Page 7 of A Christmas Celebration
Dorothy didn’t elaborate, but Bran rested a heavy paw on my lap as if to say, ‘don’t mind her’ and gave me a sympathetic look.
‘I’m going to go and see Molly,’ I said as soon as I’d finished my tea.
‘Aren’t you having any breakfast?’ Dorothy asked, sounding astounded.
‘No,’ I said, wrinkling my nose. ‘I’m not hungry. I’ll have something later.’
I tried to stand up but it was difficult with Bran still welded to my side.
‘You can take him with you if you like,’ smiled Mick.
‘I don’t think I’m going to have any other choice,’ I pointed out, as Bran’s cold nose found its way into my hand. ‘Wouldn’t he be better off with you though, Mick?’
‘Apparently not,’ said Mick, clearly unperturbed by hischarge’s change of allegiance. ‘He’s a hound who goes where he’s most needed and right now he seems to feel compelled to cling to you, Paige.’
I didn’t hang around long enough for that particular topic of conversation to develop.
‘Here,’ said Dorothy, thrusting a bacon roll into my hands as I shrugged on one of the many waxed coats which hung for everyone’s use by the back door. ‘You can eat this on the way and you’d better wear wellies. It’ll be wet in the woods.’
It was biting cold too. I daresay it was no chillier than it should have been for the time of year, but it was still a long way off the temperatures I’d been used to. Without thinking, I’d started to eat Dorothy’s roll as I walked along, but memories of the intense heat and then inevitably, thoughts of the near disaster, filled my head and the mouthful I was chewing became almost impossible to swallow.
‘Here, Bran,’ I said, holding out what was left for him to take. ‘You have it.’
He took it with the softest mouth and swallowed it down in one gulp.
‘It’ll be our little secret,’ I smiled, stroking his back as he paced alongside me.
Molly had opened the cottage door even before I’d reached the path which led up to it and I realized I hadn’t given a thought to finding my way. I’d simply followed my feet, marvelling at how everything looked the same, although I knew some of the trees were taller and I could seethere was more mistletoe too. Beyond that, however, it was all as familiar as if I’d visited just the week before.
‘You found your way then?’ Molly smiled, bare-footed in the doorway.
‘Of course,’ I smiled back.
‘I wasn’t sure if you’d come,’ she added, stepping aside to let me and my shaggy companion in. ‘I couldn’t help thinking there was a hint of reluctance about your acceptance when you said you would last night.’
‘Not at all,’ I bluffed, even though her deduction was spot-on.
With a roaring fire in the grate, I didn’t mind taking the coat off again and as Molly busied herself in the kitchen, I pulled off the wellies, looked around the room and made myself comfortable among the many embroidered patchwork cushions on the sofa. The place was definitely altered in some respects, but still had the same incense scented and other-worldly vibe. Much like Molly herself.
‘Help yourself,’ she said, when she came back in through the beaded curtain bearing a tray laden with tempting French toast, fresh fruit and a filled teapot. ‘It’s breakfast tea, not one of my herbal infusions.’
‘Is that Archie’s influence?’ I asked, grateful that she wasn’t going to more forcefully press anything on me like Dorothy had.
‘It is,’ she confirmed and I was amused to see her cheeks turn pink.
It was a most un-Molly type of reaction.
‘He’ll be back later,’ she carried on, blushing further. ‘He can’t wait to catch up with you properly. We’re all thrilled you’re going to take on Anna and Hayley’s jobs, but Archie is especially pleased. As you know, Angus means well, but his actions aren’t always thought through and this whole debacle was turning into quite a drama.’
‘No pressure then,’ I said for the second time, making her laugh again.
‘And you’ll get your reward for your kind and generous gesture because everyone will be arriving in time for Christmas and you’ll be able to hand back the reins and properly relax and celebrate then.’
‘I honestly can’t remember the last time I wholeheartedly celebrated the season.’ I sighed, staring into the hypnotic flames of the fire.
‘Well, you’re certainly in the right place to do it this year,’ Molly told me. ‘There’s nowhere lovelier than Wynthorpe Hall in mid-winter.’
We were quiet for a moment and then I remembered the rinsed-out phial.
