The Black Diamond (Black Diamond 2)

"Don't you dare die yet, you son of a bitch," he bellowed, retracting the blade a fraction, as if by doing so he could lessen the severity of the wound enough to prolong Julian's life.

Julian seized his opportunity. Slowly, eyes shut, he sagged to the ground.

That did it.

"Merlin—get up!" Macall flung Aurora aside, grabbing Julian's coat to keep him from slumping farther downward, pointing the blade at his heart and shaking him. "Get up, you miserable bastard!"

Julian's eyes snapped open. "Run, Aurora!" he shouted over Macall's surprised roar of anger. "Get out of here!"

Aurora responded instantly, backing away from Macall and taking off like a bullet.

Relief—stark and absolute—coursed through Julian's soul.

His relief was short-lived.

Abruptly his wife slowed, and to Julian's astonishment and horror, she turned, stopping dead in her tracks a mere fifteen feet away. She stared at them, eyes widening with terror as she saw the demented rage on Macall's face, recognized his intent. "Wait!" she cried out as he drew back his sword, preparing to drive Julian through. "Don't kill my husband—I couldn't live with myself if you did. Julian doesn't know where the diamond is. Only I do."

The sword froze and Macall's head shot up, his pupils dilated with shock—and skepticism. "Only you?"

"Yes—only I." Aurora wet her lips, clearly struggling for composure. "As you said, I'm a Huntley. Since you're obviously familiar with the history of the black diamond, you know that 'twas my great-grandfather who stole the gem. The Bencrofts hadn't an inkling—either then or now—where it was hidden."

"Aurora … don't…" Julian rasped. "Do what I said … run … get away from here."

"Shut up," Macall ordered him. He inclined his head at Aurora, reason trickling back into his gaze, replacing the wild-eyed insanity of a moment earlier. "You're asking me

to believe that Merlin married you without ever questioning you about where the stone was?"

"Of course he questioned me—many times. That doesn't mean I answered his questions. There are all kinds of ways of keeping a man's interest, Mr. Macall."

A flicker of suspicion. "Fine. Then if Merlin doesn't know where the diamond is, I can kill him right now."

"No, you can't. Because if you do, I'll never tell you the location of the stone. You can beat me, defile me, even kill me. It won't weaken my will." She raised her chin. "Surely you didn't expect a man like Merlin to marry a fainthearted woman, did you?"

Macall swore quietly, jerking to his feet, dragging Julian up with him. "All right, where is it?"

"Let Julian go."

Curbing his fury, Macall drew a harsh breath, ostensibly considering her request. "Fine. I'll let him go—after you tell me where I can find the diamond."

"I want your word."

A mocking nod. "Very well, you have my word."

Aurora glanced briefly at Julian, their eyes meeting for a split second before she looked back at Macall. Cautiously she studied him, as if judging the sincerity of his vow. Then in a rush of decision, she blurted, "It's hidden in my dressing table at Julian's Polperro manor. My brother dug it up from where it was hidden in the woods at Pembourne and gave it to me on my wedding day. The agreement was that I would share the stone with my husband—after he'd proven his fidelity over a period of one year. Given Julian's restless nature and transient way of life, it seemed prudent to ensure that 'twas me and not my possession that had incited his marriage proposal."

"A cunning plan," Macall acknowledged, his expression probing. "Still, I can't imagine you'd just toss a stone as priceless as the black diamond in a drawer."

"I wouldn't and I didn't." Aurora gave him an indignant look. "I didn't toss the stone into the drawer; I concealed it there. The drawer is locked. So is the jewel case which lies within and which houses the black diamond. I buried the stone at the bottom of the case, beneath all my other valuable jewels."

"It would take a lot of necklaces and bracelets to hide a stone that size."

"I assure you, my collection is more than large enough to accomplish the task. You must know how wealthy my brother is. He's also exceptionally generous. Between the gifts he presented me and the heirlooms left me by my mother and grandmother, I've amassed quite an array of costly and elaborate pieces—not only numerous enough to conceal the black diamond, but valuable enough to make you a very rich man. Rich enough to justify sparing Julian's life."

Macall's eyes glittered at the prospect of acquiring such wealth. "You say the case is locked?"

"The case and the drawer. Each has but one key—I allowed no duplicates to be made."

"Where are these keys?"