Once Upon a Christmas by Jane Porter

Author:Jane Porter [Porter, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2022-10-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

It began snowing during Thursday’s candlelight tour. Cara hadn’t even realized it had started snowing until she passed one of the large windows with the view of the illuminated gardens and park, and saw the thick white flakes falling on the other side of the glass. Others noticed the snow, too, with several guests joining her at the enormous arched window, watching the snow come down, turning everything a stunning white. One gentleman joked that if it snowed any harder, they’d all be spending the night. Another man missed the joke and said no, he wouldn’t stay the night. He’d rather just get on the road soon. Others didn’t seem to care, and no one but the one man without a sense of humor left early, or rushed the tour, or even rushed through the champagne at the end.

If anything, there was a great deal of laughter and celebration when they all returned to the largest reception room, which the Sherbournes referred to as the Green Salon, with the enormous tree with gold, silver, and crystal ornaments, a pair of majestic carved angels on the mantel, and the glittering chandeliers dimmed to better enjoy the champagne by candlelight. Cara and Mr. Trimble were there to welcome everyone with a glass of champagne, and the guests were chattering happily with each other, waiting for the last glass to be passed, and the first toast to be made, before drinking.

Uncle Frederick entered the room, slowly, stiffly, and after Alec welcomed everyone back from the tour, and said he hoped they had enjoyed themselves, he introduced his uncle, asking if Frederick would like to say a few words. Frederick spoke for four or five minutes, mostly about the Sherbournes long history in Derbyshire, a history that went back about six hundred years, and how throughout the centuries, the Sherbournes had valued their close relationship with Bakewell, and then he wrapped up, and wished everyone a happy Christmas.

The guests applauded politely. Alec lifted his glass in a toast, and for the next fifteen or twenty minutes, the group talked and drank, a few returning for a refill on the champagne, and then without any nudging, amid a flurry of voices and goodbyes, the guests were bundling up and heading out, laughter ringing as they stepped out into the snowy night.

Cara stood just behind Alec at the door, aware that she was not the host, but cognizant that he might need someone available to assist should a guest forget a hat or something else and required accompanying back into the Green Salon.

But no guest returned, and the great door finally shut, and Cara exhaled with relief. She was tired, but pleased that, as far as she knew, no one had gotten lost, no one had taken a fall, and nothing had been broken. In her mind, that was a win.

She’d also been a little anxious about the champagne part, wondering if she’d manage opening all those bottles of champagne, but Mr. Trimble’s timely return

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