Page 149 of One More Christmas at the Castle

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To feast, and share in festive cheer.

But first let’s pause, reflect awhile:

Not everyone this day can smile.

You see, dear Lord, we’re well aware

That we are in a castle fair;

And many folk cannot afford

Anything like this festive board.

Whoe’er they are, both far and near,

We pray they may be free from fear

Of hunger, loneliness, despair;

And all who have enough may care.

Protect them, Lord, and may they know

Thou cam’st from heaven to earth below

For the whole world, to save us all.

So hear us when to thee we call.

We thank our kind and generous host

And, gathered here, we’re grateful most

To thee, our loving, gracious God,

Who through this human life once trod.

Dear Lord, we pray, leave nothing out:

Bless every parsnip, every sprout,

Bless all thy children, too, and then

We’ll praise thee evermore. Amen.

‘Amen,’ everyone echoed and looked up, blinking back a sudden rush of tears: that had been both touching and funny – and typically Nancy!

‘Who wants to pull a cracker with me?’ said Nancy brightly.

Lubricated by copious amounts of good champagne, and perhaps influenced by Nancy’s words, the party became a very merry one, even Mr Makepeace unbending enough to wear a golden paper crown on his grey head and read out the joke from his cracker.

Sophie, perhaps also due to the champagne, wore her crown like a tiara and throughout the meal, sparkled flirtatiously at Simon, who seemed quite dazzled.

Sophie wasn’t, I noticed, wearing her Roman ring today … but then, it wouldn’t really have gone with her purple dress.

Of course, I had to slip out a couple of times to check on the pudding, finally taking it from its mould to rest on the dish it was to be served in and pouring the brandy for the top into a little pan, ready to warm.

As we cleared the first course, I glowed with the compliments I’d received for my cooking. It’s so good to be appreciated!

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