False Diamond--An Abbot Agency Mystery Read Free

convince. Zircon, definitely.
    â€˜Did you want a diamond for an engagement ring? Personally, diamond rings make my hands look dirty. I prefer sapphires.’
    Dilys wriggled. ‘Daddy introduced Ben to a jeweller friend of his and arranged for him to buy me a diamond ring. And he did. It was a beauty.’
    Past tense.
Was
a beauty.
    â€˜You call your husband “Ben”?’
    â€˜His full name is Benjamin Benton, but most people just call him Benton.’
    â€˜You were not consulted about the ring?’
    â€˜No, it was a lovely surprise.’
    â€˜And a relief, too, if you were already pregnant?’
    The girl ducked her head.
    Bea wondered if the girl had been consulted about her options at that stage, either. As the aged Mr Holland’s only child, she could have had the baby and been well looked after, without being pushed into marrying a man of doubtful quality.
    Dilys breathed, ‘He loved me to distraction. He begged me to marry him. He went down on one knee. It was wonderful. I’d never thought such a thing would ever happen to me.’
    Bea diagnosed a terminal lack of self-worth. ‘Your father was pleased?’
    â€˜Oh yes. Ben was head salesman of the company and it was as if it were meant. Daddy bought us the sweetest little town house and we had a lovely wedding at our country place, but we didn’t go abroad for a honeymoon because I was being sick all the time.’
    Bea could see it all. The men arranged everything to their satisfaction, and the girl – pregnancy sick and immature for her age – had gone along with it. ‘When did you first notice something was wrong with the ring?’
    A wriggle. ‘Nothing’s wrong with it.’
    â€˜Dilys, I can’t help you if you don’t come clean. Of course you noticed. Most young brides wear their engagement ring all the time—’
    â€˜Well, I didn’t because I was being sick so much. I was worried about it slipping off my finger and going down the sink.’
    â€˜Let me guess. Ben said he’d get it altered for a better fit for you, but when it was returned from the jewellers you didn’t wear it then, either, because it felt and looked slightly different.’
    The girl recited, ‘He loves me, he only thinks of what’s best for me.’
    Bea sighed. ‘You keep saying that he loves you, but you don’t say that you love him.’
    A tinge of colour. ‘Of course I do.’ The wide eyes became wider. Terror loomed.
    Bea said, in her softest tone, ‘You’re afraid of him. Does he hit you?’
    â€˜No, no, no!’ Tears threatened. ‘Of course not.’
    A lie? ‘Then what are you afraid of?’
    â€˜Nothing. He’s just … He can be very sharp. If he knew that I’d let you see the ring, that you were trying to make me say awful things about him … I really do love him. Of course I do.’
    â€˜But …?’
    Dilys gulped. ‘It’s not his fault. It’s mine. He gets frustrated because I’m so stupid. I need to understand how silly I’ve been, so that I don’t show him up in front of other people.’
    â€˜He criticizes you?’
    â€˜It’s for my own good. I mean, I knew the business wasn’t doing so well, and I thought that I might be able to help, because I used to go into the office and help out before I was married, but he made me see I’d be worse than useless.’
    Ouch. Bea held on to her temper. She wanted to slap someone, and that someone wasn’t Dilys. ‘How is he with the children?’
    â€˜Oh, fine. At least, with the boys. They’re so like him, take after him, he’s so proud of them, you wouldn’t believe how much he indulges them.’
    â€˜I seem to remember you have a little girl as well.’
    â€˜My little girl is like me, a bit stupid, you know? But he only tells her off for her own good.’
    â€˜Does he