Page 123 of One More Christmas at the Castle
‘No, she’s staying here and so is Olive Melling. She’s going to have a nice little catch-up with her, like she did with Nigel, when he arrived.’
‘I’m not sure he’s recovered from that yet,’ I said. ‘But it’s kind of her to say we can go to the fair, too.’
‘Oh, I asked her,’ he said cheerfully. ‘I love that kind of thing, don’t you? All those naff hand-knitted things in lurid colours and raffle prizes you’d so much rather not win.’
‘It does have a certain fascination,’ I admitted. ‘I haven’t left the estate since I got here, so I suppose it’s time I saw the village. I’d like a look at that Roman Janus stone on the Green you told me about, too.’
‘There we are, then: a morning of unbridled fun and frivolity before the last of the guests arrive and we’re run off our feet for the duration.’
‘We’re fairly busy now,’ I pointed out. ‘Hadn’t you better take the cheeseboard through?’
‘Just going,’ he said with dignity.
Of course, now there were more guests, clearing up took a lot longer and the dishwasher was still chugging over its first load when I went to set the extended table in the morning room, ready for breakfast.
When Henry made a trip to fetch the coffee tray and any used glasses, he said that Mrs Powys, Nigel, and the Mellings were playing bridge, while Nancy was helping Lucy to thread silk tassels into bookmarks she’d made from old greeting cards, which she intended selling at tomorrow’s fair.
‘What about Xan and Dom?’ I asked.
‘Playing billiards. They suggested I join them, but I said duty called and I still had a lot of glassware to hand-wash, not to mention the cutlery to dry, polish and put away.’
‘What heroic self-denial!’
‘Not entirely. I thought Mrs Powys might consider my presence extraneous when Xan had someone else to play billiards with.’
He watched me haul out a large saucepan from the cupboard.
‘You aren’t going to start cooking now, Dido, are you?’
‘Just mulligatawny soup for tomorrow’s lunch. It won’t take me long.’
‘You’re a glutton for punishment,’ he said.
‘I’m like the Boy Scouts: I always like to be prepared.’
‘Well, so do I, if it comes to that. I really should whip up some more nibbles and starters tomorrow.’
Finally, the soup was gently simmering and the kitchen was immaculate.
Henry made another sortie to the sitting room, ostensibly to collect more glasses and see to the fire, but really, I suspected out of curiosity and a desire to see Dom. He returned saying that the bridge party was still ongoing, and it looked like Mrs Powys would make a much later night of it than usual.
‘I think she might be a bit of a bridge fiend and enjoying having someone to play with.’
He washed up a few last things and I turned off the heat under the soup.
‘Come on, Henry, let’s go and put our feet up for a bit. I’m tired out, and this is only the beginning!’
Then a thought struck me and I crossed to look at today’s to-do list. ‘Take bacon and sausages out of freezer,’ I read aloud. ‘I knew I’d forgotten something!’
‘That’ssounlike you. You must be in love,’ he said, then dodged through the door into our sitting room as I threw an oven glove at him.
I was slumped in a semi-stupor of tiredness in front ofElf, which we’d watched so many times we didn’t need to concentrate on it, when Xan tapped at the door and put his head in.
‘Hi! I didn’t want to interrupt you,’ he said apologetically. ‘I just thought you’d like to know that everyone’s gone to bed now, except me and Dom. We’ve collected the rest of the used glasses and brought them through with us.’
‘That was kind,’ I said. Plum had already insinuated himself through the gap in the doorway and was heading for his usual place on the sofa.
‘Is Dom there with you? Why don’t you both come in?’ Henry said eagerly.
