Page 90 of A Christmas Celebration
‘No decorations,’ Angus gasped. ‘That’s a tragedy.’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Catherine, patting his arm. ‘I’m sure Albert will have a very different Christmas this year. Paige will make sure of that.’
‘I will,’ I confirmed.
‘And perhaps you’d like to come here for Christmas day?’ Angus asked, standing up. ‘You’d be most welcome.’
‘Something else to think about,’ said Albert. ‘Thank you. And thank you so much, for welcoming me to your beautiful home today.’
‘You’re welcome any time, Albert,’ Angus insisted, shaking his hand.
‘I’m hoping you’ll consider overseeing the work we need doing in the spring.’ Catherine smiled, standing to kiss his cheek.
‘I’m sure I could help with that,’ he said, looking well pleased.
‘Are you certain you don’t want me to come back to the cottage with you?’ I asked.
‘No, no,’ he said, squeezing my hand. ‘I’m sure Mick won’t mind seeing me up the stairs.’
‘I won’t mind at all,’ said Mick. ‘I’ll look after him, Paige.’
‘You get off to bed, my dear,’ said Albert, ‘you’ve got a busy day tomorrow yourself.’
‘That I have,’ I agreed, wondering if more than greenery would end up being gathered.
Chapter 22
After thanking Albert again for his help in assessing the hall stonework, Angus saw him and Mick off and I went to bed. I slept right through the night and woke the next morning feeling such a lightness of spirit that I was almost giddy. I had to lay still for some minutes before I felt ready to risk putting my feet on the floor and standing up.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I was free of the memory of my mistake, but I was finally more accepting of it. Errors of judgement, as regrettable as they are, do happen and I was grateful that I was now able to move on from mine.
The feeling had been growing during the previous couple of weeks and on the morning of the greenery gathering, I was ready to wholeheartedly embrace it. Whether the change was the result of the passing of time, my fledgling friendship with Alice or the joy I felt at playing a part in Albert’s rediscovered love for live or even a combination of the lot, I couldn’t be sure, but I was very happy to seize the moment and forge ahead.
I still had decisions to make about what I was going to do with my life when the new year dawned. There were fresh ideas forming about that but first, I had Christmas at Wynthorpe Hall to enjoy and I was determined to make the most of that most wonderful time of the year. Even the Brodie-shaped blot on the festive landscape couldn’t suppress the upsurge in my spirits. My feelings for him had been well and truly stamped on but, at least I forced myself to believe, I hadn’t been involved with him deeply enough to feel his loss too strongly.
‘You’re sounding very chipper this morning,’ said Angus, when I literally waltzed into the kitchen. ‘Could it be anything to do with Albert’s visit by any chance?’
‘It might be,’ I said, then hastily added, ‘But please don’t forget we’re not supposed to be talking to anyone about certain parts of that.’
‘Have no fear,’ he said, ‘I’m the soul of discretion.’
I gave him a look.
‘I am.’ He pouted. ‘You’d be surprised at the secrets I’m currently keeping.’
‘Would I?’ I pounced.
‘You would.’
‘I’d wager at least one of them has something to do with Brodie, doesn’t it?’ I then suggested blatantly.
My forthrightness was no doubt the result of my lightness of heart and happier mindset.
‘Given that I’ve just told you how good I am at keeping secrets,’ Angus said infuriatingly, ‘I can’t possibly comment on that, can I?’
‘Surely you can tell me,’ I said, leaning in. ‘I’m discreet too.’
He lips remained tightly zipped.
