Free Treasured Lies by Kendall Talbot Page A

Rosalina tug the lid off.
    â€˜It’s moving,’ Ginger squealed. ‘Pull harder.’
    The lid flipped off and both Rosalina and Ginger were sent sprawling. The lid flung from their hands, but thankfully it landed on a towel. Rosalina retrieved it and sat up on her knees to take a look inside the box. Even the sound of the waves rolling into the shore evaporated as Rosalina was enticed by the precious contents.
    It was in slow motion that she reached inside the chest and drew out the first item her fingers touched. It was the most beautiful piece of jewellery she’d ever seen. A gold bracelet, with large rectangular cut emerald stones. Each gemstone was edged in its own gold trim with scalloped edges and it was in immaculate condition. It was heavy, and she tried to imagine the woman who would have worn it. She must have been quite a big lady to wear such a large piece, and no doubt she would have had the perfect outfit to wear it with. A smile touched her lips as she recalled that her Nonna always had a unique set of jewellery to match every dress. It was one of the things she was fastidious about.
    Ginger was holding her own piece now. Another bracelet. This one a series of miniature gold plaques, each one depicted its own image, as if the bracelet told a story. Rosalina recognised one of the symbols. It was an eagle on a bolt of cloth. This was the Arte di Calimala insignia used to represent the wealthy cloth finishers’ guild.
    â€˜Alessandro will love that piece.’ Actually, he was excited about every piece. With the ancient diary as his guide, so far he’d been able to match the descriptions detailed in those lists with the real items. It was like putting the pieces of a puzzle together. A vast, valuable puzzle.
    â€˜Don’t you think it’s weird having your ex-boyfriend around?’
    Ginger’s comment was loaded with distrust. Rosalina turned to her and caught the jealousy in her eyes. It had never occurred to Rosalina what anyone else thought about Alessandro joining them on this treasure hunt. The only person she’d been worried about was Archer. She never even contemplated that Ginger might see it as odd. ‘Well, to be honest,’ she finally said, ‘Alessandro and I are just good friends.’
    â€˜But you had sex with him.’
    Her words were a slap to the face and Rosalina tugged her hair behind her ear as she tried to formulate a response. She let out a huge sigh. ‘Alessandro and I had one night together. It was a very long time ago. We were at university together. We were drunk and it was a mistake. We should never have done it.’
    Ginger shrugged. ‘Yeah. That’s what he told me too.’ She said it so flippantly, like she was gossiping about someone else, Rosalina couldn’t decide if her question was a test to assess if Alessandro had told her the truth or she didn’t trust Rosalina with Alessandro. Either way, it was awkward.
    â€˜I see the way he looks at you,’ Ginger said. ‘I know there’s still something there.’
    For over a decade Rosalina had been trying to break her spell over Alessandro. His eyes for her always had a passionate yearning. And although it broke her heart to see him that way, she could never find a way to relinquish that hold on him. Until Ginger stepped into their lives. For the first time since that one fateful night, Alessandro’s yearning had shifted. ‘To be honest, Ginger, I think his eyes are for you,’ she finally said.
    â€˜Really?’ Her smile lit up her face. ‘Do you think so?’
    â€˜Yes … Yes I do.’
    Ginger continued smiling as she reached back into the jewel box. Rosalina assumed the conversation was over. She hoped so. Rosalina wasn’t keen on any form of confrontation, conflict resolution was more her preference.
    As they removed the pieces one by one, it was evident that whoever owned this jewellery was not only very