A Solitary Romance: Book 1 in the Only Love Series Read Free Page B

to similar fobs.
    "Golconda?" she asked.
    "You've a true eye, Violet.  How did you know?"
    "The size and color of the diamonds, and of course, the cuts, suggest the correct period.  I've never seen anything like it."  The piece mesmerized her.
    "It's been in private hands for ninety years.  This is a real coup for the Heller."
    The Golconda mine in India produced some of the world's most unique diamonds until drained of its treasure.  While most of the jewels in the enormous pin, meant to be worn across a lady's chest, would be classified as white, they gave off unusual fire. Katrina could detect blue, pink, yellow, pastel green, and even purple light emanating from the gemstones.  Again, platinum held together the work of art while allowing it to remain flexible, thus giving the piece movement.  The arms of a large X, filled with round and emerald cut diamonds and bordered with countless, small circle cut gems, met at a triangle cut, soft blue stone.  Without many facets, the centerpiece resembled a large aquamarine, although lighter in color.
    "That's a rare blue diamond in the middle, thirty-four carats," Barry said.
    Below the center stone, the X shape collapsed into two legs, made to match the upper portion, but closer together and ending in a cascade of diamond leaves surrounding three pear-shaped drops, each stone larger than the one above.  Back at the top of the piece, she examined a round knob of diamonds at the end of each arm.  They formed a circle of acanthus leaves.  Alone, these designs, centered around emerald-cut diamonds, would make fabulous brooches.  Yet they represented only a fraction of the devant de corsage.  From these hung pieces similar to the bottom branches of the X , yet only half as long.  The jeweler wasn't finished.  From each side of the piece, a chain of diamonds, connected with stones forming the shape of tulips, reached across the pin.  The top swag dipped slightly, but the bottom hung low, forming a large U from side to side.  The matching ear bobs appeared simple by comparison.
    The set included a kokoshnik , or arched headpiece, with a similar blue diamond in the middle.  The jeweler had cut this stone square and angled its corners, creating a shape similar to that of the Asscher cut.  Large white diamonds that emitted a blue fire took prominent positions on each side of the centerpiece, while more gemstones displaying multiple colors of light filled the surface of the crown.
    "Is there foil behind any of these stones?" Kate asked.
    The girl's questions impressed Bronson.  She had some knowledge of Russian jewels.
    "In the kokoshnik, yes.  These photos don't even do the pieces justice.  I flew to the Netherlands to view them in person during our negotiations.  Now, Violet, what do you suggest for this display?"
    Katrina closed her eyes but continued to caress the photo.  Barry smiled in amusement at the girl's unabashed reaction to the jewels.  He appreciated her obvious love of beauty.  A knock on the door did not interrupt her concentration, and she kept her eyes closed as Bronson's secretary placed their meals on his desk.  He held his finger to his lips to communicate that his assistant was to remain silent and retreat from the room as soon as possible.  Several minutes passed, the aroma of their meals filling the office.  The director had begun to wonder if the girl were in a trance when she popped open her eyes. 
    "These represent a world that will never exist again."
    Barry heard the emotion in Kate's voice.
    She continued, "They must be shown to the public in a way that conveys that.  Chips of eternal ice that by no means melt."
    Bernard thought the girl a poet.  He'd have fallen out of his chair if he discovered she made her living as a bean counter.  He held his breath and waited to hear her idea.  She'd already convinced him with her passion that daisies were the way to go with the other set.
    "I think you should display them on ice.  Not