* * *
Thomas hadno intention of missing Christmas with his daughter and grandson and all of her friends. But mostly he had no intention of allowing the duchess to face the Christmas holiday without him.
He thought he knew what she needed and an idea had formed in his brain that afternoon in the gallery. If he hurried quickly enough, and met with a small amount of luck, he’d be back in time for Christmas Eve.
Or perhaps he’d need a large amount of luck. What he lacked in luck, he’d make up for in perseverance, damn it. After a day and a half of travel, he’d have preferred to check into some lodgings and rest, but he didn’t have time. So instead, he began his search.
There was one Christmas gift he could give that might change everything for her and he’d find it if he had to tear the docks apart to do so.
* * *
CelebratingChristmas Eve tried Loretta’s emotions more than she had expected. How had she never noticed before that the holiday allowed for displays of affection, both in gift giving and physical touch?
And this year, more so in particular, a plethora of young love descended upon Eden’s Court. The four girls who’d formed their friendships sitting along the dance floor with other wallflowers had all managed to find true love. Miss Goodnight was now Lady Blakely, Miss Mossant had married Lord Carlisle, and Cecily had eventually become the Countess of Kensington after all.
In addition to Sophia’s close friends, distant Prescott family members had been invited. Loretta’s own parents had not traveled due to weakened health, nor had any of her younger sisters made the journey, but a few cousins were in residence as well as many unfamiliar faces who Loretta assumed to be related to Sophia’s mother and stepfather.
Overall, the manor was overrun with merriment.
Sitting in church, this evening, Loretta captured a small measure of the peace she needed to get through the next thirty-six hours.
She listened to the story she’d heard every year for most of her life, hoping she could extract some measure of comfort. The message of forgiveness, hope, and new beginnings.
Could such a message be applied to her own life?
It would mean forgiving herself, and yes, Harold, for leaving her. It would mean forgiving God, for taking Prescott and Lucas from her so violently. It would mean forgiving God for giving her a husband who could never love her, and then a son whose love would be considered equally tainted.
Loretta closed her eyes and waited for the Christmas message to fill her soul.
Please, dear God, Please.She needed a sign. She needed something to know that her life hadn’t been lived in vain.
The congregation rose, and the choir took up singing, Silent Night, Holy Night.
What about this song tormented her? That it was about a son, a son who’d been sacrificed.Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light. Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace.*
A Lord who would sacrifice his own son would not hate Harold for who he was. This Lord would only love him, and accept him, with all of his redeeming grace.
Loretta dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief clutched in one fist. She could not begin crying now.
She bit her lip until the song came to an end, and all that could be heard were a few shuffling feet and a cough from behind her.
Prayer. More songs. Songs about Joy and Heaven. A crying child. And then at last, the reverend wished them all the happiest of Christmases and dismissed them into the loving embrace of their families.
Prescott escorted her outside and into the waiting carriage.
Oh, but it was starting to snow again after all! Just a few flurries, but perhaps they’d amount to something by morning time and the children could coast down the hills on sleds and frolic in the snow after all.
The children.
In her heart, she remembered Lucas, Harold, even Devlin and some of their other cousins on long ago Christmases before the world had turned dim.
Sophia climbed in behind her and then Devlin.
With Devlin’s knock on the ceiling, the driver slowly pulled the carriage away from the church, careful of all those who must travel on foot. Loretta willed away tears.
One needed to embrace life every day, for in the blink of an eye everything might very well be gone. And yet, in her heart, she was the same girl she’d always been. She’d simply taken a few turns she’d not expected.
At this thought, she furrowed her brows.
