Property of a Noblewoman: A NovelNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * In Danielle Steel's thrilling novel, a woman's legacy--shaped by tragedy, fortitude, and undying devotion--transforms lives and hearts long after she is gone, and fulfills at last her most precious bequest. Faded photographs of a glamorous couple in postwar Europe. Old letters hinting of tragic loss. And a breathtaking array of magnificent jewelry, spectacular stones in exquisite settings. These are the contents of a safe-deposit box long abandoned in a New York City bank. If no heir can be identified, the jewelry will be auctioned. But who was the woman who left such a fortune and no will? Two people, drawn together by chance, begin to unravel the mystery. Jane Willoughby is a law clerk at the surrogate's court and Phillip Lawton a fine arts expert for Christie's auction house. They are simply doing their jobs when they come to the bank to inspect the contents of the box. But for both Jane and Phillip the search turns personal--and their efforts to reconstruct an enigmatic life will lead from New York to London and Paris, to Rome and Naples, and a series of stunning revelations. Eighteen-year-old Marguerite Pearson left America with a broken heart in the shadow of World War II. She found a new life in Europe but forever mourned what she left behind. As the truth about Marguerite's extraordinary history--her forbidden love affair and her family's treachery--is slowly revealed, more people are drawn into the puzzle that Jane and Phillip have pieced together, and one among them will inherit the most unexpected gift of all. |
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Alex Angie apartment asked auction baby bank bar exam beautiful bidding boat Cara Cartier catalog château child Christie's Cleef daugh daughter desk di San Pignelli diamond dinner DNA test Elizabeth Taylor everything eyes father feeling felt Fiona Florence girl going gotten grandparents guerite happened happy Harriet heir hoped Italian Italy Jane Jane's jewelry department jewels John kids knew laughed letters lived looked lunch Marguerite di San Marguerite's married meet months morning mother moved Naples never nice night nodded parents Penny Phillip photographs pieces pretty Rome safe deposit box San Pignelli sapphire necklace Saverio seemed she'd sister smiled sold someone sounded stay story sure surrogate's court talked tell things thought told Tommy took Uffizi Umberto Valerie Valerie's wait walked wanted weekend weeks Winnie woman wondered York young