“What’s that?” Jaya asked.

“Well, you see, the prongs that held each of the missing rubies have pulled away from the main body of the rose,” Silas explained, pointing out the prongs to Jaya. “It’s rather strange for the prongs to do that without assistance, although I have seen that happen in rare circumstances. You say this is a new piece? Has it been handled roughly?”

“I only got it a few months ago, and I’ve been very careful with it.”

“Hmm. Unusual. Very unusual.”

Grey took a step away from the pendant. Jaya wondered if he knew what he’d done or if it had been a subconscious reaction.

“Do you think you can replace the rubies and fix the prongs?”

“Well, yes. But without knowing the cause, I’m afraid the same thing may happen to the new rubies.”

Jaya nodded. “I suppose that can’t be helped. Could you do anything to protect against the prongs getting wrenched away like that?”

“I could bend them into place and perhaps anchor them with a tiny bit of jeweler’s epoxy. And I can do the same for the rest of the prongs as well, while I’m at it,” Silas said thoughtfully. “Could you give me an hour?”

“Of course. We’ll keep ourselves busy until then.”

Silas smiled as he slipped her rose pendant into a velvet pouch. “I’ll see you both again shortly, Princess Jaya, Lord Northcliffe.”

They stepped outside into the cold early-November air, and Jaya glanced at Grey. His face was unreadable, preoccupied. “You okay?” she asked as they began aimlessly up the sidewalk, burying her hands in her coat pockets.

“Fine.” He paused, ran a hand through his hair. “The prongs… they were pulled away. That’s weird.”

Jaya shrugged. “But not supernatural. I’m sure that happens to jewelry sometimes. Besides, Silas is going to fix it.” She wanted to reassure Grey, she realized. But she also wanted to not be out here on the street, where anyone driving by might see them together.

Across the street, the warm, glowing lights of a small bookstore called Bookingham Palace beckoned. Enclosed, small, decidedly unglamorous, and somewhere Caterina wasn’t likely to be. Perfect. Putting her hand on Grey’s arm, Jaya smiled. “Let’s go in there.”

There were few dark moods books couldn’t fix.

Entering into the cozy warmth of Bookingham Palace, hearing the soft jingle of the bells on the door, Jaya felt her worries melting away. Smiling, she took off her coat and let the buzz of various conversations settle over her like a balmy wave. The store wasn’t very big, but it was packed to the gills with books of every kind, as well as gifts for the upcoming holiday season like Santa mugs and peppermint bark.