Alec said, chagrined to have to be the one to tell her.“But the Rose of Indra has been in my family for centuries!”“Shh!” an old lady hushed them as the scant congregation rose and began singing the entrance hymn.Alec took Becky’s arm and led her out of the church. “It’s not an uncommon situation,” he explained in a low tone as he opened the heavy door for her. “One of your ancestors must have gotten into a scrape, sold the original for ready money, and then replaced it with this in hopes the family would never find out. Trust me, this sort of thing happens every day.”“But it’s just not possible!” she insisted as they went back out into the dappled sunshine of the churchyard, the heavy door slowly creaking shut behind them, muffling the opening strains of a familiar hymn. “I’m sure you’re wrong!”“I know I’m right. I’m sorry, Becky. I know about jewels and such. I’ve been around the finer things my whole life, and that,” he said emphatically, “is a fake.
