Divided Interests (Southern Bride 3)

Oreo came up and rubbed against my legs.

“Good morning, sweetie.”

When she jumped on my lap, I noticed she had a ribbon tied around her neck. I untied it, and the key to the attic fell on my lap. I looked around, then picked up the key.

“You want to go up into the attic?” I asked as she purred so loudly I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Actually, it was me who wanted to go up there.”

Turning, I smiled at Lucas. “You know, we’re not supposed to see each other until the wedding.”

“Do you really want to start doing things by the book now?”

Laughing, I shook my head and picked up the cat, then made my way over to him.

“You want to go exploring…now?”

“Yes. Tom gave me this last night.”

He held up the necklace that had been in May’s trunk.

“Tom told me they were real diamonds in the bracelet, so I gave him the ruby necklace. It is a ruby. A very expensive ruby.”

I lifted my brows. “Your grandfather?” I asked.

“That’s what I’m thinking. He probably showered her with jewelry when he was dating her.”

“And she left it all up in the attic.”

“Tom brought his friend over, the jeweler. He offered to buy a few of the pieces.”

“Really? Wow. Are you going to sell them to him?”

Lucas laughed. “Your father would really kick my ass. Paige, they’re worth a lot of money. A lot of money.”

“Okay. Well, that’s good, I guess.”

He placed his hands on my shoulders and smiled. “I’m talking about enough money to pay off the mortgage on the flower shop. Enough money to pay for that kitchen reno you want, and enough money to put away for ten kids to go to college at any university they want.”

“What exactly are you saying?” I asked, my voice stumbling.

“Let’s head up there really quick.”

I followed Lucas. Once in the attic, he winked at me before opening up the chest. He pulled open the drawer and shook his head as he gazed down at the jewels.

“So…I’m saying, Grams casually kept thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry in her traveling trunk for years. Okay, not just thousands of dollars. That piece you’re holding is a five-and-a-half-carat ruby that is worth twenty-thousand dollars. According to your brother’s friend, there might be over a million dollars’ worth of jewelry up there.”

I gasped. “Wh-what!”

He nodded. “I called my father this morning, asked him if he could contact his family in England, alert them to all that we found. He just called me back, and they don’t want any of it returned. As far as they are concerned, my father’s dad would have wanted the family to have it. He gave it to Grams as a gift.”

My hands shook. “Lucas, I can’t even think right now. Why in the world would William and May leave all that up in that trunk?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe May didn’t want it as a reminder of what she had done. Out of respect for Granddad? Maybe she didn’t even realize what she had in there.”

“We need to put it in a safe, you know that.”

I laughed. “Yeah, I know. The family did ask a favor…from you.”

“Me?” I asked in surprise.

“We sent pictures of the jewelry to them. There is a brooch in there, one that has been in the family for a while. My grandfather gave it to Grams when she told him she was pregnant. He was married at the time, that’s why he left her alone, plus I guess she told him she was in love with another man.”

“William,” I whispered.

“Yes. Anyway, they asked if you would wear it at our wedding.”

Lucas reached into the chest and pulled out a black brooch with a woman’s picture painted in the middle of it. Pearls lined the outside of the piece. It was stunning.

“Apparently, this is my great, great—there might be one more great in there—grandmother. Her name was Lady Elizabeth Davers.”

“Lady? I still can’t believe you have nobility in your blood.”

Lucas cleared his throat and spoke in a terrible English accent. “My lady, I come from one of the finer peerage families of the mother land.”

Laughing, I pushed him lightly on the chest. “I’d love to wear the brooch. I found the pearl earrings Millie wore in her wedding to William. Isn’t it terribly romantic that I will be wearing something from both women?”

“It’s simply perfect. I love you, you know that, right?”

“Of course,” I said softly, reaching up on my toes and kissing him. “And I love you.”

“So, do you want to go fool around up in the attic?”

“I would, but everyone will be showing up soon.”

His brow lifted. “Who is everyone?”

“Your mom, Jen, the makeup and hair girl Jen found at the last minute. They’ll all be here soon.”

Lucas looked stunned. “The wedding isn’t until tonight. Why is everyone coming over now?”