Page 57 of Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea

The tooting of a horn at bang on twelve forty-five p.m. alerted Florrie and Ed to the arrival of Maggie and Bear. They hurried out of the warmth of Samphire Cottage and into the breathtaking cold of the street, diving into the Land Rover as quickly as they could. Zak and Chloe were up front with Bear, while Maggie and Jasmine were in the back. They were met with a slew of hellos and excited chatter as Zak and Chloe spoke on top of one another.

‘Florrie! Florrie! Where are we going?’ asked Zak, his voice giddy as he turned to face her. ‘Mum says you haven’t told her.’

‘Yeah, Mummy says it’s a secret surprise.’ Chloe beamed.

‘Please tell us! It’storturingme!’ Zak’s voice had cranked up several volumes.

Jasmine stuck her fingers in her ears and waggled them theatrically. ‘Er, Zak, lovey, Florrie’s not in Lingthorpe, she’s right behind you, so there’s no need to bellow, especially when my lugs are this close to your mouth.’

‘Soz, Mum.’ He laughed, his impish grin looking anything but. ‘Florrie, please can you tell us where we’re going?’ He reminded Florrie so much of Jasmine at that age, her heart squeezed with affection for him.

‘Are we going sledging again, Florrie?’ asked Chloe, blinking sweetly. ‘That was the best time!’

‘Yeah, it was so mint!’ Zak started bouncing up and down in his seat.

‘I think you’ll like what we’re going to do even more.’ Ed smiled at the young lad which resulted in whoops of joy from him and his sister.

‘Please put them out of their misery, and before my eardrums burst.’ Jasmine looked at Florrie pleadingly but laughing all the same.

‘Okay,’ she said, as both children fell silent, eyes wide with anticipation. Florrie didn’t think they could get any more adorable. ‘We’re heading over to Danskelfe Castle on the moors, where we’re booked in for a sleigh ride in the grounds, followed by mince pies, Christmas cake and shortbread.’

‘Noway?’ Zak’s mouth fell open and Florrie nodded.

The shrieks of joy that followed were deafening.

Jasmine shot Florrie a confused look, a hint of discomfort hovering in her expression.

Florrie leant into her. ‘Early Christmas presents. Your ticket is from all the lasses and me, the kids’ tickets are from Ed and me.’

Relief brightened Jasmine’s features. ‘Oh, thank you all so much,’ she said as the explanation set in.

The journey across the moors was an upbeat one, with the children instigating a lively sing-along of festive songs. The towns soon gave way to sprawling, snow-covered moorland, huge drifts piled up on the side of the roads where the ploughs had pushed through. Zak and Chloe were fascinated by the sheep that roamed the moors freely, clumps of frozen snow hanging from their dense fleeces, and the great number of rabbits thathopped about, occasionally darting out in front of the Land Rover, Bear having to touch his brakes.

They drove on, passing through achingly beautiful villages filled with characterful thatched cottages all dressed for Christmas. Before they knew it, Danskelfe Castle – home to generations of the titled Hammondely family – complete with flag fluttering above one of its turrets, came into view from its position built into a great crag overlooking the sweeping dale of Danskelfe from which it took its name. Ed turned to Florrie, and they exchanged giddy smiles.

Nate’s pickup appeared behind them as they followed the signs for the castle, which directed them down a lane that was lined with Christmas trees, their lights twinkling in what was left of the fading daylight. Soon the castle’s great walls loomed before them. It made for a brooding and imposing sight. Bear drove carefully through an impressive stone archway, decorated with thousands of tiny lights, Zak and Chloe peering out of the Land Rover’s windows in awe. With the vehicles parked up, the party followed the signs that led into a cobbled courtyard.

Florrie’s gaze swept all around her, taking in the Hammondely coat of arms above the castle’s broad oak door. Beside it stood a tall Christmas tree generously trimmed with warm white lights and oversized baubles, its branches swaying in the breeze that was creeping its way around the ancient walls. Standing in the centre of the courtyard was the “sleigh” which was even more spectacular than Florrie had expected from the images on the castle’s website. It consisted of a carriage, its exterior clad to emulate the stereotypical image of a “Father Christmas” sleigh, painted a deep red and trimmed in gold. Florrie was thankful to see it had a sturdy roof, festooned with a plethora of fairy lights, that would at least go some way to protect them from the elements. Tethered to it, threemajestic-looking white horses waited patiently, their manes and harnesses given a festive finish.

With everyone in their seats, two liveried drivers gave the orders and the horses set off at quite a pace, their hooves clattering through the courtyard and thundering over the now permanently fixed wooden drawbridge. They followed a track, cleared of snow, leading out into the castle’s extensive grounds, Zak and Chloe wearing face-splitting smiles and cheering with the joy of it all. The scenery couldn’t have been more stunning if it tried. In the distance the dense coniferous wood of the Danskelfe Estate exuded a magical air, with its generous covering of snow. The views over the sweeping Danskelfe Dale were breathtaking, great swathes of moorland giving way to farmland that lined the dale, peppered with farmsteads, their lights already twinkling.

‘Oh, wow! Look!’ Everyone turned to where Zak was pointing to see a large stag break cover from a cluster of trees. A gasp ran around the group of friends as they watched it race over the open land where it leapt effortlessly over a drystone wall and disappeared into a small copse of rowan trees.

‘So beautiful,’ Lark said dreamily.

‘They’re such magnificent creatures,’ said Ed.

‘I can’t believe we’ve seen a real-life stag,’ said Zak. ‘It was ginormous!’

‘Do you think it was Rudolph, Mummy?’ asked Chloe, melting Florrie’s heart and making Zak snort at his sister.

Jasmine shot him a reproving look and said, ‘Maybe his cousin, but Rudolph and his pals who pull Santa’s sleigh are reindeer, lovey.’

Florrie felt a rush of exhilaration as the sleigh powered on, not caring that the wind was biting cruelly at any exposed skin, though she was glad of the fleece blankets they’d found folded up on each seat. She pulled hers up to her chin, snuggling closer toEd. He wrapped his arm around her, giving her a squeeze. ‘This is amazing,’ he said, his eyes shining.

‘I’m so happy you’re enjoying it.’ She smiled up at him.Another successful mission for The Happy Christmas Memory Project.

‘You all right, Mags?’

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