That was hardly the point. Even if she was marrying Greg, which she wasn’t, but if she was to do so, anything he might keep her awash in would be his to give. And those earbobs had belonged to her beloved grandmother, and the sentimental value of them could never be replaced. “Elliott—” she began, but Greg squeezed her fingers, halting her from saying anything else.
And he was right to do so. Speaking in public about such things would never do. That clerk could be back any—
As if on cue, the man did return that instant, stepping back into the main room. He flashed Bella and Greg an apologetic smile. “Just one more moment.” Then he handed Elliott an envelope that could only be filled with pound notes from the sale.
Nausea began to well up inside Bella. Goodness. Had Elliott done this before? Had even more Chatham estate jewelry gone missing and no one had yet noticed?
Her brother pocketed the envelope and then made a quick dash to escape the shop before Bella could say anything else to stop him.
“I’d like to see the earbobs Lord Gillingham just left, if you don’t mind,” Greg said evenly.
The clerk blanched a bit. “I’m not quite ready to sell those pieces, my lord. They need to be cleaned and settings inspected.”
Greg released a sigh and Bella’s arm as he stepped toward the jeweler. “I will take them as is along with anything else his lordship sold you on behalf of His Grace.”
“Greg,” Bella said under her breath, coming up behind him. He couldn’t possibly—
He glanced back at her over his shoulder. “Your grandmother meant for you to have them.” Then he shook his head. “Though you might want to hide them some place safe so that your brother can’t stumble upon them. Or…”
Or Elliott might sell them all over again to someone else? What a horrible thought.
But Greg was beyond noble in trying to preserve Grandmama’s memory and her wishes. Even still, “I can’t let you buy…”
One of his dark imperious eyebrows lifted slightly. “I can purchase anything I’d like for my betrothed. And I won’t hear another word about it.”
Except she wasn’t really his betrothed, and she couldn’t really let him do such a thing. “Greg.”
But he turned back to the store clerk and said, “Wrap them up, please.” Then he took out a calling card from his pocket and offered it to the man. “And if Lord Gillingham returns with any other pieces, I’d like to be notified.”
“My lord,” the jeweler said, looking more than uncomfortable. “We are not a pawn shop, but …”
“Yes?”
“Well, I didn’t want to risk angering His Grace, and so…”
Greg gestured to the card in the clerk’s hands. “You will notify me if his lordship returns with any other pieces.”
The man quickly nodded. “Yes, of course, my lord.” And then he made his way back into the room he’d vanished into before.
“Greg,” Bella began once more. “I have already asked too much of you. You don’t have—”
“No, I don’t have to do anything,” he agreed, turning around to face her. His brow furrowed as though he was deep in thought. “But I want to do this, Bella.” Then the tiniest of smiles quirked the edges of his lips. “Now simply say ‘thank you’ and then nothing else about it, all right?”
Goodness. Greg was beyond wonderful. How would any other man ever measure up to him? Bella bit her bottom lip and then said, “Thank you.”
* * *
Dear God, there was something about her that tugged at Greg’s heart. The sweetly innocent air about her, the sincerity that always shined in her eyes, even the soft breathy quality of her voice as though it was designed to drive him to distraction. “My pleasure,” he muttered.
And it truly was his pleasure.
Greg would love to shower her in diamonds of his own choosing, but he’d have to settle for returning the jewelry her grandmother meant for her to have. The other was not an option, not unless he was prepared to declare himself in reality, and as much as he adored spending time with Bella, he didn’t think he was prepared to do that. He’d like to actually, which was surprising enough. But he wouldn’t be in Town beyond the Season and the two of them lived very different lives. He couldn’t ask her to give up everything she loved. And…well, she deserved an honorable fellow who wasn’t tarnished and could love her with his whole heart. Greg didn’t even possess his whole heart anymore. So he certainly couldn’t love with all of it.
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy every moment he got to spend with her. That didn’t mean he couldn’t try to aid her as much as possible while their little plan played out. And that didn’t mean that he couldn’t wish that things could be different.
“So,” Bella began, breaking into Greg’s reverie. “What did you have in mind for Cordie?”
Honestly, Greg had no idea. He wasn’t even certain if jewelry was the right thing to get his sister, but…well, they were here. “I’m not sure. A broach? A bracelet? A hair jewel? What do you think?”