Chapter 31

There was a pregnant pause before Thorne finally spoke. "This is highly unusual, but since it is a private sale, there might be some room for negotiation. Do you have original letters, not copies? The museum will need to verify their authenticity."

She exhaled in relief. "Yes. I know you are a man of honor, Mr. Thorne, and this is a matter of the highest honor. He was wrongly branded a traitor and only officially exonerated upon Elizabeth's death forty-four years later. But the jewels were never returned to him. By then they were already lost. We must see justice done for his family."

Mr. Thorne sighed. "As much as I wish to have the rest of the jewels back, I believe you're telling me the truth. Or, at least, what you believe is the truth. It sounds like the ownership of the jewels is more complicated than we realized. I'm glad you called me, Ms. Linwood. The police have Ms. Harkness under heavy surveillance. They expect you to make contact with her."