Page 30 of A Christmas Miracle for the Frosty Marquess
Clara giggled and nodded.
“We shall,” she said, leading her siblings to the waiting cart.
They all climbed aboard the cart, and Clara confidently took the reins in hand. The morning fog had started to lift, revealing the sparkling frost that blanketed the ground. As their estate grew smaller behind them, the joyous melodies of Christmas filled the crisp winter air. Amelia, her dark auburn curls bouncing with every note, led them in song with her clear, melodic singing. William, with boyish enthusiasm, tried to harmonize, sometimes getting the notes hilariously wrong.
At first, Clara listened, a smile playing on her lips. But soon, the infectious joy of the season took over, and she found herself joining in, blending her notes with those of her siblings. The world outside seemed to dance to their song, with birds flying alongside, their tweets complementing the trio’s harmonies.
Half an hour later, the vicarage came into view. Its chimney exhaled plumes of smoke that painted a cozy picture against the backdrop of the clear blue sky. Clara’s heart, which had been soaring with the music, suddenly stopped, landing with a heavy thud in her chest.
Elizabeth, with her graceful posture, was engaged in animated conversation with Mary and Hannah. But it was the man beside her that drew Clara’s attention. Julian stood by his sister, his usually stern face now wearing a mild smile.
The dogcart came to a gentle stop, and Clara took a moment to collect herself. Why did his mere presence affect her so? With a deep breath, she descended, helping Amelia and William alight.
“Clara,” Elizabeth said with a warm smile. “I am so glad you all made it.”
Amelia and William, never ones to shy away from company, quickly joined the group, exchanging pleasantries. Clara followed suit, her gaze inadvertently meeting Julian’s.
“Clara,” he said with a short bow, though she thought she detected a softening in his eyes.
“Julian,” Clara said, keeping her composure when she curtseyed, even as her heart raced. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”
Julian’s eyes scanned her face, and her racing heart began to beat faster. Then, a smile twitched on his lips, and he dipped his head.
“Likewise,” he said, sounding almost sincere.
Mary and Hannah eagerly drew Clara into their conversation, sharing updates and neighborhood gossip. But throughout the exchange, Clara couldn’t help but feel Julian’s gaze on her, a sensation that was both unnerving and exhilarating.
When the pleasantries and small talk had concluded, Mary clapped her hands together to gain everyone’s attention.
“Is everyone ready to get started?” she asked. “I will make some tea and cookies shortly. For now, I would like to discuss our plans for the day.”
Everyone murmured their agreement, and Clara pulled her eyes away from Julian. But she noticed, as they prepared to follow Mary inside, that she could still feel his eyes on her. Her cheeks felt hot, and she hoped he wouldn’t notice. What was it that was different about him?
The grand doors of the vicarage, engraved with delicate wooden filigree, opened to reveal the cozy interiors, filled with the sweet scent of pine and cinnamon. As Clara stepped in, she couldn’t help but steal a glance in Julian’s direction, half expecting him to leave with a nod or formal farewell. She was sure he had simply come to see his sister safely to the vicarage, and that he would be leaving now that they were going inside.
Thus, it came as a genuine surprise when Elizabeth, her cheeks flushed with the excitement of the day, motioned for her brother to join her.
“Julian has kindly offered to assist with the preparation of the Christmas baskets,” she said.
Clara’s heart fluttered, a mix of unease and anticipation. She had expected today to overflow with the familiar rhythm of charity work alongside Elizabeth and the vicar’s family, and Julian’s unexpected presence added an unfamiliar thrill to the proceedings.
They moved towards the long wooden table set up in the small, cozy sitting room. Baskets of assorted sizes awaited them, along with piles of festive cloth, ribbons, and an assortment of goods to fill them, including fresh loaves of bread, jars of preserves, apples with their skins shining, and handmade toys.
“Now, if we have time, I would also like to bake some extra cookies,” Hannah said. “We will store them for a few days, so if anyone has any ideas for other items we could deliver to the less fortunate families on Christmas Eve, along with the cookies, as a surprise gift package for them, please, let us know. I know this is a little extra to what we normally do. But this has been an especially difficult year for some of our families, and I want to do everything that we can to help them.”
Elizabeth looked at Clara, her eyes sparkling. For a moment, Clara saw the late duchess in her daughter’s face, and it took her aback.
“I have been knitting scarves and gloves for months now,” she said. “I would be happy to bring those here.”
Clara recovered her senses, smiling at her future sister-in-law.
“That’s a wonderful idea,” she said. “We have a surplus of blankets. I could bring those.”
William stepped forward with a broad grin.
“Amelia and I surely have some old toys and books we could contribute,” he said. “We are far too old for them now.”
Clara looked at her siblings with awe. She knew they enjoyed doing wonderful things for others, as well. But she was delighted to see that they were truly getting into the spirit of the holiday.
