Kissing Father Christmas Read Online Free Page A

but it would still be wonderful in many other ways.
    Although, Peter will be at the Tea Cosy later.
    I set that thought aside and told myself that if I kept all my fanciful thoughts centered on the charm of this old house, the enchantment of the library, and the delight of spending time with Ellie, Miranda, and Julia, my heart would sail through the rest of the visit without any additional bruises.
    With my chin raised and shoulders back, I paused in front of one of the photos of Sir James that hung on the wall. He really had been the last of a breed of distinguished, honored British actors. Sir James had convinced the world that handsome gentlemen who drove speedboats, spoke five languages, and wore a tux under a scuba suit were capable of protecting England and her beloved queen from all harm. The allure of his legendary persona lingered in this dusty room.
    Ellie put the box down beside one of the wingback chairs and opened the laptop on the large, dark mahogany desk.
    “Don’t be shocked, but this is all I’ve got so far.” Ellie motioned for me to sit in the chair at the desk and have a look at her open laptop.
    It did strike me that it was an extraordinary thing to be casually sitting at Sir James’s desk. How many people ever got to do that?
    On the screen was the image of a plump couple in Victorian garb. They looked like they were dancing a jig.
    “What am I looking at?” I asked.
    “It’s the Fezziwig’s Ball. I had to scan the illustration three times from the book to get it right. Don’t tell Edward. He’s quite protective of the books around here. That one is a first edition.”
    I reached for the old book on the desk that she’d pointed to and smoothed my hand over the brown cover. The title A Christmas Carol was in gold lettering with a detailed etched wreath circling it. I opened to the title page and checked the copyright date: 1843. I could only imagine the value of a first edition of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol . Turning to the next page with more care, I smoothed back the tissue that covered the illustration. I recognized the process that had been used on the Fezziwig’s Ball drawing and was impressed.
    “This is needle and acid etching,” I said. “It’s beautiful. This is not easy to do.” I had to agree with Edward that none of the pages in this valuable book should be scanned three times.
    “Are you able to fit that image onto the template for the cover? I had no success in lining it up properly and I’m desperate. The play is only two days away.”
    “Sure. I can try. Graphic design is not my specialty but I know a few basics.”
    “If you click on the other open file, you’ll see the rest of the information.”
    I was relieved to see that the interior of the program was completed and that I wouldn’t be responsible for listing the names of the cast and crew.
    “My thought with the Fezziwig’s image was to play off the pensioners. Although you don’t call them pensioners in the States, do you? Seniors. Is that right? Those who are in retirement. Last year the cast was all children. It was delightful. This year it’s all pensioners. You’ll meet them at the Tea Cosy this evening.”
    All I could think about as I clicked and resized the image to fit the program template was that I shouldn’t be thinking about the fact that Peter would be at the Tea Cosy this evening. I tried to convince myself that our uncomfortable conversation was the last awkward moment I’d experience with him. We were both going to be in the same small circles this week. It would be fine. It had to be fine.
    I’d almost convinced myself when a paralyzing thought seized me.
    My mother was right. I have made a fool of myself by coming here.
    I was sure there were worse realizations that could befall a young woman as she’s trying to carve out her own life, but at that moment, I couldn’t think of anything worse.
    I decided that if things went poorly that night when I was around Peter, I’d make up