La Flamme (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon Page A

traveled to the outlying farms, offering to mend pots and pans and reweave cane-bottom chairs. Marie took in washing and mending for several young sailors.
    Sabine felt guilty because she was the only one who contributed nothing to their care. One morning, she awoke early and dressed herself and Richard in the warm clothing Ysabel had made them from old costumes. Taking Richard's hand, they walked the short distance to Dover. Because of the splint she still wore, Sabine's steps were stiff and slow. The town was just coming to life when she and Richard moved down the cobbled streets. The bustling activity caught their interest. One man was washing his storefront windows, while another was sweeping the steps to his shop. In colorful stalls, tradesmen were displaying their wares. Richard held his nose when they moved past the fishmonger's stand.
    Sabine was distressed by what she must do; it was with a heavy heart that she stopped to look in the window of a goldsmith's shop. Her hand trembled when she entered and handed her mother's locket to the gentleman who was bent over a worktable.
    "How much will you give me for this? It is very valuable."
    The goldsmith examined it closely. "I sell gold, little miss. It is not my habit to purchase from others."
    "Please, sir, would you look at this carefully? It is truly beautiful."
    He saw the desperation in her eyes. "Yes, I can see that the stone is a rare pink diamond. It is indeed of great value."
    "Then will you consider buying it from me?"
    The goldsmith was an elderly man with thinning hair and soft brown eyes. He had grandchildren of his own, who were much the same age as this young girl, and he hoped someone would help them if they were ever in need. "Are you certain that you want to part with this?"
    Sabine swallowed the aching lump in her throat. "I must."
    He was silent for a moment. "I am an honest man, so I will strike a bargain with you, little miss. I will buy this from you for five pounds—"
    She was so distressed that she held her hand out for the locket. "You profess to be an honest man, and yet you attempt to cheat me! Because I am young, do not think I don't know the locket is worth ten times that amount."
    A wide smile softened his face. "You did not allow me to finish. I shall buy the locket for five pounds and keep it for the period of one year. If within that year, you have the price to buy it back, I will sell it to you for six pounds. After all, I do have to make a profit."
    Sudden tears glistened in Sabine's eyes, and she was ashamed of her earlier outburst. "You are indeed kind and generous, sir. And if it is within my power, I shall most certainly return within the appointed time and buy back my mother's locket."
    He grinned at the young girl with shimmering red hair. Although she was dressed simply, she was delicate and had the bearing of a born lady. "I will keep it safe, and it will be here waiting for you. I have little doubt that you shall redeem it."
    With the money clutched in her hand, Sabine moved out of the shop and down the street. She wanted to cry because she had been forced to part with her only memento of her mother. If only she could have sold Garreth's ring instead—but she dared not lest the goldsmith recognize the Balmarough coat of arms. She turned back to look at the goldsmith's shop and made a mental note of the name and location. One day she would reclaim her mother's locket.
    Richard looked up at her inquiringly. "Sabine, where is Father? When can we go home? I want to see Thea, and sleep in my own bed. When we fell in the water, did we get lost?"
    "No, Richard, we're not lost." It was the first time he had asked to go home. He was too young to understand about the tragedy that surrounded them. Eventually she would have to tell him everything that had happened— but not for years.
    She knelt down so she was eye level with him. "Richard, you are very young, and I don't know if you can understand, but we cannot go home just yet.