Most of the village had turned out to listen to the choir. Seating and snacks – there were plenty of vol-au-vents and cheesy whirls left, even though plating them up did make Jess blush like a tomato – were already in position. Visitors were handed a glass of mulled wine on arrival and the atmosphere was upbeat.
The grand piano had been wheeled through into the picture gallery and, along with the huge Christmas tree, it framed one end of the room, leaving space for the lines of choir members to stand in front.
Aggie grinned like a maniac as she took her place at the piano, Sebastian beside her to turn the pages of her music.
The performance passed in a blur, and afterwards Jess was aware of people congratulating her, of villagers saying how much they’d enjoyed the performance, how lovely her solos had been. People were munching on snacks and milling around, empty glasses abandoned on surfaces.
She and Sebastian had hardly had a moment together since they’d woken up, and as she began to tidy some glasses, she scanned the sea of faces for him. He wasn’t anywhere to be seen, but then arms encircled her from behind and as she swung around, she realised it was him. Grinning broadly, he took a surreptitious glance around before leaning in to kiss her.
‘You were fantastic,’ he said, arms dropping to his sides as Aggie bustled past, thanking him for his help – and the chance to play the grand piano. ‘Any time,’ he replied. ‘Happy Christmas!’
‘Happy Christmas!’
The phrase was repeated throughout the room as the assembled crowd began to disperse back to their homes, their present swapping, their lunch preparations.
As Jess headed for the kitchen with a trayful of glasses, Aunt Vivi joined her, an empty plate in her grasp.
‘Let me give you a hand,’ she said, gathering another plate and dumping both on the table once they were in the kitchen. Digby climbed from his bed, bouncing on his back feet at the sight of Vivi. Once she’d fussed the dog, she set her attentions on Jess again.
‘You and Sebastian. How’s it going?’
Jess did her best to deflect. ‘How is what going? Everything’s fine.’
‘Oh, Jess. You always were wilful in your misunderstanding. And there’s that word again. Fine? I saw him kiss you out there, so tell me really. How is it going?’
Jess did her best to press her lips together, squashing the ridiculous grin which wanted to occupy her face. ‘I’ve never had anyone make me feel like this before.’
Vivi’s eyebrows arched. ‘Sounds promising. And is he any good in bed?’
Her aunt’s question shouldn’t really have caught Jess off guard; she knew Vivi well enough to know her forthright attitude to – well, to everything. Nevertheless, Jess’s cheeks flared with nuclear-grade heat.
‘Vivi! You can’t ask me that!’
‘I take it from that he is. Shouldn’t be underestimated, in my opinion. They can be taught, of course, but if they have a natural propensity for giving pleasure, it’s a good starting point.’
‘Oh, my God. You are incorrigible.’
‘Of course I am. What’s the point, otherwise?’ Vivi rinsed a plate under the cold tap. ‘Any fool can see how that delicious young man looks at you. Well, good for you, Jess. If I were fifty years younger, I’d have given you a run for your money.’
‘Vivi!’
‘Just saying.’ Vivi rinsed the other plate, then added, ‘I didn’t have any of the mulled wine – can’t stand the stuff, personally. Could I have a coffee instead? My mouth is as dry as a Weetabix after all that singing.’
Dee struggled to hide her disappointment. Robbie hadn’t come to listen to the carols, and she supposed she had nobody to blame except herself. She’d done her best to chat and mingle – something she hadn’t done with any relish for a long time – but her attention had been elsewhere. She’d been watching the doorway, hoping he might just have been held up, that he was on his way, rather than a no-show.
And, now that preparations for lunch were in full swing, she was losing hope. To distract herself, she’d made a Lego monster truck with Freddie, played Crazy Chefs with Karl – twice – and had been very happy to accept a glass of champagne from Christian.
With the children safely corralled in the snug, toys everywhere, but beginning to complain about being hungry, Dee headed for the kitchen to find out when the food would be ready.
She walked in on Sebastian and Jess, kissing one another as though they were the only two people in existence. As though they didn’t care who saw them, didn’t have a care in the world. Anger flared in Dee, or perhaps it was jealousy – either way, she rattled at the lid of a pan on the Aga to gain their attention.
Breaking apart, at least Jess had the decency to look sheepish.
‘If you have a moment,’ Dee said, her throat as tight as the words stalking their way from her lips, ‘do you think we could get on with lunch? The children are extremely hungry.’
‘Of course,’ Jess said, looking chastened. ‘I’m so sorry.’
Dee was losing control. The disappointment she was feeling at Robbie’s decision to stay away from the castle was mixing with an overwhelming sense of vulnerability. Added to which, the sight of her son and the housekeeper – however different these circumstances might be from the past – was firing all sorts of synapses in Dee’s brain, like a starburst of different emotions. However much she tried to rein it in, she was painfully aware she was losing her temper as she switched her attention onto her son. ‘Do you think this is appropriate? Anybody could walk in: the children … And after everything we’ve been through, Sebastian – do you really think this is the right move? Do you care at all about howIfeel in all this?’
