Diana’s heart clenched. She might not have any money, but Simon did, and he would certainly help. “You are a kind and brave lad. Let me see it.”
He opened his hand to reveal a gold ring with a brilliant sapphire.
“Oh, it’s beautiful,” she said. It seemed a very expensive piece for a family of their means, but how could she know their circumstances? “It belonged to your grandmother?”
He looked at her and nodded profusely. “It did, ma’am.”
“Are you certain your parents wish to part with it?”
He looked away again. “Yes, ma’am.”
Diana worried he was perhaps not telling the truth. What if his parents had no idea he’d taken it?
She took his hand and curled his fingers around the ring. “You keep this for now, all right? I will come around in a while to buy it from you. What is your name?” She would talk to Simon about what to do. At the very least, they needed to give the family whatever they might need. It broke her heart to see this boy resort to selling family heirlooms.
He nodded again. “Owen, ma’am. Thank you. I’ll be waiting for you outside.”
She wanted to tell him not to, for it was cold, but suspected he didn’t want his family to know what he was about. She felt rather certain his parents didn’t know he’d taken the ring. To feel so desperate... Diana had suffered many dark times in her past, but they didn’t compare to this.
The Margraves came from the house, and Owen dashed off.
Simon paced the common room of the inn, which was now festooned with enough greenery to resemble a forest. He was no closer to coming up with a replacement gift for Diana.
She came inside just then with Mrs. Margrave and her daughters. Garbed in a puce walking dress, her cheeks pink from being outside in the cold, she was absolutely ravishing and he was incapable of doing anything but stare.
Gliding toward him, her forehead creased. “Oh, Simon, you must help me.”
Worry clenched his gut, and he took her hand. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing to me, but I’ve met a family we must help. I hope you won’t mind. I have no money of my own.” She winced, and he stroked the back of her hand.
“My funds are now yours,” he said, smiling. “Tell me about this family.” He led her to the settee near the front window, and they sat down.
“They live around the corner. Mr. Brown has been ill for some time, and they don’t have enough to eat. Mrs. Margrave took them bread and cakes, and I suspect those will be the finest things on their table for Christmas.”
Simon frowned. “That’s a shame. Shall we take them supper?”
“Yes, please. I’d also like to give them money to help them while Mr. Brown continues his recovery.”
Simon leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. “You have the kindest heart. Of course we will help them.”
She smiled and curled her arms around his neck in a tight hug. “Thank you, Simon.”
He stroked her back and would have continued the embrace had they not been in the common room of an inn. Instead, he pulled back with great reluctance.
They sought the Margraves’ help in assembling a supper for the family, which had included a visit to some of the market stalls. Simon had joked that it was their walk to see the spires of Oxford University, which were of course visible just about anywhere in town.
Carrying the food they’d gathered, they made their way toward the family’s home.
“Thank you for doing this,” Diana said. “I felt so bad for this family’s plight. They have three children. The oldest is a boy—Owen—who can’t be more than ten. He tried to sell me his grandmother’s sapphire ring, but I’m certain his parents didn’t even know he’d taken it. The poor dear.”
Simon’s ears pricked at the word sapphire, and his mind worked through what she said. “A sapphire ring?”
She nodded. “It looked quite valuable. I hope you don’t mind, but I don’t want to buy it from him. They should keep their family heirloom.”
They approached a series of houses, and a small boy loitered near the end of them.
“There he is,” Diana said.
They went to the boy, and Diana introduced them. “Owen, this is my husband, the Duke of Romsey.”
Owen bowed and did not raise his eyes.
Simon tried to give the boy a warm smile of encouragement, but it was difficult since the lad wouldn’t look up. So Simon sank down. “Owen, I understand you have a ring to sell me.”
Diana nudged him with her leg, but he didn’t turn his head to her.
“I do, Your Grace.” He put his hand in his pocket and withdrew the ring that had been meant for Diana—Simon recognized the sapphire and puzzled the pieces together.
“Is your uncle a jeweler?” Simon asked softly.
The boy’s gaze lifted then, and there was surprise as well as a bit of fear. “Yes.”
Simon nodded. “Well, I would be delighted to buy your ring. How much do you want?”
Owen chewed his lip then gave Simon a dubious look. “Two pounds?”
“That is far too little for such a valuable piece. Here, take this.” Simon reached into his pocket and pulled out a good deal more than the boy had asked for. Simon picked up the ring and held it between his thumb and forefinger. “Are you certain you can part with this?”
“I am, Your Grace.”
“Very well.” Simon put the money into the boy’s hand and rose.
Owen’s eyes widened with wonder and his cheeks turned bright pink. “Thank you. God bless you, Your Grace.” He bowed to Diana. “And you, Your Grace.”
“We have this for you, too.” Diana handed him her packages, and Simon handed him what he’d been carrying. “It’s Christmas Eve supper. Or Christmas Day.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Owen blinked rapidly.
Diana smiled at him. “Take care, Owen.”
Simon clutched the ring in his hand, and put his arm around Diana as they watched the boy run to his door and disappear inside.
“That was very generous of you,” she said softly. “But you shouldn’t have taken the ring. It belongs to their family.”
He turned to face her. “No, it belongs to you. I commissioned it from his uncle who lost it this morning.”
Diana’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened. She lifted her hand to her lips. “Owen stole it? He seemed like such a sweet boy.”
“I’m sure he is,” Simon said. “The ring fell from the jeweler’s pocket. I suspect Owen found it and saw an opportunity to provide for his family. I must say, I can’t fault him for that.”
“Still, he should have returned it to his uncle.”
“Yes, but all’s well that end’s well. Isn’t that how the saying goes?”
She nodded. “Shakespeare.”
“Your Grace?”
Simon turned, along with Diana, toward the voice. It was the jeweler. “Mr. Abernathy, allow me to present my wife, the Duchess of Romsey. Diana, this is the man who made your ring.” He held it out to Abernathy, who gasped in surprise. “Would you believe I found the ring just here a moment ago?”