Chapter 33

THIRTY-THREE

The tooting of a horn at bang on twelve forty-five p.m. alerted Florrie and Ed to the arrival of Maggie and Bear. They hurried out of the warmth of Samphire Cottage and into the breathtaking cold of the street, diving into the Land Rover as quickly as they could. Zak and Chloe were up front with Bear, while Maggie and Jasmine were in the back. They were met with a slew of hellos and excited chatter as Zak and Chloe spoke on top of one another.

‘Florrie! Florrie! Where are we going?' asked Zak, his voice giddy as he turned to face her. ‘Mum says you haven't told her.'

‘Yeah, Mummy says it's a secret surprise.' Chloe beamed.

‘Please tell us! It's torturing me!' Zak's voice had cranked up several volumes.

Jasmine stuck her fingers in her ears and waggled them theatrically. ‘Er, Zak, lovey, Florrie's not in Lingthorpe, she's right behind you, so there's no need to bellow, especially when my lugs are this close to your mouth.'

‘Soz, Mum.' He laughed, his impish grin looking anything but. ‘Florrie, please can you tell us where we're going?' He reminded Florrie so much of Jasmine at that age, her heart squeezed with affection for him.

‘Are we going sledging again, Florrie?' asked Chloe, blinking sweetly. ‘That was the best time!'

‘Yeah, it was so mint!' Zak started bouncing up and down in his seat.

‘I think you'll like what we're going to do even more.' Ed smiled at the young lad which resulted in whoops of joy from him and his sister.

‘Please put them out of their misery, and before my eardrums burst.' Jasmine looked at Florrie pleadingly but laughing all the same.

‘Okay,' she said, as both children fell silent, eyes wide with anticipation. Florrie didn't think they could get any more adorable. ‘We're heading over to Danskelfe Castle on the moors, where we're booked in for a sleigh ride in the grounds, followed by mince pies, Christmas cake and shortbread.'

‘ No way ?' Zak's mouth fell open and Florrie nodded.

The shrieks of joy that followed were deafening.

Jasmine shot Florrie a confused look, a hint of discomfort hovering in her expression.

Florrie leant into her. ‘Early Christmas presents. Your ticket is from all the lasses and me, the kids' tickets are from Ed and me.'

Relief brightened Jasmine's features. ‘Oh, thank you all so much,' she said as the explanation set in.

The journey across the moors was an upbeat one, with the children instigating a lively sing-along of festive songs. The towns soon gave way to sprawling, snow-covered moorland, huge drifts piled up on the side of the roads where the ploughs had pushed through. Zak and Chloe were fascinated by the sheep that roamed the moors freely, clumps of frozen snow hanging from their dense fleeces, and the great number of rabbits that hopped about, occasionally darting out in front of the Land Rover, Bear having to touch his brakes.

They drove on, passing through achingly beautiful villages filled with characterful thatched cottages all dressed for Christmas. Before they knew it, Danskelfe Castle – home to generations of the titled Hammondely family – complete with flag fluttering above one of its turrets, came into view from its position built into a great crag overlooking the sweeping dale of Danskelfe from which it took its name. Ed turned to Florrie, and they exchanged giddy smiles.

Nate's pickup appeared behind them as they followed the signs for the castle, which directed them down a lane that was lined with Christmas trees, their lights twinkling in what was left of the fading daylight. Soon the castle's great walls loomed before them. It made for a brooding and imposing sight. Bear drove carefully through an impressive stone archway, decorated with thousands of tiny lights, Zak and Chloe peering out of the Land Rover's windows in awe. With the vehicles parked up, the party followed the signs that led into a cobbled courtyard.

Florrie's gaze swept all around her, taking in the Hammondely coat of arms above the castle's broad oak door. Beside it stood a tall Christmas tree generously trimmed with warm white lights and oversized baubles, its branches swaying in the breeze that was creeping its way around the ancient walls. Standing in the centre of the courtyard was the "sleigh" which was even more spectacular than Florrie had expected from the images on the castle's website. It consisted of a carriage, its exterior clad to emulate the stereotypical image of a "Father Christmas" sleigh, painted a deep red and trimmed in gold. Florrie was thankful to see it had a sturdy roof, festooned with a plethora of fairy lights, that would at least go some way to protect them from the elements. Tethered to it, three majestic-looking white horses waited patiently, their manes and harnesses given a festive finish.

With everyone in their seats, two liveried drivers gave the orders and the horses set off at quite a pace, their hooves clattering through the courtyard and thundering over the now permanently fixed wooden drawbridge. They followed a track, cleared of snow, leading out into the castle's extensive grounds, Zak and Chloe wearing face-splitting smiles and cheering with the joy of it all. The scenery couldn't have been more stunning if it tried. In the distance the dense coniferous wood of the Danskelfe Estate exuded a magical air, with its generous covering of snow. The views over the sweeping Danskelfe Dale were breathtaking, great swathes of moorland giving way to farmland that lined the dale, peppered with farmsteads, their lights already twinkling.

‘Oh, wow! Look!' Everyone turned to where Zak was pointing to see a large stag break cover from a cluster of trees. A gasp ran around the group of friends as they watched it race over the open land where it leapt effortlessly over a drystone wall and disappeared into a small copse of rowan trees.

‘So beautiful,' Lark said dreamily.

‘They're such magnificent creatures,' said Ed.

‘I can't believe we've seen a real-life stag,' said Zak. ‘It was ginormous!'

‘Do you think it was Rudolph, Mummy?' asked Chloe, melting Florrie's heart and making Zak snort at his sister.

Jasmine shot him a reproving look and said, ‘Maybe his cousin, but Rudolph and his pals who pull Santa's sleigh are reindeer, lovey.'

Florrie felt a rush of exhilaration as the sleigh powered on, not caring that the wind was biting cruelly at any exposed skin, though she was glad of the fleece blankets they'd found folded up on each seat. She pulled hers up to her chin, snuggling closer to Ed. He wrapped his arm around her, giving her a squeeze. ‘This is amazing,' he said, his eyes shining.

‘I'm so happy you're enjoying it.' She smiled up at him. Another successful mission for The Happy Christmas Memory Project.

‘You all right, Mags?'

Florrie turned to see Stella regarding their friend closely. A spike of alarm shot through her. Uh-oh! Maggie and Bear's baby was due any day and, much as she was mindful of this, Maggie had still been keen to join them if Baby Marsay hadn't already arrived.

Maggie nodded. ‘Just feeling a bit travel sick. I'll be fine in a minute.'

‘You sure, missus? You haven't half gone pale.' There was no escaping the concern in Bear's voice.

‘I'm okay, don't fuss.'

The friends exchanged concerned looks; it was unlike Maggie to be snappy with her husband.

The sleigh ploughed on, passing through a long wrought-iron archway decorated with branches of fir tree and smothered in yet more fairy lights, generating further gasps of delight from the group. Not long after, they passed a miniature wooden lodge with a thatched roof and a sign that said, "Santa's helpers", causing Chloe to give a shriek of delight. As they rounded the corner, heading back in the direction of the castle, they encountered yet another wooden lodge, surrounded by small, decorated Christmas trees, this one bearing the sign, "The House of Christmas Magic". The sleigh slowed down, allowing the group to watch as the door opened, revealing a fairy dressed in a shimmering gold gown.

Chloe was beside herself with excitement, waving back frantically and jumping up and down, her eyes wide with delight. ‘Did you see that, Mummy? Did you see? It was a fairy!'

The light had faded considerably as they drew closer to the castle, which looked magical in its festive finery.

Once parked up in the courtyard, they clambered out of the sleigh and helped themselves to the mulled wine – a non-alcoholic version of which was available for those who preferred it – or orange juice, for the younger guests, and availed themselves of the warm mince pies, Christmas cake and chunky slices of shortbread that were being offered around on trays by the castle staff.

‘How did you enjoy that?' A cut-glass accent made Florrie turn to see a tall, coltish-looking woman, dressed in classic country clothing smiling at her. A wide-brimmed leather hat sat on top of her chestnut hair that was pulled back into a low ponytail.

‘It was wonderful,' Florrie said politely, wondering if the woman had something to do with the Hammondelys. She'd been chatting to Maggie, eager to make sure her friend was feeling better when she'd heard the voice behind her.

‘Oh, I'm so delighted to hear that. I'm Caro, by the way, Caro Hammondely.' She held out her hand.

‘Pleased to meet you,' Florrie said. Caro – or Lady Caroline Hammondely – exuded such an air of confidence, Florrie found herself feeling slightly in awe of her. She looked on as Caro introduced herself to everyone else, keen to know that the sleigh ride had lived up to their expectations.

‘It's our first year offering sleigh rides, and we're thrilled with how popular they've been. Since I've become involved in the running of the place, I've been eager to try out lots of new, exciting ventures to tempt people to visit us. Make the old gal earn her keep, as it were.' She nodded towards the castle.

Despite being ultra confident, Caro had a warm and friendly manner that Florrie couldn't help but find appealing.

‘Oh, golly gosh! I've just realised! I knew I'd seen you somewhere before. I recognise you from your photo on your website. You're Maggie of the Micklewick Bear Company who made the adorable teddy bears for our lodges. They're absolutely divine and I'm about to place an order for some more for the new lodges we're having built.'

Florrie turned to Maggie, expecting to see her beaming happily at the praise for her bears. Instead, she was shocked to find her friend's face distorted by a grimace. ‘Mags, are you all right?' she asked, rushing over to her.

Before Maggie could answer, Zak said, ‘Er, Mum, I think Maggie's just peed herself.' They all looked to see a dark stain spreading over Maggie's red maternity trousers.

‘Oh, gosh!' said Lady Caro, looking momentarily shocked.

‘I think Baby Marsay's on his or her way.' Maggie gasped, forcing a smile at Bear.

‘What? Now, this minute?' Bear dragged his hand down his face. ‘Oh, flippin' 'eck, Mags.'

‘Darling, what can we do to help?' asked Caro, taking Maggie's arm.

‘We need to get her to hospital,' said Jasmine.

‘Of course. Where's your car?'

‘It's in the car park,' said Stella, cool and calm as ever. ‘Is there any way we can bring it closer to Maggie, save her struggling to it?'

‘Yes, absolutely, just drive right up here.'

‘But how's everyone going to get home?' Maggie asked. ‘I can't expect you all to traipse over to Middleton-le-Moors with us, especially the kids. Who knows how long we could be there?'

‘Don't go worrying about us, Mags, we can get a taxi or something,' said Florrie. ‘You just focus on yourself and Baby Marsay.'

‘Did you all travel here together?' Lady Caro asked.

‘Alex and I travelled with Nate and Lark here,' said Stella, ‘but the others all got here in Bear's Landie.'

‘I see.' Lady Caro looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘Do any of you have all vehicle insurance?'

‘I do,' said Ed.

‘Perfect. You can take the others back in Bear's Landie and I'll whizz Maggie and Bear over to Middleton hospital in mine. It's not far from here, so we'll have you there in a jiffy, Maggie. I assume you can call someone to collect you when necessary?'

‘Yes, but?—'

‘No buts, darling.' Lady Caro glanced up at the sky as snowflakes started gently tumbling down. ‘We need to get you and your baby safely to hospital before the snow sets in. The weather's notoriously capricious out here and can change in a heartbeat. We need to leave now, if the forecast is anything to go by. I'll just grab my keys.'

As soon as Ed had retrieved Maggie's hospital bag from Bear's Land Rover – she'd had the foresight to bring it with her, just in case – Lady Caro had bundled the expectant mum and her husband into her new Land Rover Defender, the others waving them off, cries of good luck trailing after them.

Florrie watched the vehicle disappear down the lane, willing with all her might that everything would go well for Maggie and Bear, and that Lady Caro would get them to hospital before Baby Marsay made his or her appearance.