I’ll Discuss the Partnership Only with Stella

Before she could finish, Pearl hurried forward.

“Your Grace.”

She performed a perfect court curtsy.

Richard rushed to introduce her.

“My daughter, Pearl. Like you, she graduated from Cambridge. She admires you enormously.”

The duchess looked at Pearl’s face.

Her gaze paused. Thoughtful.

“Stella is your sister? You look quite alike.”

Pearl had always considered me beneath her.

Being told we looked alike didn’t please her.

“I’m the Whitmores’ biological daughter. Stella is just a girl our family kindly adopted from an orphanage.”

Something tender moved through the duchess’s eyes.

“So Stella was an orphan,” she murmured. “Poor child.”

She didn’t look down on me.

She felt sorry for me.

My eyes grew hot.

How ironic.

To the Whitmores, I was an embarrassing stain they wanted to distance themselves from.

A woman I had met only once felt compassion for the child I had been.

“Your Grace, I understand you love gemstones, particularly sapphires. I chose this especially for you. I hope it pleases you.”

Pearl offered the velvet box as though presenting a treasure.

Inside lay a pure sky-blue sapphire, glittering brilliantly.

Sapphires were valuable stones. The purer the color, the rarer and more expensive they became.

This one must have cost at least a million and a half dollars.

The Whitmores had certainly spent generously to win her over.

“That’s thoughtful of you.”

The duchess gave it an indifferent glance.

She didn’t reach for it.

Her attendant took the box and casually dropped it into her bag.

Then, in their native language, she said without lowering her voice, “Your Highness, a stone of that quality doesn’t deserve a place on your dressing table.”

I happened to understand her.

A mocking smile touched my mouth.

Pearl was vain and narrow-minded. She thought she had given an extraordinary gift.

A woman of the duchess’s position had no shortage of rare jewels.

Pearl’s offering was nothing remarkable.

Still, refusing a greeting gift in public would be rude.

The duchess maintained appearances.

“This is already an expensive gift for them. Give her something in return. Then we’re even.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Pearl didn’t understand a word.

While she was still trying to work out what they meant, the attendant presented her with an exquisite gem-encrusted bracelet.

“Miss Whitmore. A return gift from Her Grace.”

Pearl accepted it with both hands, overwhelmed by the honor.

“Thank you. You’re too kind.”

The bracelet was worth far more than the sapphire she had given.

Her eyes shone.

Apparently, the duchess liked her much more than she had expected.

“Your Grace, shall we go to the VIP room and discuss the partnership? We have the contract ready.”

Richard was all smiles.

The duchess didn’t move.

She lifted her chin slightly. Impatience showed.

“Where’s Stella? You’ve already taken up too much of my time. I want to discuss this with her.”

Everyone’s expression changed.

She noticed immediately and frowned.

“Why are you all looking like that? Where is she?”