Though she had spent a considerable sum of money overall, she was unconcerned. She rarely spent money on herself and besides, what good was having a large fortune if she couldn't spend it on those she cared about, she reasoned. The other gifts she had purchased for her grandfather, James, Tiffany and Martha, as well as a few others, were tucked safely away within her things, awaiting the opportunity for her to distribute them.
Once Nicholas and Brendon returned to the house, it was decided that they would all take turns opening their gifts, with Madeline opening the first gift; the bell from Ashleigh. As she lifted the delicate bell from its bed of red velvet, her expression revealed her absolute delight.
“Oh, it is simply beautiful,” Madeline exclaimed, her features awash with happiness. “This will assuredly be the most prized piece in my collection. Thank you, Ashleigh.”
Ashleigh was thrilled that Madeline seemed to truly like the bell. “You are very welcome, Madeline, and I am so glad that you like it. You have been so kind to me during my stay and I hope you know how very much I appreciate it, as well as how much I have come to care for you.”
“As I have for you, dear,” Madeline said, reaching out to pull Ashleigh into her affectionate embrace.
When it was Ashleigh’s turn to open her gift from Madeline, she was instantly overwhelmed by the beauty and extravagance of the diamond and emerald broach, fashioned in the shape of a rose and outlined in gold. It was the most beautiful thing Ashleigh had ever seen and she was stunned to learn that it had been in the Sethe family for three generations.
“Madeline, I cannot accept this,” she exclaimed. “It is too much. But not only that, it should stay within your family.”
“Nonsense,” Madeline said determinedly. “You are like the granddaughter I never had, and I want you to have it. In addition, I simply will not allow you to deny me the pleasure of bestowing it upon the one person whose beauty outshines that of the piece itself.”
Ashleigh was touched beyond words, and it showed.
After watching the Sethes exchange gifts amongst themselves, it was once again Ashleigh’s turn. When she opened her gift from Brendon, she was truly delighted, for he had given her a complete, hardbound collection of William Shakespeare's plays. The antique books were assuredly worth a small fortune, but the simple fact that Brendon had remembered and appreciated her love of Shakespeare from the one time she had mentioned it to him was what she appreciated the most. The gift also told her that Brendon respected her intelligence enough to buy her something other than the normal feminine fripperies considered appropriate gifts for young ladies.
“Thank you, Brendon. This is one of the most special gifts I have ever received. I will cherish them forever,” Ashleigh replied, with complete sincerity.
“I'm glad you like the books, Ashleigh. However, I have another gift for you, one I think you might like even better,” Brendon told her, with a mischievous gleam in his eye.
When he handed her a large rectangular box, Ashleigh regarded him with a slight frown. “The books are marvelous, Brendon, and so extravagant, you should not have gotten me anything else,” she admonished.
“Open it,” he commanded, with a rakish grin.
Curious, Ashleigh carefully untied the velvet ribbon and then lifted the lid from the box.
Nicholas, casting a suspicious glance toward his brother, casually leaned forward to get a better look at the box Ashleigh held in her lap.
Madeline, however, just sat back in her chair with a secretive smile upon her lips, as she watched Ashleigh open her gift.
What Ashleigh saw when she opened the box made her want to cry and burst out laughing at the same time. The gift was so incredibly thoughtful and sweet, yet also utterly audacious, just like Brendon himself. Lying inside the box were four pairs of soft, brushed suede riding breeches, each pair a different color. As she lifted the top pair from the box, she was amazed not only by the richness of the material, but by the fine craftsmanship as well. They were obviously custom-tailored and she knew they would fit her perfectly.
“Brendon they are absolutely wonderful!” she cried excitedly, rising from the settee and holding up a pair of dove grey breeches for closer inspection. She had always worn readymade boy’s breeches before, grudgingly acquired by Martha from one of the local shops, as she’d never had the nerve to ask a tailor or seamstress to custom make any for her. She couldn't wait to try them on and she sent Brendon a blinding smile.
“Actually the gift was for me as well,” Brendon quipped with a wicked wink. “You know how much I love watching you walk around in those tight breeches.”
“Brendon for heaven's sake,” Madeline admonished with mock severity, although there was laughter in her eyes. “If I had known that was your motivation, I never would have given you Ashleigh’s measurements.”
“I find it hard to believe that you aided Brendon in this instance, Grandmother. I think purchasing breeches for a young lady, is highly inappropriate to say the least,” Nicholas stated stiffly.
The sudden silence in the room was palpable, as Ashleigh, Madeline and Brendon each stared at Nicholas, their faces betraying three vastly different emotions. While Madeline cast a knowing glance toward her eldest grandson, Brendon looked at his brother with a combination of irritation and exasperation, and Ashleigh, to her acute embarrassment, felt herself blush. Oh why did he always make her feel like an errant child she fumed as she returned to her seat on the settee?
To ease the sudden tension in the room, Madeline immediately suggested that Brendon open his gift from her. Deliberately ignoring his brother, Brendon quickly tore open Madeline's gift. Holding up a legal-looking document, he eyed his grandmother curiously.
“It is the deed to Thorn Hill,” Madeline said. “It is yours now, darling.”
Turning to Ashleigh, she briefly explained that Thorn Hill was a large country manor that had been in her family for several generations.
“Is this your subtle way of telling me that you would like to see me abandon my career at sea and settle down?” Brendon asked good-naturedly.
“Unfortunately I am not getting any younger,” Madeline stated matter-of-factly “and I like having you home.”
Rising from his chair, Brendon placed a gentle kiss upon his grandmother’s cheek and whispered a quiet thank you into her ear.
Nicholas was the next to open a gift, and he too chose the present from his grandmother. From the depths of a small velvet box, Nicholas carefully withdrew one of the most stunning rings Ashleigh had ever seen. The band was a thick circle of gold, supporting an enormous square-cut sapphire, surrounded on each side by fantastically brilliant diamonds that reflected the morning light. She and Brendon both leaned forward in their seats to get a better look at the magnificent piece of jewelry.
Nicholas studied the ring for several moments, and then held it up to the light when he noticed an inscription written on the underside of the gold band. After reading the words, he looked toward his grandmother, a question in his eyes.
“You already possess the ducal ring of the Sethe family of course, but this piece also has a special meaning Nicholas. I had the ring designed for your grandfather shortly after we were married, as a token of my love for him. I know that he would want you to have it,” Madeline said somewhat wistfully.
“Thank you, Grandmother,” Nicholas replied, as he met his grandmother’s fond gaze. “I am honored that you chose to give it to me, for I know how much it must mean to you.”
Several more gifts were distributed and opened before Brendon finally unwrapped his gift from Ashleigh. She knew she had chosen well as she watched Brendon's eyes light up as he examined his new boots. He instantly pulled off the boots he was wearing, and much to Madeline's dismay casually tossed them into a corner of the room. He then pulled on the supple Wellington’s and declared them to be a perfect fit, thanking her profusely.
When Nicholas was handed his gift from Ashleigh, he hesitated for only a moment, and then opened the
small package with feigned nonchalance. He had no idea what she could have gotten him, however, after overhearing his conversation with Brendon the day before he was surprised she had given him anything at all. He could only assume that she was merely being polite for his grandmother's benefit.
As he lifted the lid of the velvet jeweler's box, the gold pocket watch that rested within rendered him momentarily speechless. Lifting the timepiece from the box, he was stunned to see that on the cover was an exact replica of Sethe Manor and the surrounding grounds. The craftsmanship was extraordinary and the intricate detail was incredible. He had never seen anything like it. The piece was priceless, not for its material value, which was assuredly significant, but because it was a tribute to his ancestral home and to the numerous generations of Sethes who had lived there before him and who would live there after him. When he lifted the cover, he noted that the face of the watch was made of the finest ivory, and then turning it over he saw that his family coat of arms and motto “Honor and Dignity” had been beautifully etched onto the back.
Watching his face, Ashleigh could see that Nicholas was staggered by the gift. She watched the various emotions that passed over his face, astonishment, appreciation and pride, and knew that he would treasure the gift, despite the fact that she had been the one to give it to him. Even though he had caused her such pain and heartache, to see the joy her gift had given him filled her with a subdued happiness nonetheless.
Madeline and Brendon, eager to see the gift that had rendered Nicholas virtually speechless were equally awed as they admired the elegant timepiece.
As his grandmother and brother examined the intricate detail involved in the depiction of Sethe Manor, Nicholas finally met Ashleigh’s eyes. “It is extraordinary, thank you.”
The words were said with such compelling sincerity that Ashleigh was mesmerized for a moment by the depth of emotion reflected in his voice. Realizing that her face most likely revealed her own conflicting emotions, Ashleigh quickly turned away from his intense regard, quietly murmuring a polite response.
When everyone had finished admiring the watch and after she had told them the story behind it, the last few remaining gifts were distributed. Unknowingly, Ashleigh's heart was in her eyes for all to see as she held the gift from Nicholas. Slowly she untied the red velvet ribbon and carefully unwrapped the silver paper. In spite of herself, her hand trembled slightly as she removed the top portion of the box. However, in the next instant her heart plummeted when she saw the impersonal gift that Nicholas had chosen for her.
Her disappointment was clearly evident to the other three people in the room as well as she removed the small perfume flask from its bed of blue velvet. Granted it was obviously an expensive fragrance, but it was the type of gift that required absolutely no thought. It was the type of gift one could send a servant to purchase, and with a heavy heart, Ashleigh realized that Nicholas had most likely done just that. “Thank you, Your Grace,” she murmured, without meeting his gaze.
Nicholas felt like a complete ass. He hadn't even known what was in the package. The morning he’d left London he had instructed his housekeeper to purchase a gift suitable for a seventeen-year old female houseguest of his grandmother's. The wrapped package had been placed amongst the other items Nicholas had been taking back to Sethe Manor and he was ashamed that he hadn't even inquired as to its contents. Of course, he’d never imagined that her gift to him would be something so extraordinary or personal, but he was humbled nonetheless.
When the last of the gifts had been opened, Ashleigh retired to her room with the excuse that she wanted to pen a letter to her uncle. When she entered her bedchamber, she walked over and seated herself upon the window seat. In her hand she tightly gripped the small perfume flask that Nicholas had given her. As she watched the newly falling snow swirling downward like glittering diamond shards, she unclenched her fist and looked at the purple-tinted crystal flask. Without thinking, she suddenly stood up and hurled the flask with all of her might into the stone fireplace, and then watched in horrified fascination as it shattered into a thousand pieces. With her hand pressed against her lips in horror, she sank back onto the window seat, and then a moment later, buried her face in her hands and wept.
That afternoon Nicholas returned to London, despite Madeline’s objections, claiming he had business matters in the city that needed his immediate attention. In truth, his thoughts as well as his emotions were in turmoil and he needed to distance himself from the cause it all, Ashleigh. To appease his grandmother he’d promised to return to the country for New Year’s and had agreed to attend Lady Taryton's masquerade ball with the family.
Chapter 13
Ashleigh didn’t learn of Nicholas’ departure until the following morning at breakfast, for she had been overcome by nausea after returning to her room the previous afternoon, and had felt so poorly afterward that she had been unable to attend the evening meal. She supposed it was for the best that he’d gone, for Madeline was certain to note the underlying tension between her, Nicholas and Brendon before long.
Over the course of the next few days, Ashleigh continued to spend the majority of her time with Brendon. He took her on sleigh rides when the weather permitted, and when it didn’t they stayed inside and played cards or chess. He also taught her how to fence, for when she had learned that Brendon was somewhat of an expert with the rapier, she had begged him to teach her.
Now, as they had been doing for the past two days, they practiced in the immense ballroom surrounded by the dozens of large mirrors that reflected their every thrust and parry. Ashleigh loved the motion of the thin blade as it sliced through the air and the balanced weight of the silver hilt that she held in her hand. The blade was supple and lethal, but at present the end was affixed with a small, protective brass cap, as was Brendon's.
Brendon had been amazed at how quickly she had picked up the basics of fencing and had soon declared that she had natural talent. He grinned at her now, as their blades clanged together in musical dissonance. Ashleigh's concentration was intent however, focused upon the glinting rapiers and Brendon's ever-moving figure. He moved with the grace of a dancer, belying his height and size, and she was far from a match to his skill and experience. As such, she appreciated his unending patience as he taught her the techniques she needed to wield the deadly blade.
They had been practicing earnestly for over an hour though, and as much as she hated to admit it, she was beginning to tire. She always did her best to keep her fatigue hidden, for whenever Brendon thought she was getting the least bit tired he immediately ended the lessons, always concerned for her delicate condition, though she constantly assured him that she was fine.
A few minutes later however, Ashleigh was about to tell Brendon that she was ready to quit for the day. It was then that she saw Brendon's gaze flicker for the briefest instant toward one of the mirrors lining the far wall. It was enough. She took advantage of his momentary distraction and touched her button to the spot directly over his heart, and then smiled at him with a victorious glint in her eye.
Brendon looked at Ashleigh with a mixture of surprise and admiration. “I knew I shouldn't have agreed to let you wear those breeches when we practice,” he said, grinning wickedly.
Ashleigh was wearing a pair of cream-colored breeches, one of the four pairs he had given her for Christmas, so that her movements were not restricted or hampered by heavy yards of fabric. She was well-aware that the sight of her softly rounded derrière reflected in the mirror had been the ultimate cause of Brendon's downfall. “Well, you did tell me to utilize any available advantage,” Ashleigh replied cheekily.
“You are a minx,” Brendon responded good-naturedly.
They were distracted from their cheerful banter however, when the duchess swept into the ballroom a moment later.
“There you are, dearest,” Madeline said, as she made her way toward Ashleigh. “Madame Olivier is ready to make the final adjustments to your costume. Are the two of you finished?
” she asked, looking back and forth between Brendon and Ashleigh.
“She is all yours, Grandmother,” Brendon replied as he touched his blade to his forehead, before bending in a perfectly executed swordsman's bow. “Please take her away before she discovers yet another devious technique to humiliate me even further,” he commanded with a wink in Ashleigh's direction.
Madeline was already leading her out of the ballroom, but Ashleigh couldn't resist turning her head and wrinkling her nose at Brendon, who in turn chuckled aloud.
Ashleigh spent the next ninety minutes struggling to maintain her patience as the modiste and her assistants endeavored to make Ashleigh's costume for the New Year’s ball the most elegant creation ever designed. She truly appreciated Madame Olivier's efforts, but she loathed the amount of time she was required to stand in one place while each nip and tuck was inspected for absolute perfection.
However, if Madeline and Madame Olivier's comments were any indication, all of the time and effort spent on the gown would be well worth the end result. The two older women emphatically declared that Ashleigh would be unrivaled at the masquerade, the unequivocal belle of the ball. Ashleigh wasn’t nearly as confident, but she appreciated their enthusiasm.
Before she knew it, New Year’s Eve was upon them and Ashleigh stood in the center of her bedchamber garbed in the now completed gown, dressed as the infamous French queen, Marie Antoinette. Her hair was piled high atop her head, arranged in artful curls and then covered with a thin layer of silky white powder intermixed with tiny golden flakes, which muted the fiery hue of her natural auburn-colored tresses without concealing the color completely. Then, sprinkled throughout her curls were numerous diamond and emerald studded hairpins that reflected the light and added a touch of sparkle. After finishing the elaborate coiffure, Annie had applied a light coating of face powder to her already flawless complexion, and then added just a touch of rogue to her lips and cheeks. The final touch had been the placement of a black, heart-shaped beauty patch upon her upper right cheekbone, accentuating her delicate bone structure.
Until You Page 17