Until You (23 page)

However, when she’d mentioned that she had hoped to purchase the watch as a Christmas gift for Nicholas, the jeweler had surprisingly had a change of heart.  He had explained to her that ever since the young duke had inherited the title from his father, he had been a faithful supporter of the local townspeople.  His estates purchased all of their food and household goods from the local farmers and tradesmen, he had personally funded the building of several schools and churches in the surrounding area, and had even established a small orphanage, which he was known to visit on a regular basis, to make certain that the children were being given the best of care.  He also employed many of the locals on his numerous properties, paying them high wages and treating them well.  It was widely known, he’d told her, that the current Duke of
Sethe
took his responsibilities very seriously and he was greatly admired for it. 

The elderly jeweler had then assured her that his son would have wanted the current duke to have the watch.  He hadn’t wanted to sell it to her however.  Instead, he had offered it as a gift to the duke.  Ashleigh had been overwhelmed by the man's generosity, but had insisted on paying for the watch, realizing the humble shop owner and his family could surely use the money.  Finally, after a great deal of persistence on her part, he had agreed to take payment.

Afterward, with a happy heart and a much lighter purse, Ashleigh had left the jeweler’s shop and finished her shopping.  For Madeline, she had purchased an exquisite bell made of the finest crystal and etched with a spray of delicate roses.  Madeline had a small but prized bell collection and Ashleigh had known the beautiful piece would make an excellent addition.

Brendon's gift had been easy to select, for in truth, she was simply replacing something that he’d already had.  One afternoon when she and Brendon had been walking through the stable, she had inadvertently bumped against the small table the grooms used to clean the tack, knocking a glass bottle to the floor.  It had shattered and the contents had splattered all over Brendon’s prize Wellingtons, the potent chemical discoloring the leather in several places, effectively ruining them.  She had felt horrible of course, despite his assurances that he had others and that the boots were old and easily replaceable. 

In an attempt to make up for her carelessness, she had coerced one of the
Sethe’s
footmen into lifting the damaged boots from Brendon’s armoire so that she could have another pair made for him.  She had then sent them to the famous boot maker in London so that he could gain the correct measurements without Brendon finding out about the surprise.  As the boots were custom made, Ashleigh had paid nearly triple the normal cost in order for them to be ready by Christmas, but she would have willingly paid ten times the customary amount if it had been required. 

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.