countdown to Christmas

4 Days before Christmas

/ Karina Pinella / 4 Comments

(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 10; see Part 9)

music box

“What a clever contraption. I’ll take it,” Silas said. He was entranced by the musical box with an image of nine ladies dancing. He could picture Elizabeth being equally charmed. He asked the watchmaker if he could carve something special on the base of the box.

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“I love it!” Elizabeth said when she wound up the musical box.

“What a wondrous object,” Lily said. Since Horace had been asked to stay and chat more than a few minutes of late, she had volunteered to stay in the room and be their chaperone to show propriety.
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5 Days before Christmas

/ Karina Pinella / 4 Comments

(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 9; see Part 8)

maids

Ebenezer was back in the market, looking around for the peddler with the luscious daughter. He learned from Horace that Elizabeth’s household needed some help. He spotted the peddler hawking the same line. So much for thinking he had a bargain the other day. He approached him nevertheless, so he could also chance a glance at his daughter.
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6 Days before Christmas

/ Karina Pinella / 6 Comments

(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 8; see Part 7)

swans

Silas marked the day in his daily journal as halfway through this wretched plan. He had slept fitfully and woken up early. His only thought was of how he missed Elizabeth’s laugh and their repartee. He was utterly besotted with her. His appetite had also been weak of late. He decided to sketch to distract himself. After some time had passed, he realized again how deeply enamored he was with Elizabeth. The sketch before him were of three pairs of swans, inspired by thoughts of Elizabeth’s own long, slender neck. Each pair formed a heart. Above the column of the six swans was a lone swan twisted into a heart shape.
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8 Days before Christmas

/ Karina Pinella / 7 Comments

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

Gold rings

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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9 Days before Christmas

/ Karina Pinella / 3 Comments

(A Christmas Tale Countdown series, Part 5; see Part 4)

blackbirds

“Aunt Maisey, I hope you don’t mind if I take a few more birds,” Ebenezer said to his aunt. They were in the drawing-room finishing their tea.

“Oh?” she said, somewhat taken by surprise. Not wishing to appear miffed, she suggested they go to the music room to see what she can find for him.
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A Christmas Tale Countdown

/ Karina Pinella / 6 Comments
Image: Pixabay

Image: Pixabay

Long ago before earth was awashed with acid rain and layered with greenhouse gases, there lived three young people whose lives intersected and formed a love triangle. Unbeknownst to Elizabeth, she of the warm chestnut hair and sparkling hazel eyes, the two lads vying for her heart would have topped the most wanted criminal list had the two rivals’ good friend, Horace, not stepped in to arbitrate. The three friends stood outside a few feet away from The Bedfordshire Inn. Continue reading →