Susan Spencer Paul by The Bride Thief

Author:The Bride Thief
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-11-03T06:59:22+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

The grand Christmas feast that Meg had prepared was long over, the Yule log had been lit with much ceremony, the games Isabelle and Odelyn had arranged had just ended, and now, as Meg and Gytha passed out goblets of hot spiced wine, everyone in the great room grew silent, waiting for the lord of Talwar to begin his yearly giving of Christmas gifts.

Isabelle watched with growing anticipation as Justin opened the large wooden chest he had earlier placed near the fire. She already knew what was inside, for she had helped him to fill it during the past month, adding each gift with care and smiles as they spoke of how the receiver would like it. Because he had no vassals of his own, borrowing workers from Briarstone to work Talwar’s fields each season, Justin had made a habit of giving gifts to the boys, instead, as well as to his household servants, much to the delight of everyone involved.

Murmurs of appreciation and delight filled the room as Justin presented each gift, one by one. There were sharp new daggers set with real jewels for each of his “lads,” all made by Justin’s own skilled hands, and lovely, fine Scottish wool cloth for Meg, Gytha and Odelyn. There were new clothes and shoes for every member of the household, ordered and made to fit by the finest tailors and shoemakers Briarstone had to offer. Finally, Justin handed out little leather bags, each holding six gold coins.

“Oh, thank you, my lord,” Gytha said, hugging her gifts against her chest. “God bless you.”

The others joined in with thanks, and Isabelle thought that a few of the boys looked nearly overcome. Senet, she saw, was gazing at his new dagger as if it were the most beautiful, stunning thing he’d ever seen, turning it over in his hands to look at it from all sides and blinking his eyes rapidly.

“I am the one who is thankful,” Justin said. “For all the blessings that God has given me, most especially for the fine women who keep my home and care for all of us. It is little enough to repay you in such a small way only once each year. And—” he winked at Isabelle “—I am not yet done with my gift giving yet.”

“My lord!” Isabelle exclaimed as he reached into the chest once more. She hadn’t expected him to give her a gift. He had already given her so much; surely she could not deserve anything more.

He lifted something large out of the chest, something wrapped in dark blue velvet and tied with gold silk cords, then he carefully carried it to where she sat, placing it upon her lap.

“I have waited a long time to see you open this, my lady,” he said, kneeling beside her. With a brief caress of her cheek, he murmured, “See what it is.”

She untied the cords with shaking fingers and pushed the velvet aside. And then, lifting a hand to her lips, she whispered, “Oh.

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