16. Gifts to Make Merry

CHAPTER 16

GIFTS TO MAKE MERRY

A few minutes later

“Have they already gone upstairs?” Tom asked, his eyes sweeping the hall when the next dance had ended.

Anne gave him a look of disbelief. “You didn’t notice them take their leave?”

Tom shook his head and regarded her with a grin. “I think because I only have had eyes for you on this night.”

Her face coloring even more with his comment—the dancing had been the other reason she displayed a blush—Anne leaned in closer and said, “Her ladyship told me she wouldn’t require my services ’til morning.”

His eyes darkened, but then Graves cleared his throat and the two, along with everyone else, were forced to turn their attention to the head servant.

“His lordship has seen to it you each have a gift for Christmas, so before you retire this evening, you’ll want to look for a box with your name on it,” he said, waving a hand at the refreshments table. “I am also to remind you there is more champagne, although might I suggest you drink no more than two glasses? We do have some work to do on the morrow. That is all.”

A round of chuckles erupted before the servants rushed to the table.

The boxes, each wrapped with a ribbon and topped with a red bow, had tags on them with their names written in ink. At the sound of jingling when they were jostled, several gasps could be heard.

“There is money in mine,” one of the housemaids said with excitement, after she had torn off the ribbon and peeked inside.

“Mine as well,” Christina said.

“Mine, too,” Perkins chimed in, although he was holding one of the oranges he found in his box against his chest as if it was the real gold.

“Everyone received the same amount of blunt,” Graves stated, “Along with three oranges.”

“Her ladyship is so generous,” Bobby remarked. “She is the one who brought the oranges from London. I know because I hauled ’em in from her coach yesterday.”

“As is his lordship,” Graves countered soberly. “The blunt is from him.”

“I hope we can go to Castleford on Boxing Day,” Anne said. “I would so like to go shopping.”

Tom was staring into his box, stunned to discover that besides the coins and oranges, his contained several bank notes along with a short note. He plucked the parchment from the box and unfolded it.

For the marriage license. Best wishes. Ritchfield.

“What is it?” Anne asked, stepping closer when she noticed he was reading. “Is it good news?”

“The very best,” Tom said, allowing a broad grin. He lowered his voice and added, “Do not fret, my love, for I will get us to Castleford. ”

She grinned and watched as some of the other servants bid everyone good-night and headed towards the servants’ stairs at the back of the house. Instead of following, she helped Barbara and Clara take the leftover cakes and glasses to the kitchen.

“It was good of your husband to bring you tonight,” Anne said, nodding to Mr. Godfrey. He had joined the merriment at some point that evening, when it was apparent more men were needed for the dancing. “The trip through the snow must have been quite a challenge.”

“It wasn’t bad between here and the farm,” Mr. Godfrey said. “And it’s not as cold now as it was yesterday, so we’re going to head home straight away.”

“Safe travels,” Tom said, joining them in the kitchen. “Bobby and I saw to the horses before dinner. Is there anything else that’s needin’ to be done before I retire?”

Clara made a shoo’ing motion with her hands. “Off wif’ all of you,” she said. “I need my beauty sleep if I’m goin’ to be up at dawn to make the bread for breakfast.”

“Well, then happy Christmas,” Anne said.

“Happy Christmas,” several replied in unison, some making their way upstairs while others saw to restoring the hall to the way it was before the dancing had begun.

Tom and Anne were the last of the servants to climb the stairs, and he gripped her hand and pulled her onto the first floor. “I’d understand if you’d rather not make love with me again so soon, but I would like to at least hold you whilst you sleep,” he whispered.

Anne’s eyes rounded. “Why wouldn’t I?” she asked in alarm.

He opened his mouth to respond and seemed to think better of it. “Oh, I am going to have a very happy Christmas then, aren’t I?” he said before they hurried off down the corridor, their Christmas boxes jingling in the dark.

“Did you ever doubt it?” Anne countered.