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Slayde heard Courtney’s sharp intake of breath “I don’t understand How could a jeweler craft a replica of so soul has seen? What did he h to fool a discerning eye?”
“A never-before-seen gem is far and away the easiest one to duplicate After all, there’s no one to contradict the authenticity of its for entirely So, in answer to your last question,eye Fortunately, Armon didn’t possess that eye; nor, for that
matter, does the man he worked for—unless he happens to be an authority on jewels More likely, only the expert who eventually purchases the stone will be proficient enough to discern the truth” Slayde stared, unseeing, across Pembourne’s lawns “I was in an unthinkable quandary So far as I knew, Aurora had been kidnapped The bastard who had her was de My only choice was to convince hie for Aurora’s life Oh, I suppose I could have ransacked the caves of Cornwall, praying I’d stuenerations of ainst me I had ht out a brilliant jeweler who happens also to be a colleague—a trusted one He fashioned a h After all, eren’t concerned about the accuracy of each and every facet; as I said, no one alive today has ever seen this geendary as they are varied In terms of color, onyx ood, I enuine”
“Why did you lead everyone, including Aurora and me, to believe you’d conveyed the actual diamond to Armon?”
Slayde’s lips thinned into a determined line “That protective instinct you just referred to Aurora is terrified of the curse If you recall, she believes it to be fact I had no intention of destroying her peace of mind with the truth And you? You have the same active mind as Aurora Had I told you the truth, you would have i the possible ramifications: would Armon discover the switch? If so, would he retaliate? And how? No, Courtney,” Slayde gave an adamant shake of his head “You needed no further worries to hinder your healing process” A pause “Moreover, I’ in others”
“I realize that,” Courtney replied softly “And I’rateful you decided to make an exception You have my word: I will never breach your trust” A hard lump formed in his throat
“I know that”
“Then why, Slayde? Why can’t we happen?” He released the curtain still clenched in his fist, watching it unfold and float back into place “I made a vow to myself the day h “I vowed never to permit another soul to be hurt by that bloody curse”
“What has that to do with—” Courtney inhaled sharply “You’re afraid that if you let ered?”
“Precisely ’Tis only a matter of tiht back where we started, with every fortune-seeking vulture on earth pursuing the black diamond—and the Huntleys”
“But how could they possibly reach—uarded like a fortress”
“And living within the walls of a fortress would please you?”
“I’ so now”
“You’re injured and weak now Moreover, Aurora needs you None of those situations is pere, you’ll be able to leave Pembourne, unafraid and unconnected to the Huntleys”
“Slayde…” He heard the rustle of her gown as she rose and came to stand beside him “I can never be unconnected to the Huntleys Not after all that’s happened” She touched his sleeve “Physical joinings are not the only type that bind people together In fact, I suspect they pale in cos, such as those of the mind, the heart—”