Time had crushed the many doings into a small space. After the night?s previous Winter Market, Sylvia was feeling the earliness of the morning in its full force. Eyelids felt like iron against being open and ankles demanded rest against their abuse of skating. Still, she managed to wake and get the children ready for the trip back home.

There was, however, a stop to make on the way to the docks and the awaiting ship to Yransea. On her lap, resting beneath doeskin gloved hands, was a decorative box. A wax sealed note securely placed beneath the simple green satin ribbon kept drawing the eye of her curious little boy. Aidan had questioned the duration of the carriage ride why he could not open it and see what was inside, and it seemed Sylvia?s precise words of ?It is not for you? did not discourage that curiosity.

She smiled once more to Aidan who, while not giving up, took interest in the toy horse on his lap. Fidgeting hands of her own tapped upon the box edges, and she smiled against the worry fretting inside her of its contents. Miriam?s encouraging smile did not relieve that worry, though Beata?s burbling commentary and slobber chewed mittens did let Sylvia?s mind escape a moment in mirth.

Winter Market had held many crafts and items for the purchasing, but the thought of scarred hands warming against the edge of hot mugs caused her to stop at one of the stands of leather goods. It had a wide array of weather appropriate clothing. The gloves she were taken up each in turn and assessed for appropriateness due to color or decoration. She had decided less was more: the decoration, less than half an inch wide, was a very simple interwoven line of embroidery around the bottom edge of the dark brown leather gloves.

The worry rose from not exactly knowing what size Hudson wore, or even if he cared for gloves at all. Ewan did not, but his reasons were somewhat philosophical if impractical, and Sylvia had given up long ago on convincing him otherwise. She hoped that Hudson did not have a similar aversion to gloves. She wanted it to be a useful gift. Yet, the size was still a problem, and so she selected four of similar construction in sizes all around the best her memory could recollect of what would fit.

The carriage rolled along the streets of town and around the edge of a Marketplace not yet stirring but for the few who sauntered through for calls to early business. The driver stopped the carriage before The Silver Lark. ?I will be just a moment,? Sylvia said to her riding companions and opened the door herself to step light and quick outside into the biting cold of dawn. She did not expect any to be up at such an outrageous hour of morning, but it could not be helped in order to make a good departure time at sea.

Her arm looped about the box, she searched over the face of the building to find a spot that would fit practicality and purpose: safe from the elements and passersby but visible to the owners upon their entering or exiting. The matter was not served by the front, and with a worried sigh at what she must look like sneaking around the back, she walked that way.

It was there she found a fine place that served her purpose and left the box and its note, and returned to the carriage trying not to look like the sneak she felt as she came around the corner of the building onto the street and hopped into the open carriage door. She also hoped there was no one awake inside and watching her wondering what the blazing pyres she was doing. She could already feel the embarrassment upon just the imagining of it. Sailing would cure it, and she told herself what was done was done.

Within the box were four pairs of gloves, well constructed in leather and lining, and of similar sizes. The note on the outside of the box was addressed to Sianna Fraiser. On its opening it would read:

Greetings Mistress Fraiser,

I hope this note finds you and yours well, and coupled with that hope is request for your assistance in a matter. Inside the box is four pairs of gloves, one of which I hope will fit your brother. I regret at not knowing the exact size that would suit his hands. Would you be so kind as to help me with this small gift, select the proper pair, and gift it to him for Wintertide? I would be most grateful.

My family and I thank you for the kind invitation to gather with your family at your Yule celebration. If it were not for the requirements of being in our homeland for Wintertide, it would have been a great honor to share the time with you and yours. We wish you well for the holidays, and we look forward to the Hogmanay celebration.

Kind regards,

Sylvia

His departure from the bed had roused her, no longer having the heat of him to snuggle against. Yet sleep had ebbed reluctantly and as Sianna padded into the kitchen, her thin robe wrapped tightly, she yawned enormously. She craved coffee and could hardly set the pot to percolating fast enough. Johnny's silhouette was outlined with rays of sunlight as she caught glimpse of him outside, the thin shade drawn on the door's window obscuring any detail.

A soft smile dawned across her lips as she turned towards the counter to get some breakfast started. For him to be up at such an early hour, there had to be something special on his agenda, and he would surely be hungry. His appetite was quite misleading for a man of such trim and muscular proportions. In fact, she had become quite convinced that he had a hollow leg or similar contraption that allowed him to consume food in such a manner. The oatmeal set to boil, she chuckled softly at the realization that Johnny?s voracious attitude extended well beyond the realm of sustenance. A rasher of sausage links was placed on the griddle before she began to slice some bananas and berries to complete their simple meal. The door clicked open and she shivered as the cold morning air danced about her ankles before climbing up the back of her legs.

?Breakfast?ll be ready in just a wee bit more, leannan, but help yerself tae th? coffee.? The coffeepot was gurgling contentedly, the heady aroma enough to make one?s mouth water. ?And if ye?d be a dear, I?ll take a mug with cream and sugar.? The oatmeal was nearly ready and the sausage needed only a moment longer, and even though she was eager for her morning jolt, to turn away now would only assure that one was lumpy and the other fried to an ashy crisp.

Two mugs in hand, Johnny claimed a kiss before depositing her java on the counter. ?Mmmm, a double dose of thanks, mo chridhe. Ye always ken just what I need tae set my morning in order.? She flashed him one of her brilliant grins before handing him a plate bearing several links to the side of the bowl of oatmeal, the perfect way to carry it all one-handed.

He inhaled the tantalizing odors appreciatively. ?As if ya should think I?ve got a monopoly on that trick. Ya don?t do to bad yerself, m?own.? Johnny handed her his mug of coffee before picking up the plate with her breakfast. ?Lemme get this for ya, Si. There?s something I think yer gonna want ta look at first.? His head nodded towards the table and the box resting there. ?I found it outside this mornin?.?

Side-stepping him, she approached the box with intense curiosity. Sianna started to reach for the tag before she realized that her hands were occupied. Johnny?s laughter rang out and he plucked the cups from her. ?Here, gimme those. I don?t think th? box has donuts or such for ya ta douse with yer coffee? or mine.? His tone held a teasing note of mock-sadness.

She wiped her hands on her robe before reaching for a loose end of ribbon and tugging the bow loose. Never having been one for notes, the box opened easily to reveal each pair of fine gloves wrapped in a band of green tissue and also tied with a bit of ribbon. Brows arched in surprise and attention was then given to the note, smiling at first to the thoughtfulness of the giver and then the assured gratitude of the recipient. Passing the note to Johnny for him to read, she arranged each pair in sequential order of size and simply stared.

?Somehow I dinna think this will be any easier a task for me than it would ha?e been for Sylvia, leannan. However am I going tae choose th? right pair? And what do ye think she?d have me do with th? extras, hmmm??