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Deirdre felt strange when she descended the stairs that morning. There was a light dust of snow outside, yes. The fireplace had burned through the night to warm the house and there was indeed a decorated Christmas tree with her blue-haired companion sitting beneath it. There were even a few gifts underneath the tree. But, of course, there was something missing.
“Duchess Chalphy! It’s a pleasure that you came to join me.”
She sat down across from Sigurd, still a bit sleepy. But even in her fatigue, she still adored him. He had not lost a step even after all of these years.
“One moment, Deirdre. I’ll get coffee for us.”
Deirdre half-heartedly watched her husband walk over to the coffee machine to prepare two cups, one in his blue mug and another in her lavender mug. He was quite energetic, being freed from the responsibilities of his office during the Christmas recess. She on the other hand felt lonely.
“Here you go, Your Grace,” Sigurd said.
“Thanks,” Deirdre mumbled.
Sigurd took his seat across from Deirdre and watched her sip from a coffee. “You’re worried about Seliph, aren’t you?”
“Not worried, I’m sure he’ll be fine, especially with Quan’s lad at Sandhurst with him. But I miss him, Sigurd.”
He sighed, leaning back in his chair. “My father never showed it, but Ethlyn always told me that he missed me every time that I left. Now I know what it’s like to be on his side,” he stated.
“It’s selfish to be missing him though, isn’t it? I’m sure he’ll have a fun time at whatever bash they’re having with Ares and Leif.”
“That’s not selfishness, dear. That’s a sign that you love him.”
Deirdre slumped in her chair.
“Come, let’s open those presents.”
Sigurd took a gift from underneath the tree and placed it on Deirdre’s lap. He eagerly watched her open it: a pair of gloves, because she had kept complaining that her fingertips got cold on days in winter like this one. This restored Deirdre’s mood a little bit; she planted a kiss on Sigurd’s forehead. Then, she presented Sigurd a gift: an antique Georgian-era dagger, the kind that Sigurd could display in his office in Westminster. Soon, she found herself sitting on Sigurd’s lap, just like old times. Deirdre even fell asleep in Sigurd’s lap.
Then, there was knocking on the door which woke both of them up. Deirdre got up first and was able to reach the door before Sigurd could.
“Oh, Mother! Did I wake you up?”
By instinct, Deirdre practically yanked Seliph into a hug. “No, Seliph, it’s okay.”
“I’m sorry that I didn’t get a gift for you,” Seliph said after Sigurd joined in the hug.
“No, you are my gift,” Deirdre said.
“Welcome home, Son,” Sigurd added.
The parents didn’t have a gift ready for Seliph either; after all, they had not expected a surprise visit from him. Or a visit from anyone, really, since Quan and Ethlyn had gone on vacation to Spain this year. The only plan for the afternoon was a quiet meal with Oifey and a couple other longtime staff/family friends of House Chalphy. They were all joyful to have the surprise guest of the young, polite Lord Seliph with them. The lack of gifts from or for Seliph was quickly forgotten: the real gift was that the family all got to spend time together for the holidays.