His eyebrows arched, his hand resting on the horse’s head. ‘Really?’
‘Well, if they aren’t, they should be,’ she added, feeling her cheeks colour at the strength of her tone.
‘No holds barred, eh? I get the feeling I know who I can call on if I ever need help burying a body. Anyone ever tell you you’re fierce?’
‘I did learn from the best,’ she said with a grin. ‘I’m pretty sure Vivi’s buried more corpses than most people.’
‘It wouldn’t surprise me at all,’ he said. ‘Anything you want me to help with while we’re here?’
‘No – I already think I’ll be able to dine off your impersonation of a jockey forever. No point giving me a total embarrassment of riches, is there?’
He laughed. ‘Fair enough. I’d better go and change – Freya and the boys will be here soon.’
‘Everything will be ready,’ she said.
‘Everything’s already perfect, Jess,’ he replied.
Sebastian was at the front door when Freya and the boys arrived. As he strode across the driveway and helped the driver with the luggage, he couldn’t contain his grin. Setting the cases down on the remnants of the snow, he grabbed Freya in a bear hug, twirling her around until she squealed.
‘It’s been far too long,’ he said.
Although Freya and her husband had made it over for the funeral, they hadn’t had proper time together, and it had been a couple of years since Sebastian had last seen the boys. Karl had been a baby the last time they’d all been at the castle together.
‘Don’t hurt my mummy,’ Karl said, viewing his uncle with suspicion. His finger was held between his teeth in the exact same way Freya used to hold hers.
Sebastian was fiercely protective of both his sisters, but he’d always felt a special level of love for Freya, though he’d never vocalise the fact. He knew exactly where Karl was coming from. He squatted until his head was level with his nephew’s.
‘I would never hurt your mummy. Do you know why?’ he asked. When the little boy shook his head, Sebastian continued, ‘Because she’s one of my most favourite people in the entire world. That’s why.’
Karl’s expression thawed, a little. ‘Me too.’
‘Uncle Sebastian, have you got ghosts in the castle?’ Freddie piped up.
‘Not that I’m aware,’ Sebastian said, picking up cases and walking towards the front door.
‘Oh, that’s boring,’ Freddie said, heading up the porch steps and disappearing inside.
‘Wait for me,’ Karl called, elbows pumping as he did his best to catch up to his brother, a ragged blue bunny bouncing from one hand.
With all the cases in the hallway and the driver heading away from the castle, Freya glanced around the space, then fixed him with the gaze he’d missed more than he realised.
‘How are you coping?’ she said. ‘We never did get a chance to talk properly at the funeral.’
‘The debts are horrendous, Frey. He couldn’t have left the place in a worse position if he’d tried.’
A cloud of a frown blighted his sister’s gentle features. ‘Can you fix it, do you think?’
Sebastian arched his eyebrows. ‘I want to. Liv wants to step up, too, but I have no idea how we’re going to sort out any of it.’
‘You should chat to Christian when he gets here. He might have some ideas.’
Before Sebastian could reply, Freddie was back. ‘Where’s the tree? There’s no Christmas tree. Uncle Sebastian, there’s no tree!’
‘Kissmas tree,’ Karl added. ‘Kissmas lights.’
Sebastian shook his head. ‘There’s no tree yet because we were waiting for you boys to arrive. It’s a Kirkshield tradition. We always wait for the youngest people to arrive and then we go into the forest and choose one. We can do it in the morning, if you want to.’
As the boys circled his legs, clamouring for the tree hunt to start immediately, Freya frowned at him. ‘What tradition? It’s the first I’ve heard of it.’
