The butcher laughed. “Five bob a week .”
“Seven,” Tommy countered .
“Done. Now be gone. Go home and have a happy Christmas and I will see you bright and early the day after Boxing Day .”
“Yes, sir .”
“A-w-w,” both Geoffrey and Miriam said together .
“But that is not all, is it?” They asked together .
“Not quite,” Diana said, and then read on .
Tommy was weary and still in some pain from the fall as he trudged home, carrying his precious parcel which would be the basis for their Christmas dinner tomorrow. He was not particularly happy with tripe, but it would make a decent meal the way his mother prepared it .
He finally arrived home and opened the door. His mother was already home from the mill and, to his great surprise, he saw his sister standing at the side of the room decorating a Christmas tree. A few candles were burning brightly as Doris strung a chain of red and green paper garlands around the tree—careful not to string it near the candles .
“Happy Christmas, Tommy,” Doris cried out .
“You got us a tree?” he exclaimed .
“It is an angel tree,” Doris said. “I was selling my flowers and an angel bought my very last one for two guineas .”
Tommy could not answer but could only stare at the loveliness of the tree .
Finally, their mother spoke up .
“Tommy, did you bring us the tripe from the butcher’s ?”
Pulling himself together, Tommy handed his mother the parcel. “Yes, Mamma .”
“That is very heavy for tripe,” his mother added as she sat it on the small kitchen table .
She began to unwrap it as Tommy went over to help his sister decorate the tree .
“It is so beautiful,” he said. “Were you able to save any money from the two guineas ?”
“Oh, yes. Most of it. Because it was Christmas Eve, I got the tree at a very good price. Now we will be able to buy mother a used coat so she will not be so cold during the winter .
Mother let out a gasp. “Tommy, did you bring home the right package? This is not tripe, this is a whole turkey .”
The children turned and stared at their mother .
“A turkey? A whole turkey all for us ?”
“How long will it take to cook?” Doris asked .
“If I put it in the oven in the morning it will be ready for dinner .”
“Then we can go and bring Grandmother here for dinner tomorrow—if she is well enough .”
“That will be wonderful,” Mother said. “And my dear children, this is going to be our best Christmas ever .”
D iana put down her last sheet of paper. “There. All done. What do you think ?”
Miriam had tears in her eyes and was holding Geoffrey’s hand .
“That was so lovely,” she said .
“Bit daft, if you ask me,” Geoffrey said. “Angels? Nah. I do not think so .”
Miriam swatted his hand. “You are a terrible person, Geoffrey Sinclair. Go make your horrid bread and leave us alone. You do not deserve to be in genteel company .”
“I know when I am not wanted,” he said in a huff .
Geoffrey stood to go back to the kitchen, but Diana spoke up, “Wait. I need to speak with you both about the fete on Saturday .”
Geoffrey sat back down again .
“The carriage is to pick us up at 10 o’clock so I will need you to be ready and at our house by then. Can you do that ?”
Geoffrey leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs and arms and said, “Of course .”
“And I need to let you know that our family is expected to remain in the Queen’s party most of the afternoon so I will not be available to participate in the games. But you may .”
“How gracious of you to allow us, lowly minions, to participate,” Geoffrey sneered .
“Geoffrey, behave yourself. This event is not about you. It is a great honor for Diana’s father, and he and his family deserve to receive the Queen’s full attention without you acting up and ruining everything. And stop pouting. You disgrace yourself,” Miriam insisted .
Geoffrey let his head fall with an exaggerated tumble. “So sorry.” He looked up. “Diana, your story was wonderful. We will be on time. And I shall be ever such a good little boy .”
Diana stood and pulled his ear. “You had better be, young man, or I will send ogres to tear you into a million pieces .”
Miriam looked at Diana and shrugged. “What can I do? He is what he is .”
*
T he day of the investiture Father was very nervous. He couldn’t manage to put on his cufflinks, so he went to Diana’s room to have her assist him .
“Father, remember, you fully deserve this honor, and Her Majesty is delighted to have you attend the ceremony, so please do not be nervous .”
“I will try. But I wish you or Mother could be by my side when I stand before the Queen .”
“We shall be close by, Father,” she said as she patted his shoulder and then his face. “And when it is all over you can relax and enjoy having tea with the Queen .”
Mother came into the room as she pulled up her elbow length gloves .
“There you are. I was looking all over for you. Are you both ready? The carriage will be here in ten minutes, and the twins are already here. Geoffrey said he was terrified to be late because of ogres or some such. I could make neither heads nor tails of what he was saying. Just gibberish. Come let us go .”
She took each of them by the arm and forced them out of Diana’s room .
“Mother, I need my coat,” Father said .
“Then go and get it. Gracious. Am I expected to do everything ?”
Diana could tell her mother was nervous, and she went to her as they descended the stairs .
“Everything is going to be just fine. And let me tell you, I have never seen you look more beautiful,” she said smiling .
That seemed to calm her mother some .
“Thank you, dear, so do you. In fact, that dress is stunning. Her Majesty may bestow an honor on you once she sees how lovely you are .”
Diana laughed, as they reached the bottom of the stairs. She left her mother getting her wrap and went outside to greet the twins .
“Hello, you two. Lovely day for the fete, is it not ?”
The twins turned to her and gasped. “You look like a princess,” they both said in unison .
The Goodwin sisters were to watch the gallery for the day and were standing by admiring the dresses and making little comments between themselves .
Mother and Father finally came out, and the group was ready to leave .
And just as all were assembled, the Earl’s carriage pulled up in front of the house. Two footmen descended, opened the carriage doors, and flipped down the carriage steps for the guests to enter .
Diana took her father’s arm and whispered to him, “Now you shall be able to sign your name George Browning, O.M .”
Her father looked at her and smiled but he still seemed too nervous to respond verbally .