24. Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Cassandra saw the box as soon as she entered her bedchamber to change for dinner.

“What’s this?” she asked Mary Ann.

“I don’t know, madam. It was here when I came up to your room.”

She stared at it. What could it be?

“Are you going to open it?”

Cassandra gave herself a little shake. Why was she staring at the casket, expecting it to divulge its secrets when she could just look inside?

Her eyes widened as she read the name on the top. Baptista’s. The jewellers?

Was this something to do with Jethro? It must be. No one else could have bought her jewellery.

“Oh, do go on, madam. I’m going to burst with curiosity if you don’t hurry up and open it.”

Cassandra picked up the box and sat down on the bed. She unfastened the catch, lifted the lid, and gasped.

Inside lay an amethyst necklace. Three stones, a deep lavender in colour, surrounded by tiny diamonds, on a gold chain.

She gulped hard, blinking away the tears that formed in her eyes.

It was a beautiful gift, but she did not deserve it .

Jethro had tried to apologise, but the subject was so painful, so embarrassing, that she couldn’t face it. It was easier to dismiss the matter, as if it was of no importance. As though she didn’t care.

But she did care, so much, and she didn’t want to risk being hurt again. His rejection shouldn’t have mattered—she had stepped outside of their agreement—but it had cut deep, and she wanted to conceal from her husband just how badly he had upset her.

She had pushed him away, and after a week of trying to make amends, he had withdrawn, spending every evening in his study, unless they were out.

The necklace was unexpected. She had never received such a valuable gift in her life.

What did it mean? Was this some kind of apology?

But if so, what was he apologising for? Did he wish he had embraced her, or was he just sorry he had hurt her?

Was the jewellery to make up for the physical affection he felt unable to give her, or worse—a reward for being a dutiful wife?

The thought appalled her. She was the one who had exceeded the boundaries of their agreement and she did not need to be placated by gifts.

Perhaps she should have let him talk, however uncomfortable it would have been. Then he wouldn’t have felt obliged to buy her such a valuable present.

Tonight, she would wear the necklace, and prayed it would reopen the channel of communication between them. If she accepted the amethysts as the peace offering Jethro clearly meant them to be, maybe they could forget the entire incident and start again.

Dressed in a white silk gown she had not worn before, Cassandra allowed Mary Ann to fasten the purple gems around her neck.

Jethro looked up as she entered the drawing room. He gazed at her face and then lowered his eyes to the necklace at her throat.

“Do you like it?”

Cassandra’s mouth spread into a wide smile, but she made sure not to advance on Jethro’s position.

“How could I not? It’s beautiful. I don’t deserve such a magnificent piece of jewellery. How can I ever thank you enough?”

Jethro gave a brief nod. If she hadn’t been looking for it, Cassandra might have missed the slight upturn to the ends of his mouth.

The tenseness in her chest subsided. He was pleased she liked the necklace .

“You are my wife. You deserve the best.”

She glowed with pleasure. No one had said such a thing for a very long time—if ever. It had been her stepsister who had received the best of everything in her father’s household—not her.

“I’m proud of you, Cassandra. You’ll make a fine impression on Mr Wade with those gems around your neck.”

His words acted like a hatpin, pricking her bubble of delight.

Now the present made sense. The jewellery was a symbol of his wealth that he wanted her to display. She was just a wife for show. She resolved never to wear it at home again.

The unwelcome thoughts robbed Cassandra of all pleasure from Jethro’s gift, and she had to force her lips into a smile.

“As you wish.”

She would uphold her end of their bargain and be the dutiful wife he required. Nothing more.