Sea Gem by Wallis Peel Page B

nothing to say. The stone’s fire fascinated her, making her catch her breath. She was awed to think this would be hers in the near future. Louise could not have displayed
anything more provocative to indicate Mary’s new situation in life.
    ‘How many stones are left?’ Mary whispered, quite unable to take her eyes off the diamond.
    ‘Nine after this,’ Louise told her bluntly, ‘and worth a tidy heap of money too!’
    Louise felt exhausted and it was a struggle to retain a stoic composure. She was still desperately afraid of Victor le Page and his emotional influence on the girl. Once she wore the gold band
though, Mary was a possession of the Noyens. Le Page might cause a storm and uproar but Louise discounted this. She knew how to deal with upstart bastards, then a tiny frown puckered her forehead.
She must arrange the quietest and quickest wedding ever held on the island. There would be talk of course, and constant studies of Mary’s abdomen but let the gossips have their field day.
Louise did not particularly care just as long as she got what she wanted.
    * * *
    Ten days later Mary waited with a fluttering heart. Louise had driven the trap into St Peter Port to meet the ferry which would have Sam and Duret on board. Her moment of truth
was upon her and she looked down at the magnificent diamond ring on her left hand, Duret’s more humble gift gracing her other hand. Only Emily was in the house and, during the past week, she
had begun to thaw, perhaps because Mary tried to converse in patois. Sometimes she stumbled and became tangled but she persisted and her endeavours had won Emily over.
    Sam had passed little comment when she told him about her forthcoming wedding. His wise old eyes looked at her with a long, silent question and his shoulders had twitched a fraction.
    ‘What will be—will be!’ was his brief, enigmatical comment and Mary could get nothing more from him so she let it all drop. Whether Sam approved or not she was uncertain. The
one thing of which she was sure was his friendship because Sam’s role had changed. Without either of them becoming aware of exactly how it had happened, Mary now turned to Sam as the
grandfather she had never known.
    Mary smoothed her new blue skirt because Tante had ordered a fresh wardrobe for her. She had never dreamed such clothes existed for the likes of her and she would not have been human if they had
not excited her. Now she was garbed almost as the gentry had been in Weymouth and it was amazing how good clothes gave a person added confidence.
    She heard the brisk rattle of the cob’s hooves and retreated behind a tree to compose herself as sharp panic rose up like a ghost. She gulped, closed her eyes, took a deep breath and knew
she was ready. The trap turned up the drive briskly, the cob tossing his head, sending foam flying from his bit then stopped. Tante sprang down in her usual vigorous way followed by Sam—and
Duret.
    Mary took another deep breath then stepped forward to show herself. Duret saw her and a great smile crossed his craggy features and he opened his arms invitingly. Suddenly, Mary needed no
prodding. She ran forward, smiling sincerely because, after all, she did indeed like the Duret she had known in England. He kissed her gently, then held her at arms’ length while Louise and
Sam discreetly vanished, leaving them alone.
    Mary examined Duret carefully. She was shocked to realise how much older he looked. There were lines on his forehead and his brown eyes were hooded, holding some secret misery. He was incredibly
smart. His boots shone, his puttees were precisely spaced, his trousers held a knife-edge crease and he wore a new jacket. His cap badge gleamed, as did his jacket buttons, but when Duret removed
his cap, Mary was appalled to see grey hairs visible.
    ‘Duret,’ she whispered, holding out both hands to him.
    ‘At last,’ he murmured and drew her nearer. ‘I’ve often thought of this moment. Sometimes it