Page 35 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

“Good, then we’ll see if we can get Ingrid out of Malvina’s hands and returned to the village where she belongs.”

Ella picked up one of the scones and broke off a corner. She popped it into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

“Do you know where Malvina is?” she asked.

“I do,” he said. “But it will not be an easy trek. And the mountain pass is particularly treacherous this time of year. We’ll need help.” He picked up a biscuit and broke it in half. “And we’ll need provisions.” He paused, looking over the pile of pastries. “Something other than sweets.”

“And,” she said around a mouthful, “a plan for keeping the slippers.”

“The slippers are the least of my concerns.” He paced the small confines of the cabin. “Malvina destroyed the Christmas Star atop the village tree. We’ll need to find a way to repair that, too.”

“It’s that important?” she asked.

He nodded. “It’s the heart of Rovenheim. It’s what makes our season merry and bright.”

She tipped her head to the side as she considered his words. “I always thought how people felt about the season made it merry and bright. Not necessarily because of an object.”

His brows drew together. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that the magic of the season is within. That it really isn’t about parties or decorating or gift-giving. That it’s about doing nice things for the people you love and spending time with those people.”

She broke off another piece of the scone as she peered up at him through her lashes. She thought of past Christmases with her father. On the eve before the holiday, they would sit together by the fireplace, with all the candles lit, after a hearty meal of roasted duck and vegetables, and he would read to herTheNight Before Christmas. She’d leave a plate of cookies out for the Christmas elf for when he delivered their packages. Afterward, her father would tuck her into bed and wish her a happy Christmas and pleasant magical dreams and then kiss her on the forehead.

That was before he married Lillian. Before she and her two, dreadful daughters moved in with them and ruined all their holiday plans. Before her father left and never returned.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes, of course. Why do you ask?”

Contemplation crossed his face. “It’s just that, for a moment, you had the saddest look.”

She forced a smile. “I’m fine.”

“I think you’re right, though. That doing things for the people you love and being kind is part of the season. But the Christmas Star was unique. It pulled us together when the outlook for the world was bleak. Centuries ago, it brought peace to our war-ravaged country.”

“Oh.” The word came out as a delicate whisper. “Then I understand why you want to repair it.”

He ate the rest of the biscuit and then brushed crumbs from his hands. “Well, shall we go? We have another day’s trek but should be at the castle by nightfall.”

She finished her scone and nodded, wishing she had a pot of tea to wash it all down. She pulled on her boots and slipped the flour sack with the slippers and the tattered dress over her shoulder, then wrapped the cloak around her. One last glance back at the spread of food and her stomach rumbled again.

With a sheepish glance at Nicholas, she wrapped up several of the pastries in a piece of cloth. He chuckled as he paused at the door, waiting for her.

“They are delicious, aren’t they?” he asked.

Nodding, she tucked the small package into the flour sack on top of the shoes. “They are.”

He pulled open the door to the bright morning sun and the snow glistening on the ground. She followed him out into the crisp air, her stomach giving a lurch. Excitement and apprehension flickered through her at the thought of arriving at the royal castle that evening.

Chapter 13

Itwasalongtrek through the trees. They finally broke free of the forest and headed up a slope of a hill, the sun glinting off the snow. Her legs burned from the exertion and her breath see-sawed in and out of her, pluming in front of her. She spotted a cluster of rocks ahead and headed for them.

“Please, I need a moment.” She paused, pressing a hand against her side to catch her breath. She leaned against the rock to give her tired legs time to stop aching.

Nicholas halted and turned to face her, stepping closer with an encouraging grin. “It’s not far now.”

“Good.” She pulled out the cloth wrapped around the pastries as her stomach grumbled. She handed him a biscuit, which he accepted with a grateful smile.

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