The Lost Jewels - Kirsty Manning Page 0,95

emeralds. He cast a spell on me.’ She tickled Kate’s tummy.

‘Was he the handsome prince?’ said Molly in disgust. ‘Why does every fairytale have to have a prince?’ She frowned.

This one was definitely going to be an attorney. Heaven help the person who crossed Molly.

Essie chuckled. ‘Well, if you let me get to the end of the story, Little Miss Impatient, I think you’ll find—’

But before Essie could continue Mrs Mackay appeared at the front door. ‘Time for lunch,’ she said. ‘You girls help your great-grandmother, now.’

The girls jumped up and raced to be the first to assist Essie, each yanking her arm a little too exuberantly. She wished the girls were here every lunchtime to bicker and tug her arms all the way to the lunch table. She missed this energy, this human touch.

As Essie walked down the hallway between the girls to where the rest of her family waited in the back garden, her heart swelled.

Sunny Banks be damned; she belonged here in Louisburg Square with her family. This old house needed to be filled with laughter, children and food. They’d have to carry her out of here in a box.

The smell of grilled corn and sweet star jasmine wafted inside.

She leaned in close. ‘The point of the story of is this, girls: don’t be dazzled by the sparkle—green eyes, diamonds or emeralds. The real treasure is right here.’ She squeezed their shoulders tight and clasped them to her chest.

‘Where?’ said Molly, eyeing Essie’s sapphire earrings—still looking for actual treasure.

But Kate squeezed back, as if to say, I know exactly what you mean.

Essie smiled at her youngest great-granddaughter and whispered in her ear, ‘And may you never forget it, my love.’

Chapter 35

12 November 1912

Dearest Essie,

I was sitting at the top of the stairs and heard everything.

It was all I could do to stop myself from tearing downstairs. It broke my heart to hear you promise Ma and Mrs Yarwood that you would leave London.

But if I came downstairs and fled with you, I’d have only been a burden. I understand.

You’ve spent all your years raising us, loving us as much as any parent. Now you need to parent your own little one.

I’ll be forever grateful that you arranged for me to go to school. I’ll honour your promise and work hard. I will make you so proud.

My kind Essie, I enclose a parting gift for you. After we visited Mr Lawrence for the last time and he gave me back the button, I prised the stones from it for you, me and Ma.

But now I understand that you have given mostly everything to us, and left nothing for yourself.

Check your hems. It seems only fitting to give you precious stones, some of them the colour of the sea.

I shall think of you every day on the other side of the ocean. My love for you could fill the Atlantic.

Your loving sister,

Gertie xxx

Essie was shocked to find that Gertie had stitched gemstones into the hem of her skirt.

She’d told Niall about the gemstones on their wedding night, as they lay with his strong body curled protectively around hers, stroking her protruding belly. Their legs were intertwined, skin sticky and warm from a long night of shy, tender lovemaking.

Essie told him that very first night that if Niall was serious about leasing a ship, she would sell the gemstones to use as the deposit. He’d nuzzled his face into her curls and hugged her tighter. ‘They are yours to do with as you wish. I already have my treasure, Mo stórín.’ He’d held her close until the waves rocked them both back to sleep.

As it happened, a gemologist from Tiffany & Co who was returning from a purchasing trip to London had the cabin next to theirs in first class. He acted as a buyer for collectors in the United States, in particular a prominent New York-based banker, J.P. Morgan.

His eyes had widened at the sapphires, and again as he examined them under his looking glass. ‘Superb,’ he breathed. ‘You say you got these in London?’ Essie nodded and swallowed. No more questions were asked as the merchant took in her worn shoes and Sunday dress with a brisk nod.

‘One day, I promise I shall buy you some more, Essie,’ Niall had whispered when they were back in their cabin, cheque tucked away in the captain’s safe. ‘Sapphires—to match your eyes. And our sea.’

‘I don’t—’ Essie started to protest, but he’d lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it