something. Here, whatever she gave would have to be made. She could not simply walk to a store down the road, throw money down on the counter, and walk out with a gift. She knew that things would be different here.
She’d talked to Nonna and Railynn about Christmases past. The holiday had not yet been commercialized; Christmas trees weren’t even popular. Railynn giggled about mistletoe, spoke about large feasts where people would be invited, and how at the castle in Marcello there would be dancing. Nonna spoke about church, listening to the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, and singing carols.
This Christmas would be a wonderful one for her people. It was the first Christmas that they had a real home, a place of their own. She was going to start new traditions with them, beginning this year. She started planning with Nonna and some of the other women earlier that morning. They were all working on making dolls for the little girls and handkerchiefs for the young ladies and women. Magnolia had spoken to Alistair about having someone make wooden short swords for the little boys, while the women made warm gloves for the older boys and men. She wanted to ensure that this would be a happy time for them.
Supplies from Marcello had arrived while she’d been ill with fever. A list of everything that King Pelonis had sent was brought to her shortly after the fever broke. It was a delight to see that he’d sent chocolate and tea. Railynn told her that the king was trying to secure her alliance even further by offering her such fineries. He was showing her what she would be able to have if she married Alistair. Magnolia decided that she was going to be putting some of that chocolate to good use for Christmas.
Sighing, she ripped out the seams yet again. Sewing was much easier with a machine. This had to be perfect. It was for Nonna. If anyone deserved to have something grand made, it was her. Magnolia practiced on an old bit of scrap. Once she got used to it and figured everything out, she would set to work on the silk. Determined to shove her frustration aside, she tore out seams yet again before trying all over. She had to get the purse perfect the first time once she started on the silk, and she could not even get it with old scraps.
It seemed like hours passed, but finally she was working on the gloves. Knitting was something that she knew how to do. Before the fire, with knitting needles in hand, she felt at home. Many nights had been passed like this before, and it seemed like many nights would continue to pass in this manner in the future.
“What has you in such deep thought?” Alistair plopped ungracefully into a chair close to her.
“Thinking about Christmas, about what we can do for the people here.”
“It seems to me that you are doing a lot as it is. Why? What are you thinking of adding to your ever growing list of things to do?”
Her gaze wandered over to the man who sat next to her. He was certainly handsome. He cared deeply for Daciana and was kind and giving and very loyal. Would she ever love him? Could he love her the way he loved Daciana? “Hmm, I was just thinking that we could make a special treat.”
“What sort of special treat?” His eyebrow quirked up toward the ceiling.
“Not sure yet, but even if I knew, you would have to wait just like everyone else.” She frowned, looking back down to the material that was still on her lap. She had set it there before she’d started to knit. “I am not sure what to do for Nonna. I keep trying to get this right, and I do not want to ruin the silk you gave me.”
“You will figure it out. If not, then we will figure it out together. You will be able to give it to her as planned.” He smiled, showing a tiny dimple. “Did I thank you for young Gwain?”
Hiding a smirk, she gave her full attention to the knitting. “Thank me? Whatever for?”
“For sneaking around to get Jaceson to send him to me.” A blush crept up her neck to her cheeks.
She’d talked to Nonna and Railynn about Christmases past. The holiday had not yet been commercialized; Christmas trees weren’t even popular. Railynn giggled about mistletoe, spoke about large feasts where people would be invited, and how at the castle in Marcello there would be dancing. Nonna spoke about church, listening to the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, and singing carols.
This Christmas would be a wonderful one for her people. It was the first Christmas that they had a real home, a place of their own. She was going to start new traditions with them, beginning this year. She started planning with Nonna and some of the other women earlier that morning. They were all working on making dolls for the little girls and handkerchiefs for the young ladies and women. Magnolia had spoken to Alistair about having someone make wooden short swords for the little boys, while the women made warm gloves for the older boys and men. She wanted to ensure that this would be a happy time for them.
Supplies from Marcello had arrived while she’d been ill with fever. A list of everything that King Pelonis had sent was brought to her shortly after the fever broke. It was a delight to see that he’d sent chocolate and tea. Railynn told her that the king was trying to secure her alliance even further by offering her such fineries. He was showing her what she would be able to have if she married Alistair. Magnolia decided that she was going to be putting some of that chocolate to good use for Christmas.
Sighing, she ripped out the seams yet again. Sewing was much easier with a machine. This had to be perfect. It was for Nonna. If anyone deserved to have something grand made, it was her. Magnolia practiced on an old bit of scrap. Once she got used to it and figured everything out, she would set to work on the silk. Determined to shove her frustration aside, she tore out seams yet again before trying all over. She had to get the purse perfect the first time once she started on the silk, and she could not even get it with old scraps.
It seemed like hours passed, but finally she was working on the gloves. Knitting was something that she knew how to do. Before the fire, with knitting needles in hand, she felt at home. Many nights had been passed like this before, and it seemed like many nights would continue to pass in this manner in the future.
“What has you in such deep thought?” Alistair plopped ungracefully into a chair close to her.
“Thinking about Christmas, about what we can do for the people here.”
“It seems to me that you are doing a lot as it is. Why? What are you thinking of adding to your ever growing list of things to do?”
Her gaze wandered over to the man who sat next to her. He was certainly handsome. He cared deeply for Daciana and was kind and giving and very loyal. Would she ever love him? Could he love her the way he loved Daciana? “Hmm, I was just thinking that we could make a special treat.”
“What sort of special treat?” His eyebrow quirked up toward the ceiling.
“Not sure yet, but even if I knew, you would have to wait just like everyone else.” She frowned, looking back down to the material that was still on her lap. She had set it there before she’d started to knit. “I am not sure what to do for Nonna. I keep trying to get this right, and I do not want to ruin the silk you gave me.”
“You will figure it out. If not, then we will figure it out together. You will be able to give it to her as planned.” He smiled, showing a tiny dimple. “Did I thank you for young Gwain?”
Hiding a smirk, she gave her full attention to the knitting. “Thank me? Whatever for?”
“For sneaking around to get Jaceson to send him to me.” A blush crept up her neck to her cheeks.
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