With a sigh, he finally looked at his grandmother.
“What do you propose I do?”
The Dowager Duchess sighed, long-suffering, clearly miffed over needing to explain everything to him.
“Buy her something nice. All women love receiving tokens of affection – no matter what reason might lay behind it. I will not tell you what to buy – you should know her well enough to know what she would appreciate.”
Somehow, he had expected that – even if it was a bothersome reply he had not wanted – and he understood her motivations.
“All right. I will get her something,” he said softly.
“Good boy.” She nodded and left him to his thoughts.
His grandmother was right; Agnes did deserve something more tangible than the trysts they had been having, and he wishedfor it to be something special – something she would like. He shifted his attention back to her, watching her confidently ride Scar, guiding him without ever faltering, her passion for horses reflecting in the way her eyes shone.
An idea came to him almost immediately, and he wasted no time putting it into action. He turned to leave, then paused, beckoning Simon over moments later.
“I have a meeting in town. Let Lady Agnes know that I will see her later tonight.”
The boy nodded, and Silas smiled down at him, ruffling his unruly locks before returning inside the mansion. Lukas fell into step by his side as soon as he was within the walls of his home, and Silas quickly instructed.
“Have them bring the carriage around. I must go into town now.”
Lukas bowed and went off to do as the Duke asked, and Silas went to change into something less conspicuous. By the time he left the mansion again, the carriage was waiting. He ordered the coachman to take him into town, towards the shops, and sat back, hoping he would find what he had in mind. When they arrived at the busy streets, Silas kept his eyes out, searching for the shop he had intended to visit.
“Stop!” he called out the moment he spotted it, stepping out of the carriage the moment it rolled to a halt.
The shop owner was a kind old man who had been friends with his grandfather. He looked up when Silas walked in, and recognition shone in his eyes as he stepped out from behind the counter.
“Your Grace,” he said with a bow. “It has been far too long. I am glad to see you are doing well.”
Silas’ heart lurched as he recalled the numerous memories this place held for him. Ever since he was young, he would visit this shop with his grandfather on Sundays, exploring the many pieces displayed on the shelves as the old Duke searched for what would be the latest addition to his collection.
The shop specialized in the sale and trade of glass and crystal figurines. His grandfather had a grand collection, with an entire room dedicated to displaying the precious miniature pieces. It was something he greatly loved, and his favorite pastime was coming to this shop to search for something he did not have or exchanging something he did for a different piece that piqued his interest.
After he passed, Silas’s grandmother returned all the figurines to the shop. She said she could not bear to have so many shiny things lose themselves because their caretaker had also been lost. After all, it was his grandfather who polished each piece himself, and no one would be able to take on the role and perform it adequately.
Silas had not been here since his grandfather died. Come to think of it, there were so many places, so many things, he had not revisited since the old Duke’s passing.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Jefferies,” Silas cleared his throat, blinking away the mist in his eyes. “I would like to pick out a gift for someone.”
Mr. Jefferies smiled in the kind way he always did and asked.
“Is there something specific you have in mind? And might I ask who the person is? Perhaps I can offer you some insight on what they might like.”
Silas inhaled deeply and glanced at the shelves. When he looked back at the shop owner, he felt more inclined to get this done.
“I do… have something in mind. And she is my betrothed. We are to be married in three days.”
The man’s face lit up brilliantly.
“Oh, how wonderful, Your Grace! That is excellent news. Congratulations. Is this to be a wedding gift, then?”
Silas shook his head quickly. “No… perhaps that will come later. I just wished to give her something as a token of my… appreciation.”
“I see,” Mr. Jefferies grinned. “Well, what does she like? Even though you have something in mind, perhaps looking from another angle will ensure that your choice is the most ideal one.”
His question was an easy one because it was perhaps the one thing he knew about her very well.