Devonshire Scream (A Tea Shop Mystery #17)

Theodosia’s hand fluttered to her ruby pin. “You mean this?”


“Yes. Of course I’m referring to the pin you’re wearing. The one with more diamonds and rubies than the crown jewels. It looks like it’s worth an absolute fortune. It looks almost like . . . well . . .” He glanced sideways at the egg. “It looks almost like a mate to the Fabergé egg! The jewelry equivalent, anyway, done in rubies and diamonds.”

Theodosia grabbed Drayton by the sleeve and pulled him out of the scrum of admirers. “It is expensive,” she told him. “Brooke loaned it to me.”

“How interesting.” Drayton was acting a little twitchy now. “I thought all her jewelry had been stolen in last Sunday’s heist.”

“She had this particular Bulgari piece stashed in her office safe. Probably because it is so rare and pricey.”

“Okay,” Drayton said, focusing a stern gaze on her. “Now tell me why you happen to be wearing it? Why you’re attempting to stick out like a sore thumb?” Before Theodosia could answer, he touched a hand to his forehead and said, “Oh no. Silly me. You’re wearing that piece on purpose, aren’t you? You’re parading around with it on your person, winking and blinking like a homing beacon, so you can catch the eye of any would-be jewel thieves.”

Theodosia pursed her lips. “I’m not parading around.”

Drayton’s eyes bored into her. “Yes, you really are.”

“Okay,” Theodosia said. “So the piece is going to get noticed. Is that such a bad thing?”

“It’s terrible,” Drayton said. “If those awful jewel thieves happen to show up here tonight, you could get smashed and grabbed yourself!”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Theodosia said. When Drayton continued to stare at her, she decided she’d better come clean. “Okay, maybe I did think my pin might possibly attract the attention of the jewel thieves. But if it does, isn’t that a good way to flush them out?”

“It’s not good at all,” Drayton said. He was almost beside himself. “In fact, it’s an insane plan. Which is why we’re going to get you out of here. Right now. This instant.”

Theodosia pulled away from him. “Drayton . . .” She wanted to at least give her plan a chance to work.

“And I can’t believe Brooke loaned it to you,” Drayton spat out. “What was she thinking?” He shook his head, baffled. “Well, she wasn’t thinking, that’s for sure. Good thing I’m the one with the clear head.”

“I’m not leaving this party, if that’s what you’re saying.” Theodosia was a little shocked. She’d never seen Drayton quite so insistent before.

“Then we’ll lock that thing up in Timothy’s office for the time being. Come on.”

Theodosia’s shoulders sagged. “Oh no . . . seriously?”

But just as Drayton tried to propel her away from the crowd, Lionel Rinicker loomed directly in front of them. Tall and gawky in his black tuxedo, he looked like an ominous scarecrow.

“Drayton!” Rinicker exclaimed. “Can you believe this marvelous turnout?” He smiled a lopsided grin at Theodosia and said, “Hello, Miss Browning, it’s lovely to see you again.”

“Hello, Mr. Rinicker,” Theodosia said. She was actually delighted to see Rinicker. One, because now she could keep a keen eye on him. And, two, because now Drayton couldn’t drag her off like a sack of potatoes to Timothy’s office.

“Lionel,” a woman’s voice purred. “I grabbed a glass of champagne for you.” Grace Dawson suddenly joined them, looking petite and elegant in a strapless black dress with fluffy black ostrich feathers around the hem. She had a glass of champagne clutched in each hand. “I’m not usually a two-fisted drinker,” she chuckled to Theodosia and Drayton.

Theodosia and Drayton greeted her warmly and then Theodosia said, “Have you seen the Fabergé egg yet?”

Grace handed one of the glasses to Rinicker and said, “Have we ever. I think we were among the first ones here tonight.”

“Impressive, isn’t it?” Drayton said. He was fidgeting, glancing at Theodosia, still trying to pull her away.

“I saw a blue Fabergé egg at a fancy auction in Miami once,” Grace said. “It came from one of the old Palm Beach estates. It was gorgeous, all blue enamel and gold fretwork. But it was nothing of this caliber. This is”—she seemed to search for just the right word—“this is a prize.”

“Coming through! Coming through!” called a loud voice. Theodosia, Drayton, Rinicker, and Grace all quickly stepped out of the way as two technicians from Channel 8, one carrying a video camera, and another juggling a large light and wearing a battery pack around his waist, pushed their way brusquely through the crowd.

“TV people have arrived,” Rinicker said.

“What?” Drayton jerked his head toward him.

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