Chapter Text
It would be their first Christmas together. While the past few months have been bleak, she was determined that Christmas would be a happy day together. She would surprise him.
She wanted to give him two very special gifts - one would be store bought with the money that she had made working for Mrs. Van Hopper. She had saved her past salary which she had considered to be a very good sum. She laughed to herself as she knew that her total funds were humble indeed in comparison to his great fortune.
As they traveled from place to place, she was always on the lookout for the perfect gift to surprise him on Christmas day. Something wonderful - something that would cheer him up.
The second gift would be handmade - what did he need? He had been an important man; she was convinced that he remained an important man - if only he could escape from his deep depression. Important people dressed smartly. With this in mind, she decided to knit him a wool ascot. Wool would be expensive and would exhaust most of her funds but she knew that the finished product would be worth every penny.
She often daydreamed about the day that he proposed to her. It was an odd proposal; somewhat cold and cruel. Yet, at the same time, the day that he had proposed to her had completely transformed her life. He had saved her from an employer whom she increasingly disliked; he had saved her from a move to the United States (a country for which she had no interest); he had saved her from deep loneliness. He was her hero and she loved him deeply.
As she pondered the day that he had proposed to her, she realized that the perfect store bought gift would be a special Christmas breakfast with all of the foods that he had enjoyed on that very special day. Tea, tangerines, scones, and boiled eggs. Would he remember?
Secretly, she ordered the special breakfast foods from the hotel restaurant where they were now staying. This special breakfast would be delivered to their room on Christmas morning.
She was very pleased with herself and counted the days for Christmas to arrive!