"Will we have a big tree inside the castle?" Marigold asked Mama. "Like we had at Downton?"
"Yes darling! Of course we will. That is a very important part of Christmas."
"We didn't have one last year", Granny said. "There were so many other things to prepare before the wedding. And only me and Bertie here over Christmas, no children."
Marigold was afraid that Granny thought children were causing trouble, but that was not so at all.
"This Christmas will be very much nicer, with Marigold here", Granny said with a smile. "And perhaps the baby will be born by then also."
...
Next morning after breakfast Papa came to the nursery to open the Calendar.
"It is number ten today", he said. "That is a number one with a zero after it."
"What is a zero?" Marigold asked.
"Just a ring", Papa said. "Zero means nothing."
Marigold found the right flap and opened it. Inside was a lovely Christmas Tree.
"How appropriate", Papa said. "I was just going to ask you to come with me and select the loveliest fir-tree to have as our Christmas tree.
...
An hour later Papa and Marigold and Jones, one of Brancaster's tenants, were walking through the forest near Brancaster.
"We will only select it today", Papa said. "It is too early to cut it down."
He stopped beside a giant fir-tree.
"What do you think about this one Jones?" Papa asked. "Is it too big?"
"No, I think it will be alright", Jones said. "It's a big hall."
"Well, Marigold, do you like it?" Papa asked.
The tree was big and green and full of beautiful cones. Marigold more than liked it. She loved it.
AN: Thank you for reading! Thank you for the reviews! They varm my heart.