The Earl's Bargain (Historical Regency Romance) by Cheryl Bolen Page A

walk about his room, looking
for things of value. There was his silver penknife. She took it up
and placed it on the bed. Then she came across his ivory snuff box.
It, too, went into the pile on the bed. She slid a gold band from
her own finger and tossed it on the heap.
    When she finished gathering everything of
value she could find, she pulled the bell rope, and when Williams
answered, she gave him her instructions. She first pointed to the
meager pile on the bed. "I desire that you undertake a mission for
me," she said.
    "Anything you say, Mrs. Phillips."
    "I wish for you to sell my husband's things
I've collected on the bed."
    He glanced at the bed.
    "Also, I would like for you to take all of
Mr. Phillips's clothing and leather goods to a second-hand clothier
and obtain for them as much money as you can. It appears your
former master has left this earth with no settlements for you or
for me, Williams."
    His lips folded. "A pity, ma'am. I'll do all
I can to get a fair price for Mr. Phillips's goods. Ye can count on
me."
    She smiled. "Thank you, Williams."
    * * *
    The following morning, while Ellie was still
asleep, Louisa left the house with Williams as her escort. They
went to a jewelers on Conduit Street. A very reputable jeweler from
whom Godwin had purchased many of her jewels.
    Williams stayed outside as Louisa strolled
confidently into the store and deposited a bag overflowing with
jeweled necklaces and matching bracelets and earrings. She
proceeded to dump the contents of the bag on the jeweler's
counter.
    The jewelers' eyes rounded.
    "I wish to inquire as to the worth of my
jewels," Louisa said confidently.
    Without a reply, the jeweler popped a
magnification device onto his left eye, then picked up the sapphire
necklace. A moment later, he put it down. "I'm afraid, madam, that
while these look quite lovely, they are comprised of very inferior
stones. The sapphires I can give you no more than twenty pounds
for."
    She snatched them from him and began to put
all the jewels back into the bag. "I shall go to another jeweler
for another opinion," she said.
    "I regret that they will give no more than
I," he said. Now a shadow of some emotion -- was it sympathy? --
passed over his face. "Perhaps I could raise the amount to thirty
pounds, Mrs. Phillips."
    She froze. "How did you know my name?" She
had never been there before.
    "I remember your jewels, madam. And your
husband." Another, less sympathetic, shadow crossed his face. "Your
husband desired that I make a dazzling necklace from fake jewels. I
refused. Then he asked that I make one of flawed jewels. He was
adamant about wanting a necklace that gave the appearance of great
wealth -- which he no doubt did not possess."
    She softened toward the jeweler, who was old
enough to be her father. He wasn't trying to cheat her, after all.
She knew the man was telling the truth. He knew Godwin well. "Your
assumption was correct, sir. I am learning that my husband's wealth
was all a sham. Now that he is dead I find myself quite
penniless."
    He nodded sympathetically, putting the glass
once again to his eye and examining the remainder of the jewels.
When he finished, he removed the glass and looked at her with
sadness in his eyes. "I will give you one-hundred pounds for all of
them. I assure you no one else will do better. I know this because
I am willing to give you exactly what they cost your late
husband."
    She knew he was being more than generous. "I
accept your offer."
    * * *
    Later that afternoon, as Louisa sat sewing
in the upstairs study, Williams entered the chamber. Assured that
he and Louisa were alone, he gave her a fistful of coins. "This is
all I could get for the master's things," he told her as he counted
out a little less than seventy-two pounds.
    She took the money and put it into her
sewing bag. "I'm very grateful to you, Williams."
    "It's grateful to you I am, Mrs. Phillips,
for not puttin' me out on the street."
    She smiled at him, hoping she could continue
to