Victorian Meets Modern
Aven looked up from the intricate gold pocket watch she was
meticulously repairing. The soft tick-tock of the tall mantle clock echoed in
the otherwise quiet room. Blinking owlishly into the gas lamp next to her
workstation she listened for the sound that had disturbed her. The harsh
grating of metal against metal mixed with the hiss of steam caught her
attention. Removing her magnification goggles, Aven slid off the high stool she
sat on to repair watches.
She stretched out the kinks in her back as she scanned the room.
Everything looked to be in the proper place. She hoped the heating system that
had been recently installed hadn't sprung another leak. The sound of metal
against metal came from the floor a few feet in front of her. She looked down
and gasped. Totterng toward her was a shiny copper man holding a silver tray on
his outstretched hands. She knelt down wincing as her knees popped.
The automaton was covered from the round top hat to the miniature
dress shoes in copper plating. He only reach edup to her knees.
She was surprised it could stand with the large silver dome sitting on the
silver tray. The dome was almost as large as the mechanical man. It came to a
halt immediately in front of her knees. The arms moved upward, as if offering
her the tray.
The sound of soft boot steps drew her startled gaze up to the
doorway. Gaelan leaned against the doorjamb. She inhailed and smiled. She loved
looking at him. Whenever she saw him her heart ramped up like a pocketwatch
being wound. He smiled one of his rare smiles at her. Her insides melted.
"When did you arrive? Sarah didn't inform me."
"Sarah is busy. It looks as if you have an admirer." He
nodded at the automaton.
Aven looked back to the toy. She peeked through her lashes at him
wondering if this was a trick. Despite his quietness, Gaelan loved to play
tricks on people. Especially when he believes he's being ignored. She stood up
and stepped around the toy. Gaelan frowned straightening away from the dark
wood jamb.
"Aren't you going to look under the dome?"
"So something can blow colored smoke in my face?" She
asked him glancing back at the silver tray. She was tempted to give in, but if
she did that all the time she'd never get him to curb his impulse.
"I swear on the lives of my people, nothing will explode on
you. Besides, it's Saint Valentine's Day, not April Fool's Day. Please open the
dome."
"Did you do this?" Aven turned to watch the still toy.
Amusement and joy crept in beneath her suspicion. Gaelan loved to leave her
presents where she least expected to find them. One time he'd left her an emerald
bracelet on her washstand. She had the feeling her maid, Sarah, liked to help him.
"Perhaps. You'll never know unless you open it."
Aven sighed, but she knew he was correct. She returned to the
automaton and with shaking fingers and a little hesitation she grasped the
little silver knob at the top. As she lifted the lid she held her breath
waiting for the joke to explode on her. Nothing popped out, no smoke billowed
from under the lifting lid. Breathing a sigh of relief, she yanked the dome
completely off. She froze at the sight of a red painted mechanical rose that
laid across the silver tray. Aven held her breath as a beam of moonlight
filtered through the window landed on the tray.
Gaelan approached her and took the dome from her frozen fingers.
Aven heard the silver dome ding against the tabletop to their right. He
came around her and picked up the rose. Her eyes lifted to his serious face. He
held out the rose to her as if offering her the world. Her heart pounded
against her ribs with so much force she was sure he could see it beating
against her skin. With shaking hands she took the rose from him.
It was heavy, probably made from brass or steel. The stem and
leaves were painted a deep green while the rose was painted a vivid red. She
held it up inspecting it. She noticed that each petal was a separate piece of
machinery. Somehow it opened. Feeling a tingle of excitement she searched for
the lever or button that would open the petals. Accidently she pushed her thumb
down on a thorn.
The sound of gears turning and metal scraping against metal filled
the room. Aven watched in amazement and rising anticipation as the petals
unfolded. A glimmer of pink and red sparkled as each petal fell open. Finally,
after what seemed like minutes, but was more like seconds, all of the petals
settled. Aven gasped. Her gaze flipped to Gaelan who watched her intently. When
she couldn't read anything on his handsome face, she looked back at the open
rose.
In the very center of the open metal blossom sat a ring. It was
the most exquisite ring she'd ever seen. The band was a sparkling silver and
twined in a circle like two vines wrapping around a finger. The center of the
ring was a rose made of pink diamond with a pinky sized ruby at the center. Her
heart felt as if it was bursting from her body as she looked at Gaelan. Gaelan
knelt on one knee before her. His face very serious as he watched her.
"Aven Selwyn, would you do the honor of being my wife?"
"Oh, Gaelan. Of course, I will." Aven breathed.
Gaelan stood up with a smile, took the rose from her and
disengaged the ring from the metal casing. Aven held out her hand watching as
it trembled. Gaelan took her hand in his and squeezed lightly before slipping
the ring on her left ring finger. The weight of the ring felt so right, Aven
couldn't imagine being without it again. The room shimmered as tears filled her
eyes. Gaelan lifted her face tenderly and took possession of her mouth.
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