Chapter 20
Pandora’s courtyard might look a little shabby now, but who’s to say there aren’t gold bars stashed somewhere beneath those old stone slabs? He didn’t believe for a second that Pandora was so broke she’d sell off her wedding gifts. Baldrick had told him, the James family always kept a low profile, but they had money-real money-just hidden away.
Honestly, if the doctor hadn’t specifically recommended an agarwood pillow for Baldrick, he wouldn’t have bothered coming here at all. He knew his odds were slim, but he had to try.
“Yes, I gave them to my granddaughter,” Pandora said, her gaze resting on Claire instead of Cindy.
Cindy’s expression soured. The agarwood pillow-was it really hers?
“Then I’ll have to ask if Claire is willing to part with it.” Dane turned toward Claire.
He was no fool. It was obvious that Cindy, who’d been acting like the host, wasn’t actually Pandora’s granddaughter. The warmth in Pandora’s eyes was meant for Claire, not Cindy.
“The agarwood pillow was the first gift my grandmother gave me when I came home. I can’t give it to someone else,” Claire replied, her voice steady.
She actually said no.
Octavia couldn’t keep quiet. “Claire, do you even know how much that pillow is worth? If you sold it, you and your grandma could move to the city and never worry about money again p>
Typical, she thought. People from humble backgrounds just didn’t get it.
Octavia didn’t know Dane, but the way he carried himself the bodyguards, the butler, the expensive suit-he definitely wasn’t just anyone. If the pillow had been Cindy’s, she would’ve told her to give it to Dane in a heartbeat. Men like him always paid back favors. He wouldn’t let them lose out.
But Claire just smiled politely, pretending not to notice Octavia’s scheming look. “Thanks for the advice, Octavia. That’s exactly what I was thinking p>
That caught Dane off guard. He raised his eyebrow, looking at Claire. “So, Claire, you’re really willing to sell the agarwood pillow to me p>
“Of course Claire answered,
smiling. “can’t just give away a gift from my grandma, but I don’t mind selling it. Besides, she gave me both keep one and sell you the
pillows
other. How about that p>
loved to have the
Dane would’v I’ve lov
pair, but he knew agarwood pillows were rare, and money couldn’t
always buy them. “The doctor said just one pillow would be enough for my grandfather. As long as you’re willing to sell, one is fine p>
Claire didn’t hesitate. She went and fetched the pillow that Pandora had just cut out
of the thick cotton cover earlier. She brought it out, the cotton fabric still clinging to it.
Cindy recognized it instantly. That was the pillow she’d slept on all her life.
“This is the one. I took it out of its cover just today,” Claire said.
Dane didn’t care that the fabric was old and worn. He only needed one look to know this was the real thing, exactly what Baldrick needed. “Perfect. That scent is incredible p>
Cindy, though, could barely contain herself. That pillow was hers. Now Claire was about to sell it off to someone else.
But Dane didn’t even spare Cindy a glance. He just wanted to finish the deal and leave. “Claire, agarwood pillows are worth a fortune. I pay you this much, is that alright p>
Not once did Claire ask Pandora for her opinion, and Pandora didn’t step in. She just let Claire decide.