Part 8:

Sean leaned on the closed door for a second, his hands in his pockets before 
pushing off the doorframe and walked over to Lord Lee, placing a hand on his 
shoulder in a warm greeting before letting himself fall backwards across the 
foot of the bed with a mighty groan. He let his arms rest behind hiss head and 
looked up at the canopy of the bed. 

Lord Lee chuckled to himself and set his book down on the table next to the bed,
taking off his reading glasses and setting them next to the book. He folded his
hands in his lap and looked down at the blonde man lying across his bed. “Ah, 
now…this is indeed something important,” he said with a mischievous grin. 

Sean let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, Christopher, you have no idea.” He let 
his head loll over to the side and smiled at the older man, the little laugh 
making the corners of his eyes crinkle. 

The old Lord did not make anything of his servant’s informal talk, as this was 
how they had conversed for many years, and formality seemed pointless by now. He
instead listened intently, waiting for Sean to continue. When the man only 
seemed to stare starry-eyed at the canopy again, Lord Lee gave an impatient 
cough that made Sean look over at him again. 

“Well…?” Lee asked expectantly. “Do not leave me in suspense, are you not going
to tell me, or am I to guess?” The man figured what his answer would be, but he
wanted to hear it from the other man’s lips. Sean raised his one knee, placing 
the edge of his shoe on the very edge of the bed to as not to sully the linens.
“I am in love, Christopher.” He rolled onto his side, propped up on one elbow so
he could look the older man in the eye. 

Christopher’s eyes opened wide in mock shock. “Ah…has the impossible happened?
My quiet sullen grounds man has found love?”

“Oh, shut it” Sean joked, laughing. His face showed more expression and emotion
that Christopher had ever seen in it. “I just can’t believe how consumed I am by
him, Christopher…I mean…my every waking though…my every dream…is of him. Every 
time I see him, my heart feels like it will burst, and I feel warm and whole 
inside. No one has ever made me feel like that. Do you know what I mean…?” he 
looked to Lord Lee for an answer, and the man nodded. “I do indeed. True love is
like nothing else on this earth, the strength and comfort it brings is the most
satisfying emotion I have ever come across. 

Sean nodded. “That is exactly it…He is just, perfect; so sweet and beautiful. 
The odd part is, that it is not his beauty that makes me love him…I had thought
that was what attracted me to him at first, but…it is something else. He has 
this…innocence; this purity. He is so genuine in everything he says and does. I
can not help loving him. I want to protect him and provide for him, I want to 
give him everything I have. All he has to do is smile at me and I feel that by 
making him happy I have fulfilled some purpose in life.” He looked to Lord Lee 
and smiled, his mood changing from the serious tone he had taken on to one of 
mirth. “You must find me comical. Listen to me, acting like a little schoolboy.”

“It is refreshing, Sean.” Lee said, sincerely. “I feared for a while that I 
would be the only one to see this side of you, the real you. You never smile or
laugh with the others, or talk to them even. I feared you would become a hermit
after I died. You deserve much more than that, my boy.” 

Sean was touched at the old man’s words. He held Lee’s opinion above all others,
as it had been Lord Lee who offered him a job many years ago when no one else
would touch him, as he was a bastard child. Lord Lee had taught him to read and
write in secret, and had always talked to Sean, and cared for him until the boy
was old enough to take care of himself and take on a job as the grounds man. 
Sean had insisted on staying on and working to repay the old man for his 
kindness. 

“So, what are your intentions for lovely Orlando?” Lee asked, a smug on his 
face. Sean looked at him in surprise, he had no idea that the old man knew who 
he was in love with, and wondered how it was possible. “Christopher, you sneaky
old man, how did you…?”

“He confessed the same thing to me several nights ago, while drying from the 
rain. The poor boy was most confused on a few things, and just needed a kind ear
and a little reassurance. Nothing to worry about though, it was just the 
confusions of youth. He really is a sweet little thing. So sweet in fact, that I
now want to know your intentions to make sure the little dumpling does not get 
his heart broken.”

Sean scoffed. “One conversation, and one would think you were his father.”

“Hush you” Lee scolded. “I am more your father, and wanting to make sure you do
not do the wrong thing. So, what are your intentions?”

Sean looked at him seriously; he sat up on the bed and faced the old man. “Well,
I actually came here tonight to ask your permission to take him as my own in 
marriage. We would stay on working here, of course, but I thought it would only
be proper to still seek your approval…”

Lord Lee waved a hand to dismiss him. “Enough with that, of course you have my 
leave to wed tender Orlando. I am quite sure he will accept your offer, but 
weddings in the fall and winter are horrid, having had one myself with my 
‘lovely’ former wife” he said her title with distain, hating to mention the old
crone at all. “Would you be able to wait to formally wed your darling until the
spring. We shall make it a gala affair.”

Sean was pleased to hear he had Christopher’s approval, but now he was a little
worried. He knew the man cared nothing for propriety, but still, a well 
respected Lord holding a lavish wedding for his servant was pretty much unheard
of, and would be in breach of every class line known to society. “I don’t know,
Christopher…Would it really be right…?”

“Ha…fie on right and proper. I want to treat I like the special occasion it is.
You getting married is a special day for me, it would be like seeing my own son
married. Besides, I intend to leave you and Orlando the house, as well as most 
of my money. You know I see you as my son…”

“Christopher, you can’t possibly mean that?” Sean asked, genuinely at the man’s
confession. “Do you know what people will say about you if you leave your 
servant your estate? Your reputation will be ruined!”

“I care not,” Lee said. “The only way is to quietly change my will and leave you
most of it, or I have to give it all to Mortensen, and I can’t risk him finding
out that my son is dead and trying to take everything…”

“You know I would never tell him that,” Sean said, reassuringly. “But you know 
that it is expected by almost everyone that some of your estate goes to the 
Mortensens, because of your business deals with them.”

“I could leave Lord Mortensen a little money, but I do not want anyone but you 
to have my house. My son is dead, I cannot help that or leave him anything, but
I still have you, and whether it is no paper or not, to me you are my son, and I
want you to be provided for. I do not want you to live the rest of your days as
a servant.”

Sean did not know what to say, this was all a little overwhelming to him. Lord 
Lee continued. “Besides, All that people know about is the money I have in the 
bank. There is a secret underground chamber below my house, which can only be 
accessed through a tunnel hidden in the rocks by the beach. All of the family 
jewels and gold that has been in my family and the true source of our wealth for
the past few hundred years. No one else knows about it, my own son did not live
long enough to hear about it.” He could see that Sean was going to protest 
again, and he stopped him with a wave of his hand. “It is my damn money.” He 
said slightly offensively. “I know who I want to leave it to.”

Sean finally gave up and decided to let the old man do as he would, knowing that
nothing he could say would change his mind. He knew the man did not care for his
own reputation, but Sean would hate to be the cause of the man’s downfall. He 
was extremely honored and touched that the man was so concerned for his well 
being, and took it as a blessing. 

Lord Lee leaned in conspiratorially. “When I am dead, I want you to go into this
tunnel and take out all of the riches you found there. No one will ever know you
got them from me, and all they will think you were left with is the manor house
and a few funds, but nothing excessive. Mortensen will get his money and leave 
you be. That is all he cares for anyways. I tell you, if it were not respect for
his father, and my promise to provide for him, I would not leave him any money 
at all.”

“Isn’t he visiting at the end of the month?” Sean asked. “Come to make his 
yearly reminder to his claim on your money.” Sean did not try to hide his snort
of distaste, making Lee snort. “Worse, in two weeks. But he is only to stay the
week, and I already arranged for Ian to be here to protect me. You know how much
Ian hates him.”

“Ian has a good judge of character.” Sean said, letting himself fall back onto
the bed, resting once again on his side.

“He also is a good judge of beauty...you should tell little Orlando to keep
himself fully clothed around him. He already gave the old man an eyeful the 
other day.” Christopher remembered how much more perky the old man had been 
after his early morning view of a partially dressed Orlando. 

“Oh come now…the old boy’s harmless.” Sean said. “Don’t tell me that you 
yourself don’t appreciate the looks of your servants every once and a while.” He
laughed as Lee dismissed him with an indignant scoff. “Please…you know not of 
what you speak.” The words were full of jest, as Lee prided himself in being a 
pervy old man. Lee changed the subject, reverting to a former topic. “So, when 
do you intend to spring your proposal on young Orlando?”

Sean thought for a moment. “I am not sure. I want the moment to be 
special…something to remember. But I do not want to wait too long either.”

“Do you have a ring?” Christopher asked. “If you are going to be my son, you had
better show some class and get a good ring. I refuse to sully my family name 
with anything as vulgar as a cheap engagement ring.”

“Yes, I shall just use some of my riches to fund an elaborate ring, with a 
diamond so large it shall blind him.” Sean said sarcastically. “Really, I 
thought something simple would be fine; simple but elegant. Most importantly, it
has to be something I can afford.”

Christopher Lee them made the most serious decision he had made in many years. 

The older man rose from his bed and walked over to his wardrobe. He took a small
wooden box from a shelf and returned with it to the bed, where Sean sat, a 
puzzled look on his face. Lee never let his face express how important this 
decision was to him, and how hard it was for him to make. He was sure that he 
wanted to do this, but at the same time, his memories begged him not to give up
his last connection to his lost happiness. 

Lee opened the box and lifted the top shelf from it, looking underneath. He took
out an old handkerchief and placed it in front of him on the bedspread. Sean’s 
eyes were locked on the tiny bundle as he waited for Lord Lee to show him the 
significance of it. Lee put the box aside and moved his hands over to the 
kerchief, slowly unfolding it to expose…a ring.

It was a simple ring, a simple gold band. Sean was amazed at how such a little 
thing…such a simple thing…could be so beautiful. Lee held out the ring to him, 
and Sean accepted it, holding it gently between his thumb and forefinger, as 
though afraid it would break. He noticed that on the inside, there was an 
inscription. He softly whispered it to himself.

“The worth of love…”

“I want you to have this ring,” Christopher said softly. “I have had it many 
years, but I am ready to let it go. I want you to give it to Orlando as a 
wedding ring.”

“Christopher…I…thank you. I really don’t know what to say. It’s perfect…thank 
you so much.”

Lee nodded. “I had wanted to give it to my son for his wedding, so I give it to
you.” He placed a hand on Sean’s head; a gesture he himself could not really 
explain, and yet felt compelled to do. Sean carefully folded the ring back into
the kerchief and placed it in his breast pocket. He leaned forward and embraced
the old man, letting him feel his emotion, as he did not have the words to 
express it. 

Lee clasped Sean’s shoulder for a moment, the pet his hair one last time before
pulling up the covers around himself and groaning. “I do believe,” he said, with
all the dramatics an old man could muster. “That it is time for me to catch some
rest. You could use some as well, I think.”

“Would you like me to visit you tomorrow?” Sean asked, checking to make sure 
that Lord Lee would be warm enough that night, as there was a chill to the air. 

“Oh…if you have time.” Christopher said nonchalantly. “Did you ever fix the roof
above the library? Or did Orlando forget to tell you?”

“I fixed it, you old dog.” Sean said, with a laugh. “Goodnight, Christopher.”

“Night, Sean.” 

Lord Lee watched Sean leave his rooms and quietly close the door behind him. He
lay back in bed, and sighed deeply. He felt pleased that he had finally been 
able to let go of the ring. He remembered the day when David had given the ring
to him, those many years ago. Lee had been a lad of no more than eighteen, and 
David only a year younger. They had professed their love one night at 
university. 

Only a few weeks later, David’s father, Lord Wenham, had found letters from 
Christopher in his son’s room. In a fury, burned the note and immediately 
removed David from the school and sent him to live with an uncle in America. 
Christopher had been devastated. He had written David, telling him that he would
leave England to come find him. In his mid twenties, he had finally gotten out 
of school and been able to go to America to find his lover. He arrived only to 
find that David had died in the winter of pneumonia. He had returned to England
in a mad depression. It had only been Ian’s friendship that stopped him from 
taking his own life. 

The old man felt a long lost hot tear trickle down his cheek at the memory, but
he wiped it away. He had accepted his love’s death long ago, and believed that
in time they would be reunited in the next life. He now was happy that he was 
able to help and encourage love among two youths in a way that he himself had 
never been able to know. He knew that David would have approved of how he had 
passed on their ring. 

Lord Lee closed his eyes, and remembered the sweet days of the past, and looked
forward to sweet reunions of the future.

TBC…

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