Page 37 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

He leaned toward her and dropped his voice, “Wait until you see it lit up tonight.”

His warm breath brushed her cheek as he spoke, sending a wave of delicious longing through her. She gave him a quick glance as he winked and pulled her along.

“Your highness! You’ve returned!” a rotund, jovial man shouted with an exaggerated wave of his arm.

He had thinning black hair showing off his shiny pate and bright blue eyes that flashed with surprise and glee as he hurried across the courtyard to greet them. His fur-lined cloak flapped behind him. His black boots were coated with snow. The tips of his ears were red, as well as his nose and cheeks, from the frosty air. She pulled Nicholas to a jarring halt and jerked her hand from his as shock rolled through her.

“Your highness?” she repeated under her breath.

He gave her a sheepish grin. “Yes, I wanted to tell you, but—”

The man skidded to a halt in front of them, taking Nicholas into a giant bear hug and squeezing him in his beefy arms. He pulled back, a broad grin on his face as he held him at arm’s length. He gave a belly laugh of surprise and delight.

“We didn’t expect you back yet.”

Then he noticed Ella.

“Oh, my. Who is this lovely lady? Forgive me, my lady, I didn’t see you there.” As he bowed, he took her hand in his gloved one.

“This is Ella,” Nicholas said. “Ella, this is Magnus, he’s the steward of the castle when the royal family is away.”

Magnus bent and placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand. “My dear, your hands are frozen.” Then he turned a scalding gaze on Nicholas. “Your highness, have you no chivalry? Why didn’t you give the girl gloves?”

“There was no time. We were in a bit of a rush when we left the village.”

His expression turned to one of concern. “Oh, yes, we heard what happened in the village. That Malvina destroyed the Christmas Star. Whatever will we do now?” His face contorted into agonized lines.

Magnus was, by far, the most expressive person Ella had ever met.

“I have a plan.”

Nicholas cut her a glance as she shifted from one foot to the other and withdrew her hand discreetly from Magnus’s.

“But we can discuss that in good time. I’m frozen to my toes. Let’s go inside.” He waved them toward the entrance.

“Yes, of course. I’ll have a chamber made up for the lady.”

They entered the castle through the double oak doors with the wrought iron hinges and paused in the massive foyer. There was so much to see, Ella wasn’t sure where to look first. From the black and white checkered floor covered in thick, plush ancient rugs to a wide curved staircase that went up to the second level to the yawning doorway to their right leading into what appeared to be the great hall. There was a long, wooden table that seated twenty on each side and one at each end. Behind that, an oversized fireplace that boasted a roaring fire, the light flickering off the floor and the stone walls giving it a warm and inviting ambience. To their left, another room that boasted plush and comfortable furniture, another fireplace, plush rugs, and oil paintings on every wall.

Everywhere she looked were holiday decorations. Green garland trimmed in red and gold ribbon wound around the banister. A giant tree adorned with red and gold tinsel, red and gold ornaments, and tiny white twinkling lights was on the far wall in the great hall. Greenery and candles decorated the fireplace mantle. She had never seen such a holiday splendor in her life and it made her smile.

Everything seemed bigger and brighter here in Rovenheim Castle.

“In the west wing, if you please, Magnus,” he said, oblivious to her gawking.

“The west wing, your highness?” Magnus gaped openly from Nicholas to her and back again, as if he couldn’t believe the request.

“Yes, Magnus. Thewestwing.”

The man nodded. “Very well.” He turned to Ella then and gave her a bright smile. “I’ll have a bath brought up to you so you can thaw out.”

“Oh, that sounds lovely.” The thought of a steaming bath after all the travel through the cold and the snow made her warm just thinking about it.

“And some warm clothes, too,” Nicholas added. “She’ll need some traveling clothes.”

“But this is fine.” She waved to the gown Agnes gave her, feeling as though he thought her secondhand clothes weren’t good enough.

“You’ll need something warmer if we’re to travel to the Grimbrande Mountains.”

---