With a soft smile, she reached over and touched his cheek. “Thank you for your confidence and encouragement.”
Georgie’s gifts would pale by comparison, she knew, but at least she’d managed to buy something. Last year, she had given her mother and sisters handwritten certificates good for one service from her, like walks with her mother and chores for her sisters. This year, she’d wanted to do something different. Her options were limited without money, so she’d returned to the lime tree alone and cut down the rest of the mistletoe. This she took to the man who sold winter evergreens door-to-door in his holly cart for people to use in decorating their own houses on Christmas Eve. He couldn’t give her much money, but it was enough for a trip to theconfectioner’s. There she’d bought small packets of pralines and chocolate drops studded with white sugar beads called nonpareils.
Now she handed the packets around. “It’s not much, I’m afraid. Though a little better than last year, I hope.”
“My dear, you need not remonstrate with yourself,” Mamma said. “Your certificates were much appreciated.”
“Especially by me,” Emily said. “Mine was good for one turn cleaning the water closet.”
Sarah opened her packet. “Mm. These look delicious. Thank you.”
“Yes, thank you, Georgiana,” Viola said. “We shall enjoy them, I know.”
Claire added, “Though I, for one, may have to wait until I am not so full.”
Sarah watched in anticipation as Mr. Henshall gave Effie the pretty parcel she had helped him wrap, which contained the dancing slippers he had purchased and she had embroidered with a Scottish thistle each.
“Dancing slippers,” he explained.
“I know. They’re lovely! Thank ye.”
“Sarah did the embroidery.”
“They’re perfect. Thank ye both. If only I had somewhere to wear them.”
“I understand we are to have dancing at the Twelfth Night party,” he said. “Might ye not put them to use then?”
“Indeed I shall.”
Sarah handed her another small parcel. “Just something I made. A reticule with matching embroidery.”
She opened it. “I love it. Thank ye.”
In turn, Effie gave her stepfather a pair of riding gloves, as gloves were a traditional gift for the New Year.
He thanked her kindly, and looked at Sarah, opened his mouth, but then seemed to think the better of whatever he’d been about to say. Just as well, Sarah thought, with so many prying eyes and interested ears surrounding them.
After the gift giving had concluded, people dispersed, most to take the gifts to their own rooms.
Sarah tidied up the various wrappings and a few remaining plates and teacups, then carried them downstairs.
Mr. Henshall met her in the workroom.
There, he handed her a small tissue-wrapped box. “A little something for ye, Sarah.”
Sarah’s stomach dropped. She had nothing for him. Men and women did not exchange gifts unless they were married, engaged, or related by blood. “But I ... You shouldn’t have.”
“Just open it,” he gently insisted. “It’s from Effie and me both.”
Not a ring,then, she thought, relieved and disappointed in turns.
Noticing her reticence, he said, “It’s not a ring, if that’s what has ye worried.”
“I would not presume...”
“No?”
“I don’t know what to think.” Discomfited by his watchful gaze, Sarah unwrapped the small box. Inside lay the simple gold cross necklace she had admired at the jeweler’s shop.
