Henry Malvern had changed his mind, and they went to the Malvern arcade on Piccadilly. This was at the far end, just before Trafalgar Square, and James knew it quite well. He had often strolled down it, admiring the shops. Although it was smaller than the Kensington arcade, it had a certain distinction and was well designed. It was also closer to the office, and apparently Mr. Malvern had a busy day.
After staring in the window of the largest antique jewelry shop for several minutes, James looked at Henry Malvern and said, “It’s too cluttered. You can’t see the wood for the trees. The displays don’t make sense, bracelets are here, there, and brooches everywhere. No real order. It’s a muddle.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Malvern said, smiling at James, obviously pleased with his comments. “My daughter was always helping Margie Stillman to keep some sort of order, and a pattern. With Miss Malvern’s absence, Mrs. Stillman has gone … wild, in my opinion.”
His attention was now caught by a beautifully designed diamond bracelet. James said, “Mr. Malvern, please look at this piece! I’m certain it is by Cartier, the great French jeweler.” He glanced at Malvern and went on, “Next, look over there, on the right side of the window. There’s a diamond brooch which is very similar in design. In the middle of the window, there’s a pair of diamond ear clips that seems to go with the other two pieces. Don’t you agree?”
After peering in the window for a few minutes, Henry Malvern nodded. “I believe you are correct, Falconer. But what are you getting at?”
“They ought to be grouped together,” James replied. “Because I’m sure it’s a suite, which certainly makes the single pieces much more valuable. Oh how I’d like to get my hands in this window! To redo it.”
His employer nodded. “Then you shall. But you must go rather carefully with Mrs. Stillman. She can be very touchy and she’s convinced she has the best window in the arcade. An ego there.”
“I will take care,” James promised.
Together, the two men went into the shop.
“Good morning, Mr. Malvern.” The young woman behind a small counter smiled warmly. “I shall go and fetch Mrs. Stillman right away.”
“Thank you, Yvonne.” Turning to James, Malvern said, “Walk around, take a look, you’ll see a lot of treasures in here. Truly rare pieces.”
James did as Mr. Malvern suggested, moving through the main room of the shop, taking everything in swiftly and with appreciation as he gazed in numerous cabinets with glass doors. The problem was the same as the window. Muddle. And more muddle.
It took James only a few minutes to realize that other sets of matching jewelry had been separated rather than grouped together. He didn’t bother to point this out, because suddenly Henry Malvern was greeting a woman in a black silk dress who was undoubtedly Mrs. Stillman.
As she walked toward him, accompanied by his employer, James saw that she was an elegant woman, probably in her early forties, and attractive. But the most striking thing about her was her hair. It was pure silver and abundant, piled in curls on top of her head. It gave her a look of regality, especially since she had perfect posture and walked gracefully.
“I am delighted to meet you, Mr. Falconer,” she said, offering her hand.
Taking it, James looked at her admiringly, staring at her intently. “It is my pleasure, Mrs. Stillman.” Releasing her hand, but still gazing at her, he added, “And I must commend you on your great taste. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a fantastic collection of diamond pieces in my life. All of them are truly outstanding.”
“How kind of you to say so, Mr. Falconer. I’ve been lucky in some instances, have come across them almost accidentally,” she replied, smiling at him. Her sparkling eyes filled with pleasure at his compliments.
“More good taste than luck, I would say,” James answered. “I can’t help wondering where you buy?”
“Here, there, and everywhere,” she answered, and stepped away, going closer to one of the glass-fronted cabinets.
Her smile was intact and James realized she wasn’t being evasive, only vague because she probably couldn’t remember exactly where each piece had come from.
James inclined his head graciously. “Over the years I’ve been to a number of estate sales at stately homes and country manor houses. I’ve also attended auctions in country towns. It’s truly amazing the things you can find in these places.”
“I enjoy the country estate sales myself,” Mrs. Stillman confided. “I’ve found wonderful jewels where least expected.”
Walking across to the front of the store, James said, “I was just pointing out some pieces in the window to Mr. Malvern a moment ago. I believe they are by Cartier. I wonder if you’d mind getting them out, Mrs. Stillman, if it’s not too much trouble. I want to know if I’m as knowledgeable as I think I am.” He gave her one of his wide, slightly flirtatious smiles.
“It’s no trouble at all,” Mrs. Stillman answered warmly. She hurried forward, opened the curtained glass partition that protected the contents of the window inside the store. “Which pieces exactly, Mr. Falconer?”
“The diamond bracelet on the left, the ear clips in the middle, and the brooch on the right. Thank you so much.”
Turning around, James walked down to Henry Malvern, who had seated himself in a chair. “I think I’ll be able to work with her all right,” he murmured in a low tone.
“I’m positively certain of it,” Henry Malvern said in a dry tone. “Flattery will get you everywhere, Falconer, as you no doubt already know.”
James merely smiled and went to look in a large cabinet, the contents of which took his breath away. He actually gasped. The glass shelves held a variety of diamond tiaras that were so magnificent they were blinding.
A moment later, Mrs. Stillman was standing at one of the counters in the shop, where she had placed a black velvet cloth. On it she had put the ear clips, the bracelet, and the brooch. “Do come and look, Mr. Falconer, and you, too, Mr. Malvern.”
They joined her. James gazed down at the pieces, which were spectacular. Grouped together it was obvious the three pieces were indeed a suite. The working of the diamonds into a diagonal crisscross pattern was repeated on the ear clips and on the brooch. Wonderful workmanship!
He turned the bracelet over and soon found the jeweler’s name: Cartier. Just as he had thought. He said to Malvern, “Yes, it is by the French jeweler, sir.” Swinging around, filled with curiosity, he said to Mrs. Stillman, “I’m wondering about this beautiful suite. Wherever did you come across it?”
“Those pieces I remember very well,” she answered. “It was an estate sale at Waverley Hall, not far from Bath. The Dowager Countess of Waverley had died, and her son held a sale of her jewels. There are some other similar pieces I also bought at that particular sale. Now, where did I put them?” She glanced around, obviously at a loss for a moment.
James believed they were the items he had seen in one of the cabinets, and he said, “I do believe I noticed them over there in that large cabinet.”
“Oh yes, you’re right.”
Within seconds, she returned, holding a necklace, ear clips, and a magnificent ring. “These were also part of the Waverley collection,” she explained.
As she spoke, he had a brainwave and knew how he was going to get that window not only in order, but make it outstanding. “Let us group all of these pieces on the velvet. I think those you’re holding may also be from Cartier. Are there any more pieces of the dowager’s collection? Have you sold any?”
“No, I haven’t sold anything from the dowager’s collection. There may be a few smaller items, but I would have to hunt them out.”
“I think you should certainly do that, Mrs. Stillman, because I’ve just had an idea that’s going to make you a lot of money,” James announced.
Margie Stillman simply gaped at him. “A lot of money,” she finally repeated. “But how?”
“Yes, do tell us how, Falconer,” Henry Malvern said in a slightly clipped tone.
“Show is better than tell, I think,” James murmured, and looked at Mrs. Stillman. “Do you have a tray I can use? I’d like to spread the black velvet on it, then arrange the diamond pieces on top.”
“I do have a show tray I sometimes use in the window. It has tiny legs that flip down. I shall go and get it.”
Once she had disappeared into the back room, Henry Malvern said, “Why did you tell her that? You’re raising her hopes. We have to be careful what we say to those who rent from us.”
“I understand that, Mr. Malvern, and please trust me. She just doesn’t understand exactly what she’s got here. Has no idea of their value. Let me carry on and then perhaps you’ll realize what I’m aiming at.”
Henry Malvern merely nodded because Mrs. Stillman had returned with the tray. She flipped down the small legs on each corner and placed the tray on the counter.
“Thank you,” James said. He removed the diamond pieces from the black velvet, then draped this cover over the tray.
Henry Malvern and Mrs. Stillman watched him as he placed the diamond necklace on the black velvet, exactly in the center. Then he put the pair of ear clips within the circle of the necklace, and next he added the large diamond ring between the ear clips. The diamond bracelet, which had first caught his eye in the window, he placed just outside the circle made by the necklace, and the second bracelet on the outer side of the necklace. “There you are—a magnificent display! What about calling it ‘The Famous Waverley Diamonds from the Renowned Collection of the Dowager Countess of Waverley’?”
His audience of two looked startled and were staring at the tray, not saying a word.
James went on, “I must find a good calligrapher who will write those words on a white card. That will then go on the tray.” He glanced at Mrs. Stillman. “Which you must put in the middle of the window.”
Henry Malvern, taken by surprise for a moment, now exclaimed, “That is rather an extraordinary idea, Falconer, but clever. And I do understand where you’re going. You want to draw instant attention to the pieces in the window.”
“I do, Mr. Malvern. I can guarantee the whole set will be sold within days … a week at the most. Probably to an American woman. There are a lot of them here in London these days, and they are rich.”
Margie Stillman was clever enough to understand that this unusual, good-looking young man had come up with a clever idea. But she now said swiftly, “What about the other jewels in the window? The tray will take up quite a bit of space.”
He agreed with her at once, and said, “But I’ll help you work out a plan, don’t worry about it. Now, can I discuss those tiaras? They make a fabulous collection. Why are they all in the back?”
“I didn’t know how to place them in the window, and they take up so much room. Anyway, not many women are interested in tiaras these days.”
James couldn’t help thinking about those American girls whom his uncle had called “buccaneers.” Might they not want to start looking the part before gaining the title? James thought for a moment before saying, “I have to put my thinking cap on.”
* * *
Once they had taken their leave of Mrs. Stillman and were moving on down the arcade, Henry Malvern paused at one moment, looked at James. “How do you know so much about jewelry, Falconer? It seems you’re quite the expert.”
“No, I’m not really. I only know about Cartier because my father could always spot pieces by them at the estate sales he went to. He often took me with him when he hired a horse and cart and went to the country. That’s where he bought the simpler stuff for our stalls. He taught me well.”
“Well, you certainly impressed me. And Mrs. Stillman, I might add.”
“I couldn’t tell you who else designs jewelry,” James said with a laugh. “And I do think she will take a bit of guidance from me, by the way.”
They toured the Malvern arcade, looking at other windows, and Henry Malvern asked James what he thought of them. For the most part he said they were all too crowded with goods. Too many shoes, too many handbags in the leather goods window. All needed to be redone.
As it happened, the only windows James had been impressed with and which gained his praise were the ones showing women’s clothing.
It was with some pride that Henry Malvern told him they had been created by his daughter. It was Miss Alexis who had always dressed the fashion windows herself.