to keep up with her.” She inclined her head to indicate the older woman’s colorful jeweled necklace. “What a beautiful piece. I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it.”
“It was an anniversary gift from Alexander.” Mrs. Lawtonunfastened it and draped it over her gloved palm. Six square-cut jewels in a variety of colors glittered in the light. “The first letter in the name of each jewel spells out a message. Amethyst, diamond, opal, ruby, emerald, diamond. A-d-o-r-e-d.” She blushed like a schoolgirl. “His way of telling me he loves me.”
“How very clever,” Ivy said.
“Isn’t it just? They say it’s becoming quite the custom these days. I read an article about it in the Lady’s Book this summer. ‘The Secret Language of Jewels’—perhaps you saw it?” Mrs. Lawton refastened her necklace and planted a swift kiss on Celia’s cheek. “I must go before Alexander sends out the police to search for me. Thank you again, my dear. You have taken quite a load off my mind.”
Celia waved as Mrs. Lawton crossed the church yard. Most everyone else had gone, save a young couple with two small children in tow, Papa, and his banker, Mr. Waring.
Ivy looked around. “I wonder what happened to Sutton.”
“I don’t know. It isn’t like him to break an engagement. I’m worried that perhaps his father has fallen ill.”
Ivy’s expression grew serious. “That thought crossed my mind too. But surely Sutton would have sent word to us if that were the case.”
“Maybe he was too late for church and is waiting for me at home.” Celia gathered her skirts, and they crossed the yard to the carriage, where Joseph waited to drive them the short distance home. “Even if he isn’t there, I still want to ride Zeus. I’ve missed him.”
Ivy grinned. “You and that horse. What a pair.”
“You should come with us.” For some reason Ivy’s mood had turned sunny, and Celia wanted to make the most of it.
“Thank you, but no. It’s my turn to read with Louisa this week, and I want to choose a book for her.”
“Maybe you’ll have better luck than I did. The girl seems to have arrived here with an agenda that does not include improving her mind.”
Papa concluded his conversation with the banker and helped the cousins into the carriage before climbing in and settling on the seat opposite them. One look at his face told Celia the conversation had not been a pleasant one.
“Something the matter, Papa?”
“Nothing that can’t be remedied.” He smiled, but she was not convinced. “Would you mind terribly if I begged off from the trip to the track this afternoon? I promised to meet with Mr. Waring again tomorrow, and I need some time to prepare.”
“Of course not. Are you sure there’s nothing wrong? Sutton didn’t come to church as promised, and now this—I can’t help but feel you’re both keeping bad news from me.”
Papa sighed. “This discussion is to remain within the confines of this carriage.”
“Of course, Uncle David.” Ivy reached across to pat his hand.
“What’s the matter?”
“One of the Mackays’ ships is overdue and feared lost.”
Celia’s stomach lurched. “Maybe it encountered bad weather and put into port somewhere. Sutton said one of their ships had to wait out a bad storm last year that put him almost a week behind schedule.”
“Even if that were the case, it should have been here by now. Cyrus Wheaton’s captain brought in his brig last night and reported sighting debris off the North Carolina coast.”
Ivy smoothed her skirt. “I can see why the Mackays would be worried. But what has this to do with you, Uncle David?”
“I guaranteed the loan Burke Mackay took out for that shipment. Or a good part of it, anyway.”
“Through the safe fund?” Celia asked. Some time ago Papa hadtold her of the money the elite men of Savannah kept aside to lend out when one of their number encountered financial difficulties.
“No. Burke refused to ask
“It was an anniversary gift from Alexander.” Mrs. Lawtonunfastened it and draped it over her gloved palm. Six square-cut jewels in a variety of colors glittered in the light. “The first letter in the name of each jewel spells out a message. Amethyst, diamond, opal, ruby, emerald, diamond. A-d-o-r-e-d.” She blushed like a schoolgirl. “His way of telling me he loves me.”
“How very clever,” Ivy said.
“Isn’t it just? They say it’s becoming quite the custom these days. I read an article about it in the Lady’s Book this summer. ‘The Secret Language of Jewels’—perhaps you saw it?” Mrs. Lawton refastened her necklace and planted a swift kiss on Celia’s cheek. “I must go before Alexander sends out the police to search for me. Thank you again, my dear. You have taken quite a load off my mind.”
Celia waved as Mrs. Lawton crossed the church yard. Most everyone else had gone, save a young couple with two small children in tow, Papa, and his banker, Mr. Waring.
Ivy looked around. “I wonder what happened to Sutton.”
“I don’t know. It isn’t like him to break an engagement. I’m worried that perhaps his father has fallen ill.”
Ivy’s expression grew serious. “That thought crossed my mind too. But surely Sutton would have sent word to us if that were the case.”
“Maybe he was too late for church and is waiting for me at home.” Celia gathered her skirts, and they crossed the yard to the carriage, where Joseph waited to drive them the short distance home. “Even if he isn’t there, I still want to ride Zeus. I’ve missed him.”
Ivy grinned. “You and that horse. What a pair.”
“You should come with us.” For some reason Ivy’s mood had turned sunny, and Celia wanted to make the most of it.
“Thank you, but no. It’s my turn to read with Louisa this week, and I want to choose a book for her.”
“Maybe you’ll have better luck than I did. The girl seems to have arrived here with an agenda that does not include improving her mind.”
Papa concluded his conversation with the banker and helped the cousins into the carriage before climbing in and settling on the seat opposite them. One look at his face told Celia the conversation had not been a pleasant one.
“Something the matter, Papa?”
“Nothing that can’t be remedied.” He smiled, but she was not convinced. “Would you mind terribly if I begged off from the trip to the track this afternoon? I promised to meet with Mr. Waring again tomorrow, and I need some time to prepare.”
“Of course not. Are you sure there’s nothing wrong? Sutton didn’t come to church as promised, and now this—I can’t help but feel you’re both keeping bad news from me.”
Papa sighed. “This discussion is to remain within the confines of this carriage.”
“Of course, Uncle David.” Ivy reached across to pat his hand.
“What’s the matter?”
“One of the Mackays’ ships is overdue and feared lost.”
Celia’s stomach lurched. “Maybe it encountered bad weather and put into port somewhere. Sutton said one of their ships had to wait out a bad storm last year that put him almost a week behind schedule.”
“Even if that were the case, it should have been here by now. Cyrus Wheaton’s captain brought in his brig last night and reported sighting debris off the North Carolina coast.”
Ivy smoothed her skirt. “I can see why the Mackays would be worried. But what has this to do with you, Uncle David?”
“I guaranteed the loan Burke Mackay took out for that shipment. Or a good part of it, anyway.”
“Through the safe fund?” Celia asked. Some time ago Papa hadtold her of the money the elite men of Savannah kept aside to lend out when one of their number encountered financial difficulties.
“No. Burke refused to ask
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