Chapter 14 Alex #3
Alex bent down on one knee, the boy’s enthusiasm rubbing off on him as he inspected the amber. There was indeed a small scorpion encased within, as perfect as it lived—however many millions of years ago that had been. “What a smashing little piece.”
“Isn’t it?” George beamed, his wide smile revealing his adult front teeth edging into place. “I used to go into Savi’s old bedroom to look at it, but then it disappeared.”
A lop-sided grin curved his jaw. He looked at George, really looked. Alex could see hints of Savi in the boy’s eyes, and so too was there something about her in that infectious smile.
Was this what their children would look like?
The thought crossed his mind like it had the right to be there. His heart gave a traitorous jolt as he realised just how fiercely he wanted that, not just in the realm of talk between lovers but in the real world.
“Tell you what,” Alex began, holding up the amber piece. “If you promise me you’ll never let your father see this, I’ll let you keep it.”
Normally, he wouldn’t give away someone else’s possessions, but Alex had a sneaking suspicion that Savi would do exactly the same thing.
George did a happy little jump. “I will, I will, I promise.”
Handing it over, another thought occurred to him. “Do you often go through the rooms in the house?”
The humour vanished from George’s face. His lips pursed to the side, worry drawing his brows together. “No,” he said, unconvincingly.
“I’m not going to tell you off,” Alex promised.
George inclined his head, lowering his voice to a whisper. “I go looking for Christmas and birthday presents.”
He held in a laugh. “Have you ever come across a pair of bangles with peacocks on them? Or earrings with a little bell?”
With an affirmative nod, George pointed up at the upper floors. “In one of the old servants’ bedrooms in the attic.”
Alex tried to hold in his elation. “Are your parents home?”
“Mama is, but she’s having luncheon with Lady Norland.”
So he could, in theory, get away with taking the jewellery without anyone being the wiser.
On the other hand, how the devil would he explain himself if he was caught?
“George,” Alex began, with a hesitant tinge to his tone. Roping a child into his scheme felt decidedly dodgy, but he was desperate. “Could you do something for me?”
The boy nodded, happily clutching the scorpion in its amber tomb.
“Those pieces of jewellery, they belonged to Savi’s mother.” Fuck it, if George was caught, Alex would take full responsibility. “I want to give them to Savi to surprise her on her birthday. Can you get them for me?”
Without a word, George was off like a shot, speeding through the front doors. His tiny footsteps slapped onto the wooden flooring inside, gradually fading away as he ascended the stairs.
Alex huffed out a shallow laugh, wishing he could leave conversations as easily as that.
A quick look at his timepiece told him it had gone one o’clock. If he was quick about it, there was a chance he could be back in Edinburgh this evening. Turning his attention to the road, he kept an eye out for passing hansom cabs, throwing out an arm when a smart Morris Oxford finally came along.
Alex approached the window, resting a hand on the dark green finish. “Can you fit this palette box in the back?”
The driver, a surprisingly young man with a widow’s peak as sharp as a blade, leant out to inspect it. “I think so. You might have to sit in the front, though.”
He nodded, bending to pick up the box. “I think I’ll survive it.”
The driver leapt out to open the back door for him, helping Alex tilt it at a precarious angle to get it through.
It would have been far easier to wait until a taxi with a boot came along, but now that the idea of sleeping in his own bed tonight—or at least sleeping in his wife’s bed—had entered his head, his heart had settled on the idea.
“I’m waiting for someone,” he told the driver when the man opened the passenger door for him, clearly expecting him to get in. “But I won’t be a moment.”
“It’ll be on the clock.”
“Fine,” Alex brushed the warning aside. Hugger the cab fee would be pennies in comparison.
Crossing his arms, he stood beside the cab, hoping he wasn’t in for too long a wait. Nerves began to peck away at him. Had George really seen the jewellery? He was a child, after all. Did he even know what a peacock looked like? Or had he just seen some old costume jewellery?
His gaze lifted when he heard footsteps thundering down the staircase. He glanced through the open door, a pang of apprehension hitting him when he saw little George racing through the entrance hallway.
“I have it!” George beamed at him as he ducked through the front door, holding out a smart, book-sized dressing case comprised of gold-streaked calamander, complete with gilded handles.
It looked promising; such a box was far too elaborate to hold simple costume jewellery.
Alex took it with a hopeful smile. “Thank you so much, George. I know Savi is going to love it.”
The little boy beamed, his toothy smile on display once more.
“Alex!” Raj’s voice came from behind them, stiffening his shoulders. “By Jove, what brings you here?”
He didn’t turn around, catching George’s eye as he opened the cab’s passenger door to hide it within.
He heard the faint rattle of jewellery as it hit the seat.
“I just nipped round to say hello.” Alex gave Raj a friendly smile as he turned around, safely closing the door.
“But I must be off, sadly—my train leaves at a quarter to.”
Raj tutted, leaning in as though he didn’t want to be overheard. “If I’d have known you were in London, I would have far preferred to have luncheon with you instead of wasting my time with Hartley across the square.”
“It’s not a problem. George has been keeping me company, haven’t you?”
“I’ve been helping with a surprise,” George boasted, reminding Alex that trusting a six-year-old with a secret may not have been the best idea.
Raj ruffled his son’s hair. “For whom?”
“For Savi.” George jumped from foot to foot. “For her birthday.”
“Oh.” Raj interrupted, his attention shooting towards Alex.
“That reminds me. I’ve been meaning to call you to discuss the arrangements for Savitha’s birthday next month.
” Alex’s eyebrows raised. Next month? “I’d like to throw another ball, but I thought having it here in London rather than up in Edinburgh would be easier on the guests.
God only knows that train journey seems to go on forever. ”
“It really does,” Alex agreed stiffly, realising Raj didn’t even know when his daughter’s sodding birthday was.
“I’d like for it to be held at your London home on Pall Mall, if you’d be agreeable.”
Now that was taking the piss. “Has she told you she’d like another ball?”
A beat of silence passed before Raj offered an answer. “I’m sure she’ll agree it’s the best option to allow her family and friends to celebrate her.”
“When I get home, I shall ask Savi what she wants to do for her birthday,” Alex assured him, glancing at his watch.
From what Savi said, she knew almost no one at either the wedding or the christening; there was little chance she’d want a repeat.
“I must be going or else I’ll miss the train.
Lovely seeing you both.” He shook Raj’s hand before turning to George. “Thank you for helping me.”
George offered out his hand like a tiny gentleman, shaking with a pinch more enthusiasm than was dignified.
Alex climbed into the passenger seat, surreptitiously shifting the dressing case away from Raj’s line of sight before offering them a final wave as the cab driver joined the flow of traffic.
He let out a weary sigh as they left Belgrave Square, weaving his hand through his hair.
For the first time, he was actually able to inspect the dressing case.
The calamander wood was gorgeous, almost glowing from within in the midday sun.
A golden key sat in its lock, perfectly matching the golden streaks in the wood.
With trepidation bubbling within him, Alex opened it.
Bottles of perfume were the first thing he noticed within, neatly packed into a small shelf lined with emerald velvet.
The scent of stale fragrances reminded him of Hugger surely, he had no doubts at all about the peacock bangles.
Alex let an excited grin unfurl across his face as the cab sailed past the lower end of Regent’s Park, realising that he had everything Savi wanted—her collection and, most importantly, her mother’s jewellery.
He couldn’t fucking wait to give them to her.