The Christmas Spirit (22 page)

Trudy would have protested her inadequacy longer, but Matthew turned to Ahmad and said, "Do you know, I am surprised you never suggested this particular course to me. We both should have known that I could only be happy married to an elf."

"That is very true, saab." Ahmad took the soiled cloth from Matthew's hands. "I hope you will forgive my omission to let me congratulate you both on your engagement."

"Of course." Matthew smiled at his friend. "And now, if you will excuse us, my
fiancée
and I have some important business to discuss."

Ahmad made them another deep salaam. "You do not think it would be wiser, Matthew saab, to have me stay for the sake of the mem'saab's reputation?"

"I do not. Miss Meriwether and I are agreed that we shall not be ruled by intolerable conventions. Am I right, my darling?"

When Trudy saw the intensity of the desire burning in his gaze, she could do nothing but give up before she burst into flames herself. She smiled at him shyly and wound her arms about his neck. "Yes, that's true."

"So you see, Ahmad, that the matter is entirely out of your hands for the moment."

Ahmad grinned. "Yes, saab." He retreated to the door, then turned to wish them both a "Merry Christmas," before closing the door behind him without a sound.

So there ye have it--the terrible tragedy of what happened to me sister Trudy, and the biggest scandal to be heard in elfland for many a year. Though, to hear me sister Trudy tell it, ye wouldn't think it was all that big a tragedy at all.

Trudy says that being human ain't half bad, but I think she's forgotten all the fun we used to have out on the heath when we was young, 'cause she's been so busy like. What with all that travelin' she and Sir Matthew do with that great big friend of his. I don't call that Ahmad a heathen any more 'cause Trudy don't like it when I do, but he sure looks like a heathen to me, same as me brother-in-law.

But, ye know what? I've did a fair bit o' travelin' meself, now, I have. I had to do it, ye see, if I wanted to see me own nieces and nevvies. For the four of 'em, they're always gallivantin' about with their parents instead of stayin' at home like they should. But when I tried to tell Trudy that, she said she wanted to show them and Matthew all them places she'd been, only since humans do everything so slow, it takes 'em ever so long to get there, ye see.

So, I tries to bite me tongue where them kids are concerned, so Trudy'll let me see 'em when I want. Not that she could stop me or anything, but I likes to stay on the good side of me relatives, I guess. And Trudy didn't do so badly for herself, all things considered, though, as I've told her more than once, she could've had them kids in elfland, same as not, and if she had, they'd've had pointed ears like me.

But, then, as I've told ye before, our Trudy always did like to do things her own way.

Copyright © 1996 by Patricia Wynn Ricks

Originally published by Fawcett

Electronically published in 2003 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads

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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.