“I never doubted that.”
“Nor should you. Some time here at the inn will help heal your hurts,”Cat stated and disappeared.
I could only hope that was true.
???
“Benedict! Look!” Mariah cried. I yawned and rubbed my eyes. She was sitting at the window seat, staring out at the landscape.
The windows in our apartment here were Tudor leaded ones. I could already see the front of them. None of that ugly double glazing here. I threw back the covers and thanked heaven for the person who’d invented boilers and radiators. Mariah still had her nose pressed to the window, and I shrugged on my robe and padded across the floor to her.
“Snow,” I said with a smile.
Everything outside the window was covered in white powder. This clearly had been falling all night. It was inches deep already.
“When are our guests due to arrive?” I asked, concerned. In my day, we’d have hitched up a carriage and been on our way. Today’s vehicles were far more dangerous than a horse and carriage.
“Today. I need to go and speak to Trudy. Cars won’t be driving in this weather!” Mariah exclaimed.
I snagged her robe before she raced off and kissed her, and Mariah leaned into me. “Maybe bathe first, my love. We don’t want to be giving customers a shock.”
Mariah giggled against my lips. “Only you would be bothered about that. I don’t think the customers would care.”
“Oh, believe me, they would. Into the shower with you,” I replied, slapping her bottom. Mariah grinned, and my spirits lightened at her joy over the snow.
“Benedict, we’re going to have a white Christmas!” she exclaimed and rushed out. I looked out of the window and smiled. How strange that the white, fluffy substance could bring so much happiness.
Mariah
“Mrs Maddon called. They’re already in the village and are unsure how to get here. The roads are almost impassable,” Trudy said.
“Are they staying at a hotel?” I asked, concerned, as I entered the bar, ready to make breakfast.
“No. They were dropped off at the café in town. There’s nowhere for them to stay,” Trudy replied.
“How are we planning to get them to the inn?” I worried.
“Easily. Farmer Terry is going to deliver them along with the big order I placed. Luckily, it arrived yesterday. He’s picking it up from the shop and will bring it, too. It’s a novel way to reach us. I guess, it will give them something to remember at the very least.” Trudy chuckled.
“Have they been there all night?”
“No. Apparently, their plane got in late, and they came straight here instead of staying at the overnight hotel they’d booked. They reached the village at four this morning, just as the snow began to fall heavily. Rose-Marie saw them arrive and opened the café on seeing that they had children. Their taxi literally dropped them off and disappeared due to the snow.”
“What a twat!” I exclaimed, outraged. Thank God for the kindand generous Rose-Marie. She was one of the witches who’d helped me save Benedict. Yes, a real-life witch.
“They had a toddler with them, too. That made matters all the worse. Rose-Marie has looked after them,” Trudy said.
“Good. What a poor welcome to England! I guess Julie can’t get in either?” I asked.
“Julie’s here.”
“How?” I exclaimed, as Julie lived in the village.
“Walked.”
I was appalled. The village was a ten-minute walk in good weather. On a day like this, it would have doubled the time.
Trudy shook her head at me. “It took her forty minutes. Especially as she dragged a suitcase with her, she said the weatherman said this snowfall will be here for at least the next three days. She’s going to reside in one of the guest rooms, if that’s okay with you?”
