Kissing Father Christmas Read Online Free

bit.”
    “That’s okay.” Julia sounded very mature all of a sudden. She picked up her pony and took over my vacated throne. “When you’re a princess, sometimes you have to go do important things. That’s what Miranda told me.”
    “Miranda is a wise princess.” I barely made it across the lawn before my throat closed and the onslaught of all my bruised feelings threatened to overwhelm me. I paused in the alcove trying to compose myself before going inside the home that only a short time earlier had seemed like a castle.
    Looking up and blinking back the tears, I saw five words etched over the front door, the motto of Whitcombe Manor.
    GRACE AND PEACE RESIDE HERE.
    I pressed the latch on the ornately carved front door and entered, dearly hoping those words were true for innocent, “feathery women” like me.

Chapter Five
    I stepped into the stunning entry hall of Whitcombe Manor and felt as I had on my first visit to this extraordinary home. I was welcome here.
    The ceiling rose to the top of the grand staircase and beyond. Light poured through the large window above the stair landing, enlivening the dark wood floor and giving the sensation of entering a small cathedral. I saw Ellie coming down the stairs with a large box in her arms. It appeared that she had just finished looping the last garland of Christmas greenery on the stairs. The string of twinkle lights woven through the garlands was lit, adding a festive cheerfulness to the entry.
    “Oh, good. I was just about to come find you and see if I could persuade you to help me with one more wee project, as your Uncle Andrew would call it.”
    “A wee project?” I cleared my throat and pulled my emotions back in check.
    “It’s for the play. You know how every Christmas we perform A Christmas Carol by Dickens?”
    “Yes. Miranda told me about it. She said your father-in-law, Sir James, started the tradition.”
    Ellie was in front of me. “Yes, well, I volunteered to take care of the programs this year and I’ve fallen behind. Terribly behind. I was hoping you could help me out.”
    “Of course. What do you need?”
    Ellie looked at me more closely. “Are you all right? Your eyes look a bit red. Is it jet lag, do you think? Here I am loading you up with projects and you probably want to be taking a catnap right about now.”
    “No, I’m all right. I can sleep later.” And cry later. “What did you want me to help you with?”
    “It’s the programs, you see.” Ellie scrutinized my expression one more time. “Are you certain you don’t need to lie down for a bit? We’ll be up late at the Tea Cosy, you know.”
    “What exactly is going on tonight at the Tea Cosy?”
    “I thought I mentioned it while we were baking. It’s the soup dinner for the cast of the play.”
    “Oh.” I couldn’t remember if she’d told me or not. “Are there a lot of people going tonight?”
    “I suppose. You can never be sure who will show up. We’re going because, as you know, your Aunt Katharine is fighting a bad cold. I told her we’d take care of everything. Miranda is there now, making the soup. Ian is coming later and he said he’d ask Peter to help out. I thought you and I could go around four. Is that all right?”
    “Yes. Of course.”
    Ellie motioned with her head for me to follow her into the study. I was grateful for the distraction as well as the detour from what would have turned into a desperately sad hideaway time in the guest room.
    The moment I entered the study I was reminded that there was a long list of reasons besides Peter that had endeared me to this place and to this extended family. The high shelves were stacked full of wonderfully musty-smelling books. The leather chairs, imposing desk, and intricate rugs in this room spoke to me of stories not yet told. Tales of mystery and adventure. I belonged here. This romantic setting was enough to help me rewrite the script in my mind. It would be a different Christmas than I’d hoped for,