What do you get the spy who has everything? Probably not a partridge in a pear tree. The Orchid Affair takes place just after the holidays, in January of 1804, but we never do get to hear what the Pink Carnation gets for Christmas.
So here’s your question (for an ARC of The Orchid Affair):
What would you get the Pink Carnation for Christmas?
The winner of the Orchid ARC will be announced on the First Day of Pink Carnation, aka Monday.
For those curious about the Pink Carnation’s 1803 holiday, you can read a bit about it here. Christmas is a dangerous time in the Selwick household….
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I would get her a cloak of invisibility!
by Renee
on December 9th, 2010 at 10:30 am
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I would get her spectacles with night vision capabilities so her missions under the cover of nightfall will be successful!
by Lauren Smith
on December 9th, 2010 at 11:06 am
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Although the Pink Carnation is a renowned spy, an intellectual, and a flowery personality – she is still a girl. Thus, for Christmas I would get the Pink Carnation the thing that every female desires – SHOES! Beautiful on the outside, but secretly sturdy (just in case there is a need to tramp down on the foot of an evil villain, or run away from some inconveniently hung Mistletoe).
by Meredith
on December 9th, 2010 at 11:13 am
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Some sort of weapon concealed by jewelry or other accessory. I’d suggest a sword and an umbrella, but Miss Gwen has one. Perhaps a small dagger that slips inside the corset. Hmm.
by Susan
on December 9th, 2010 at 11:15 am
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Some secret French documents!
by Kat
on December 9th, 2010 at 11:22 am
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a new make up kit for all her disguising needs…or a maid from Marseilles she really needs to perfect that accent
by lizzy
on December 9th, 2010 at 11:33 am
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A GPS tracking device. Excellent for keeping tabs on dangerous French spies!
by Becky
on December 9th, 2010 at 11:33 am
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A trunk full of new costumes.
by Elizabeth P
on December 9th, 2010 at 11:42 am
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I bet she could use a spa day.
by Christine
on December 9th, 2010 at 11:42 am
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Hm … maybe Invisible ink so messages could be passed back and forth under the watchful gaze of Miss Gwen …
by Amanda Isabel
on December 9th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
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some kind of crazy cool spy tool, like exploding dental floss!
by Rachel Adrianna
on December 9th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
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I was going to say a day at the spa as well! Perhaps a nice massage. I’m sure she gets stressed, though she would never show it.
Either that or her very own deadly parasol.
by Gina
on December 9th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
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A flawless French accent!
by Alexa J
on December 9th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
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Some fridge magnets. Just kidding. Or maybe not. I bet she’d like those fun ones where you get to dress up a statue of David in Hawaiian shirts. She could use comedy relief even though she probably had an ice box and didn’t cook her own food. Probably a terrible gift, not to mention unavailable in 1803. I’ve had too much coffee. Am going to stop now before I go on for pages.
by Samantha
on December 9th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
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A poison ring. Poison isn’t her style at all, of course, but she could fill it with a sleeping powder.
by Jody
on December 9th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
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A gift certificate for Spies R Us…because a girl can never have to many disguises 
by Amy
on December 9th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
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I would give her Hermione’s bag from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows so she can carry all her essentials (disguises, weapons, wigs, codebooks, and the like) in one tasteful yet stylish reticule.
by Jessica S.
on December 9th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
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Oooh suck a hard one! Wonderful answers above. What to give a clever spy?….new clothes!
by Bridget Erin
on December 9th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
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Some 21st century bugging equipment. Cameras, microphones, an unmarked van. Either she’ll put it to good use, or just be very confused about what it is…and that’s funny to think about…
by Jess G
on December 9th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
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I would get her something she deserves: A man who can keep up with her!
by Rose Mueller
on December 9th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
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A baby blue scarf with a little sheep embroidered on it with her last name Wooliston sewn in gold thread.
I sure wouldn’t mind getting that ^.^
by Dayana
on December 9th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
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I’d give her a little holiday. I mean, all that intrigue and subterfuge is no easy task!
by Sarah
on December 9th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
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I would give her another journal to write down all of her next adventures in. Leather bound with a lock and key of course.
by Katie F
on December 9th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
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I would give her what every other heroine in the series has ended up getting: the man of her dreams.
by Linda Robertson
on December 9th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
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A vacation! All that adventure is bound to tire a girl out.
by Jessica M.
on December 9th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
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A huge bouquet of carnations (pink), with a handsome delivery man. 
by Jackie
on December 9th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
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Hmmm… A black cape is never a bad thing to have a few extras lying around, but I feel like Jane would need something more subtle like a pen that has a compartment for a note to pass on to her associates or something like that.
by Kiley
on December 9th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
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definitely some james bondish secret spy tools! maybe some new wigs, too!
by amanda b.
on December 9th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
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I would give her something very girly that could be disguised as spy gear – like a brooch that is really a recording device.
by Rebekah
on December 9th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
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Jane, always on the run always in need of a good night sleep before bringing down Napoleon. I think Jane should get a new pillow where in the bottom is a heavy board just in cause there is a late night attach she can whack anyone over the head.
by Katy
on December 9th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
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What do you get for the spy that has everything? How about a new coding book of poetry? Then she wouldn’t have to listen to bad self-composed poetry anymore!
by Alexis
on December 9th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
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I think that a practical gift would be most appreciated. I’d get her a new, stylish traveling satchel with several secret compartments to conceal documents and small weapons.
by Janette A
on December 9th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
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A wool coat.
by AngelB
on December 9th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
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hmmmmm…..a fabulous pair of earrings that could hear over far distances, so she could hear what’s being discussed behind doors and in those darkened corners!
by Rebecca
on December 9th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
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A cloak and dagger.
…what, too corny? 
by Rebecca W.
on December 9th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
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A man! But maybe that’s more a present for me
by Rachel
on December 9th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
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I think she would like some new britches for male costuming! Something that Aunt Gwen would approve of!!!
by Susan H.
on December 9th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
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Hmm…her own book in the series With a man, of course!
by Cho
on December 9th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
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A few new wigs and a more expansive makeup kit for future missions.
by J
on December 9th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
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Her very own killer parasol, with a hidden sword !
by Sheila
on December 9th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
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The Super Secret Spy Decoder Ring: only 50 box tops !
by Sheila
on December 9th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
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idk what to get jane, but she should buy her friends some new bodices since theirs are all getting ripped to smithereens.
~lAUra
by lAUra
on December 9th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
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Steel toed slippers to protect her toes from Miss Gwen.
by Amanda
on December 9th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
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Well, they could always use a spare black shirt and pants, oh, and mask when they need to move during the night… and Miss Gwen always can use spare parasols!
Lois
by Lois M.
on December 9th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
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A secretive dossier on Napoleon Bonaparte!
by Dee
on December 9th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
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A pill ring that looks like a boring signet ring for her family when you flip it up on the underside it has the pink carnation symbol and a place to store little messages. oh and it looks like a normal ring.
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A day off!
by Catie
on December 9th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
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… a hero in her sto-ree.
by Chartreuse
on December 9th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
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to quote dumbledore “a pair of thick woolen socks.”
by Shannon C
on December 9th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
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I think a cell phone would be most helpful!
by Amanda Carroll
on December 10th, 2010 at 12:21 am
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Hm.. a nice gift for the Pink Carnation would be a bouquet of every kind of flower for each of the flower-named assassins she’s encountered in her line of work – imitation is supposedly the best form of flattery, right? What better way to subtly celebrate being an icon than with a very subtle ‘trophy’?
And then when the flowers die, she can dry them to remind herself that those spies are no longer threats.
by Diandra
on December 10th, 2010 at 1:07 am
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Hmmmm this is difficult! I would have to say I would get her something girly since she’s so caught up in the spy business (Christmas presents should be totally relaxing, nothing to do with work!) How about a nice box of ribbons, in all the colors of certain English spies of course
by Cristina F
on December 10th, 2010 at 8:00 am
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A GPS tracker for Napoleon Bonaparte!
by Michela
on December 10th, 2010 at 8:04 am
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A pair of socks. You can never have enough socks.
by Carolyn
on December 10th, 2010 at 8:39 am
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I would get her a beautiful new quill pen with some fancy stationary to write both letters to her friends…and secret coded messages!
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A spectacular gentleman to finally make her fall hopelessly in love! And of course…her very own Pink Carnation novel
by Claudine
on December 10th, 2010 at 9:08 am
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Napoleon Bonaparte wrapped up in a pretty pink bow.
by Erin L
on December 10th, 2010 at 9:53 am
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Think I will borrow from one of the other posts and appeal to both Miss Gwen and Amelia Peabody and go with a sworded parasol!
by Katie
on December 10th, 2010 at 10:24 am
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How about a month in Greece? It was 15 degrees this morning, and I know I would certainly relish the gift of a getaway to a warm place…
by Georgia
on December 10th, 2010 at 11:15 am
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A parasol proof corset.
by Whitney
on December 10th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
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A parasol proof corset and a new Jane Austen novel for her to relax with.
by Whitney
on December 10th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
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I was going to say Harry Potter’s Cloak of Invisibility, but I think that Jessica’s idea of Hermione’s expanding purse is better gift for a spy. Or maybe Annabeth Chase’s infinite limit credit card form the Lotus Hotel? Or maybe Lucy Pevensie’s cordial of cure all? Oh, the possibilities…
by AnneK
on December 10th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
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I would probably get her a trunk full of costumes and disguises – and maybe a couple of pretty dresses, although, I guess those would be costume-like. I’d also throw in some false noses, plenty of make-up to alter her appearance, and a new parasol for Miss Gwen (I don’t want to leave her out! And I’ll make sure it’s extra pointy and has a blade that she can pull out of the handle). And I’ll make an eggnog cheesecake…
by Ashlee
on December 10th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
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I would get her a bottle of wine and a mp3 player so she could play her own theme song.
by Carole
on December 10th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
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Hmmm…what should one get the master spy for Christmas?
Practical Jane needs a sturdy reticule (reticules play such a large part in some of the Pink books), plenty of stockings, and a vacation!
by MelissaW
on December 10th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
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something useful would be a corset that could conceal a dagger or various other spy neccessities. and it could have such pretty pink embroidery that looks like carnations, since it is all the rage. or i agree with the other posters in that we would love to read her very own story.
by jamie
on December 10th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
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A portrait of her own true love to go inside of her locket/Pink Carnation seal.
by Jessica S
on December 10th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
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I’d give her an elegantly-bound journal with a lock that works and a small but serviceable knife masquerading as a bookmark.
by Jane
on December 11th, 2010 at 12:29 am
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I would get Jane, a story Maybe her ending up with someone she fell in love with. Instead of her being a secondary character, which I like! But who knows what could happen to the Pink Carnation after she’s taken?
Hmm. How about a cane/parasol like Miss Gwen has? That could be useful
by Sara G.
on December 11th, 2010 at 3:22 am
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A very practical Pink Carnation present would be a bicorn hat and a great coat that lends itself to slipping one’s hand in near the top. After all,you never know when you need to impersonate someone on the fly,especially when you’re a spy!
by Lady T
on December 11th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
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I would get her a beautiful fan – girly – but when you open it some of the wood holding the fan together can hold messages and one is very sharp – so she could “lend” her fan to a female spy re messages or if a gent picks it up – and it would hold a weapon just in case.
by Andrea Clark
on December 11th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
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I’d give her some alibis =D can never have too many of those when you are a spy!
If I had to give her a material thing, it would be the equivalent to febreeze. That can always be useful when trying to eliminate perfume or stable smells =D
by Erica D
on December 12th, 2010 at 12:12 am
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I would get her a stun gun for when she gets in sticky situations.
by kimmie lange
on December 12th, 2010 at 11:06 am
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So I’ve been debating this for the past few days … Unable to come to a conclusion on my own, I broached the subject with my husband (who hasn’t read the books, but might as well have for as much as my mom and I speak of them). His suggestion – clean underwear. Explanation: if you’re a spy and you’re caught and interrogated, you want to have clean underwear on … just in case they hold you for a while. (He makes a good point … )
So, with that, I believe I would get her pretty new underthings.
by Rachel
on December 12th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
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A pretty mahogany writing box with pink velvet lining containing several inks (including invisible and pink of course), a goosefeather pen to write with and containing several secret compartments for hiding secret messages, her spy code book, and small vials with sleeping powder, itching powder and magnesium, if she needs to create a flashy distraction.
by Petra
on December 12th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
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I think I’d like to get her a stuffed toy sheep to remind her of her former home and the real roots of the “Pink Carnation”
by Anna Kozlowski
on December 13th, 2010 at 12:36 am
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[...] you all so much for your ingenious spy gift ideas! Some of these may need to find their way into the Pink Carnation’s [...]
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[...] Days of Pink Carnation” contest on her blog last week, for one of which she asked the wonderful question of what you would get the Pink Carnation for Christmas. In the spirit of imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, I can’t resist taking off [...]
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