Page 10 of Stolen By the Rogue
“Fantastic,” said Harry.
“I’m so glad we came,” replied his wife.
The decision to put the crown out of reach of visitors had not been an easy one, but a nervous Ottoman ambassador had firmly insisted upon it. If someone was to damage the crown or heaven forbid attempt to steal it, he would be the one to suffer the wrath of the sultan.
Thank goodness he finally relented and let me display it on a raised dais rather than have it in a glass case.
On the wall behind the exhibit hung a large red and white flag bearing the Imperial Standard. That had been Jane’s suggestion—an imposing display of the wealth and power of the Ottoman Empire.
Lord Harry clapped his hands together. “Oh gosh, that’s splendid! How old did you say it was?”
Jane moved to one side, creating a space for the third member of the party, but George Hawkins remained where he was at the back of the room. He didn’t seem half as impressed about the exhibition as his friends.
“Baldwin was crowned at Hagia Sophia in twelve-O-four, so it is well over six hundred years old.” She motioned to the space she had just vacated. “Please, Mister Hawkins, feel free to come and stand here. You should be able to see things quite well from this vantage point.”
He shook his head as if coming out of a daze before moving forward.
Perhaps he had a few too many wines at supper. He certainly doesn’t seem that interested in the crown. How strange.
“What are the jewels in the piece?” asked Lady Alice.
Jane opened her mouth, ready to give the standard reply.
“Rubies, and various colored sapphires by the look of it,” said George.
So, you have been paying attention. And you know your jewels.
“Um, yes. And there was a ring of emeralds around the base at one point, but most of them disappeared over the years. In the fifteenth century, the ruling sultan had the rest taken out to make the crown look neater,” added Jane. How anyone could consider making alterations to such an important historical artifact was beyond her. It was cultural vandalism in the name of making something look pretty. “Are you a collector of precious stones, Mister Hawkins? You seem to have an eye for them.”
Lord Harry coughed loudly into his elbow, and Jane caught the hard glare his wife gave him.What a curious group of people.
“I am afraid my pocket doesn’t permit me to collect much more than the odd ball of lint at the moment, let alone a ruby or two,” replied George.
Jane quietly studied him for a moment, taking the peculiarly behaved visitor in. He was tall in comparison to most other men, likely a good six foot two. His broad shoulders were displayed to perfection by his tailored jacket, which she was privately pleased he had unbuttoned since his arrival.
Her gaze drifted to the top of his trousers, lingering appreciatively for a few seconds before shifting upwards. Short brown hair, a shade or two darker than her own, was matched by his deep hazel eyes, which stared back at her.
Oh.
“How could one put a price on such a treasured item if you were ever inclined to sell it? It must be worth a fortune,” he added.
“The sultan would never willingly part with it, so I guess we shall never know,” she replied.
You are a handsome devil, even if you do make me feel uncomfortable.
Jane gathered her thoughts and wits. “Now, I can allow you a few minutes more in here, but the next group of ticket holders will be coming along shortly. Of course, if you wish to visit again, we will have more showings later in the week before we close the exhibition.”
A frown appeared on George’s face. “When does the exhibition end?”
“At this stage, in another ten days. The display will be moving on to France, to Baldwin’s birthplace. Then it will journey home to Constantinople,” she replied.
From the way his frown deepened, it was obvious George didn’t like what he had heard.
Perhaps he was hoping it might remain in London for a little while longer.
Lady Alice leaned in and spoke to her husband. “Harry let’s go into the last room and see the pieces in there. We should make room for the next guests. Thank you, Miss Scott. I never thought to see such an amazing relic from the crusader era. But if I’m honest about it, my feet hurt when I am on them for too long, so we mustn’t tarry.”
With the departure of Lord and Lady Steele, Jane found herself momentarily alone with George.
