'No,' he agreed, 'you didn't mislead me, although you did seem to delight in trying on jewels that were relatively inexpensive—even cheap— compared with what you've just bought for yourself today.'
Allegra smiled. She wasn't about to fall into his trap and give away any information. 'I was delighted,' she said, 'and it was awfully nice of you to let me try on some of your wonderful pieces.'
'I enjoyed seeing the jewels on someone so beautiful,' he replied. He eyed her thoughtfully. She was indeed a clever woman, he reflected. He would have to work very hard to discover whom she made the purchase for, but he didn't really care. What was of vital importance was to part Allegra Sheridan from the emerald before it ever left her hands and reached its new owner.
Monsieur Lorrain came through the doorway and approached them with a neutral expression, giving away nothing of what he felt. When he reached them, he bent forward and sotto voce said, 'I'm terribly sorry, Mademoiselle Sheridan. You are right, of course. I have the ring here.' He took a box from the pocket of his suit jacket.
'What on earth happened?' she asked him.
Lorrain explained. 'Because the emerald is worth so much, the insurance company wanted an astronomical amount of money to insure it while it was in our hands.'
'Yes,' Ram said. 'I can well imagine that the insurance costs for this exhibition were huge.'
Lorrain nodded. 'So we came up with the idea of creating a duplicate of the ring to save money. The insurance company was satisfied, and our costs were considerably lowered.' He paused and looked at Allegra. 'Well, it was nearly a duplicate, obviously. You very smartly and correctly knew it wasn't Princess Karima's ring.' He handed Allegra the pinkish beige box from Jules Levant, and she held it in her hand.
'Surely anybody else who'd placed the successful bid for the ring would've known,' Allegra said.
'Perhaps,' Lorrain said, 'but you'd be surprised how many clients
don't really know much about stones. I'm certainly glad that it was you because you've prevented Dufour from committing a grievous error.'
'It would've been a great injustice to an unaware buyer,' Ram said. 'The buyer would've ended up with a ring with no provenance whatsoever instead of having Princess Karima's, with all of its sentimental value.'
Lorrain nodded. 'I'm afraid so. In any case, it was difficult to keep the ring under constant supervision, as you can imagine,' he said. 'More than any other single piece of jewelry, it was being photographed by many different photographers for magazines and papers and our own catalogue. It even went on a small tour with some of her other jewels to help drum up interest, you know. So we created this one to take its place. We saved a fortune on the insurance, and no one was the wiser.'
'I see,' Allegra said.
'The guards upstairs made the mistake of sending the wrong ring down to the vault for you to pick up.' He shrugged expansively. 'So you see? It was a simple mistake by one of the guards. I'm awfully sorry, mademoiselle.'
Allegra didn't know what to think of his explanation. She hadn't had time to think it through, but something about it didn't sit well with her. His story made sense, but something told her that she would have questions for him later on.
'It's straightened out now,' she said, 'so we might as well forget about it.' She smiled. 'But I do want to look at this one, if you'll pardon me a minute.'
Lorrain looked surprised, then slightly miffed. 'Of course,' he said.
Allegra opened the box, took out the ring, then put the loupe to her eye. She brought the emerald up to the loupe and knew immediately that she held Princess Karima's ring in her hand. The inclusion was unmistakable. Removing the loupe, she slipped it into its suede sheath and placed it back in her shoulder bag, then tucked the ring into the slot in its box. She put the box in her shoulder bag as well. 'Thank you, Monsieur Lorrain,' she said. 'I'm satisfied now.'
'Once again, mademoiselle, I'm awfully sorry for our mistake,' he said, 'and would love to see you return to our auction house. I hope you'll not hold it against us here at Dufour.'
'Oh, no,' she said, 'of course not.' Wait till I tell Hilton Whitehead about this, she thought. He's going to have everything he's ever bought here reevaluated.
Lorrain had gathered up her paperwork from the pickup counter, put it in an envelope, and handed it to her. He pocketed the duplicate emerald ring; then he offered his hand, and Allegra took it. 'It's been a pleasure,' he said, 'and I repeat, I hope we see you again.'
'Good-bye, monsieur,' Allegra said, smiling widely.
Lorrain nodded, turned, and went back through the doorway into pickup again.
Allegra turned to Ram. 'And thank you very much for your help,' she said. 'I don't know what I would've done without it, and hope that someday I can repay you.'
'You can repay me right now,' Ram said.
'Gladly,' Allegra said, 'but how?'
He looked at her, his most disarming smile in place. 'By letting me take you to tea. It is close to teatime.'
'Oh, but. . .,' Allegra began.
'I won't take no for an answer,' Ram said. 'Not under any circumstances.'
'But I really am in a hurry,' she protested, starting to walk down the hallway. 'I have to get to the bank.'
'Ah,' Ram said, nodding. 'To keep the emerald safe.' He glanced at his watch and noted that the banks wouldn't be open much longer.
'Yes,' Allegra said worriedly.
Ram stopped her with a hand on her arm. He looked at her with what was clearly a feigned expression of disappointment. 'But you wanted to repay me,' he said.
Under other circumstances his expression would have been comical, but Allegra was too anxious to laugh. 'I'm sorry, but I really must get to the bank,' she reiterated as she started toward the door again.
'Then allow me to take you to the bank myself,' Ram persisted. 'I have a car waiting outside and can get you there very quickly.'
'Well . . . I—I don't know—' Allegra began.
They reached the door to the street, and Ram held it wide for her. They descended the steps to the street together. The moment they reached the sidewalk, a midnight blue Bentley pulled over to the curb. A chauffeur in livery got out and hurried around the big car to open the rear door.
Allegra looked up at Ram. 'You're certain it would be no trouble?'
'No trouble at all,' he said, 'and you wouldn't have to worry about the ring's safety.'
Allegra couldn't get the ring to the bank fast enough. 'Okay,' she said. 'If you're sure.'
Ram smiled and indicated the car's open door.
Allegra got in and, despite her anxiety, noted its warmth and comfort. The Connolly leathers on the seats were in the same dark blue as the car's exterior lacquer, and their scent was like an expensive perfume.
'Which bank is it?' Ram asked, leaning into the car.
'It's Citibank,' she replied. 'I've got the address here.' She began rummaging in her handbag.
'Don't bother,' Ram said. 'I know where it is.' Allegra heard him issuing orders to the chauffeur sotto voce in rapid-fire French, but she understood nothing other than the word Citibank.
Ram slid onto the backseat next to her, and the chauffeur closed the door, then returned to the driver's seat. The big car began moving down the street.
'It will only take a few minutes,' Ram said in a reassuring voice.
'This is awfully nice of you,' Allegra said.
'It's my pleasure,' he said. 'Perhaps afterward you will join me for a drink. What do you say?'
'I have a friend coming in this evening,' Allegra replied. 'Otherwise I would love to. We're supposed to go out to dinner and—'
'I see. The cards are stacked against me,' he said in an amused voice. 'A young man, no doubt?'
Allegra smiled and nodded. 'Yes.'
'Coming in from New York?'
Allegra nodded and smiled again. 'Yes.'
The car came to a stop, and she looked forward through the windshield worriedly. A red light. Looking down at her watch, she reali
zed that the bank would soon be closing.
Ram patted her arm. 'We'll get there in time,' he said. The car began moving again. 'See? On our way already. It's very close, so you needn't worry.'
Allegra appreciated his efforts to reassure her, but she couldn't help but fret. A sixty-five-million-dollar ring is in my shoulder bag, and I'm not supposed to worry? Sure.
The car suddenly picked up speed and began weaving in and out of traffic as it entered one of the Grands Boulevards. Allegra clenched her hands together, twisting them nervously, but almost as quickly as the chauffeur had accelerated, he slowed down and pulled the car over to the curb. Before she knew what was happening, he had opened the door, and Ram had gotten out.
'Here we are,' he said, leaning in toward her.
'I'm coming,' she replied, scooting across the seat. Allegra got out of the car and looked around. 'But—' she almost wailed.
'What is it?' Ram asked with concern. 'What's wrong?'
'This isn't the right bank,' Allegra groaned incredulously.
'But this is Citibank,' Ram said smoothly.
'Yes, but this isn't the Citibank,' she retorted. 'Not the one where I've made arrangements. The one near the Madeleine.' She looked at her wristwatch. 'Oh, my God. What am I going to do?'
'Quick,' Ram said. 'Get back in. We'll get you there.'
Allegra did as she was told. Ram slid in beside her, giving the chauffeur orders at the same time. After making an illegal U-turn, he sped down the boulevard in the opposite direction. Allegra wrung her hands anxiously and repeatedly looked down at her wristwatch as if doing so would make time stand still.
'I'm terribly sorry,' Ram said, 'but it's only a short drive from here. Gerard will try to get you there on time. I should've let you give me the address after all.'
Allegra nodded but didn't reply. What if we don't make it? she wondered, clutching her shoulder bag tightly. What am I going to do then? She felt her body stiffen every time the car slowed down, and at red lights she had to control the impulse to jump out and run, even though she didn't know the way to the bank and knew that she couldn't beat the car there.
'I feel so awful about this,' Ram said. 'It's such a ridiculous mistake.'
'It's not your fault,' Allegra said, attempting a smile. 'You've done nothing but try to help me.'
'I've only done what any decent person would do,' Ram replied.
Gerard suddenly swerved toward the curb and braked, throwing them both forward. Ram grabbed her arm. 'Are you okay?' he asked.
'I'm fine,' she said.
'Citibank,' Gerard said, before getting out of the car to open their door.
'Oh, my God,' Allegra exclaimed. 'I didn't realize—'
'Just in time, I think,' Ram said.
Allegra didn't hear him. Ignoring the traffic, she opened the door on her side of the car and was out and on her feet, running toward the bank. When she got to the door, she shoved against it, but the heavy glass door wouldn't budge. The bank was already closed.
'Oh, no,' she groaned, slumping against the door. 'Oh, my God. What am I going to do?'
She sensed Ram behind her, then felt him take her by the arm. 'Come with me, Allegra,' he said. 'It will be okay.'
CHAPTER 12
In the backseat of the car, Allegra sat stunned with fear. Clutching at her shoulder bag, she felt her pulse race and a sickening knot in her stomach. She was at a loss as to what her next move should be. She knew that she had to protect the ring, but she didn't have any idea of how she was going to do that. When Ram spoke, she almost jumped, so wrapped up in her thoughts was she.
'Wh-what?' she said.
He twisted on the seat to face her. 'You don't have to be afraid, Allegra,' he said. 'I can keep you safe.'
She looked at him and swallowed. She didn't know what to believe or what to say.
'Gerard is not only my chauffeur but my bodyguard. He's very well trained, too. Don't forget, I'm a jeweler, and as you know I handle a lot of expensive merchandise, so I have to have a bodyguard.'
'I understand,' she replied.
'So as difficult as it is, try to put yourself at ease,' he went on. 'You are safe with me.'
'Thank you,' she said. She took a deep breath and exhaled. 'I—I don't know what to do now,' she confessed.
'Listen,' Ram said. 'I'm a member of a club in the Marais. It is one of the safest places in Paris.'
'A club?' she said.
'Only the most privileged are allowed in this club,' Ram continued. 'We could go there. You would be safe, and we could decide what to do.'
Allegra wanted to believe him, but she didn't know whether she could trust him or not. Yet, she thought, he'd done nothing but help her.
'I—I don't know,' she finally said. 'Are you sure the ring will be safe there?'
Ram nodded. 'It's as safe as any bank, believe me. It's a quiet, elegant club for people who belong to the Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature.'
'It's like a hunt club?' she asked.
'Yes,' Ram replied.
'It doesn't sound like the safest place to me,' Allegra replied doubtfully, clutching the box with the ring in her hand.
'It is,' Ram insisted. 'It's for people like me who ride. Actually, I don't get to participate in many of the hunts. I'm too busy with my work. But I can assure you it's one of the most private and safest places in Paris.'
Allegra couldn't think of what else to do. 'I—I guess we could go there,' she said.
Ram told Gerard what to do, and he pulled away from the curb and began driving through the streets of Paris at a reasonable speed. At an intersection, Ram grabbed her arm to hold her as Gerard was forced to slam on the brakes. 'Sorry,' the driver said from the front seat. 'Someone pulled out in front of me.'
'You're okay?' Ram asked Allegra.
'Yes,' she said softly. Despite her fear for the safety of the emerald, she once again felt that frisson of excitement when he placed his hand on her, and she also felt protected, as if no harm could come to her while she was with him.
'Look,' he said, pointing out the window past her. 'Here we are.'
Allegra turned her gaze to the window and looked out. A grand mansion with enormous gates leading into its cobbled courtyard greeted her eyes. 'Oh, it's magnificent,' she said.
'It's the Hotel de Guenegaud,' he said. 'Built by Mansart in 1654 for one of the king's counselors.'
The chauffeur drew up to the gates, and an attendant looked out from the gatehouse. When he saw the car, he came out and opened one of the giant gates to allow them to pull into the courtyard. They were surrounded on three sides by the limestone mansion with its elegant floor-to- ceiling windows after the driver stopped the car.
'See how safe it is?' Ram said.
Allegra nodded. 'It certainly looks that way.'
They got out of the car and stood together in the courtyard for a moment, looking around them at the magnificent house. 'It's the only house left in Paris by Mansart,' Ram said. 'I should say the only one left in its entirety. So much was destroyed after the Revolution.'
'It's gorgeous,' Allegra said.
'Come, let's go in,' he said. 'We can have a drink and if you like, I can show you around the museum. I think you'll find it interesting.'
He turned and nodded to Gerard, then led her through a door to the right of the courtyard and into a large sitting room with many multipaned windows looking out onto the courtyard. No more than ten or twelve people, all expensively but conservatively dressed and well groomed, sat about the room in twos or threes. The walls were paneled with intricately carved boiserie, a grand Savonnerie rug was placed on the parquet de Versailles floors, and antique chairs, tables, and chests representing different periods furnished the room in luxury. Paintings, primarily of animals, hung on the walls.
'This is so beautiful,' Allegra said, momentarily distracted from her worry.
'It is well done, isn't it?' Ram replied. 'Let's have a seat and order, shall we?' He indicated a Louis XIII chair with needlep
oint flame stitch upholstery.
'Thank you,' Allegra said as she sat down. She felt like a queen taking a seat on her throne in this palatial atmosphere.
Ram had no sooner sat down opposite her than a waiter arrived. 'Monsieur Tadjer,' he said. 'Lovely to see you.'
'Hello, Maurice,' Ram replied. He looked at Allegra. 'What would you like? Tea or something a littler stronger perhaps?'
When she didn't reply at once, Ram touched her arm. 'I'm sorry. I was ... I was in another world,' she said. The ring still preyed on her mind, despite the elegant surroundings.
'Tea or something stronger?' Ram repeated indulgently.
'Oh, I think . . . something a little stronger sounds very good,' Allegra said.
Ram smiled. 'My thoughts exactly,' he said.
'A vodka martini,' Allegra said. 'With a twist.'
'And I'll have a Scotch neat,' Ram said.
The waiter nodded. 'Merci,' he said.
'I have to make a quick telephone call,' Ram said. 'Do you mind?'
'Of course not,' Allegra said.
He got to his feet. 'I'll only be a moment,' he said.
Allegra watched as he walked to one end of the long room and went through a door. What a wonderfully generous man he has been, she thought. So handsome, so suave, so sexy, and yet he seems so gentle and kind. She was certain that had he not come to her aid, she would still be at Dufour, battling it out with their experts and making emergency telephone calls to Hilton Whitehead in New York.
That was when it suddenly occurred to her that she hadn't yet called him to let him know that she had placed the winning bid on the ring. She would also have to tell him that she hadn't been able to put it in the bank vault. Allegra dreaded to think of what his response would be to that piece of news, but he would surely come up with some solution to the problem.
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