Page 57 of Christmas Comes to Little Valentine

“I’m glad,” he said as he escorted her out of the house and down the driveway, heading towards the town. “But I’m going to start by giving you a proper Christmas. With decorations and carols and presents, and family squabbles too, no doubt,” he added ruefully.

She looked at him and smiled, admiring his handsome profile and wondering how she could be so lucky. “Well, there’s no need to add the family squabbles.”

“Oh, those are non-negotiable,” he said apologetically. “You’ve never had a big family all together in one place, so you don’t know these things are inescapable at some point during the holiday, but despite that, it will still be wonderful. I promise.”

“I believe you.”

Though Meg had fallen in love with Little Valentine the first time she had seen it, today the place looked so charming she could not help but think it the loveliest place in the world. The morning might be freezing, but the sun shone, inviting her to turn her face up to it and relish the touch of warmth. Frost glittered over everything, the grass brittle beneath their feet, and the rooftops dusted with white as smoke plumed into the azure skies from every chimney. Ahead of them, the sea sparkled, an endless ribbon of blue, a sight she could not imagine ever tiring of.

“Do you really think it would be a good idea to create a garden here?”

Meg turned to stare at Nat, wondering if he’d been thinking the same thing she had. “I think it would be a marvellous idea. Just imagine how it would look if you created a beautiful garden with that as the backdrop,” she said, gesturing to the stunning expanse of cobalt before them.

He studied her for a moment as they walked, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Would you like to live here? Maybe not in the town, for there won’t be land enough, but close by, perhaps?”

“Oh, Nat! Could we?” she exclaimed, her heart leaping at the prospect. “I love it here, it’s so pretty, and we could be near your grandmother and keep an eye on her, which might make Hawkney feel less aggrieved.”

“The devil can fly away with Hawkney, but being close to Gee-Gee would be a definite point in its favour,” he agreed. “I think the sea breezes and storms might be challenging for a new garden, but what’s life without a little challenge,” he said with a grin.

“Do you really think it would work?” she asked, not wanting to push him in a direction that might cause his ambitions to falter.

“I do. Of course I’ll need to do more research, and finding the right place will be a challenge all of its own, but we could build a new house. If that fancy new hotel is being constructed, there might be an opportunity there. It all needs looking into.”

“Build our own house?” she asked, gazing at him in wonder.

“Yes, why not?” He smiled at her. “Then we’ll have exactly what we want. It will take longer, of course, but we’ll be off on our travels much of the time, and we can always stay with Gee-Gee. I think she’d be delighted to have company.”

“You are a wonder to me,” she said, laughing. “We’ll build our own house, just like that.” Meg snapped her fingers to illustrate the point.

“What?” he asked in confusion.

“Nothing scares you, nothing daunts you. I think it’s wonderful. I have been afraid of the big world since I was a child, and when I was forced into it, I found it more terrifying than I ever imagined, but not you. Nathaniel Ashford can do anything he likes.”

He laughed at that, raising her fingers to his lips. “With you, I can,” he corrected. “I’ve had my fair share of being afraid. Realising how I felt for you was about the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced, topped only by my fear you might not feel the same.”

“Well, I do, and now we can be bold and brave together, and take on the world!” she exclaimed, grinning at him.

“Anything for you, my love,” he told her, words which settled in her heart and glowed. They walked on a little farther and Nat opened the gate to the vicarage for her. “Well, here we are, then. Just how excited do you think the old man is going to be?” he asked as they made their way up the path and knocked on the door.

“Very,” she replied, looking forward to telling him, for everyone else knew already, or thought they did, but then it had been a lie. Now it was real, and she was eager to have someone congratulate them and be able to feel she deserved their words.

The door swung open, and Nat greeted the maid they had seen on their last visit.

“Mr Ashford and Miss Bancroft, to see the reverend,” Nat said, handing her his card.

“Come in, sir, miss. I’ll see if he’s at home. If you’d like to wait in the parlour, I’ll—” she said, and then broke off as a door down the corridor swung open.

“Did I hear—ah! Mr Ashford, Miss Bancroft, what a delightful surprise! Come in, come in!” exclaimed Reverend Honeywell with as much enthusiasm as they had expected. But then he turned, regarding the little maid sternly. “Now, Polly. Tell me, my dear, did you happen to move my spectacles when you cleaned earlier? I don’t like to complain, but I’ve looked everywhere and—”

Polly smiled fondly at him and reached up, plucking the spectacles from the top of his head and handing them to him.

“Oh,” the reverend replied, his expression falling comically. “Drat. Thank you, Polly, my dear. Be so good as to bring tea for our guests. You will take tea with me?” he added, looking so hopeful that Meg could not have refused him even if she hadn’t wished to.

“With pleasure.”

“Excellent! Now, then. Come into my study if you would and make yourself comfortable. Ah, yes, that’s Sunday’s sermon,” he said, hurrying forward to remove a pile of papers from one chair before regarding the stack of books on the other. “Er… just… pop them anywhere,” he said, looking at his crowded desk with dismay.