Make-Believe Wife by Anne Herries Page A

if Black Bob guessed I had something valuable. He was determined I would be his woman—did he know that Sofia had hidden this for me? He would not have dared to steal it from her. The other players respected and revered her. Had he stolen from her or harmed her, I think they might have turned on him.’
    â€˜So he waited until she was dead.’ Luke inclinedhis head. ‘It is possible that he might have suspected something. One of the others might have seen it in your hand when you refused to be parted from it.’
    â€˜Yes, perhaps. What do you think I should do about this? Would it be possible to trace the rightful owner?’
    â€˜I dare say a good few would claim it as theirs if they could whether or not they had the right,’ Luke said. ‘I suppose I might place a vague advert in The Times newspaper and see what happens. I should ask any respondent to contact a solicitor by letter and see what replies we get, but I think we must take great care of the jewel, Roxanne. If Sofia told you that you claimed it was yours, it may be—and this ruby is extremely valuable. If no one likely comes forward in response to the advert, I think you should accept that you own the jewel.’
    â€˜Would you have it placed somewhere safe for me? I was nervous enough of carrying it before, but now—I should hate to be accused of being careless if it was lost.’
    â€˜I shall have it stored in my grandfather’s strong room until I return to London,’ Luke said. ‘We keep all the more valuable heirlooms there when they are not being worn. Hartingdon thinks them as safe here as in a bank and I think he is right. The strong room was once a dungeon and the locks have been made stronger.’
    â€˜Is it in the old wing—where the tower is?’
    â€˜Yes. We seldom use that wing, because parts of the tower are unsafe. Grandfather hasn’t opened the strong room in years, but I shall ask him for the key. You will not mind if I show him the ruby?’
    â€˜Supposing he asks where it came from?’
    â€˜I shall tell him it is your inheritance from your friend, which in a way it is. Had Sofia been other than she was, she might have sold it long since.’
    â€˜She would rather give me all she had than take something of mine,’ Roxanne replied with a smile. ‘Yes, it should be safe in the strong room—though if it is claimed we shall need to explain.’
    â€˜I doubt it will be,’ Luke said. ‘The only person who might know of the ruby would be the owner, whoever that might be.’
    â€˜My father…’ Roxanne sighed. ‘I think it must have been his and that it came from India, just as we have surmised, but perhaps I wish to believe it. Perhaps I have invented the fairy tale?’
    â€˜Did Sofia never try to find out where you had come from?’
    â€˜We were always moving from one place to another. Besides, I think she was afraid someone would take me away from her. She says that I was very quiet and I cried in my sleep for months when she first took me in. It was in her mind that I had been harmed in some way. She would not have given me up to someone who might hurt me.’
    â€˜A jewel like that might cause many people to do things they would not otherwise do,’ Luke said and frowned. ‘I shall seek the advice of my lawyer before placing the advert, Roxanne. It may bring more than we would wish for and I must be certain it cannot be traced back to you.’
    â€˜You think I might be in danger?’
    â€˜I cannot know for certain—but there must have been something that frightened you or you would not have been in such distress when Sofia found you. If you were so determined not to give the ruby up, you must have had good reason to think it was yours.’
    â€˜Sofia has said much the same to me.’ Roxanne looked up at him. ‘I would willingly return it to its rightful owner if it is not