(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 6; see Part 5)

Silas woke up feeling depressed over not having seen Elizabeth for the last three days. He thought he would give her something different for a change. She might be tiring of eating so much fowl. He didn’t want to fatten her up either.  Still, he wanted her to think of him. He was glad he was able to write the poem before the rules were made. Surely, she would gather the words sounded like him. He had recited poetry he had written to her quite a few times before. He sighed and went to the market to look for what might catch his eyes.

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Horace held the gift-wrapped box and wondered what was in it. He didn’t think of asking because he was in a hurry to go to Elizabeth’s house. He was about to knock on the door when it opened.

“I thought you might be coming right about this time, so instead of your making so much noise, I opened the door to see if you were indeed here. And there you are,” the pudgy woman said.

“I guess I have established myself to be a regular visitor,” Horace said.

“Indeed you have,” the woman said, looking around for a cart of fowl.

Horace held his amusement, as he showed her the gift-wrapped present. Her eyes lit up and said she would fetch Elizabeth right away.

Elizabeth greeted him warmly and led him to the same room he was directed to the day before.

“I’m happy to see you looking well. I understand you were ill yesterday.”

“Oh that. I’m fine now,” she said, waving off his concern. “Shall I open the present?” She shook the box next to her ear to guess what it might contain.

“Please do.”

She carefully took the wrapper off and opened the box. She gasped, “These are the most beautiful golden rings I’ve ever seen!”

Horace thought Elizabeth looked exquisite with the sparkling rings around her wrist.

To be continued . . .
©2015 Karina Pinella