Above Rubies by Mary Cummins Read Free Book Online Page A

Stephanie.
    “Getting a quick cup of coffee,” said Merry. “He’ll be back in a moment. I’ve had mine.”
    “We need him, fast ... Oh, here he is now. Nigel, Claire Turner hasn’t turned up. Molly says she’s caught the ’flu bug. That means no one for the turquoise and pearls.”
    “Oh, lord,” exclaimed Nigel. “That puts the programme out. I suppose you can’t ... No, the timing would be wrong. Wait a minute ... What about Merry?”
    He eyed her emerald dress, and shook his head again.
    “Molly could wear the turquoise,” said Stephanie. “She’s in cream silk, for the garnets. They’d look O.K. on Merry ... quite vivid against the green.”
    They considered her speculatively, while Merry stood by uneasily, aware of Benjamin’s tall figure in the background.
    “Will you do it, Merry?” asked Nigel.
    “I ... I don’t know,” she said, biting her lip as she caught Benjamin’s ste rn face, as he stared angrily at Nigel. Then Stephanie made a gesture of impatience.
    “Why not?” demanded Nigel. “You’ve got the looks, you’re dressed properly, and you can walk. Why not, for goodness’ sake?”
    “She’s too timid,” sneered Stephanie, and Benjamin’s eyes snapped.
    “She’s only a child, Kilpatrick,” he interrupted. “You’ve no right to put responsibility on to her !”
    Merry’s chin came up.
    “Of course I’ll do it,” she said crisply, “if you think I can. What about the checking, though?”
    “I’ll manage that myself,” Nigel told her. “Dave Bruce will help. Go with Stephanie to the changing room and I’ll be right along with the case.”
    As they walked away, Stephanie’s fingers closed lightly on Merry’s wrist, then firmed slightly as they passed one of the stands. Merry saw a very tall young man with dark curling hair and very dark eyes looking at Stephanie fixedly, and felt sudden tension in the girl.
    “Who is that?” she asked curiously.
    “One of our managers,” the girl told her, and shrugged in an attempt to be offhand. “Does it matter?”
    Merry had to admit that it didn’t, though for a moment she had felt surrounded by tensions.
    “Now, let’s see your hair and make-up,” Stephanie was saying. “Here’s the other girls, Molly Green, Val Stoddart, Irene Price and Betty McArthur. Merry Saunders, girls ... our neighbour at Kilbraggan. She’ll take Claire’s place, or at least your place, Molly. The garnets will look better on her dress, and the turquoise will be fine with that cream silk.”
    “Suits me,” said Molly, with a friendly smile at Merry. “We’re all enjoying the change from clothes. We all model at some of the big stores in town.”
    Merry nodded, feeling suddenly nervous again. What if she made a fool of herself, with Nigel watching ... and Benjamin. The thought made her chin firm, and she decided she wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. She smiled as Nigel walked in the door carrying a black fitted jewel case, full of black leather-bound boxes.
    “All right, girls,” he said gently. “Here we are. Stephanie first, with the diamonds, then I think it’s Irene with the sapphire necklace and matching bracelet.”
    Somehow or other it was Merry’s turn, as she fastened on a heavy jewel-encrusted necklace, with bracelet, ear-rings and brooch to match. This was the only antique set in the collection, and she was very conscious of previous owners, as she walked up the centre of the floor, turning and twisting to allow the bright lights to catch the living fire of the jewels. The garnets glowed deep, rich red, so different from the bright pinkish crimson of the rubies worn by Betty. Merry felt the weight of them on her neck and arms, and decided that a whole evening wearing them was not for her.
    It was with relief that she walked back to the changing room amid polite but quite enthusiastic applause, and gave the gems back to Nigel, who marked off each piece, had it checked by the tall young man with dark hair, and locked it