Ornaments
Ann had decided to take matters into her own hands, since Anne was hardly at home and hadn’t really been for the past few weeks, as business brought her out of the house from morning to night. And because Christmas drew nearer, and they needed to decorate the halls with ornaments. Well, they didn’t have to, but Ann wanted to and if she didn’t do it herself, it wouldn’t be done at all. Marian seemed to think it was a terrible idea that would only lead to ‘Caligula’ having one of her famous meltdowns about how it was her house and Ann thought her a tad overdramatic and merely shrugged her shoulder at that, who didn’t like Christmas decorations? – Surely her wife enjoyed it, even if she wasn’t bursting with excitement for it.
Ann had walked around the house trying to find old ornaments and been less than successful, most of the ones she had found were old and torn – it seemed Shibden hadn’t been decorated for quite some time. Nevertheless, Ann was there to bring the Christmas cheer and she wouldn’t do without decorations. That was half the fun of Christmas.
Though when Ann had been searching for quite a while she gave up and went into the sitting room where Marian sat with her embroidery,
“Do you know where the Christmas decorations are, Marian?” Ann asked her, and she raised an eyebrow before shaking her head, pulling her thread through her hoop – not looking up,
“No, and to be frank, I haven’t seen them for years.”
“Does anyone know where they are?” Ann tapped her foot gently - beginning to grow impatient.
“Eh, probably not. I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t put it past her, my sister, that she used them as firewood at some point.” Marian shrugged a shoulder, not particularly upset but Ann just gasped,
“No! Did she really?!”
“There was a big bonfire anyway, but it might have been something else burning. You know, you could ask her yourself.” Marian told Ann but they immediately grimaced at each other, asking Anne about it wouldn’t get them anywhere – even if she knew, she probably wouldn’t tell them anyhow. The room became silent, but for the sounds coming from the fire as Ann thought hard about where they could possibly be. She tapped her chin with her hand willing an idea to appear.
“Do you think she has hidden them in her study?” Ann asked suddenly and Marian paused her hand mid-air, frowning - thoughtful for a second,
“She might’ve, she has got lots of rubbish in there.”
“Brilliant.”
“I’m sorry to burst your bubble, Ann, but I think she locks the door when she heads out.” Marian stated and Ann dragged her hand over her face,
“You’re right… where’s the key though?”
“There might be a spare key, but she always has the actual key on her person.” Marian responded, and Ann bowed her head in acknowledgement, still pondering,
“That she does.”
“Oh, it’s always in the pocket, on her skirt.” Ann’s face lit up, and Marian didn’t know quite how to react to that, she didn’t know where Ann was going in her mind.
“I might steal it.”
“Steal? Why I didn’t think you had it in you!” Marian cheered, she loved that she finally had someone who would gang up on Anne with her sometimes.
“Mm, but I must get near her, and she mustn’t suspect anything.”
“I could start an argument to distract her, and you will embrace her and sneak your hand into her pocket.” Marian remarked, and Ann smiled at her,
“One small query though, is Anne here? She was out on the grounds before.”
“I’m not…” Marian’s answer was cut short as Anne appeared in the doorway, wearing her coat and the hat was placed on her head,
“I’m off to sort a few things out down in Halifax.”
Marian and Ann glanced at each other and Ann stood up,
“Wait!”
Anne turned around immediately eying her with wonder, looking between her and Marian to try and discern what was the matter.
“I haven’t seen you all day.” Ann hesitated, it wasn’t a good enough reason, was it? But Anne eyed her tenderly, speaking softly,
“I will be back as soon as I can. We can talk then.”
“Eh…” Ann felt awkward as she approached her wife, Anne gave her concerned look,
“Hm? I will see you at dinner.”
Anne tried to leave but Ann leapt forwards, clasping her arms around Anne, managing to stun the woman. Marian almost laughed at Anne’s expression but kept a straight face, muttering,
“Yeah right.”
“What?” Anne eyed Marian annoyed, whilst Ann still held her in a tight embrace,
“You are never on time.” Marian snapped, with a discreet eye on Ann whose hand begun searching for the opening in the skirt.
“That’s outrageous, Marian, I am almost never late!” Anne fumed, and Marian rolled her eyes only to irritate her sister,
“Considering your obsession with looking at your damn watch all the time, it is unbelievable that you fail such a simple task as being on time for dinner. It’s rude and ill-mannered.”
Ann could feel Anne’s body tense as she grew angrier with her sister, and she froze in her movement for a second, though she felt the keys at her fingertips.
“You belong to the landed gentry, start acting like it!” Marian barked, and Anne saw red, allowing Ann to quickly snatch the keys from the pocket without Anne realising. Ann wondered for a second, after she had managed to get the keys, at Anne not saying anything about the fact that Ann had been hugging her for a good-few-minutes but decided to leave it at that – as she didn’t want her to get suspicious. Marian saw the keys in the blonde’s hand and before Anne could continue to rant, Marian raised a hand,
“You are right, of course you are, Anne. I’m sorry I ever questioned you and your manners.”
Anne was perplexed at Marian’s sudden submission and Ann let go off her,
“I’ll see you at dinner. Don’t be late.”
“Eh…”
“Go on, you’ll be late!” Ann urged her wife, who composed herself and nodded,
“Um, yes, I’ll be home for dinner.”
Anne left them and as they heard the door slam shut, Ann held up the keys triumphantly,
“We make a great team.” Marian laughed, and Ann nodded,
“That we do. She will be furious when she realises they’re gone though, and that we tricked her.”
“That’s what makes it so enjoyable.” Marian sang, and Ann couldn’t help but laugh with her.
Ann left Marian in the sitting room, they decided it was for the best, if Anne did come home to find them in there. As Marian had argued, ‘Anne would never hurt you, but I might not say the same for myself’. It was a bit exciting, Ann thought as she lingered outside for a moment, holding the key in her hand, heart beating hard in her chest. This wasn’t wrong of her, was it? – Anne wouldn’t be too upset? Ann chewed her bottom lip; she didn’t want to upset her wife. She just wanted to find the Christmas decorations, and surely that was fine? This wasn’t considered prying… and besides they had promised to share everything with each other, no, this was fine. Ann exhaled and put the key in and unlocked the lock before turning the doorknob, opening the door to reveal Anne’s study. With careful steps she moved inside, leaving the door slightly ajar to be able to hear if anyone came up the stairs.
Ann really loved this room, it was full of Anne’s things, and it smelled of her, it was comforting to come in here, at least normally. Right now, Ann was a bit wary.
She searched around the room, to find any clues of where they might be stored away, Ann opened a chest, but it was only filled with journals. Temptation to open one up and read it filled Ann for a split second before she reprimanded herself, she would never intrude on Anne’s private scribbles and thoughts. With a furrowed brow, Ann continued investigating the room, and her eye found a cabinet in the corner. She went over to have a look inside, but it refused to open as it was locked, and she tried one of the other keys on the keyholder she had stolen. The lock clicked and Ann grinned; she was going to find the Christmas decorations she was certain of it. She pushed the doors open, and peered inside, and her eyes found a neat line of ornaments hanging on the inside of the cabinet. Ann was delighted to see it, surely Anne couldn’t loathe Christmas if she had her ornaments hanging organised and locked away safely? Kneeling down to have a better look at them, she reached her hand in to take one of them out. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she regarded the odd-looking ornament. It had a glass front and, Ann squinted her eyes, decorative curled thread placed inside? Where on earth, did they hang these?
“OH Christ, Ann, no!”
Ann jumped five feet in the air, dropping the ornament she held, luckily it didn’t break. Her cheeks were burning bright red as Anne came into the room. But Anne did look equally red in the face and Ann thought that it must be from anger. She felt thoroughly ashamed of herself. She shouldn’t have stolen the keys, and she shouldn’t have gone through Anne’s stuff.
“I’m sorry.” Ann trembled, barely able to look into her wife’s upset eyes, handing her the keys back.
“God…” Anne sank onto her knees by the cabinet, picking the ornament up, placing it inside before closing the doors and locking it again.
“Anne, I didn’t mean to pry, I was just looking for… It’s really no excuse, I shouldn’t have done it.” Ann rambled, and Anne stood up from the floor, cheeks still tinted red,
“I don’t know what to say. If you want something, tell me! I am not keeping… I, I have certain things in here that I’d rather no one found. Old memorabilia that I for sentimental reasons have kept.”
“Are you cross with me?” Ann asked, and Anne sighed,
“You didn’t… no, it’s fine.”
“I won’t do it again. I trust you to not keep anything important from me.” Ann told her and Anne hummed in reply, before straightening herself up,
“What were you looking for?”
“Um, Christmas decorations.” Ann revealed, fearing her reaction but Anne merely smiled,
“Why did you think it was in here?”
“I looked everywhere else. But all I found in here was those ornaments in there. Wherever did you find those? They looked a bit odd.” Ann said and the colour rose in Anne’s cheeks again, and Ann realised she was mortified – not angry. Ann pondered why that could be, but then Anne opened her mouth,
“They aren’t ornaments.”
“What are they?” Ann inquired, but when she saw how uncomfortable and embarrassed that question made Anne, she almost regretted asking it.
“Um… they are hair medallions.” Anne admitted unwillingly and Ann frowned,
“It didn’t look like locks of hair.”
Anne’s face turned into a grimace and she covered her face with her hands, and it dawned upon Ann what they were, and her face became beet red,
“OH, ah, I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have…”
Anne groaned into her hands, and Ann felt so badly for her, she took her hands and removed them from her face gently,
“You don’t have to be ashamed, Anne. I don’t think or feel any different about you.”
“It’s a bit odd though, isn’t it?” Anne dared to look at her and Ann laughed,
“That it may be, but… it’s fine. I’m just glad you came back to stop me. Only think if I had hung them about the house.”
Anne couldn’t help but laugh loudly at that thought, and she kissed Ann sweetly,
“Let’s thank the Lord you didn’t.”
“I have one question though.”
“Mm?” Anne raised an eyebrow,
“Why didn’t you ask me?”
“Eh, because I didn’t want to scare you away.”
“Is it weird if I am a bit insulted?” Ann giggled and Anne grabbed her chin and pulled her in for a rough kiss, chuckling all the while.
“I’ll get those Christmas decorations down for you.”
“And I’ll get cracking on completing your weird collection of… ‘ornaments’.” Ann winked and they laughed merrily together and eventually Ann got hold of the Christmas decorations and could decorate the hall to her hearts content.