Page 24 of All We Want for Christmas
‘Mother is probably turning in her grave at the prospect of people partying in her sitting room and children trampolining on the beds.’
Lara smiled. ‘I like to think of guests enjoying themselves.’
‘So do I, my dear! And that’s why we wanted to give people something to look forward to in the dark days of January. Years ago, there was always a ball for the staff and estate workers on Twelfth Night, but it lapsed when the First World War broke out, so we revived it.’
‘I’m so glad you did. Last year’s was so lovely.’ Lara reminded herself that she’d only accepted dances with men over sixty. She’d still been raw after the break-up with Rob and determined not to give anyone the slightest impression she was interested in romance. Perhaps, she thought, this year might be different, once the hard work was done and she could relax a little. Then she remembered the chalice sitting in the safe, flawed and imperfect.
‘It’s our way of saying thank you to all the folk who work here or volunteer or supply the castle,’ Henry said. ‘I just hope I’m fit enough to dance this year.’
‘I’m sure you will be. And you’re not the only one who leaves the decorations up until Twelfth Night. My parents are the same.’
‘I like them already. Are you going home to see them for Christmas?’ Henry asked.
‘Not this time. My parents are off to Melbourne to visit my sister and her family.’
‘Oh. Won’t you miss them?’
‘Yes, but they’ll be back in the New Year and I hope to go and see them myself as soon as the Twelfth Night Ball is over.’ Lara didn’t add that she couldn’t possibly travel at such a busy time of year, even though her parents and sister had offered to jointly fund her ticket. She hadn’t wanted to accept it, though – and she definitely couldn’t afford the time off.
‘Harriet is coming back to the castle with her brood,’ Henry said. ‘Tara is going to her in-laws.’
Lara found it funny to hear Tara’s in-laws, a marquess and marchioness, described this way. ‘I’ll be fine joining in here, although Jazz has invited me to spend Boxing Day with her and the children.’
‘That sounds like fun,’ said Henry.
It definitely would be, Lara thought, but not as nice as being with her own family.
Fiona walked in carrying a box of tinsel. ‘Henry, haven’t you finished the tree yet? He spends too long looking at the decorations rather than hanging them up.’
‘I like looking at them,’ Henry protested. ‘I like to remember where each one came from. Remember when we bought this glass globe on our honeymoon in Venice? We spent ages deciding on the colour. Harriet knitted this angel, not that we could recognise it as an angel when she handed it over.’
Fiona put the box on the floor and took the ‘angel’ from her husband’s hand. Its woollen hair and gown had almost unravelled.
‘That angel’s looking rather the worse for wear now.Sometimes I wonder what the future holds now we’re so much older. I dread to think what might happen if one of the children doesn’t decide to take over. Who will take it on?’ she asked. ‘I’ll help you in a minute, Henry. I just wanted to discuss with Lara face-to-face how well last night’s launch went.’
‘I’ve heard how super it was,’ Henry said. ‘Even though I wasn’t able to visit myself, I did see the set-up and I knew it would be brilliant. I could hear the buzz from the visitors up here.’
‘The reaction from everyone I spoke to was “wow”,’ Fiona said. ‘The children’s faces were a picture and it was a stroke of genius to use the Ice House as a grotto. You and the team have worked so hard on it all. I can’t thank you enough. I’m so glad we managed to persuade Flynn to join us too.’
Lara agreed. There was no denying that the launch had gone very well. There had been only minor snags and Flynn, the in-house team and the on-site contractors had quickly fixed those. Her main takeaway from the evening was the expression on visitors’ faces, particularly the children.
‘I must admit I didn’t hear a single person say they were disappointed and so many seemed to love it.’
‘I wish I’d been able to see the lights in the flesh, so to speak. But Fiona says I have to stay inside for now.’
‘Hopefully you’ll be able to go see them before the Spectacular ends,’ Fiona said.
He snorted. ‘Good God, Fi! You can’t keep me wrapped in cotton wool for ever. A bit of fresh air won’t hurt me and Idon’t intend to go on any long walks. I’m not staying in here like a mole!’
Fiona patted his arm. ‘I just don’t want you to get cold or overdo it until you’ve had time to rest a bit more. That’s why I arranged to have all the Christmas decorations brought up here – to cheer you up.’
‘They look absolutely lovely,’ Lara said.
‘Mother let me make paper chains too …’ Henry said wistfully, gazing up at the tree. ‘Even though the rest of the castle was grand, even in those days our apartments were cosy, like every other home.’
Not quite, thought Lara, but she didn’t say anything.
Fiona rubbed her hands together. ‘Now let’s not get maudlin. This is the trouble with Christmas. It brings back so many memories, happy and sad.’
