Lucas obeyed, curiosity flickering. "I assume this isn't about scolding me."
Margaret arched her brow. "Don't be dramatic. If I wanted to scold you, you would know."
Alexander suppressed a smile and looked at Lucas.
Margaret reached for the velvet box and opened it carefully and inside lay two brooches.
They were old antique gold, understated but unmistakably refined. Each carried a subtle insignia worked into the metal and the craftsmanship was unmistakable. Time had dulled their shine but not their presence.
Lucas leaned forward instinctively. "These are old but very pretty."
"Very," Margaret said. "They belonged to Alexander's grandfather and his younger brother."
Alexander's breath caught slightly.
"They wore them on their wedding days," she continued. "It was tradition then, a quiet one where the groom wears one and the other one is worn by the next most trusted man."
She picked up the first brooch and held it out to Alexander.
