Page 58 of Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea

Florrie turned to see Stella regarding their friend closely. A spike of alarm shot through her.Uh-oh!Maggie and Bear’s baby was due any day and, much as she was mindful of this, Maggie had still been keen to join them if Baby Marsay hadn’t already arrived.

Maggie nodded. ‘Just feeling a bit travel sick. I’ll be fine in a minute.’

‘You sure, missus? You haven’t half gone pale.’ There was no escaping the concern in Bear’s voice.

‘I’m okay, don’t fuss.’

The friends exchanged concerned looks; it was unlike Maggie to be snappy with her husband.

The sleigh ploughed on, passing through a long wrought-iron archway decorated with branches of fir tree and smothered in yet more fairy lights, generating further gasps of delight from the group. Not long after, they passed a miniature wooden lodge with a thatched roof and a sign that said, “Santa’s helpers”, causing Chloe to give a shriek of delight. As they rounded the corner, heading back in the direction of the castle, they encountered yet another wooden lodge, surrounded by small, decorated Christmas trees, this one bearing the sign, “The House of Christmas Magic”. The sleigh slowed down, allowing the group to watch as the door opened, revealing a fairy dressed in a shimmering gold gown.

Chloe was beside herself with excitement, waving back frantically and jumping up and down, her eyes wide with delight. ‘Did you see that, Mummy? Did you see? It was a fairy!’

The light had faded considerably as they drew closer to the castle, which looked magical in its festive finery.

Once parked up in the courtyard, they clambered out of the sleigh and helped themselves to the mulled wine – a non-alcoholic version of which was available for those who preferred it – or orange juice, for the younger guests, and availed themselves of the warm mince pies, Christmas cake and chunky slices of shortbread that were being offered around on trays by the castle staff.

‘How did you enjoy that?’ A cut-glass accent made Florrie turn to see a tall, coltish-looking woman, dressed in classic country clothing smiling at her. A wide-brimmed leather hat sat on top of her chestnut hair that was pulled back into a low ponytail.

‘It was wonderful,’ Florrie said politely, wondering if the woman had something to do with the Hammondelys. She’d been chatting to Maggie, eager to make sure her friend was feeling better when she’d heard the voice behind her.

‘Oh, I’m so delighted to hear that. I’m Caro, by the way, Caro Hammondely.’ She held out her hand.

‘Pleased to meet you,’ Florrie said. Caro – orLadyCaroline Hammondely – exuded such an air of confidence, Florrie found herself feeling slightly in awe of her. She looked on as Caro introduced herself to everyone else, keen to know that the sleigh ride had lived up to their expectations.

‘It’s our first year offering sleigh rides, and we’re thrilled with how popular they’ve been. Since I’ve become involved in the running of the place, I’ve been eager to try out lots of new, exciting ventures to tempt people to visit us. Make the old gal earn her keep, as it were.’ She nodded towards the castle.

Despite being ultra confident, Caro had a warm and friendly manner that Florrie couldn’t help but find appealing.

‘Oh, golly gosh! I’ve just realised! I knew I’d seen you somewhere before. I recognise you from your photo on your website. You’re Maggie of the Micklewick Bear Company who made the adorable teddy bears for our lodges. They’re absolutelydivineand I’m about to place an order for some more for the new lodges we’re having built.’

Florrie turned to Maggie, expecting to see her beaming happily at the praise for her bears. Instead, she was shocked to find her friend’s face distorted by a grimace. ‘Mags, are you all right?’ she asked, rushing over to her.

Before Maggie could answer, Zak said, ‘Er, Mum, I think Maggie’s just peed herself.’ They all looked to see a dark stain spreading over Maggie’s red maternity trousers.

‘Oh, gosh!’ said Lady Caro, looking momentarily shocked.

‘I think Baby Marsay’s on his or her way.’ Maggie gasped, forcing a smile at Bear.

‘What? Now, this minute?’ Bear dragged his hand down his face. ‘Oh, flippin’ ’eck, Mags.’

‘Darling, what can we do to help?’ asked Caro, taking Maggie’s arm.

‘We need to get her to hospital,’ said Jasmine.

‘Of course. Where’s your car?’

‘It’s in the car park,’ said Stella, cool and calm as ever. ‘Is there any way we can bring it closer to Maggie, save her struggling to it?’

‘Yes, absolutely, just drive right up here.’

‘But how’s everyone going to get home?’ Maggie asked. ‘I can’t expect you all to traipse over to Middleton-le-Moors with us, especially the kids. Who knows how long we could be there?’

‘Don’t go worrying about us, Mags, we can get a taxi or something,’ said Florrie. ‘You just focus on yourself and Baby Marsay.’

‘Did you all travel here together?’ Lady Caro asked.

‘Alex and I travelled with Nate and Lark here,’ said Stella, ‘but the others all got here in Bear’s Landie.’

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