Sea Gem by Wallis Peel Page A

washed out. ‘And I’ll not back down either,’ she said carefully, reading Tante easily. ‘Just make it quick.’
    ‘I will!’ Louise promised grimly.
    Mary shut her eyes, her heart numb but, strangely, a great weight had lifted from her shoulders now that matters had been taken out of her hands so dramatically. Thank God, she told herself, I
made no direct promise to Victor but what was he going to say? She allowed herself the luxury of thinking about him for a few more moments. It would have been wonderful with him but also it might
have been terrible.
    Louise regarded her thoughtfully. Her conscience was quite at ease. Matters had turned out far better than she had dared to hope. The girl would mope for a bit, that was to be expected, so the
urgent task was to get Duret home and the two of them married. Pray God, she added to herself, that he is still capable of his masculine duties.
    She reached up, unfastened the top button of her blouse and withdrew a small deep locket suspended by a fine, golden chain worked in cable like a ship’s rope. Mary watched with surprise.
She had never known Tante wear jewellery.
    Louise noted her stare. ‘It was my mother’s given to her by my wild father,’ she smiled as she flipped the pendant off her neck, pressed a tiny catch and opened it.
    ‘Look!’
    Mary’s eyes opened wider and she gasped. ‘That’s surely not a—?’
    Louise nodded. ‘It is a cut but unset diamond of two carets,’ she said slowly. ‘This will be made into a proper betrothal ring for you. That other you can put on your right
hand.’
    Mary was stunned. She had seen magnificent gems before but only on the hands of gentry. She doubted whether even Lady Oliver possessed such a fine gem.
    ‘It’s beautiful,’ she murmured as the light in the cabin caught the facets making the stone flash white and blue.
    ‘There are some others left too,’ Louise continued slowly. She had made her decision. Mary would never break her word so now was the time to explain all.
    ‘Only Sam knows this now that Charles is dead. Duret certainly does not,’ she started to pick her words with care. ‘I was told by my parents when I was old enough to
understand. I told you my father was a smuggler. Well, he did quite well from his nefarious activities and, to start with, he put his money into gold but that is heavy and cumbersome. Later he
changed the gold into diamonds, which are easier to hide and transport and they are not so much subject to banking laws either. One diamond changed in the right place—at the right
time—can realise much money.
These
are the source of the family wealth and now I tell you as you enter the family. One day it will be you who will end up guarding the family
finances. Duret is far too vague to be allowed to deal with such important matters. Anyhow, it’s been my experience that strong women are excellent at business and you are going to be another
me in time,’ she said dryly before continuing. ‘When it becomes necessary to have added funds, a diamond is changed on the Continent, usually in France. I have a list of suitable names
and addresses where no questions are asked. Naturally the price received is often less than on the open market but it is more convenient and still highly profitable. There are not many diamonds
left now and I only use one when absolutely necessary. With this stone in a ring, you will have security on your hands if the worst ever comes to the worse. When I change a diamond for money I
deposit the funds in the family bank and the manager presumes these arise from Continental investments. Then, in due course, I transfer these to interest-bearing accounts, mostly on the mainland,
although some go into gilt-edged shares. The remaining stones are hidden and after you are married I will show you. Secrecy is vital, of course. There is little crime on Guernsey but I take no
chances. It always pays to be prudent and suspicious.’
    Mary could find