'What?'

'She stole it, didn't she? Okay, the jewels may have been technically hers, but the knife…'

'Violet, sweetheart. It was nearly a hundred years ago. Who are you going to give it back to?' She shook her head and Sarah frowned. 'Are you going to be all right?'

'Yes. Yes, of course I am,' she said, making an effort to pull herself together. 'I guess I'm still in a state of shock.'

'I'm not surprised. I thought the knife would be worth a bit, but that was an amazing result.'

'Yes.' That kind of amazing just made her feel uneasy. 'Thanks for insisting on dragging me along to the T or T roadshow today.'

'Oh, I just wanted to get on the telly. Trust me to miss the big moment. Never mind. I'll get a thrill out of watching you when the programme is broadcast next week.'

Violet pulled a face, hating the thought. 'I must have been mad to sign the release form.'

'It would have made no difference. You'll be front page news in the local paper tomorrow.'

This time she just groaned. 'What on earth made me say all that stuff about Great-Great Grandma Fatima? I must have been mad.'

'Was it true? Really?'

'You think I could make up something like that?' She nodded at the pictorial family gallery that her grandma had always kept on the dresser. 'That's her, at the top in the middle.'

'Goodness.' Sarah took the picture down to take a closer look. 'You've got a look of her, Violet. Something about the eyes. Hers are light, too. That's strange, isn't it?'

'I suppose…'

Sarah put the picture back. 'I'd better get home and feed the brute before he chews through the table-leg.' She stopped in the doorway, pausing to look back. 'You will be careful, won't you, Violet? Once this gets out… Well, a woman with a nice little windfall is likely to find herself the target of all kinds of smooth-talking men looking for a soft touch.'