Sarah had already begun working on the dancing slippers for Effie in her rare moments of spare time, embroidering a thistle design onto the toe of each: spiny green ball topped by a purple crown.
Now, as she did so, she found herself praying for the girl, praying that God would heal her wounded daughter-heart from past hurts and guide her into the future. That He would hold her in His mighty hand and, even when she stumbled, not let her fall.
“Please protect her, Lord, and direct her steps. Please direct mine too.”
On Christmas Eve, the five bells in the parish church tower began to chime, calling the faithful to the traditional Christmas Eve service.
Sarah and her family set out together along with Cora, Mr. Henshall and Effie, and the Huttons. Mr. Hutton senior had recently arrived in Sidmouth and joined them as well. William, Claire, and Mira met them at the church.
The temperature had dropped, so they dressed warmly. In fact, Mrs. Denby had declined the invitation to join them due to the cold night and a persistent cough but had promised to come over for dinner on Christmas Day.
“I don’t like that she has to live in that drafty building near the river,” Viola said. “The damp there cannot be good for her.”
As they walked up the churchyard path, Georgiana shivered and then sighed. “I had so hoped for snow. Not for a Christmas as cold as last year’s, but a little snow would be nice.”
Colin teased, “I shall put in a good word with Mother Nature. Women have always liked me.”
“Ha!” Georgiana scoffed and slapped his padded shoulder. “You wish!”
“We had far more snow than usual last year,” Emily said. “Can’t expect that again.”
Sarah added, “I am doing everything in my power to give you a festive Christmas, Georgiana, but the weather is outside of my control.”
Together they all entered the church and processed up the long nave to their usual pews near the front.
During the service, they sang an old Christmas anthem that interwove Latin phrases with English.
“Nowell sing we, now all and some,
ForRex pacificusis come.
In Bethlehem, in that fair city,
A child was born of a maiden free,
That shall a lord and prince be
A solis ortus cardine.”
In her mind, Sarah translated the Latin—For the King of peace is coming ... From the rising of the sun.
She longed for that peace as well.
After the service, they returned to Sea View. Just like the previous year, they found Mr. Gwilt and their elderly manservant, Lowen, decorating the entrance with pine boughs, holly, and ivy.
“Thank you,” Sarah said. “That looks wonderful.”
Once inside, they shed their outer things and continued decorating, winding greenery up the stairway banister, on the mantels, and down the center of the dining room table.
Georgiana, accompanied by Effie and Cora, went and stood at the library windows, watching for their extended family and friends to arrive.
In the adjacent drawing room, a fire blazed in the open hearth, the curtains drawn against the cold. A shallow pewter bowl sat before the fire, being warmed in preparation for a game of snapdragon. The games portion of the evening had always been Georgiana’s favorite, and she saw her former enthusiasm mirrored in the eager expressions of the younger girls. But Georgie found her thoughts more focused on the guests soon to arrive. Or at least, one particular guest.
She had dressed with unusual care in one of her new dresses and kid slippers, forgoing the comfortable half boots she preferred.She’d even asked Emily to help with her hair. Not that anyone had probably noticed. It had been so cold in the church they’d left on their coats and bonnets.
William, Claire, and Mira were the first to arrive. James and Emily greeted them. Armaan and his wife were busy at the boarding house but planned to join them for Christmas dinner and Twelfth Night.
The Hutton family arrived after a brief stop at Westmount: Viola, Major Hutton, Colin, and Mr. Hutton.
