Page 66 of A Chase Family Christmas
“Oh, my lady,” Margaret gushed, “I’ll be forever grateful.For my new position, for your father’s offer to employ Richard, and especially for the extra funds that will free the two of us to wed.Her grace told me you’d suggested that.It all feels like a Christmas miracle.”
“I’m so glad you’re pleased,” Jewel told her.“Happy Christmas.And my thanks for your assistance with our, um…escapades.”
The tears disappeared, and a little laugh bubbled up in their stead.“Anytime, my lady.I’d enjoy more escapades.You’ve only to ask.”
“I’ll be asking, I assure you.”Jewel could tell they would get on like a house on fire.Overcome with good Christmas feelings, she impulsively gave her new maid a hug.
The rest of the family began straggling outdoors, Papa and Aunty Kendra in the lead.
“Your grace?”Margaret bobbed a curtsy to get Aunty Kendra’s attention.“Is there anything else you need?”
“I believe that’s it.Run along and fetch your own things.”Aunty Kendra looked to Papa.“Wait till Friday to send a carriage for Margaret and her love, will you?That will give them time to settle their debt while I select a new maid from the orphanage.”
“Will do,” he said, opening their carriage door to put Mama’s new book inside.
Five cats bounded out.
“What the devil?”
“Is there a problem?”Aunty Kendra asked sweetly.
Too sweetly.
He stuck his head inside and waved the book to shoo one last cat from the compartment.“How did these creatures get in here?”
Jewel was surprised to find herself quicker on the uptake than her father.
“How should I know?”Aunty Kendra asked him with a shrug.“But there’s no reason to be upset about it.It’s not as though cats make you sneeze.”
“Lord Greystone, we have a mishap,” Papa’s man Benchley called out, approaching with two footmen carrying his trunk.“The hinges on this seem to be malfunctioning.”
Jewel stifled a laugh.
Papa frowned.“In what way?”
“Oh, my,” Aunty Kendra said although he hadn’t been asking her.“I’m sure I don’t know how that happened, either.”
Perhaps finally catching on, he shot her a suspicious glance before beckoning to the footmen.“Let me see.”
The two men lowered the trunk to the graveled drive.Papa bent and threw open the lid to investigate—only to watch it fly off.It landed with abangand a spray of tiny gray stones, which thankfully missed everyone.
Jewel burst out laughing.
“I should have guessed the pins would be missing,” Papa announced with a good-natured snort, then straightened and backed up, coughing.Or maybe choking.“God’s blood,” he grated out.
Aunty Kendra grinned.“Problem, Colin?A noxious scent, perhaps?Could there be…cheese in your trunk?”She lifted one of his shirts with two fingertips, holding it as far from herself as possible.Smeared with cheese, it dripped copiously onto the gravel.“Oh, and it seems a pitcher of water may have ended up in your trunk too, poor you.Or two or three pitchers.Or maybe four.”
The rest of the family dissolved in laughter a moment after Papa did.“The water washerfault,” he chortled, indicating Jewel.
“I’ll get her another time,” Kendra said with a wave of her free hand.She dropped the shirt back in the trunk, where it landed with a splash.“I win.”
“No,” he declared between chuckles, “you lose.You failed to slip me some valerian.And now you’re leaving.”
“The day’s not over yet,” she shot back with an arch smile.“Just remember the next time you’re given something to eat or drink: everyone has a price.”
Aunty Kendra winked at Jewel, and Jewel grinned back, unworried about any retribution from her aunt at all.
“Happy Christmas, dear brother,” Aunty Kendra said with all good humor.Then she glanced around before adding, “Happy Christmas to all my dear family!”
“Happy Christmas!”fifteen Chases returned in unison, Jewel among them.
What a Christmas this had turned out to be, she mused with a satisfied sigh.As much as her last few days had been dominated by her big decision, they had also been filled with love and joy, fun and laughter.And now she had her wedding and Aunty Caithren’s new baby to look forward to before next Christmas at Cainewood.And a whole new life ahead of her.
She hugged herself, thinking she had never been happier.
Surrounded by her loving family, she was certain 1689 was going to be her best year yet, the year she’d see all her hopes and dreams fulfilled.
Nothing—and no one—would stand in her way.