Maxie's engagement ring

"It was very simple, serving only to present a beautiful blue jewel. The splash of colour in the antique white gold looked far better against my pale skin than a traditional diamond.

"Ellie wasn't sure she'd ever seen an aquamarine before. Nobody I knew apart from Carla was familiar with my birthstone either.

"An elderly Jewish patient had looked me directly in the eye after asking very politely if she might examine it more closely. 'That's very wise of you, my dear. It's quite exquisite. Do you happen to know its provenance?'

"I'd understood each word but not what she meant.

"'Of course I'm sure,' Henry said. 'You're my real treasure.'"

"My finger had suddenly become very heavy at the thought of how lightly I'd been flaunting such an exceptional diamond."