Princess of Glass - Jessica Day George [80]
“What about Marianne’s dowry?” Dickon Thwaite took Marianne’s hand in his.
Lord Richard looked him up and down. “After the overly familiar way you have been behaving with my daughter, especially since she donned that highly inappropriate costume this evening, I expect you to propose even if her dowry is an old shoe!”
“Yes sir,” Dickon said sheepishly.
“Who do I speak to about Poppy?” Christian looked from Lord Richard to Galen and then to Rose.
Poppy left off stroking his hair. “Who do you speak to about what?” She wasn’t sure why her voice came out quite so sharp, but she didn’t bother to apologize.
Laughing, Rose pinched Poppy’s arm.
“Ouch! Rose, stop that!”
“I’m quite anxious for the rest of your letters to catch up to us,” Rose said slyly. “But in the meantime, Prince Christian, we should probably send a letter to our fathers. Kings like to be involved in this sort of thing.”
“What sort of thing?” Again, Poppy’s voice came out shrill. Were they really talking about … ? She was only sixteen! But Christian … Well, he had picked her over Eleanora, even under the Corley’s enchantment.
“We are the future rulers of Westfalin,” Galen said to Rose, clearly enjoying Poppy’s confusion. “We could make some of the arrangements ourselves, Rosie.”
“I’d actually like the chance to plan a more romantic setting for the proposal,” Christian said.
“Yes! No!” Poppy knew her face was so red it was probably glowing.
“No?” Christian twisted around and climbed up on his knees to look at her. “You mean you don’t want to?”
“I’m only sixteen … we hardly know each other!”
Christian’s face clouded, and Poppy felt her heart plummet toward her feet.
“You could always ask me. I mean …”
His expression cleared. “Princess Poppy, would you care to visit the Danelaw for the holidays?”
“Yes! I do! I will!” Poppy hugged him and then leaped back, embarrassed. “You could propose to me later, in a more private setting,” she said. “Just to see if things change,” she told him. “Besides, I need to let my feet rest. Betrothals and weddings always involve a great deal of dancing.”
The rest of the room looked on in shock.
“Dancing? You, Poppy?” Marianne shook her head slowly. “I never thought …”
Rose looked concerned. She even felt Poppy’s forehead for fever, but Poppy shook her off.
“I don’t know about you, Rose, but I am done with letting creatures like Under Stone or the Corley dictate my life. I enjoy dancing, and I will blasted well dance at my wedding!”
“Poppy! Language!”
Poppy didn’t answer; she just threw her arms around Christian and kissed him soundly.
The Anti-Love-Spell Bracelet
Materials:
1 skein worsted weight yarn
Size 7 (US) straight knitting needles
1 cable needle (abbreviation: CN)
Blunt yarn needle
1 button (shanked)
Instructions:
Cast on six stitches.
Row 1: K1, M1 by knitting through the front and back of the stitch, K2, M1, K1 (8 stitches) (t)
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: K1, M1, K4, M1, K1 (10 stitches)
Row 4: Knit
Begin charm pattern. Charm is based on the Hugs & Kisses cable.
Row 1: P1, K8, P1
Row 2: K1, P8, K1
Row 3: P1, slip 2 stitches to CN and hold to back of work, K2, K2 from CN, slip 2 stitches to CN, hold to front of work, K2, K2 from CN, P1.
Row 4: K1, P8, K1
Row 5: P1, K8, P1
Row 6: K1, P8, K1
Row 7: repeat Row 3
Row 8: K1, P8, K1
Row 9: P1, K8, P1
Row 10: K1, P8, K1
Row 11: P1, slip 2 stitches to CN and hold to FRONT of work, K2, K2 from CN, slip 2 stitches to CN, hold to BACK of work, K2, K2 from CN, P1.
Row 12: K1, P8, K1
Row 13: P1, K8, P1
Row 14: K1, P8, K1
Row 15: repeat Row 11
Row 16: K1, P8, K1
Knit these 16 rows 3 times, or to desired length.
Finish:
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: K1, K2tog, K4, K2tog, K1
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: K1, K2tog, cast off 2 stitches, K2tog, K1
Row 8: K3, cast on 1, K3. (This creates a buttonhole.)
Row 9: K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1
Row 10: K all stitches together,