“Um . . . Grace Dawson mentioned it to me,” Theodosia said. “I guess she ran into you at the spa yesterday?”
“Isn’t she the unfiltered little chatterbox,” Sabrina said. “And, yes, Luke is making a run to meet with a potential customer. But he’s planning to leave first thing tomorrow morning.” She glanced around. “We certainly didn’t want to miss this. It’s the first big gala we’ve ever been to at the Heritage Society.” She giggled slightly. “It’s thrilling to find so many old Charleston families in attendance.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourselves,” Drayton said.
“We weren’t about to miss seeing the Fabergé egg, either,” Luke said. “You might say we’re raving Fabergé fans. We once made a side trip during a visit to Saint Petersburg just to take in the Fabergé Museum.”
“It whet our appetite to come and see this one,” Sabrina said.
“We’ve always secretly lusted after Fabergé eggs,” Luke said.
“Who doesn’t?” Theodosia said. Her throat was starting to feel dry and she was getting a strange sense of impending doom. Were these people jewel thieves? Had they robbed Heart’s Desire and now had plans to abscond with the Fabergé egg? Or were they just clumsy social climbers?
“But, of course, a Fabergé egg is prohibitively expensive,” Luke added.
“Pity,” Sabrina said, her eyes glittering. She moved closer to Theodosia and said, rather coyly, “That flower pin you’re wearing is extraordinarily gorgeous, too. I can’t seem to take my eyes off it.”
“It certainly is a beauty,” Luke echoed.
“I have to ask,” Sabrina said. “Is it yours, something you inherited? Or did you borrow it from a jeweler just for this particular occasion? I mean, it looks like it’s worth a bloody fortune.”
Theodosia didn’t know what to say, so she said, “Thank you. And the pin doesn’t belong to me. It’s definitely on loan.” Her eyes sought out Drayton’s. “In fact, Drayton was just saying that it’s probably time to put it back in the safe downstairs. Weren’t you, Drayton?”
“Indeed, yes,” Drayton said, picking up his cue nicely. “One can never be too careful. Even in a tony crowd like this.”
Luke Andros peered at Theodosia’s ruby pin, moving in a little too close for comfort. “Look at those rubies and diamonds. I’d say it’s classic Bulgari.”
“You rarely see workmanship of that caliber anymore,” Sabrina said. “Yes, I’d say it’s worth a fortune.”
? ? ?
Theodosia watched Sabrina and Luke slink through the crowd, shaking hands and shamelessly introducing themselves along the way. “Those two give me the creeps.”
“I hear you,” Drayton said. “There’s something odd about them.”
“And you’re right about this pin.”
“How’s that?”
“I . . . I don’t think I should wear it anymore.”
“Now you’re listening to reason. You feel spooked, huh?”
“I didn’t until Sabrina and Luke Andros showed up and started making such a big deal of it.” Theodosia fumbled with the clasp and gently unclipped the ruby and diamond pin from her dress. “Here,” she said, holding it out to Drayton. “You take it.”
Drayton’s hands flew up in a defensive posture. “I don’t want it.”
“We need to do something to keep it safe.”
Haley came wafting by their table at that exact moment.
“Haley,” Drayton said, crooking a finger at her. “Do me a favor, will you?”
“Sure,” she said. “Your wish is my command. What’s up?”
“Have you seen Timothy since you’ve been here?”
“Um . . . sure,” Haley said. “Like ten seconds ago. He just finished doing a sound bite for that TV guy with the fake-bake tan.”
“Go ask Timothy for the key to his private office, will you?” Drayton asked. “Tell him it’s for me. That I want to lock something away for safekeeping.”
“Okay,” Haley said.
Drayton got up from the table. “We’ll meet you over by the door, right next to that display of Etruscan coins.”
Haley shot him a salute. “Be right back.”
“Thank you,” Theodosia said to Drayton as they strolled back toward the main door. “I think we’ll both feel better when that pin is under lock and key. You were right, wearing it tonight was kind of reckless.”
“It does feel as though something’s about to happen, doesn’t it?”
The words had barely left Drayton’s mouth when a thin, high cry pierced the air.
“What on earth?” Drayton said. His head spun around. “It sounded like a wounded animal.”
“But out in the hallway?” Theodosia said.
They both ducked through the doorway only to run smack-dab into Delaine. Her face was pink and puffy and streaked with tears; her shoulders heaved up and down with emotion.
“Delaine,” Theodosia cried. “Honey, what’s wrong? What happened?”
“Re-re-naldo!” Delaine moaned. “He’s so mean and hateful!”
Renaldo Gilles, Delaine’s boyfriend du jour, was hovering a few feet away, looking decidedly awkward.