There was a bag of toiletries and then smaller dresses and some pants and shirts and cardigans. The suitcase was crammed full of items that Amanda carefully unpacked. And then at the bottom of the case was a baby dress with smocking across the front. It was very old-fashioned but lovely, in a light, pale pink cotton. There was a crocheted shawl that was so soft and begging to be washed. Thankfully the moths had not found their way into this case, she thought.
Next there was a little white romper for a baby, with tiny little yellow flowers embroidered on the front with a matching white cardigan. They were beautiful baby clothes but why were they in this case? It didn’t make any sense, Amanda thought, as she took everything out and started to refold the items.
There was a tiny rip in the lining of the case and when Amanda touched it she felt something like the shape of a ring.
She put her fingers in and pulled out a small ruby dress ring, but she could feel more.
Gently pulling back the lining, Amanda found a more rings with different stones and a string of pearls.
She counted the pearls. There were one hundred and forty of them framing a blue stone in a gold pendant. They were incredible, and she took a photo and sent it to Simon.
I just found these in the attic.
They will look great with the top hat. But seriously, what the hell? Why are they in the attic?
No idea, but I’m going to show Diana.
Amanda put everything back into the case except the jewellery and carefully made her way downstairs.
She needed to think about what she had just seen before she spoke to Diana about the jewellery and the case. Nothing made sense.
Amanda went to the kitchen and laid the pearls out on the table. They were in beautiful condition considering they had been shut in a suitcase for decades.
She remembered her mother saying that pearls needed to be worn – something about the pearls absorbing the natural oils of the skin and rehydrating – so she put them around her neck, feeling them against her skin, cool but not cold, weighty but not heavy.
She went to the living room, where a mirror was hung on one wall and looked at them.
They were beautiful, she thought, looking up at the picture of Diana, who was wearing the pearls in her portrait, and the painting of Diana’s mother, who was also wearing them in hers. She glanced at herself again in the mirror and for a moment she looked like one of the women in the paintings or perhaps she was wishing she was one of them. She touched the pearls and then shook her head. She shouldn’t be wearing them. She took them off and put them on the small table. It wasn’t any of her business but something wasn’t sitting right with Amanda.
Diana was entitled to keep what happened to her private but there seemed to be so many unanswered questions that Amanda couldn’t help but be curious. No, it was more than curiosity, she thought. It was intrigue, and Amanda couldn’t help thinking that Diana was deliberately hiding something from her. The more she pondered on what she found, the more questions she had for Diana.
24
Amanda
Diana was out with Janet when Amanda went to the gatehouse but the door was open, which wasn’t surprising since Simon had said he would care for Trotsky and would return him later. There was no chance of anyone coming to the gatehouse without being seen by Simon, so Diana had happily it unlocked.
Amanda walked inside and looked around for a safe place to leave the pearls.
Diana’s house was lovely, she thought, more modern than Moongate with a fully renovated kitchen and a wall unit air conditioner.
Amanda went into the living area and placed the pearls on the coffee table with the rings.
There was a small secretaire with a notepad, and Amanda wrote a quick note.
Found these in the attic, along with some rings. I think they’re the pearls you mentioned. Let me know when you’re free to chat.
Amanda left the note next to the jewellery and walked outside, closing the door firmly behind her.
She walked through the garden and found Simon eating a sandwich, sitting by the cool of the pond, which he had filled with water.
‘Hey,’ she said.
‘Hey yourself,’ he answered as she sat by him.
‘No top hat and pearls?’ he teased.
‘No,’ she answered.
