His Blackmailed Bride

‘This has special value,’ she said softly.

The old man’s bushy white eyebrows rose. ‘A family heirloom, hmm?’

Paige swallowed. ‘Not… not really. It…’

The shop owner plucked the ring from her hand. ‘Very handsome,’ he said, but his eyes were on her face, not on the ruby. ‘And very valuable.’

She nodded. ‘Yes, I… it probably was. I…’

Her words fell into silence. The ruby lay in the old man’s hand, the dark fire in its heart burning fiercely. She thought of the night Quinn had given it to her.

‘When you look into the stone,’ he’d said, ‘think of me. Think of how it will be between us.’

She reached out quickly and took the ring from the shop owner’s hand. ‘The ring isn’t for sale.’

His eyebrows rose even higher. ‘But you said…’

‘I want to sell the chain.’ Paige’s voice was steady. ‘It’s of very fine quality, as you can see.’ She slipped the ring free and pushed the chain across the counter to him. ‘Go on, take a look.’

‘Where did you get that, young woman?’

‘Harrods. But I’m sure they won’t take it back. I don’t have my receipt, or the box it came in, and…’

‘Not the chain,’ he said impatiently. ‘The ring. Where did you get it?’

She swallowed. ‘It… it was a gift,’ she said. ‘Look, if you’re not interested in buying the chain…’

‘Let me see the ruby.’

Reluctantly, she opened her hand and held the ring out to him. He took it and held it to the light. Then he took a loupe from his pocket and put it to his eye. At last, he pursed his lips and his flat gaze met hers.

‘A gift, hmm?’

Paige nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘And you don’t want to sell i

t.’

She shook her head. ‘No. Just the chain. I…’

‘All right,’ he said, and he named a sum that was barely half what she’d paid.

‘That’s no good,’ she said quickly, scooping up the chain. ‘I need much more than that. I…’

The old man’s eyes fixed on her. ‘Yes, I’m sure you do,’ he said, and she felt herself flush as he looked her over slowly.

‘That’s right, I do.’ She stood her ground, knowing all too well how she looked. ‘So, if that’s your best offer…’

‘Five thousand.’

She stared at him in stunned amazement. ‘What?’

‘I’ll give you five thousand pounds for the ring.’

‘I told you, it’s not for sale. I…’

He shrugged. ‘Ten.’