“Thank you.”
“Lady Ashcroft was here for the piano girl. She was very, very pleased. Thank you so much, Scarlette. We can never repay you for all of your help,” Laura said.
“No payment is needed. I should thank you. You have no idea what you’ve given me.”
“And where is Master Boatswain today?” Lizzie asked.
“At Strawberry Hill with my father.”
“Oh, is that so?” Laura said, a knowing look in her eye.
I chuckled. “Twickenham has been very good to me. First, it brought me the two of you, then Annabeth, the townspeople, my gnomes…and a proposal.”
Both sisters gasped.
“A proposal?” Laura said.
I nodded. “And Father has agreed. Nothing is planned yet. We must get more acquainted with one another. But yes.”
Lizzie laughed. “Love strikes quickly sometimes. That’s how it was with us and Brian and Bryant.”
“Brian and Bryant? Now, there is serendipity.”
“So it was,” Laura said with a soft smile, the wispy look of remembrance in her eyes. “Well then, we won’t keep you from your father—”
“And your fiancé,” Lizzie added.
I smiled softly then kissed the sisters on their cheeks. “Be well. And be sure to write me every week. Do you promise?”
They both nodded.
“And come to the wedding. When the time arrives.”
Again, they nodded.
I hugged them once more. When I was done, I looked over Laura’s shoulder. There, at the very back of the workshop on the bench, were my gnomes. “Be good, my boys. And treat Laura and Lizzie well.”
The sisters laughed.
Their backs turned, they didn’t see when the little clockwork gnome waved goodbye to me.
Magic.
Christmas magic.
“Farewell for now,” I whispered to the sisters.
“Farewell,” they called then let me go.
Turning, I stepped outside once more. The bells on the village church rang, and flurries started to fall, covering the nativity in front of the church, the Christmas market stalls, and the little shops in Twickenham. I breathed in the scene, painting it across my heart. It had been the most magical Christmas ever. Well, at least so far. I dug into my pocket and pulled out the pin I had stashed there: the letters R.M. in a circle. I affixed my new pin to my red cape then turned and headed back to Strawberry Hill.
Thank You
Thank you for reading Goblins and Snowflakes, my retelling of The Elves and the Shoemaker. I hope you enjoyed this retelling of one my favorite Christmas tales. I loved taking the seed of this classic fairy tale and planting it in my existing steampunk fairy tale world. Some of you may also notice the references to the poem “The Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti. This story is a love letter to that piece as well. “The Goblin Market” is a wonderful poem. Reading it will definitely enhance your enjoyment of this work.
You can read The Elves and the Shoemaker for FREE HERE.
You can read “The Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti for FREE HERE.
I hope readers familiar with my series enjoyed the glimpse of the birth of the Red Cape Society, some “behind the scenes” with the Rude Mechanicals, the tie-in with the Countess and Strawberry Hill, and the cameo of Arthur and Violet (Isabelle’s mother) Hawking before Beauty and Beastly. With each book I write, I hope to help you see the entire universe spinning around in my head. This is just one more cog in my lovely steampunk fairy tale machine.
Did you enjoy the story? Mind leaving me a review? Word of mouth and reader reviews help introduce new people to my work. Your opinion matters. If you have a moment, would you mind posting a review of this holiday novella?
Thank you!
Melanie
About the Author
Melanie Karsak is the author of The Airship Racing Chronicles, The Harvesting Series, Steampunk Red Riding Hood, The Celtic Blood Series, andthe Steampunk Fairy Tales Series. A steampunk connoisseur, zombie whisperer, and heir to the iron throne, the author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. She is an Instructor of English at Eastern Florida State College.