stared at me as if I were a thief or a murderess. He stepped into the Blue Saloon.
“Are you interested in Chinese porcelain?” he asked, in a voice that implied, Were you planning to pocket it, miss?
A flood of heat rose to my face, staining it scarlet. “Just an admirer,” I managed to get out. “We have got a little jug just like this at home.”
His long fingers reached possessively and lifted the vase beyond my reach. It was about eight inches high, and of a curious flat shape, decorated with a dragon and scrolled pattern. “Indeed? I am amazed, for I was given to understand that mine was unique.”
“Ours is a little larger, I believe,” I said, for I wanted to outdo him in something.
“The forgers often make such mistakes, for they do not have the original to work from, but only a picture. What you have, if I am not mistaken, is one of the Italian forgeries from the last century. This original is from the Ming dynasty, circa 1500. It was during the Yuan dynasty that white translucent porcelain with the blue underglaze was first used. This style reached its peak during the Ming period.” His long fingers caressed the vase lovingly as he spoke.
I said, quite at random, “Very nice.”
“And very valuable,” he added, carefully returning it to its table. “You ladies are leaving?” His snakelike gaze turned to include Mama in the question.
“We are just on our way out, milord,” she said.
He did not ask why we had come, but those raised eyebrows told me he was wondering, and I mentioned the Book Society. “Your mama was not interested,” I said.
“We shan’t send you off empty-handed, miss...” Perhaps the raised eyebrows indicated an uncertainty as to our identity. “Miss Barron,” he said, apparently recognizing us. “We have all sorts of books no one reads. I shall have some sent to Hernefield for you ladies to enjoy.”
We had not come hat in hand, begging, but I was so eager to get away that I said, “Thank you,” in a choked tone, and lunged for the doorway, with Mama scampering behind me.
As we left, I heard Lady Weylin complain loudly, “I asked her to send Seeton in. Really, the chit has no manners.”
Seeton condescended to get the door for us. “Her ladyship would like to see you, Seeton,” I said, and left with what dignity I could.
“How horrid!” Mama exclaimed, when we were safely out the door. “I never felt so unwelcome in my life. She had the tea tray right beside her, and did not even offer us a cup. Rag-mannered, I call it.” I had not noticed the tea tray. “I don’t suppose you managed to drop the diamonds?”
“No, Lord Weylin came too soon. He thinks I was trying to steal that ugly old vase. Did you see the way he glared at me?”
“All the Weylins are excessively toplofty. I felt as welcome as the pox, and the worst of it is, we shall have to come back tomorrow.”
“Not I!” The image of Lord Weylin’s haughty form rose up in my mind. He was elegantly tall and thin, but with the broad chest and shoulders of the sportsman. That sleekly barbered hair and those disturbingly dark gray eyes would cause a blush for days to come. His proud, sculpted nose and arrogant chin, the lips drawn in a pinched smile, sent a shiver of shame through me.
“I shall never darken their door again. I would rather be arrested for holding stolen goods.”
“Well I would not! You must come back, Zoie.”
Chapter Four
Mama had a suspiciously convenient attack of rheumatism in her knees that evening. I set out alone for Parham the next morning, again at ten-thirty, as that hour had found her ladyship at home the day before. It was either return the necklace or lock Steptoe in the cellar until we came up with some other plan. He had become so uppity that the matter had to be settled without delay. Once the necklace was back where it belonged, we would send him packing. Let him holler that the diamonds had been found at Hernefield. It was his word against
“Are you interested in Chinese porcelain?” he asked, in a voice that implied, Were you planning to pocket it, miss?
A flood of heat rose to my face, staining it scarlet. “Just an admirer,” I managed to get out. “We have got a little jug just like this at home.”
His long fingers reached possessively and lifted the vase beyond my reach. It was about eight inches high, and of a curious flat shape, decorated with a dragon and scrolled pattern. “Indeed? I am amazed, for I was given to understand that mine was unique.”
“Ours is a little larger, I believe,” I said, for I wanted to outdo him in something.
“The forgers often make such mistakes, for they do not have the original to work from, but only a picture. What you have, if I am not mistaken, is one of the Italian forgeries from the last century. This original is from the Ming dynasty, circa 1500. It was during the Yuan dynasty that white translucent porcelain with the blue underglaze was first used. This style reached its peak during the Ming period.” His long fingers caressed the vase lovingly as he spoke.
I said, quite at random, “Very nice.”
“And very valuable,” he added, carefully returning it to its table. “You ladies are leaving?” His snakelike gaze turned to include Mama in the question.
“We are just on our way out, milord,” she said.
He did not ask why we had come, but those raised eyebrows told me he was wondering, and I mentioned the Book Society. “Your mama was not interested,” I said.
“We shan’t send you off empty-handed, miss...” Perhaps the raised eyebrows indicated an uncertainty as to our identity. “Miss Barron,” he said, apparently recognizing us. “We have all sorts of books no one reads. I shall have some sent to Hernefield for you ladies to enjoy.”
We had not come hat in hand, begging, but I was so eager to get away that I said, “Thank you,” in a choked tone, and lunged for the doorway, with Mama scampering behind me.
As we left, I heard Lady Weylin complain loudly, “I asked her to send Seeton in. Really, the chit has no manners.”
Seeton condescended to get the door for us. “Her ladyship would like to see you, Seeton,” I said, and left with what dignity I could.
“How horrid!” Mama exclaimed, when we were safely out the door. “I never felt so unwelcome in my life. She had the tea tray right beside her, and did not even offer us a cup. Rag-mannered, I call it.” I had not noticed the tea tray. “I don’t suppose you managed to drop the diamonds?”
“No, Lord Weylin came too soon. He thinks I was trying to steal that ugly old vase. Did you see the way he glared at me?”
“All the Weylins are excessively toplofty. I felt as welcome as the pox, and the worst of it is, we shall have to come back tomorrow.”
“Not I!” The image of Lord Weylin’s haughty form rose up in my mind. He was elegantly tall and thin, but with the broad chest and shoulders of the sportsman. That sleekly barbered hair and those disturbingly dark gray eyes would cause a blush for days to come. His proud, sculpted nose and arrogant chin, the lips drawn in a pinched smile, sent a shiver of shame through me.
“I shall never darken their door again. I would rather be arrested for holding stolen goods.”
“Well I would not! You must come back, Zoie.”
Chapter Four
Mama had a suspiciously convenient attack of rheumatism in her knees that evening. I set out alone for Parham the next morning, again at ten-thirty, as that hour had found her ladyship at home the day before. It was either return the necklace or lock Steptoe in the cellar until we came up with some other plan. He had become so uppity that the matter had to be settled without delay. Once the necklace was back where it belonged, we would send him packing. Let him holler that the diamonds had been found at Hernefield. It was his word against
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