December 1924, Avebury Manor
In the middle of the room, in a chair deliberately placed there, sat a daring young woman. She was provocatively dressed, with a brown bob haircut and a mischievous glint in her brown eyes. Her posture was confident, almost defiant, as if she were challenging the very air around her.
"Well, don't look so surprised," Regina Redmond said coolly. "This is what you wanted, isn't it? You wanted me to come for this diamond. The article in Gladys's newspaper was meant to lure me here to steal it. But you didn't expect it to happen today, did you? You planned for this on Christmas Eve when everyone would be at the Blackwell's party. You'd secretly stay behind to catch me in the act. That was a rather good plan. You are rather good."
"You are amazing." Marguerite said. "Who are you?"
"It's funny how soon we forget the faces of the past." Regina replied in a somewhat disappointed tone.
"Listen, sweetheart. I don't have time for your games. Obviously, if you had intended to steal the diamond, you would have. But you wanted something else. Now, be kind enough to explain what it is."
"Alright. This. I wanted this." Regina's fingers made a sweeping gesture between them.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I wanted to catch up, to see you. Don't tell me you don't recognize me. I've given you countless clues. Please, Marguerite…"
Regina Redmond pushed herself up from the chair and stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Marguerite.
Marguerite studied her intently. The girl's manner of expression was refined, yet her body language and movements hinted at something untamed. This was a complete stranger, yet there was also something familiar, something distant that tickled a far-off memory. A realization struck Marguerite like an arrow; suddenly, she no longer saw the woman before her but the little girl she once knew.
"Aurora?"
"Surprise."
Marguerite's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes widening. "Oh, dear God. I can't believe it. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't know," Aurora confessed with a shrug. "Maybe I hoped you'd recognize me on your own. Maybe I wanted to see what kind of person you'd become first. Maybe I enjoy a bit of drama."
"I would never have recognized you. You grew up, you changed. You speak perfect English. Gideon didn't raise you to follow in my footsteps. You were too sweet, too gentle…"
"What can I tell you? We all grow up eventually."
Marguerite smiled empathetically. Nobody understood quite as well as she did what it meant to grow up and lose innocence. She had been forced to go through that ordeal at a very young age. Aurora, on the other hand, had the fortune of being practically adopted by Gideon when she was very young and did not have to fight for survival. She had a choice.
"I thought you would choose a more noble career." Marguerite said.
"I could have, but the life of a jewel thief is far more glamorous."
At that moment, a wave of emotion passed between them and they embraced tightly, the years of separation melting away.
After they pulled back, Marguerite gazed at Aurora. "What about Armand?"
"He's on his way here. With our suitcases. We thought we might stay here for a while, if that's alright with you. There's something we need to discuss, and we'd prefer to do it together."
"Of course, you're welcome here. But tell me, why all the drama? Stealing Malone's journals, stealing that letter and the photographs… That wasn't just harmful to me, but to Emily as well. What drove you to do this?"
"I guess I was jealous." Aurora simply admitted as she proceeded to sit on Marguerite's bed. "It is so easy to be noble and just and interested in the problems of ordinary people when you've never felt any of those hardships yourself. Emily had it all. Everything I ever longed for was handed to her on a silver platter. And then, to top it off, you returned from your expedition, and bam, you're her sister! It felt like some cruel joke. I thought the universe was mocking me. You were supposed to be my sister..."
Marguerite sat beside Aurora on the bed, taking her hand gently. "I should never have left France. I wish I could go back in time and shout at myself: Don't go, you idiot. Every moment since I left has been worse than the one before—a series of dreadful, unfortunate events—unfolding one after another. I was never certain if I would live to see another day."
Aurora looked at Marguerite with curious eyes and asked, "Were you in Shanghai all this time? I mean, before you left for South America?"
Marguerite's gaze grew distant for a second as she recalled the yesteryears.
"I was all over the place: Cairo, Casablanca, Constantinople, Leningrad… You name it."
"Wow…What were you doing there?"
"I did whatever I could to survive—interpreting, smuggling, taking part in negotiations… In Russia, under the Bolsheviks, it became a ripe ground for smuggling. And Cairo was a hotbed for espionage and trading secrets. Everyone was looking for an edge, and information was as valuable as gold."
Aurora took a moment to process all of it. Marguerite's experiences were far and beyond.
"What about Marcel? Did you ever find him?"
"Yes, I did find Marcel. But that's an even sadder story."
Marguerite handed Aurora some clothes to change into, and as they descended the grand staircase, Armand had already arrived. He stood in the main hall, gazing around with awe. When he turned towards the staircase, their eyes met.
"Armand?" Marguerite called out.
"Marguerite?"
"Oh, Armand!" She rushed down the final few steps and straight into his arms. They embraced tightly; he lifted her slightly off the ground. He was no longer the small boy she remembered—he had matured into a handsome, dashing young gentleman.
Marguerite pulled back slightly to see him better.
"Look at you! You've turned into such a fine gentleman. You're every bit the dashing young man I knew you'd become!"
"Your kind words do me a great honor." Armand replied. "I've tried to live up to the ideals you and Gideon set upon me."
They looked at each other with a gaze full of love, but not romantic—rather, it was friendly, familial, and nostalgic. They both felt the comfort of being reunited with someone who had seen them through their most formative years, someone who understood their past and believed in their future.
At that moment, John appeared at the top of the stairs. As he descended, his surprise at the unfamiliar guests was evident. Marguerite quickly made introductions.
Armand shook John's hands firmly.
"Lord Avebury, I want to thank you for caring for and looking after our Marguerite. For years, we worried about her well-being and whether she had found someone kind and noble to be by her side. Now, after all these years, we don't have to worry anymore."
"Marguerite's safety and happiness are my life's purpose." John replied, giving Armand's hand a reassuring squeeze. "And you don't have to call me Lord Avebury. Roxton or John will do."
They continued their conversation in the library. John moved to a small, elegant side table where a crystal decanter and glasses were arranged. He poured drinks for everyone.
Armand and Aurora shared a brief recounting of their lives since Marguerite left. Gideon had arranged their papers, officially declaring them as his children and heirs, so they now bore the names Armand and Aurora Duval.
The duo continued in Marguerite's footsteps, though they admitted they lacked her exquisite talents.
However, the reason for their sudden visit was this: The infamous diamond, La Rosa in Fiore, had fallen into the hands of none other than Heinrich von Verbeden. This was both the diamond and the man they had been chasing their entire lives.
"Do you know what this means?" Armand asked.
Marguerite nodded. "Yes. It means that fate has once again played its hand quite ironically."
Armand shook his head. "No. It means the universe has finally aligned to give us a chance. We can secure La Rosa and fulfill Gideon's last wish for revenge in one fell swoop."
"That's all very nice, but how exactly do you plan to carry this out?" Marguerite asked with a hint of skepticism.
"With your help," Armand responded earnestly.
"Excuse me?"
"Marguerite, I ask that you teach Aurora everything you know, everything Gideon once taught you. In other words, I want you to become her mentor."
Aurora added. "We've laid out most of the plan, but we need your expertise to refine the final details."
Marguerite hesitated. "I'm married now, with a family. I have a one year old baby just upstairs who needs me."
Aurora reached out, touching Marguerite's arm gently. "And he's a beautiful baby boy and you are without a doubt, a wonderful mother. But we need you, too. We can't do this without you."
"We owe this to Gideon." Armand stated.
There was a momentary silence before John said, "Yes, Marguerite, I think you should do it."
Marguerite turned to him, a mix of surprise and concern in her voice. "John... This wasn't the agreement we had when we got married. We agreed no more adventures, no more wild endeavors."
John nodded, understanding her hesitation. "I know... but I've heard the entire story, and from what I've gathered, Gideon was a very important figure in your life. I think he deserves justice."
Marguerite's gaze swept between Aurora and Armand, pondering deeply. After a moment of thoughtful silence, she finally spoke. "This is a significant request you're making. I'll need some time to think it over. Until then, you're welcome to stay here and be our guests."
"That's perfect! Thank you, Marguerite!" Aurora exclaimed. "Now… Will you tell us what happened in Shanghai?"
