Aunt Dimity's Christmas Read Online Free

helped them step out of their boots. I had no idea why the Pyms were apologizing for their late arrival, since I’d never expected them in the first place.
    â€œDid we have plans for this morning?” I asked.
    â€œWe certainly did,” said Ruth. “Louise and I are woefully behind in our crochet work, and unless we get started soon …”
    â€œâ€¦ we shall not be able to deliver our Christmas presents on time,” said Louise worriedly. “However, such plans are of no consequence when compared with the urgent business at hand.”
    â€œRight,” I said, knowing that all would be made clear eventually. “Please, come in. Bill? Will you see to our guests?”
    While my husband looked after the Pyms, I went to the kitchen to put the kettle on. I’d just carried the tea tray into the living room when Nell knocked at the front door. I placed the tray on the coffee table and hastened to let her in.
    Nell Harris swept into the cottage with Bertie in the crook of her arm. Bertie looked like a fuzzy elf in his forest-green sweater and red-and-green-striped scarf, but Nell looked like a snow queen. Her hooded velvet cloak was nearly as blue as her eyes, and her golden curls gleamed like a crown in the bright morning light.
    â€œPlease, tell us he isn’t dead,” she said, her voice quivering with emotion.
    â€œWho?” I asked.
    â€œReginald,” she replied, as if the answer were self-evident. “Bertie’s been frantic ever since he saw the rescue helicopter flying toward the cottage. Has an accident befallen Reginald?”
    Nell’s myriad eccentricities had long since ceased to amaze me. If she wanted to believe that her teddy bear was worried sick about my pink flannel rabbit, who was I to criticize? I was simply thankful that she hadn’t dyed her golden hair black or defiled her fair skin with tattoos.
    â€œReginald’s fine,” I said, taking her cape, “apart from a little baby drool in the ear.”
    â€œThank heavens,” Nell said fervently. She paused, then asked in a puzzled voice, “Are Ruth and Louise right, then? Did you really call out the RAF to rescue a tramp?”
    I stared at her. “How did Ruth and Louise know about him?”
    Nell shrugged. “I have no idea. They flagged me down as I was riding past their house and asked me to take them here directly, because they were worried about a tramp. Did you really call out the RAF—”
    â€œYes, Nell,” I said. “In fact, William called out the RAF to rescue a tramp. Is that so hard to believe?”
    Nell’s blue eyes became thoughtful. “I suppose not. I’ve just never heard of anyone doing it before.”
    â€œCome on,” I said. “I want to find out what the Pyms know about my uninvited guest.”
    Nell exchanged greetings with Bill and Willis, Sr., and bestowed a kiss apiece on Rob and Will, neatly dodging Will’s attempts to grab a handful of enticing golden curls. She coaxed Rob into trading Reginald for a purple plush dinosaur and placed my pink rabbit on the window seat with Bertie before perching on an ottoman beside Willis, Sr.’s chair.
    I sat on the couch, bracketed by the Pyms, and began toserve the tea, wondering how long it would take the loquacious sisters to come to the point of their visit. They surprised me by coming to it at once.
    â€œWe knew the moment we heard the helicopter that something terrible had happened,” said Ruth. “Such a pity. If only the poor gentleman …”
    â€œâ€¦ had come into our house, as we asked him to.” Louise shook her head sadly. “But he wouldn’t stop.”
    I looked from one sister to the other. “Did you speak with the tramp last night?”
    â€œWe heard him coughing on the bridle path,” Ruth replied, “a terrible, racking cough. Louise called to him, and I offered him hot soup …”
    â€œâ€¦ but