P.S. I don't have an editor for these, so sorry for any typos.
The
Twelve Stories of Christmas – Day 12 Brianna Hemlock
“Now don’t you
fret Brianna,” mother said, “you will be getting a pretty little present
tomorrow. Nothing lavish of course, but something to let you know that I care,
dear.” It was the same thing she had told me last year and every year before
that and it was always the same thing. One little piece of jewelry. A pearl
necklace or gold earrings and I was sick of it. While other girls got three or
four new outfits, some spending money and jewelry, I got one piece of lousy
jewelry. However, I always acted grateful. It pleased mother and angered Ella
and Rose. They knew better my moods and that I was less than happy with my
presents, while mother was oblivious. She wasn’t a stupid woman, I never respected
anyone more, but she was clueless and I used that cluelessness to wrap her
around my little finger.
“Mother,” I said
coming up behind her and taking the brush from her hand. I was in her personal
rooms, while she dressed and prepped for the Christmas Eve service tonight.
Tomorrow was Christmas and every year we went to the Christmas Eve service and
then came home, had a feast and went to bed. The next day, we always awoke,
went and had a large breakfast. Mother would usually make some lecture or two
about how today needed to be one or rest, relaxation and reflection. I would
then retire with mother to her room and she would give me a gift and we would
eat chocolates. I know not what Ella and Rose did for the rest of the day, but
I hardly cared. Ella usually received no gifts from what I can tell, which was
fine by me and Rose got one gift from mother and it literally was the same
every year. A rose, usually white or light pink.
“Mother?”
“Yes my darling
girl?”
“Could I not
perhaps get a new outfit this year as well?”
“What dear? A
new outfit? But Brianna,” she said turning to look at me, “you just got a new
outfit two weeks ago, for tonight, which is beautiful on you by the way.” I
twirled for her, making her smile, but my displeasure was growing. For years she
told me that we didn’t do presents because they destroyed the true meaning of
the holiday, but when she always gave me gifts in secret I realized it was more
so that she wouldn’t have to spend her money on her worthless brother-in-law
and my horrible cousin Ella.
“Yes, it is
lovely is it not mother?” Of course, I knew that I looked lovely in well,
everything. I smiled at just how beautiful I was and how no one in this
household could possibly hold a candle to me. Oh sure, Rose had her charms, but
Ella, well she was laughable. She had one of the most plain faces I ever seen
and she was built like a man in so many ways that if she didn’t dress like a
woman then I would have often mistook her.
“Yes dear, you
are a beautiful young lady and your beauty is enough to warm your mother’s
heart, but I must deny your request.”
It took all of
my will power not to allow my smile to fall from my face and throw a vase that
was dangerously close to my hand. However, this blow was too much and my smile
faded for a second, just long enough for my mother to see my true emotions.
“Oh my dear,”
she stood to take me in her arms.
“No mother,” I
pushed her away and tried to shake my tears away. “No mother, it just isn’t
fair! All my friends get new outfits and spending money and boxes and boxes of
jewelry and I get one lousy piece of jewelry a year.” I sat on her bed and
wept.
“My darling, my
darling, listen to me, we have to save our money.”
“No we do not!
You forget that I have been reading the reports from our estate and money has
been holding well. We have plenty of money, especially after all these years of
saving and living off of Uncle Edward’s earnings.”
“Yes my darling,
but listen I am saving all that money for special things.”
“Like?” I patted
my eyes on a handkerchief and hoped that I would not have to use it again.
“Well, I want
you to have everything your heart could desire and I know that you have your
heart set on marrying the royal cousin.”
The mention of
Master Michael Requelst quieted my raging temper. “Well, it just makes sense
mother. I mean he is the most handsome and rich man within the courts, other
than the prince and I can’t have him.”
“Yes,” mother
sighed, “such a shame that he is off being forced to marry one of the Corilish
princesses. But, let us not think of that. Now my dear, while you are the most
cultured and beautiful woman that could possibly win his hand, you will still
need a very impressive dowry.”
“So by saving
all that money…”
“I have
increased your chances of becoming his wife. Especially since you will be going
to the court in the summer.”
“Really!” I
stood up in happiness and pulled her up with me. “Oh mother! Wait, please tell
me that I will be there more than I was last year.”
“Oh darling, of
course, but a month is nothing to sneer at. Just think what you accomplished in
that one visit.”
“True, I made
many friends, but more allies and I made a very good impression on the royal
cousin.”
“Yes, I was so
proud when he danced with you twice the night before we left last summer.”
“Yes, so how long
will I be staying this time?”
“Oh, well that
will be part of your Christmas present tomorrow. I was going to surprise you
with the whole plan when I gave you your gift, but now that I had to dry your
pretty eyes, you must give me this.”
“Oh of course
mother!” I twirled towards the door and she laughed as she sat to continue
grooming. As I hopped out the door, I ran into Ella and part of my good mood
died.
“Ella, what are
you doing here?” She blinked at me in her stupid way and I could only wonder
what nonsense ran through that rather large heard of hers.
“Brianna, I’m in
a hallway, so one can assume that I was walking to another room, in my own
house.”
Vicious
girl,
I thought. “I know that, but why are you in this hallway? Only mother, Rose and
myself live on this wing.”
“Well, I go to
see your sister if you must know.” She continued walking without another word
and I just sighed. With an attitude like that she would never get a good
marriage or any marriage for that matter.
I was about to
go down the stairs when I saw her knock on Rose’s door. She held herself
straight, a little too straight if you asked me. It was true that ever since
she had turned eighteen last July she seemed to have been slightly better. She
had been staying longer at parties and had been standing and sitting
straighter, but the posture she was showing now was far too good, even for her
best.
“Ella,” Rose
said opening the door, “come in.” She walked in and Rose shut the door, but the
latch caught and the door stayed cracked. I glanced around, making sure none of
those pesky servants that were friends with Ella were around and I snuck to the
door. I stood close enough to listen but not to cast a shadow. Listening at
doors was an art that my mother had taught me well and so the possibility of
getting caught was minimal.
“Rose, Laura and
I got this for you. I mean, it’s not much, but it is something.”
“Oh Ella, it’s
perfect.” I risked peeking in and saw Ella hand Rose a music folder and a small
vase.
“Well, we
figured that you needed a place to keep all that beautiful music you practice
every day and something to put your Christmas rose in.”
Rose laughed. It
was easy and true, like a bell ringing in the announcement of dawn. She never
laughed like that with me or mother. “You and Laura are always so practical.”
“Well, we have
to be in this home I suppose.” There was a little hesitation in her voice and
the smile on Rose’s face changed.
“Oh do not think
them unappreciated. They are perfect and if I can say so, even more perfect
than last year’s gifts.”
Ella laughed and
shook her head. “Oh, do not even mention
that. My attempts at those cakes were horrific. Poor Laura and Mrs. Trodbottle,
they tried so hard.”
“Well, even
though my mother does not believe in the phrase, ‘It’s the thought that
counts,’ I do. They were very flattering, though hard as bricks.” They both
laughed and I frowned. They had been exchanging gifts for years it seems. Cheap
or homemade ones from the sound of it. Inferior and unbecoming of our status.
Servants, peasants and those other forms of lower humanity did those things, so
why did they seem so happy exchanging such favors.
“Well, here is
yours Ella, and I suppose I must give Laura’s to you too.”
“Unfortunately
yes. She is helping her mother with the Christmas Eve dinner.”
“Yes, the only
thing that is at all festive in this house.”
“Oh don’t worry
Rose when you marry you can turn your house into a Christmas wonderland.”
“Oh I will. And
all my children will have presents, not just one, and they will all be worth the
same.” There was only silence to that comment and for some reason, I felt bad
about it. Truth was that I always knew I got more than Rose. But that was only
because I am prettier than her and in the eyes of my mother that meant I was
better than Rose, which made sense to me. I thought it would make sense to
everyone, but apparently this uneven distribution of money and time seemed to
upset Rose. I turned from the door before I could see or even hear what Rose
had given to Ella and Laura and I walked to my room.
I sat before my
mirror and looked at my reflection. I was perfection, well more perfect than
most. Some come close and I know that there might be more beautiful people than
myself, but still I was close and yet here I was feeling ill at ease on Christmas
Eve. I had just found out that I was going to the castle for an extended stay
over the summer and that I was the only person to get a professionally made
present and yet I felt … lonely. My mother gave me everything, so I should be
happy, but Rose looked at Ella with fondness, while she only ever looked at me
with fear and Ella seemed almost pleasant with Rose.
So it was as I
sat there watching myself, while the
snow fell, that I asked something of myself that I never had before and that I
never thought I would. “What is wrong with me?”
Day Twelve – Brianna
In the Twelfth Story of Christmas, the lesson that
shall be, is that your best present may be given unexpectedly.
I
sighed and looked out at the frozen garden. It was cold and wet with snow and I
just … wanted something. I looked back over to where the Christmas tree stood
and sighed. The presents were over flowing and I knew that many of them were
for me. Probably about three fourths actually a fact that made me smirk. It was
odd to realize that they weren’t all for me, but I had to realize that now the
Rose was engaged, a fact that still boiled my insides, she would be receiving
her fair share of them now. I looked around for her, but she was probably off
with John or Ella or perhaps someone else from that strange group of theirs.
I
worried for the country. To think that one day, a prince who pretended to be a
servant was to be king. That was just so … peculiar! I and some others began to
worry just what kind of laws he and my cousin would devise when the rule passed
to them in the not so distant future. I shuttered to think of Ella being queen.
I mean, she wasn’t so bad, at least not as awful as I thought she was, but
still it was a fact that would never sit right. However, since I was making
consensuses and since it was Christmas, I had to admit that them being on the
throne was a much better situation than Princess Mary. They maybe odd but she
can be cruel.
Sighing,
I sauntered over to the tree and busied myself with separating them into my
pile and Rose’s pile. As suspected, I had the bigger and better pile and I
smiled to see that it had grown in that last couple of days. Many were from my
admirers, but I was surprised to see that one was from Ella and the prince. My
eyebrows rose and I wondered why on earth they had gotten me a gift. It was
true that we were not as hostile to each other anymore. In truth we simply left
each other alone now, but still the fact that she had gone out and bought me a
gift, surprised and infuriated me. I had already finished my shopping and to
now have to go out and buy something else, well it just wasn’t polite if you
ask me.
Curious
as to what it was, I began to tear at the paper, when a voice stopped me. “I
believe the tradition states that those should be opened on Christmas.” I
turned to find Ella and Rose coming in, both bundled against the cold. Ella
looked a little pail, which was odd seeing that she spent so much time outside,
but I could hardly wonder that her odd condition now.
Instead
of answering her accusation, I fired one of my own. “You bought me a gift.”
Ella sat while Rose went to order tea. She smirked at me and shook her head.
“No,
I gave you a gift. I didn’t buy it.”
I
rolled my eyes. “Fine, you had a servant buy it for you, but that still means
that you spent money on me.”
“I
thought you liked getting gifts.”
“I
do,” I said pointing out my pile with pride.
Ella
gazed at the pile for a moment. “More than usual,” was her only comment.
“Well,”
I looked down as I said the next thing, “with me being single again, I can only
assume that my admirers are trying to gain my favor.”
“Yes,
I had been meaning to ask you about that,” Ella answered, accepting tea from
Rose.
“Would
you like some Brianna?” Rose asked me. I nodded and watched as her engagement ring
glittered in the candle light. I glanced over to where Ella’s ring did the same
and suddenly my empty hands felt heavy.
“Well,
come on Brianna, spill the beans.” Ella said when I took my cup.
“About?”
“About
what happened between you and ‘the man who had stolen your heart’.”
I
remembered saying those words to Ella too when she’d asked before the wedding.
At the time, it was true, but as the summer passed and fall grew heavy, I
realized that I could never love him and that he could never love me. It also
became quite apparent that he was no longer interested in me as a person, more as
a trophy, so I had broken it off and allowed him to tell people it was the
other way around.
“That
is really none of your business,” I said and sipped my tea. Ella just raised
her eyebrows and shrugged before turning to Rose.
“Did
you pick out a gift yet for John?”
“Oh
yes Ella, it is a most wonderful thing. John desperately needed a scarf and so
I scoured the entire city trying to find him one that would do, but manly
scarves are difficult to find.” I rolled my eyes, and saw that Ella accepted
the comment with a smile and nod of the head.
“So
what did you do?”
“Well,
I finally found a shop that would do a special order this close to Christmas
and not only got him a scarf but a hat and gloves as well.”
“I’m
sure John will love it.” Rose smiled at Ella’s praise and I deflated a little.
Ever since Princess Mary had left, there was nothing to keep my previous band
of friends together. It was odd, but without her, all we did was bicker, so in
consequence I had not seen them for a very long time, nor did I wish to. At the
time, I had not cared because I was with Count Thames and I thought all my need
for human companionship could be easily fulfilled in him, but I was wrong. He’d
left like all the others. Now, to see that Ella’s marriage had not hindered her
relationship to Rose at all made me fell lonelier than ever.
Rose
and Ella had continued their conversation while I had drifted off, so I was
startled to hear my name. “Oh Brianna.”
I
looked up at Rose and saw her looking back at me expectantly. “Yes.”
“Lark,
Lily, Ruth and Rachel will all be joining us for tea very soon. Would you like
to join us?” Rose had been giving these sorts of invitations recently out of
her need to be exceptionally kind. I knew better however. Her friends really
didn’t want me there and in truth I really did want to be there either.
“No,
I think I’ll escape to my room,” I said rising, but my ire was raised and I
shot back, “so that I may figure out what I need to get the Princess now that she has obligated me
to buy her something.”
“Brianna,”
Ella’s voice sighed, “if it bothers you that much, just open it. You will see
that I have not bought you anything.” Angry, I grabbed the package off the
floor and stomped to my room. I sat on the bed and tore the paper away
revealing a plain white box. I tore the lid off and saw a note and a small gold
wren pin. It was obviously old, but the detail work was magnificent and the one
eye that could be seen was a bright little piece of jade. The strange thing was
that I knew I had seen this before but at the same time I wasn’t sure how or
where.
I
turned to the note and began to read.
Brianna,
I was looking through some of my
belongings sent from the estate and ran across this. It was funny, but I
completely forgot I had it. You had left it laying out the first month you came
to live with us and I had taken it out of retaliation for something you had
said to me earlier that day. Of course, I never realized that this was the
reason you cried for you father all the more that week. You never mentioned the
pin by name, so I did not make the connection, until I saw it again. I’m sure
you are confused. Well, it would seem that our fathers gave us all bird
nicknames when we were but babes and had intended all of us to be close
friends, but time has away of destroying or altering all intentions. You are
the wren and I’m sure that this was a special gift from your father. If you are
curious, below is a list of all our bird names.
I must apologize, but I return it
now with my only defense being childhood.
Merry
Christmas,
Ella
I looked at the
pin now and felt tears. Now that she mentioned it, memories of my long dead
father resurfaced and I fingered the pin reverently. I laughed suddenly as the
irony hit me. My father had given this to me as a Christmas gift the year
before he died. I had worn it every day and started sleeping with it when he
died. I even now remembered the day it went missing. I had gone to bathe and
when I had returned, it was gone. I had accused Laura and then Mrs. Trodbottle
when she had stepped in claiming that Laura had done no such thing. To be
honest, that was when my great dislike of the servants had begun.
“Well daddy,” I
said, as I pinned it to my dress, right over my heart, “I guess I’ll have to
start forgiving them now. After all, it is Christmas and you always did make it
special.” I turned and opened the door to the brightly lit parlor room where
the guests had arrived. I stepped out and joined the tea. After all, if the pin
was any proof, this was my flock.
