“This room is special. There is a holiness about it.” Andrea gave the room a final glance before they returned to the others.
“That isn’t all.” Donald turned to his sister-in-law. “Charlotte, show Andrea the relics.”
“Relics? From the Crusades?” Alert, Andrea swung around to face Charlotte, anxious to view what she had.
“Yes,” Charlotte retrieved items from inside one of the compartments in the bookcase. “Grand-père returned home with holy relics as well as items the soldiers carried.”
“There is no need to bore Andrea.” Jeanne Marie sat in the chair, her fingers tense in her lap.
“My grandmother was Maurice’s wife’s companion and lived through the fear of holding Templar treasures. While the gold is gone, these relics remain.” Isabella joined Charlotte and, with care, placed a small package that she took from the desk.
“Maurice brought many things back from the Holy Lands, a piece of tooth he thought belonged to John the Baptist, cloth that may have come from the Last Supper table, and a leather strap that could have been part of the halter for the donkey on which Mary rode into Bethlehem. The Crusaders brought these items with them from their homes, believing they would bring them closer to God and protect them from harm.” Isabella unwrapped the precious pieces and laid them out for Andrea to observe.
“Andrea can tell you about the items,” DuClare said.
With care, she studied the piece of tooth: the color was too bright to be twelve-hundred years old. The shape was not right either, more canine than human, possibly a piece of a dog’s fang. Andrea placed the tooth on the table and examined the cloth and leather. The weave of the cloth was wrong for the early period and the wrinkles she expected to be on the old leather were missing.
The situation was unfortunate but not new to her: a prized item lacking the value of what the owner anticipated.
“These are not ancient.” Andrea rewrapped the items.
“You are correct,” Jeanne Marie said from across the room. As one, everyone faced her. “When Maurice returned from the Crusades a tired old man, churchmen came looking for Templar treasure. He trained archers for the king, fought by His Majesty’s side, listened and comforted dying men, Templar and peasant alike.
“But the story was a half-truth. Maurice carried back gold and silver and took the treasure to the Templar house in Troyes. The relics, the real ones, were sent to Tunis years ago. But the French court insisted Maurice commanded more importance than a simple soldier and insisted the Templar treasure be relinquished to them. He argued and let them wear him down and, in the end, sorrowfully took out these pitiful items. The crafty man had them believe he thought the worthless items were valuable. In the end, the investigator received a cask or two of his best wine and went away. He kept what he thought was precious in there, away from prying eyes.” Jean Marie pointed to the secret room. “He always regretted not being able to return everything to the families of the fallen.”
“There are a few items Donald showed me in the chest,” said Andrea, motioning in the direction of the secret room, “That I might be able to help you with. I noticed markings that could lead me to the artisan who made the rings and bracelets.”
Chapter Three
Andrea gazed at Donald. Instead of observing his boyish smirk – which was a bit exasperating, although there were those odd times when his lips made her heart quicken – she glimpsed at a man deep in thought.
“There are other items. Perhaps you can help us with those,” Charlotte said. “To me, they are well-crafted pieces with fine grades of gold and silver and clear gems.”
“I’d be glad to help you identify the pieces.” Before Andrea had a chance to move, Charlotte led everyone into the small room. Isabella proceeded to light the candles set in lanterns on the walls, brightening the space.
Charlotte opened one of the chests, removed an oiled cloth packet, and brought it to the table. She opened it and revealed items made of quality metal and gems in a simple pattern. Andrea doubted she would be able to shed any light on who owned them, but perhaps she could identify the jeweler. The others gathered around.
“Maurice told us these all belonged to one Crusader,” Jeanne Marie said.
On the table was Maurice’s treasure: a cloak pin, brooch, several bracelets, ring, and buttons. Andrea picked up the bronze, Viking openwork cloak pin with interlaced, circular curves. A portion of the edge was missing. To get a better look, she turned the piece over and examined the spring-bound pin attached to the back. Donald peered over her shoulder.
“May I?” He held out his hand and she gave him the item.
He held the piece with care and ran his finger along the rim, then studied the broken edge. Donald let out a deep breath and returned the pin to her.
“What do you make of the piece?” Andrea raised her eyebrow in disbelief. Did Donald think himself an expert of antiquities or was he trying to impress his family? Stay calm. It was a refrain that ran through her mind often. Time after time someone questioned her expertise. She smiled smoothly, displaying nothing of her true feelings.
Which didn’t explain why she was drawn to him.
“The pin is powerful in its simplicity and beauty.” Donald gestured toward the pin.
Andrea wiped the smile off her face. She studied the pin and understood what he saw.
“The edge was cleaved by some blade; a sword, an axe, a spear, or an arrow,” he said.
Silently, she scolded herself. There was much more to this man. “Anything else?
“I don’t think it ended well for the wearer.” Donald gazed into her eyes. “This pin is worn over the heart.”
“You can’t be sure. For the last one-hundred and fifty years, some cloak pins closed the neck slit of the undergarment.”
The devilish glint in his eyes
