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“I do?” she asked shyly, looking down for a moment, as if she needed to muster the courage for those words, then she locked eyes with him once again.

“Truly,” he whispered, reaching out to gently grasp her hand, “you are… the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

“James, I…” she started, but the sudden halt of the carriage made her stop.

“I do believe we have arrived.” He smiled like a mischievous little boy. He wanted to hear what she was going to say, but he wanted to show her the surprise even more. There would be time enough for more conversations later, he hoped.

He helped her out of the carriage, his heart racing with slightly nervous energy as he led her through the busy streets. She didn’t ask about their destination again although he could see the question burning in those beautiful eyes of hers. She walked beside him, her expression curious but trusting, unaware of the surprise that awaited her.

With each step, he stole glances at her, marveling at her grace and beauty. Her presence next to him filled him with unexpected pride and gratitude, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of affection for this woman who was leaning onto his arm. He was aware of the gazes other people were giving them, and he knew she had captured their interest as well, but she washis.

As they approached the jewelry store, he could feel his pulse quicken with anticipation. He knew that inside, there were treasures beyond compare, one of which she would choose as her own. He stopped in front of the door, as she read the sign above, finally realizing where they were. She turned to him, looking confused.

“A jewelry store?” she asked as they were lingering in the doorway. “But… it’s not my birthday.”

His brows furrowed. “I know,” he replied with a gentle smile.

“But… I always got gifts on my birthday… just then,” she explained, and he realized that her family hadn’t appreciated her as much as they should have. He planned on rectifying that dreadful mistake.

“You deserve gifts every day, Penelope,” he asserted, patting her hand which rested on his arm and leading her inside.

“Are you certain about this?” she asked, her voice in a low, barely audible whisper.

“Of course,” he whispered back. “I want you to choose anything you’d like.”

She hesitated then smiled. That was the moment when he realized that there was nothing he wouldn’t do to see her happy, to see her smile.

As they stepped into the jewelry store, the soft chime of the bell announced their arrival, and they were greeted warmly by the clerk behind the counter.

“Good afternoon, madam, sir,” he said with a polite nod, a friendly smile lighting up his face. “Welcome to our establishment. How may I assist you today?”

James returned the smile, his heart still pounding with that same nervous excitement from before. “Good afternoon,” James replied, his voice full of anticipation. “We are here to browse your selection of fine jewelry. Perhaps some pearls?”

At the mention of pearls, Penelope’s eyes widened with surprise, her gaze darting to her husband in wonder. She had obviously not expected a visit to a jewelry store and even less his knowledge on her favorite kind of jewelry. He had seized the opportunity to speak to her sister in private, asking about some of her favorites, and while Adeline herself wasn’t certain about many things, she did remember that Penelope loved playing with their mother’s pearls and would often get punished if the two girls got caught.

The clerk nodded understandingly, his eyes twinkling with eagerness to assist. “Of course, sir. We have a lovely collection of pearl jewelry that I’m certain your wife will adore.”

The man proceeded to reach for something under the counter, a moment later extracting a black, velvet box. He opened it slowly, as if it held the most precious of all of his possessions. As he did so, Penelope gasped softly.

CHAPTER21

Penelope couldn’t believe it. Pearls had always been a source of beauty as well as sadness for her. When she was a little girl, she would sometimes sneak into her parents’ chamber, her delicate little fingers opening the box of her mother’s jewelry. She would tremble at the sight of them as she would press them against her neck, wondering how beautiful she would look wearing something like that.

Nestled within the plush velvet were strands of exquisite pearls, their creamy white surfaces reflecting a delicate iridescence that danced with every movement. Each pearl was perfectly round, flawlessly smooth to the touch, and radiated a timeless elegance.

Penelope’s breath caught in her throat as she gazed upon the pearls, her eyes widening in awe at their beauty. She reached out a trembling hand, her fingers barely daring to touch the precious gems as if they might disappear like a dream.

“Which ones do you like?” she heard James ask.

She glanced over at him, but it was difficult to choose. There were so many choices, no one more beautiful than the other. She didn’t say anything at first. James could obviously sense how she was feeling, so he gave her as much time as she needed. She eyed every single piece with longing, but none of them seemed to beckon to her.

Finally, among the strands of exquisite pearls, the lady’s gaze settled upon a particularly stunning necklace. It featured a single strand of lustrous pearls, each one perfectly matched in size and shape, and it was adorned with a dazzling centerpiece. The focal point of the necklace was a beautiful pendant, crafted from the finest silver and encrusted with shimmering diamonds that caught the light with every movement.

“May I?” she asked with a trembling voice as she just pointed at the necklace she had set her eyes on.

“Of course,” the clerk nodded, gently pushing the box closer to her.

She reached out to touch the necklace, feeling a surge of excitement coursing through her veins. The pearls were cold to the touch, their smooth surface comforting against the fingertips while the diamonds sparkled like stars in the night sky, casting a spell upon her with their mesmerizing brilliance.