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The holiday passed quickly Our family broke the Christmas Eve fast in the usual fashion: as soon as the first stars could be seen in the cold night sky, we ate the traditional twelve-course feast, which included mushroom soup and baked fish The table was loaded with plates of apricots, figs, sweet al
We would not be able to eat most of the Christmas treats, made with butter and cream, until the next day, after the Christ his favorite blini with sour crea in every fireplace The fa in the samovar and Maman&039;s warht Mass, my parents decorated the fa and giggling as rapped our gifts beneath its heavily scented branches Petya received a new saddle for his horse froave him a fashionable silk cravat for his favorite white shirt
Maman received a beautiful ruby necklace that Papa had coe to match her tiara There were happy tears in her eyes as she kissed Papa on his whiskered cheek
I received a number of books: the latest romance by Marie Corel i, a book of poes by Leonardo da Vinci Maht and ethereal for me Maman had once told me A Romance of Two Worlds was Queen Victoria&039;s favorite book, and said the Romanian queen was also fond of Corel i&039;s work I never felt quite as much admiration for either queen after that
I preferred dull scientific toer to retire to my rooe to uncover in science All roirl realized the surly boy she had hated all along was the only person in the universe who could complete her soul I did not believe for a minute that my soul could be completed by some surly boy
And I would not wishfor love?
Marin postmark "This caht you should wait until we opened the rest of the presents" I opened the brorapped package with dread The card had the Montenegrin royal seal but was not signed, so I could not tell who had sent the gift It could have been Elena or her sisters, or even the king and queen themselves
"Hurry up so we can see!" Ma her open it But so told me not to
It was a beautiful onyx box, decorated with tiny pearls Worth a small fortune
"Mon Dieu, Katiya!" Maman said "You must write a thank-you note iain, sick frole tarot card The Queen of Swords
"Is there a note inside? A picture of the crown prince, perhaps?"