful hands, long graceful fingers that would really suit a larger ring.’ He pulled a face. ‘And I would love her to have something like this – she’s definitely an individual rather than a follow-the-crowd sort of person – but I just don’t have the money for it.’
Daisy hoped he would say something like that.
‘Then would now be a good time to mention that this ring is actually slightly cheaper than its brilliant cut, but much smaller, neighbour. Only by twenty-five pounds, but well, you could buy a bottle of champagne with the difference.’
The man laughed. ‘Not very good champagne,’ he said.
‘No, well, diamonds I’m good with,’ she replied. ‘Champagne… not so much.’
‘I’m beginning to see that.’ He grinned at her, picking up the larger of the two rings. ‘Did you honestly just say that I could afford this? I’m not sure I quite believe it.’
‘Well, it’s true,’ she said, very aware that Bertie was watching her. She could see him out of the corner of her eye. ‘Brilliant cut diamonds are probably the most popular, which in itself pushes up the price, but they are also the most expensive because of the way they’re cut – most of the rough diamond goes to waste during the process and so you get a lot less stone for your money. But with an emerald cut stone that doesn’t happen, and this difference allows for a much larger stone for the same price. Plus, as in the case with this ring, that means that extra detailing can often be included in the setting itself.’ She took the ring from its box and held it up so that he could see the beautiful shank. ‘This one is quite unusual.’
He took the ring from her, his eyes widening. ‘Would you have told me any of that if I said I preferred the other one?’
She smiled. ‘Perhaps not, but only because I want you to feel good about your choice, and it isyourchoice. There are plenty of others to choose from apart from these two. I only offered them to illustrate the two very different styles.’
He looked down at the display case. ‘And yet all the time I was talking to you before you selected those two, I could see you were taking in what I said and weighing up what would, and wouldn’t, be suitable. Why do I get the funny feeling you’ve picked the only two that come close to fulfilling what I’m looking for?’
Daisy blushed. ‘Well, that is my job.’ Her cheeks began to grow hot, both from the compliment and the weight of Bertie’s presence.
There was silence for a moment and Daisy let it continue. They were now into serious thinking time and these things couldn’t be rushed.
‘Could I ask you a favour?’ he said after another few minutes or so had passed by. ‘It’s probably a bit cheeky, but could I ask you to try this on for me, so that I can see what it looks like?’
He was still holding the ring and she held out her hand so that he could slip it on her finger. Her face felt as if it was on fire and she was glad the man was looking down instead of up.
She could see his eyes soften, his expression turning to one of wonder as he saw the possibilities of his future opening up in front of him.
‘I can try the other on as well if you like?’
Her remark drew him back to the present. ‘Oh yes… you better had, just to be sure…’
Daisy slipped off the ring and replaced it with the smaller but far more sparkly solitaire. But almost immediately her customer shook his head.
