Until You (2 page)

“Oh Martha, you worry too much,” she said, turning her back so that Martha could do up the buttons along the back of the gown.  Martha had been Ashleigh's governess since she was little more than an infant, and she was used to her constant
scoldings
.  She didn’t mind them however, for she loved the older woman dearly. 

Standing still just long enough to put on a pair of soft kid slippers and to allow Martha to tie a pale blue ribbon in her long windblown tresses, she glanced briefly in the mirror above her vanity, taking a quick, cursory glance at her reflection.  Her smooth skin and sun warmed cheeks were still slightly pinked from her ride and her wide green eyes reflected the lightness of her mood.  Her auburn curls could stand a quick brushing, but as she was already late she merely adjusted the ribbon and then turned to dash from the room, the sound of Martha’s continued mutterings following in her wake.

Searle St. John sat behind his beautifully carved teak desk, smiling as Ashleigh entered his study.  As always, a mixture of love, affection, and pride was evident in his expression as he noted her arrival.  She had been living with him at
Glenbrooke
, their family’s lavish country estate, since the death of her parents ten years earlier.  It was just the two of them, for her grandmother, Annabelle, had passed away shortly after her third birthday.

Her grandfather, though still in good health, was nearing seventy, and for the past several years, he had been grooming her to take over the vast St. John fortune and the enormous responsibility that came with it.  She couldn’t help wondering if this meeting was somehow related.  Although he spoiled her outrageously, nurturing her hoydenish behavior and free spirit, he was extremely serious when it came to her future.  Fortunately, he had realized early on that her keen intelligence would be wasted on traditional feminine pursuits, and had hired the very best tutors to educate her, making certain that she was given every opportunity to broaden her intellect.  She had thrived under the unconventional tutelage and unlike the majority of her female counterparts; she was well versed in mathematics, history, philosophy, geography, and literature, and spoke several foreign languages as well.

“I'm sorry I am late, Grandfather,” she said with an apologetic smile as she sat down gracefully upon one of the large overstuffed chairs positioned in front of his desk.

“It's alright, darling,” he said, returning her smile.  “I know how much you love your morning rides and I am sorry for cutting today's short.  However, there is something very important that we need to discuss and I’m afraid that I simply cannot put it off any longer.”  He paused for a moment before continuing, running his fingers through his grey hair, that had only slightly begun to thin.  “There are some urgent business matters that I must attend to abroad, and though I hope that it will not take quite so long, it is entirely possible that I may be gone for as long as eight to ten weeks.”

“What?”  Ashleigh couldn't contain her startled exclamation as she pushed forward to sit upon the edge of her chair.  Her grandfather rarely left the estate, and when he did it was generally for brief trips to London.  He had never been gone for more than a few weeks at a time.

“Believe me, darling, I wish that I didn't have to go, but there are certain matters that I must see to personally,” he said, regret heavy in his voice.  “My solicitors and I have some very important meetings set up with business associates in several different countries.”

She studied her grandfather’s face, trying to decipher his somewhat somber expression.  She had always been intuitive and quickly surmised the reason for his upcoming trip.  In the event of his death, he wanted his estate to be in perfect order.  She was well-aware that her grandfather had vast holdings all over the world and intended to leave everything to her.  Although his current health was good, he wasn’t getting any younger, and clearly, he wanted to make certain that her future was secure.

“Can't I go with you?”

“I'm sorry, Ashleigh, but no.” 

As she opened her mouth to protest, he raised his hand slightly to silence her.  “You know that I would love for you to accompany me, but in this instance, I think it is best that you do not.”

“But Grandfather…”

“My mind is made up, Ashleigh,” he said, gently but firmly.  “In fact, I have given this a great deal of thought, and as it happens, the timing could not be better.  I have already arranged for you to stay with a dear friend of mine, Madeline Leighton the Dowager Duchess of
Sethe
, while I am away.”

Apparently her surprise, as well as her sudden apprehension were evident, for her grandfather quickly continued on, his tone upbeat and reassuring. 

“As you know, you will soon be making your entrance into Society, and Madeline has graciously offered to help prepare you whilst I am abroad.”

As if the thought of her grandfather leaving wasn’t bad enough, her stomach fell even further at the mention of her societal debut, for unlike most girls her age, it wasn’t something she was looking forward to.

“Madeline is a lovely woman, Ashleigh, and I am quite certain that you are going to like her,” he said encouragingly.  “Trust me, my dear, you could not ask for a better role model.  It is an ideal situation, truly.”  

Ashleigh knew her grandfather well enough to know that once he came to a decision about something, there was no point in arguing with him.  Even though she hadn’t the least desire to enter the social whirl of the English aristocracy, she knew that as his heir, her grandfather expected it of her.  “When will you be leaving?” she asked, trying to keep the despondency from her voice.

“I'm terribly sorry, darling, but I will be leaving first thing tomorrow morning.  I have asked Madeline to send a carriage for you in two days.  I hope that will give you ample time to pack and prepare yourself.”

So soon!
  Though she tried not to show it, Ashleigh felt as if her entire world had just been turned upside down.  After the death of her parents, her grandfather and her Uncle James were the only family members she had left.  She adored James, her mother’s younger brother, but rarely got to see him due to his extensive travels throughout the continent, a requirement of his position within the English government.  He wrote often though, and came to see her whenever he could.  It was her grandfather however, who provided the constant sense of security and stability in her life.  The thought of being separated from him for weeks, if not months, seemed like a lifetime, especially as it seemed she was going to be living with a complete stranger for the duration of his absence. 

Despite the inner turmoil she felt, she summoned her courage, determined to put on a brave face for her grandfather’s sake.  She didn’t want to make his leaving any more difficult for him than it already was.  “Yes, I’m sure that it will.” she replied, managing a slight smile.  “I will miss you dreadfully of course, so you must promise to return home as soon as possible,” she added, trying to keep her tone light.

The earl came around his desk and pulled her from her chair, embracing her in a fierce hug.  “That's my girl,” he said, his voice full of pride.  “Madeline is a wonderful woman darling.  Be assured, I am leaving you in very capable hands.” 

“I will do my best to make you proud grandfather.”

Stepping back, her grandfather kissed her lightly on her forehead.   “You already have my dear.”

As the turning of the carriage wheels continued to close the distance to
Sethe
Manor, Ashleigh once again began to feel the faint stirrings of anxiety and the open leather-bound book of French poetry went unread in her lap
. 
Although her grandfather had assured her that the Dowager Duchess of
Sethe
was a warm, kindhearted woman, she was nervous to meet her all the same.  Though she had always been friendly and outgoing by nature, it was still a bit daunting to be residing, albeit temporarily, with someone she had never met.  She could only hope that the duchess was truly as eager to have her as a guest in her home as her grandfather had implied. 

Unfortunately, she had neglected to ask her grandfather if the duke was currently in residence at his country home.  Although she had never met the Duke of
Sethe
personally, she was quite familiar with the name, as well as his reputation.  He was a powerful, well-known figure within the aristocracy and his name was forever being mentioned in the London papers.  He had a near constant presence in the society pages and scandal sheets as well, usually in connection with one female or another.  She had to admit, the thought of meeting such a notorious figure was slightly unnerving.

In an effort to redirect her thoughts, she tried to concentrate on the passing scenery, but she was simply too nervous to fully appreciate the lush countryside and vast wooded parkland surrounding the estate.  She wished she had been allowed to ride Raider instead of being confined to the carriage, but Martha had insisted that it would be much more ladylike to arrive in the carriage, rather than on horseback, even if she were properly garbed in a conventional riding habit and seated atop one of the dreaded sidesaddles that generally sat collecting dust in the stable.  And so, Raider had been tied behind the vehicle and she had been restricted to the plush, well-sprung conveyance, pulled by four matched greys, attended by two footmen, and accompanied by no less than four outriders.  She felt ridiculous.

As the carriage slowly approached the manor house, Ashleigh heard the distinct sound of gravel crunching under the wheels.  Looking out the window, she could see the long winding drive that led to the front of the estate, and as they rounded a slight bend she caught her first glimpse of
Sethe
Manor and it nearly took her breath away.  Acres upon acres of lush, artfully manicured lawns surrounded the huge stone structure that appeared almost fortress-like in design, yet it was so beautifully crafted that her eyes skipped from place to place in utter delight and fascination.  Enormous mullioned windows reflecting the bright morning sun graced all four stories of the imposing structure and four round turrets bordered the corners of the building, giving it the appearance of a castle.  She thought of the castles described in the fairy tales that her mother used to read to her when she was a little girl, and knew that none of them could have rivaled the vision before her.  She had always considered
Glenbrooke
to be magnificent, but she knew that it would pale in comparison. 

She could have gazed upon its beauty for hours, but all too soon the carriage came to a stop before a set of immense double doors.  She drew a deep, steadying breath as the carriage steps were lowered and the door pulled open by one of the
Sethe’s
footmen.  She smiled politely and then felt herself blush as the young man’s jaw visibly dropped.  Blatant male admiration was something she never quite seemed to get used to.
 
To his credit he recovered quickly, though a blush of embarrassment rapidly colored his own cheeks as he took a step back, holding the door open as another footman stepped forward to assist her from the carriage and then escorted her up the manor steps.  The butler, tall and thin, with an inscrutable expression, stood regally before the entrance, diligently overseeing her arrival.

“Good morning, Lady St. John.  Welcome to
Sethe
Manor,” he greeted with polite formality.

“Thank you,” Ashleigh responded, managing a nervous smile as her insides churned in anxiety.
 
Entering the front hall, she discovered that the inside of the manor, if possible, was even more beautiful than the outside.  The floor she was standing on was cut into alternating squares of black and white marble, each square polished to a brilliant luster.  She looked upward to see that the hall itself was over two stories high, and the sun shining in through the diaphanous windows made it appear quite grand.  An enormous staircase, wide enough to hold five people on a single step, rose elegantly to a spacious second floor landing and beautiful, intricately carved moldings graced the doors, walls and ceilings; executed by some of the finest craftsmen in the world she was sure.  The furniture, all of the highest quality, seemed to be a tasteful mixture of English, Italian, and French; exquisitely designed carpets covered sections of the floor and priceless art hung upon the walls.  The house was an obvious testament to the great wealth and power that had been in the
Sethe
family for generations.

“Ashleigh!”

The pleased exclamation drew her from her admiration of the great hall and as she turned toward the voice, she caught only a brief glimpse of its owner before she was enveloped in the perfumed embrace of the woman she assumed to be the Dowager Duchess of
Sethe
.

“I am so glad that you are finally here and absolutely delighted that you will be staying with us while your grandfather is away,” declared the duchess, stepping back slightly to get a better look at her.

“Thank you, Your Grace.  I am honored that you would open your home to me,” Ashleigh replied, a bit surprised by the woman’s warm, effusive and far from formal greeting.  Quickly though, she recovered her wits and sank into a deep curtsey.

“Oh dearest, you mustn't stand on formality with me,” she said with a friendly smile.  “I have heard so much about you from your grandfather that I feel as if I know you already.  Please, call me Madeline.”