"I found it," she announced, handing the locket to Lord Greystone. She watched for his reaction even as she plunked the key ring into her father's outstretched palm.
Lord Greystone blinked at the piece in his hand. "Beautiful. It's truly beautiful."
Amy's heart swelled. "It does have amethysts, my lord, and diamonds, too."
"I can see that," he said, staring at the locket. "It's splendid."
It had taken her weeks to make it, so many hours she could still see it with her eyes closed. On top, a cutwork pattern of diamond-set leaves surrounded an amethyst flower. The lozenge-shaped locket dangled beneath, encrusted with amethysts and diamonds, its lid enameled with delicate violets. Swinging from the bottom, a large baroque pearl gleamed.
Lord Greystone finally looked to her father. "It's remarkable."
"I made it." Amy felt a flush blossom on her cheeks.
Lady Kendra's mouth dropped open in surprise. Lord Greystone's startled gaze swung to Amy, over to her father, who nodded proudly, then back to Amy. "I don't believe it. You're—"
"A woman?" She heard the challenge in her own voice.
His grin was a bit sheepish. "However did you learn to make something like this?"
Her father cleared his throat. "We hadn't much to do during the Commonwealth, my lord. I expect you were abroad?"
Lord Greystone nodded.
"Well, jewelry was much frowned upon, other than some mourning pieces. I had time aplenty to train Amy in the arts of goldsmithing." Amy's father placed a possessive hand on her shoulder. "She's a natural—even did the enameling herself."
"I must—I mean, Kendra—must have it."
Hugh shook his head. "I'm afraid it's not for sale. It's Amy's own keepsake."
"Of course it's for sale, Papa." Amy regarded Lord Greystone with a speculative gaze. "But it's very expensive."
"I'd expect so. We'll take it."
Lady Kendra turned to him, a frown creasing the area between her light green eyes. "Are you sure, Colin?"
He looked down at his sister. "Don't you like it?"
"It's lovely, but…"
"I said I would buy whatever you chose for your birthday. I want you to have it." He fished a pouch of coins from his surcoat and handed it to Amy. "Here. Take whatever's fair. Include a chain; I want her to wear it now."
Shocked that he would leave the price up to her, Amy fumbled with the pouch. She drew out a few coins, then a few more. The materials had been costly, and the piece had taken a lot of her time—she didn't want to take advantage of the man, but she wouldn't short herself, either.
"Papa?" Closing the pouch, Amy showed her father the gold she'd taken.
Hugh nodded. "That's fine, Amy." He pocketed the coins and placed a gold chain on the counter.
As she returned the pouch to Lord Greystone, he handed her the locket. His fingers brushed her hand, and a brief, warm shiver rippled through her. Her breath caught; she hoped no one noticed.
Robert sullenly pulled a cloth from his apron pocket and moved from the archway to stand beside her. He polished the glass case as she threaded the chain through the bale on the locket, then held it up for Lady Kendra to see.
"Ooh," Lady Kendra breathed. "Will you put it on me?"
She turned, and Lord Greystone lifted her hair so Amy could fasten the clasp.
Lady Kendra faced Amy and touched the locket reverently. "Thank you so very much. I'll treasure it always."
"Thank who?" her brother prompted with a smile.
"Thank you, Colin," she said and turned to embrace him.
Amy bit her lip, feeling an unexpected twinge of envy for this woman's shiny red curls and low-cut gown. But most of all, she envied the way Lady Kendra was hugging Lord Greystone. She glanced down at the counter, lest Robert catch sight of her telltale eyes.
Lord Greystone ushered his sister outside, then lingered in the doorway, looking oddly reluctant to leave.
"Can…" The long fingers of one hand drummed against his muscled thigh, then stopped. "Can you make a signet ring?"
His question came low across the small shop, to Amy, not her father.
"A signet ring?" she said with a small smile. "Of course, it's a simple matter."
Beside her, Robert stopped polishing.
"Excellent." Lord Greystone paused, frowning a bit. "I'll send a messenger with a drawing of the crest," he said at last. "And my direction to deliver it when you're finished."
Amy nodded, feeling a quick stab of disappointment that she wouldn't be seeing him again. Robert's hand resumed its deliberate circular motion on top of the counter.
"I thank you," Lord Greystone said. Then he melted out the doorway and into the teeming streets of Cheapside.
The bell rang again when the door shut. Amy stared at the solid wood until her father cleared his throat.
"I cannot believe you sold your locket," he remarked. "I thought it was your favorite piece."
"It was," she answered dreamily. "But I can make another one."
Her stomach fluttered with happiness, just knowing Lord Greystone admired her craftsmanship and his sister would be wearing her locket. And soon, he would be wearing her ring.
"If you ask me, it was a clod-headed idea," Robert put in with a shake of his carrot-topped head. "You'll never find time to make another locket with all the custom orders you get."
Amy and her father shared a quizzical look.
"Besides, I didn't like him," Robert added. "I didn't like the way he looked at you."
Amy lowered her gaze and brushed past him into the workshop. She'd liked the way Lord Greystone looked at her, very much.
Very much indeed.
COLIN ENTERED their carriage to find Kendra seated inside, her arms crossed. "What took you so long?"
He sat opposite her and looked out the window. The door of the jewelry shop was closed, so he couldn't see the girl named Amethyst, the girl with that long, thick, ribbon-entwined plait his fingers had itched to unravel.
"I ordered a signet ring," he said.
"You what?"
Colin could have asked himself that question. He'd known he was acting out of character, but in all his twenty-eight years he'd never met anyone like the girl who had made that exquisite locket. He'd
