Princess Of The Silver Woods Part 25

"Oh, really?" Petunia gave her a look.

"And possibly some are for that a.n.a.lousian duke Jacques invited," Jonquil said with a sparkle in her eyes. "But none are for you."

Then she flipped one to Oliver.

"You can have one, my lord earl," she said, and twirled away.

"These are excellent," Oliver said, eating half of it in one bite. He fed Petunia the other half so that she wouldn't get cream on her knitting. Oliver was just leaning in to steal a kiss- "I hope this means you're planning on marrying her, boy," barked King Gregor.

Oliver leaped to his feet. "Sire! Yes! I mean ... I ... sire!"

"I didn't pardon you and restore your earldom so that you could loll around in my gardens flirting with my daughters," King Gregor said. Then he bent down and gave Petunia a kiss on the cheek. "I like him," he whispered loudly in her ear.

"Me too," she whispered back, blushing.

"What are you knitting? Something for Lily's baby?" King Gregor beamed down at the white wool in Petunia's hands.

"Er, actually, it's a m.u.f.f," Petunia said. "For me, but ..."

"I can see your point," Dr. Kelling said, while Oliver continued to stand awkwardly next to the bench, turning red and white in turns. "The weather continues to be cool." The doctor gave Oliver a sympathetic look from beneath his bushy brows.

"Go over and speak to Galen, would you?" King Gregor pleaded. "He and Rose are being coy about something and I don't like it."

"Sire," Oliver said as he helped Petunia to her feet, "I'd like to marry Petunia."

"Of course you would," retorted King Gregor. "But not right now! We just got those two taken care of." He pointed to the twins who were still trying to play Christian's odd game. "And weddings are expensive!"

He and Dr. Kelling walked off, leaving Oliver standing, stunned, beside Petunia.

"You'll have to get used to Papa," she told him, dropping her knitting on the bench and taking his arm.

"Indeed I will," he said faintly as they crossed the lawn.

"Does this mean I can finally go see how Lady Emily has redecorated the manor?" Petunia asked.

"I suppose so," Oliver said.

"Perhaps we can go when my sisters aren't around ... just the two of us?"

"Yes, we should," Oliver said with more enthusiasm this time.

"You should what?" Rose looked up at them from the dish of hothouse strawberries she was eating.

"Ask Galen what he's knitting," Petunia said.

"It's a baby blanket," Rose said.

"It's round." Petunia squinted at the thing her brother-in-law was holding. "It looks like a mushroom."

"Wait and see," Galen said.

"Is it for Lily's baby?" Petunia asked.

"No," Rose said, looking up from her strawberries with a broad smile. "It's for mine."

Petunia's Fingerless Gloves.

Materials:.

1 skein medium-weight yarn.

Size 8 (US) double-pointed needles.

Instructions:.

Cast on 40 st.i.tches, dividing between three of the needles. Place marker at beginning of row and join for working in the round.

Knit in a 32 rib (knit 3, purl 2) for 1 inch.

Thumb: Bind off the first 6 st.i.tches, continue working the row in pattern. On the next round, loosely cast on 6 st.i.tches, continue working the row in pattern.

Work the 32 rib for 5 inches, or as long as desired. Bind off loosely in pattern, weave in ends.

Cast on the second glove immediately.

Rose's Baby Blanket.

Materials: 140 yards medium-weight cotton yarn (approximately) 1 skein novelty yarn such as pompom or faux fur Size 10 (US) double-pointed needles Size 10 circular needles in 16" and 32" lengths Instructions: On one double-pointed needle, cast on 4 st.i.tches.

Row 1: (Knit 1, yarn over) repeat to end. You now have eight st.i.tches. Divide them onto three of the double-pointed needles and join for working in the round.

Row 2: (Knit 2, place a marker) repeat to end.

Row 3: (Knit to marker, slip the marker, yarn over) repeat to end.

Row 4: Knit all st.i.tches, carefully slipping markers.

Repeat rows 3 and 4, switching to circular needles as needed.

When you can no longer fit more st.i.tches onto the 32 needle, the blanket will be large enough. Switch to the novelty yarn and bind off all st.i.tches. Weave in ends.

Acknowledgments.

Great things come in threes, so as soon as I started working on Princess of Gla.s.s, I knew that I would need to write a third book about the Westfalian princesses or it just wouldn't feel right. But in order to write Petunia's story I was going to need some help, especially since I was expecting my third child during the initial writing stage and caring for a newborn during editing!

Help came, as it always does, in the shape of friends and family who loved, supported, and fed me (and my children!) while I was working. Thank you all so much! In particular, my stalwart husband cooked, cleaned, took the two older children on long car rides, and held the baby late into the night so that I could work. Our favorite babysitter spent hours playing "restaurant" and Indiana Jones (thanks, Miranda!), while I hunched over my trusty laptop in the library. Thanks, too, to our local librarians, for providing me with a lovely place to work. (And, occasionally, nap.) Special thanks to everybody at Bloomsbury for all their hard work and tireless cheerleading. Melanie Cecka, my beloved editor on seven previous books, gave advice and feedback in the early stages of this book. Mich.e.l.le Nagler is due for some custom knitwear as thanks for leaping into the breach with me when it came time to edit. Tim Travaglini, he of the dapper bowties, got roped into the editing party as well, making this book truly a team effort.

But very special thanks go to Amy Jameson, my fantastic agent. Seven years ago I didn't know what a literary agent did; now I couldn't imagine the world without her. Her unflagging support, friendship, editorial feedback, and generally soothing presence make my books possible. And so, with great pleasure and the most sincere affection, I dedicate this book to her.

Also by Jessica Day George.

Dragon Slippers.

Dragon Flight.

Dragon Spear.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow.

Tuesdays at the Castle.

Princess of the Midnight Ball.

Princess of Gla.s.s.

end.