her a menu.
"I thought we'd order from the museum café and dine here. If you don't mind."
Katrina could listen to that accent forever and not tire of it.
"Do you mind, Violet?"
"Oh, no, not at all."
She'd gotten caught up in Barry's speech and appearance, and hadn't responded to his suggestion. She hoped he didn’t think her daft.
After another pause, Bernard said, "Shall I order for you?"
She gathered her wits at last.
"Please do, Barry. You see, I'm just a little in awe over all this." She waved her hand signifying the museum in general, then continued, "I have no real training in gemology or jewelry design, although I did take a course once. I feel completely out of my league," Kate confessed. She hoped he wouldn't throw her out of his office, now that he knew she lacked credentials.
Instead, the man smiled, pushed a button on his phone, and directed his secretary to bring up a number seven and a number ten, along with tea.
"Iced or hot?" he asked Katrina.
"Iced, please."
After completing the order, he gave her what she already referred to in her mind as The Grin .
"I didn't have any direct training either, Violet. All one needs is a proper break and a quick mind. As I said in my note, I appreciate your aesthetic. Now, take a look at these."
Barry handed her a folio of glossy color prints.
"Besides, my grandmother's name was Violet. It's what initially drew me to your blog."
She thought about confessing her real name on the spot, but chose against it. She didn't see the harm of maintaining her privacy. The photos displayed an incredible collection of tiaras, scepters, jewel boxes, clocks, and other trinkets, including two parures . Katrina gasped.
"Impressed?" Barry asked.
Kate released a slow stream of oxygen from her lungs and nodded. She'd forgotten to breathe while examining the pictures.
"The yellow diamond and pearl set is beyond words," she whispered.
The jewelry she referred to consisted of stiff platinum crafted to be worn as a necklace or flipped over and used as a crown, a matching bracelet, and ear fobs. Large oval, yellow diamonds formed the centers of flowers, while pearls and triangular white diamonds served as petals. Smaller, oval canary diamonds formed buds. A master craftsman had fashioned leaves with pavé diamonds. A string of large pearls, braced by platinum, held everything together. Another flower made up the clasp. The earrings started with a large bloom, matching those on the necklace. Two inches of leaves, intertwined with buds, trailed beneath the yellow diamond and pearl flower. The same gemstones comprised the bracelet.
"How do you see it displayed?" Barry asked.
A picture came to her mind in an instant.
"The necklace should be situated on a simple velvet stand, preferably white, with a mirror above, so guests can see it as a crown as well as a necklace." Kate held her hand up to reflect the proper angle of the mirror. She continued, "Otherwise, many visitors will not guess its versatility. Also, the display should be surrounded by simple white daisies."
The director, who had smiled at her mirror idea, now raised an eyebrow.
"Hear me out. The pieces are so ornate, so unthinkable in today's world. They should be surrounded by the most uncomplicated, unfussy flowers. A daisy has a yellow center, just like the blossoms on the parure , and is almost childlike in its beauty. Yes, artfully arranged masses of daisies should encircle these jewels! In addition, I'd like to see the flowers' roots reaching into soil at the bottom of the case, signifying the birthplace of the stones—the earth."
Katrina forgot her lack of credentials and sold her ideas with the conviction of an expert.
"What about the other set?" Bernard asked, pointing to another photo.
She ran the tips of her fingers over the picture. She couldn't help herself. A dramatic devant de corsage made of varying sizes and colors of diamonds sat next
"I thought we'd order from the museum café and dine here. If you don't mind."
Katrina could listen to that accent forever and not tire of it.
"Do you mind, Violet?"
"Oh, no, not at all."
She'd gotten caught up in Barry's speech and appearance, and hadn't responded to his suggestion. She hoped he didn’t think her daft.
After another pause, Bernard said, "Shall I order for you?"
She gathered her wits at last.
"Please do, Barry. You see, I'm just a little in awe over all this." She waved her hand signifying the museum in general, then continued, "I have no real training in gemology or jewelry design, although I did take a course once. I feel completely out of my league," Kate confessed. She hoped he wouldn't throw her out of his office, now that he knew she lacked credentials.
Instead, the man smiled, pushed a button on his phone, and directed his secretary to bring up a number seven and a number ten, along with tea.
"Iced or hot?" he asked Katrina.
"Iced, please."
After completing the order, he gave her what she already referred to in her mind as The Grin .
"I didn't have any direct training either, Violet. All one needs is a proper break and a quick mind. As I said in my note, I appreciate your aesthetic. Now, take a look at these."
Barry handed her a folio of glossy color prints.
"Besides, my grandmother's name was Violet. It's what initially drew me to your blog."
She thought about confessing her real name on the spot, but chose against it. She didn't see the harm of maintaining her privacy. The photos displayed an incredible collection of tiaras, scepters, jewel boxes, clocks, and other trinkets, including two parures . Katrina gasped.
"Impressed?" Barry asked.
Kate released a slow stream of oxygen from her lungs and nodded. She'd forgotten to breathe while examining the pictures.
"The yellow diamond and pearl set is beyond words," she whispered.
The jewelry she referred to consisted of stiff platinum crafted to be worn as a necklace or flipped over and used as a crown, a matching bracelet, and ear fobs. Large oval, yellow diamonds formed the centers of flowers, while pearls and triangular white diamonds served as petals. Smaller, oval canary diamonds formed buds. A master craftsman had fashioned leaves with pavé diamonds. A string of large pearls, braced by platinum, held everything together. Another flower made up the clasp. The earrings started with a large bloom, matching those on the necklace. Two inches of leaves, intertwined with buds, trailed beneath the yellow diamond and pearl flower. The same gemstones comprised the bracelet.
"How do you see it displayed?" Barry asked.
A picture came to her mind in an instant.
"The necklace should be situated on a simple velvet stand, preferably white, with a mirror above, so guests can see it as a crown as well as a necklace." Kate held her hand up to reflect the proper angle of the mirror. She continued, "Otherwise, many visitors will not guess its versatility. Also, the display should be surrounded by simple white daisies."
The director, who had smiled at her mirror idea, now raised an eyebrow.
"Hear me out. The pieces are so ornate, so unthinkable in today's world. They should be surrounded by the most uncomplicated, unfussy flowers. A daisy has a yellow center, just like the blossoms on the parure , and is almost childlike in its beauty. Yes, artfully arranged masses of daisies should encircle these jewels! In addition, I'd like to see the flowers' roots reaching into soil at the bottom of the case, signifying the birthplace of the stones—the earth."
Katrina forgot her lack of credentials and sold her ideas with the conviction of an expert.
"What about the other set?" Bernard asked, pointing to another photo.
She ran the tips of her fingers over the picture. She couldn't help herself. A dramatic devant de corsage made of varying sizes and colors of diamonds sat next
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