Christmas, One Year Later
‘What a fine, handsome husband you have, Mary,’ Charlotte said. ‘Not as handsome as mine, of course, but definitely second-best.’
Mary laughed, and left her gift-wrapping to join Charlotte at the morning room window. They gazed down at the wintry garden of Mary’s new country house, where Drew and Dominick were teaching Charlotte’s daughter Anna how to ride her Christmas pony. It looked as if it was a merry start to the Christmas holiday as they laughed and called encouragement to Anna and her little face glowed.
Mary lifted her own baby daughter, Genevieve, from her cradle, so she could watch the happy scene. She gurgled and smiled, reaching out with her tiny hand to grab for Mary’s new amethyst necklace.
Mary laughed, and kissed Genevieve’s precious tiny fingers. ‘That is very kind of you, Charlotte, but I fear I must disagree. My husband is surely the most handsome man in all of England.’
‘And the best father, too?’ Charlotte said. She softly smoothed the fluff of the baby’s flyaway dark hair. ‘Next to Drew, of course.’
‘Oh, yes.’ Mary held Genevieve close and remembered the night of her birth. There had been a terrible storm, and the doctor had been late in coming. Her pains had grown closer and more intense, the servants had been scurrying about madly, but she had not been afraid. Dominick had been with her every moment, holding onto her, keeping her fear at bay even as she saw his own hidden worries in his eyes. The old, terrible memories.
But just at the dawn Genevieve had been born, safe and whole, shrieking at the top of her lungs. And the look on Dominick’s face as he had held his newborn daughter, so full of unutterable joy, had been perfect. They were a family, and nothing could ever part them again.
And now it was Christmas again—the best part of the entire year. And Genevieve’s first. Mary’s heart seemed full to bursting.
‘Oh, yes,’ she whispered. ‘The best of fathers.’
‘In a few years Genevieve will be ready for her own Christmas pony. If she’s anything like Anna she will be a bruising horsewoman, and—oh!’ Charlotte’s eyes widened, and she pressed her hand to the bump of her belly under her muslin gown. The next family equestrian grew there. ‘And this one, too. He kicks like the very devil.’
Mary laughed and bounced Genevieve lightly in her arms. ‘My mother would say it is a boy, then. When I was pregnant with Will … ‘
Her voice trailed away as her heart gave a sweet-sad pang. Will, her dear little boy. She would never, ever forget him.
‘He kicked, too,’ she said softly. ‘While Genevieve was sweet and quiet even then.’
Charlotte gently touched Mary’s arm, her eyes full of concern. ‘Oh, Mary, my dear.’
‘No, Charlotte, I am not sad. Not now. He seems so close at this time of year, as if he watches over us and his little sister. Your children have a part of him, too.’
‘Yes, they do,’ Charlotte said. ‘The mischievous part!’
Mary kissed Charlotte’s cheek, making her smile again, and disentangled Genevieve’s hand from her necklace once more. ‘No tears, Charlotte! Especially now. Christmas is the time for wonders and all manner of happy things, is it not?’
Charlotte laughed. ‘Indeed it is. Speaking of which, when are your sisters arriving?’
‘At any moment—so we must finish wrapping all the gifts.’ Holding Genevieve against her shoulder, Mary went back to the table piled high with packages and ribbons. Toys and sweets were scattered in an enticing, colourful display. She held up a doll meant for her sister Cynthia’s daughter. ‘Not that these pretty wrappings will last long. Cyn’s brood is a wild one—my mother is always quite appalled when they trample through her house. It’s fortunate Elizabeth’s twins are such models of good behaviour. I’m hoping Genevieve chooses to emulate those cousins, but I fear naughtiness is so much more alluring.’
Charlotte gave her a teasing grin. ‘As we well know. Look at our husbands, after all.’
Mary laughed, thinking about last night in their bedchamber, when everyone else had been fast asleep. ‘I know. Dreadful, isn’t it?’
‘Appalling.’ Charlotte tied off a fluffy bow atop one of the boxes. ‘What of Ginny, then?’
‘She is busy planning her wedding now that Captain Heelis has a commission in a regiment leaving for India soon and they can finally marry. I fear we will hear of nothing but wedding clothes and cake from her this Christmas!’ Mary held out the box of embroidered linens meant for Ginny’s trousseau chest. ‘But I will miss her so much when she is gone to Bombay, and so will her goddaughter.’
‘It won’t be for long, I’m sure.’ There was a sudden clatter on the stairs, a shout of laughter. ‘It sounds as if the riding lesson has finished.’
Mary laughed, and hurried over to swing open the morning room door. Even after months of marriage, the prospect of seeing her husband filled her with a rush of warm excitement and joy.
Dominick was running up the stairs, Anna holding tight to his hand.
‘Auntie Mary!’ Anna cried, and dashed over to throw her arms around her aunt’s waist. ‘Did you see me from the window? I was riding all by myself. Papa says he has never seen anyone learn so fast.’
‘I did see, darling.’ Mary kissed the top of Anna’s head, smoothing her tousled brown hair so like Charlotte’s. How fast she grew—and Genevieve, too! Soon they would not be little baby girls any more, but young ladies. ‘You did marvellously well.’
‘I’ll be ready for a horse just like Papa’s soon.’
‘Well, let’s just stay with ponies for the moment, yes?’ Charlotte said, taking her daughter’s hand and leading her to the fireside, so she could warm up from the chilly day outside.
Mary went to her husband, wrapping her arm around his shoulders as she went up on tiptoe to meet his kiss. His skin was cold from the winter wind, but his lips were deliciously
warm. Their baby laughed and kicked between them, their little family complete.
‘Merry Christmas, Lady Amesby,’ he whispered, holding her close.
And it was indeed. She had her family, her home, and her true love at last and for ever. She had thought last year’s Christmas was the best, but, no—this was the merriest Christmas ever. And next year’s would be even better.