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For one dreadful moment, Holly thought Libby knew Gregory had spanked her, but then she realised the child meant the verbal dressing down she had witnessed in the drawing room yesterday, and she relaxed.
“It was my fault, and I am sorry you were hurt. I should have listened to your father,” she apologised.
Libby giggled. “Mama would have done the exact same thing. Papa was always scolding her for not listening to him,” she confided.
Holly’s heart warmed at the knowledge. Had Gregory ever spanked Bunty, she suddenly wondered? Dare she ask him?
There was a commotion in the nursery, and the younger girls ran to investigate. Before Holly had shifted from Libby’s bed, they were back, round-eyed with excitement.
“It is Mama, she’s back!” Kitty announced dramatically.
A soft gasp had Holly glancing down in time to see Libby slump sideways in a dead faint. She gathered her close and called to Nanny. Between them they revived the child with smelling salts.
“Mama?” the child asked as she came around.
“No, darling, ‘tis only the portrait of your mother which has been returned to the other room. Kitty did not mean to startle you,” Holly gently reassured her stepdaughter.
Libby nodded, saying nothing.
An excited shout came from the other room, then the rumble of her husband’s voice in reply as he spoke with his youngest daughters. She went to greet Gregory, wondering what his reaction would be to finding the portrait back upon the wall.
“I came to see how Libby is faring. Is she feeling better?” he asked, making no comment about the portrait.
“I think so. She will be so pleased to see you.” Holly left him to go in alone and hunkered down to play tic-tac-toe with the two younger girls.
Keeping one ear tuned to the conversation in the other room, she tensed when Libby mentioned the return of the family picture.
“I want to see her, Papa, will you carry me?” Holly overheard her say.
“I do not think it wise just yet… You know how upset you can become, poppet,” Gregory answered.
“Holly, it is your turn!” Kitty insisted.
“Oh yes, so it is,” Holly replied absently, still eavesdropping, she rejoined the game.
“I have forgotten what Mama looked like. I only see her as a skeleton in a coffin in my dreams. Please, Papa, I want to see her.”
Holly turned to the doorway, expecting to see Gregory there with Libby in his arms. She was not disappointed. He came into the room, an anxious frown creasing his forehead, with Libby held carefully against his chest. He ignored Holly and his younger daughters and crossed to stand beneath the portrait.
“Hullo, Mama,” Libby whispered. She fell silent a while before adding, “She was lovely, don’t you think so, Papa?”
“Yes, darling, she certainly was, and we will always remember her even though she is gone from our midst,” Gregory explained gently.
“Thank you for putting her picture back, Holly. I think Mama would have liked you; wouldn’t she, Papa?” Libby reached out and touched the top of Holly’s head as Gregory passed by, returning her to her bed.
“Yes, she would, and Holly, you were right to bring the portrait back. Thank you, darling.” Gregory cast her a warm smile, and her heart swelled with pride and joy at his praise and the
endearment.
After luncheon,Holly went to discuss the Christmas menu with Cook. She need not have worried, for the experienced woman had everything under control, from a fattened goose to an already rich-fruited, baked cake which she assured her mistress was regularly soused with brandy. They discussed the girls coming down to the kitchen the following day to make biscuits to hang upon the Christmas tree. Mrs Hicks said she would make enough sweet treats to fill the cornucopias the children had made.
Satisfied that the staff had all the necessary preparations for Christmas in hand, Holly decided to go and find Silas and, failing that, another groundsman would do. She wanted to ask about choosing a suitable tree. Entering the boot room, she found Gregory there shrugging snow from his greatcoat and stamping it from his boots.
“You were not intending on venturing out in this blizzard, were you?”
“I had no idea the weather had turned. I was going to find Silas to ask about a tree,” she informed him.
“I told you that I would see to that and I have. Come and join me for some tea. I need warming up, it is freezing out there. I have decided to send a footman over to Wooton Hall. Once this infernal snow stops, I shall pen a note informing Bunty’s parents that due to Libby’s accident and the icy weather, I am postponing the girls’ visit to them until after the New Year. I think you have the right of it, darling, the girls will be much happier staying here with us.”
