Chapter Twenty-Five
Sitting together in the library, Donovan, Peter and Phoebe, stared at the unopened pouch and envelope on the coffee table. Peter had texted Jane to meet them and said it was important, but she hadn’t responded.
“The letter or pouch first?” Peter asked solemnly.
“Letter,” Donovan said with a sigh. “It will probably tell us about the pouch anyway.”
“Right,” Peter muttered as he carefully picked it up.
The flap was only half sealed and opened easily. Reaching inside, he withdrew a folded piece of paper.
“Here goes,” he mumbled.
“My Dearest Julie,
I fear our hopes have been dashed. As I write this I am ebbing away in a beautiful garden at Hawthorne Hall. I do wish you could see it. I pray one day you will. You will receive this letter and my gift through my good friend Billy Cavendish. He’s the best of chaps. Anyway, in the pouch is a ring.
Yes, my dearest, I planned to ask you to become Mrs. Richard Weiss. In my heart you already are, and though this may sound far-fetched, I have the strongest feeling that somehow, some way, we will find each other again. Our love is too great, and need for each other too strong, for us to be denied a lifetime of happiness.
As you know I come from a family of jewel-smiths. Just a few days before I was wounded I met with my uncle and told him about us. He gave me something to secure our future. I’ve been secretly carrying it and I must say it’s been frightfully difficult at times, yet somehow I have managed. But now I’m stuck here, and I don’t trust anyone to make sure it ends up in your hands, not even Billy, so I’ve hidden it.
There’s a grand portrait of Lord Percival Hawthorne here in the Lake House. That’s what they call this place because that’s what it is. A small lake in the gardens, and this lovely house is on an island in the middle. When you receive this you must hurry here. Come into the Lake House and check the frame about halfway up on the right side as you face the portrait. I managed to come up with a way to make it virtually impossible to notice. I pray you’ll be able to secretly retrieve it.
I love you with all my heart.
Until we meet again.
Forever yours,
Richard.”
“How did the pouch and letter end up under a floorboard?” Phoebe asked, her eyes wide.
“Hard to say,” Donovan muttered thoughtfully, “but now we know it’s not the painting these people are after, it’s the frame!”
“No wonder Giles has pressed me to sell him the portrait all these years,” Peter exclaimed. “Why didn’t he just tell me about this? I would have cooperated with him. And Alexi’s buyer in Switzerland is a man named David Weiss, so he must related to the soldier.”
“He must have just learned about all this or he would have been in touch you with sooner,” Donovan remarked. “Okay, Phoebe, gently open the pouch.”
“Will you do it? I’m worried about the bugs you thought might be inside.”
“Sure, unless you want the honor, Peter.”
“Please, be my guest.”
Carefully pulling open the top of the drawstring bag, Donovan placed his hand beneath it and gave it a gentle shake. A magnificent sapphire and diamond encrusted ring fell into his palm.
“Wow, that is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Phoebe exclaimed. “It must be worth a fortune.”
“A masterpiece,” Peter murmured, leaning forward to study it. “Now I’m even more curious about what might be hidden in that frame. But how the blazes will we get it back?”
“I think I know,” Donovan replied as his phone rang. “Donovan Blake,” he declared accepting the call.
“This is Alexi.”
“Hello, Alexi, you have excellent timing,” he remarked, quickly placing the call on speaker. “What can I do for you?”
“You know the answer to that question. I expect you to be here with my painting tomorrow morning at ten o’clock.”
“I’ll be there at noon, but Lord Hawthorne wants something in return.”
“Excuse me?”
“The frame. It’s not worth very much but it has a great deal of sentimental value. Whoever is buying the portrait will probably want to replace it anyway, and it’s much safer and easier to transport the painting rolled up in a protective tube. But you can keep the glass.”
“I was going to suggest the same thing,” Alexi declared. “This damn frame is nothing but a nuisance. He’s welcome to it. The glass I’m pleased to keep. It will sit on four gold stands and display some special items of mine.”
“Then we’re in agreement. I’ll be there at noon with the portrait, and driving a vehicle that can carry the frame.”
“You made a wise decision, Donovan. Once I have it Phoebe will be out of danger and you can rest easy. See you then.”
”That was amazing,” Phoebe said softly. “The ring must be magical.” “Not that I believe in such things, but you could well be right. The way he called at just that moment is remarkable,” Peter exclaimed, “and Donovan, I am in your debt. You are truly brilliant.”
“Not really, I’m just good at problem solving.”
“And coming up with ideas,” Phoebe interjected. “But the story of Julie and Richard is so sad. I wonder what happened to her.”
“If she’s still alive she’d be well into her 90’s so it’s doubtful, but I’d like to find her family and give them the ring.”
“Yes, we must,” Phoebe agreed. “Do you think we can?”
“We have her name and address from back then. That’s a great help. But I’m wondering why David Weiss reached out to Alexi at precisely the same time as David Cavendish.”
“I’d like to know that too,” Peter remarked.
“Hi, I’m here? What’s going on?” Jane asked stepping into the room with Trevor and walking over to join them. “Oh, wow, where did that ring come from?”
“It once belonged to a soldier who was sent here during the Second World War named Richard Weiss,” Peter replied. “He planned to propose to his girlfriend but be died before he could, and somehow managed to hide it in the Lake House. It’s connected to the portrait.”
“Weiss?” she repeated with a frown.
“What is it, Jane? Does that name ring a bell?”
“It does. A while ago I answered the phone and the caller said his name was David Weiss and he wanted to speak to someone about buying the portrait of Lord Percival Hawthorne. I told him it wasn’t for sale and hung up.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me?” Peter exclaimed.
“Why would I? I’ve heard you complain about that friend of yours, Cavendish I think his name is, badgering you about selling it. What’s going on?”
“It’s a very long story. I don’t suppose Weiss left his number.”
“Won’t it be in the security system? Isn’t there a log of all the callers?”
“The one’s who numbers aren’t blocked,” Peter said thoughtfully. “I don’t know how far it goes back.”
“Well, he called again a couple of months ago.”
“Can you remember exactly when?”
“Let me think…it was the same day we had the Barrington’s for dinner. I remember because I was in here with Priscilla when the phone rang.”
“Excellent, that helps a great deal.”
“Phoebe, tell Jane what’s going on while Peter and I see if we can track down that phone number,” Donovan exclaimed as he rose to his feet. “The Weiss family probably fled to Switzerland,” he continued, speaking to Peter as they left the room. “I’m dying to find out how he tracked you down, and more importantly, why he knows Alexi Koslov.”