A Loving Family (36 page)

‘I remember this carol, miss.' His voice broke on a muffled sob. ‘My ma used to sing it to me long ago afore the workhouse took me. I can hardly remember her face, but I can still hear her voice. She was an angel.'

Stella squeezed his hand. ‘I'm sure she was,' she murmured softly.

‘You won't go away and leave me, will you, miss?' Tears glistened on his dark eyelashes. ‘You won't forget Spike when you marry the toff?'

‘I'm not thinking of marriage at the moment, but whatever happens in the future you'll always have a home with me, Spike.'

He nodded and released her hand, hunching his shoulders as if embarrassed by his show of emotion. ‘Ta, miss. I never doubted it for a minute.'

The carol finished suddenly and the choir surged forward as the landlord of the pub appeared in the doorway with a tray of drinks. ‘A merry Christmas to you all.'

Bob edged his way forward and returned with three tin cups of hot punch. He gave one to Spike. ‘Go easy on this, young fellow. I don't want to have to carry you home at the end of the evening.'

Stella accepted hers with a grateful smile. ‘You're a kind man, Robert. You're just like your father. I'd be proud to call you my brother.'

‘It's not what I wished for, but it's better than nothing. I'll always have a soft spot for you, Stella.' Bob downed his drink. ‘Merry Christmas.'

She raised her cup. ‘Merry Christmas, Bob.' She turned to Spike. ‘Merry Christmas.'

His eyes were suspiciously bright as he drank the toast. ‘Here's to our family, miss.'

‘I think you should start calling me Stella.'

Spike's pale cheeks flushed scarlet. ‘Ta, Stella.'

The choirmaster clapped his hands. ‘Finish your drinks. We've got many more calls to make afore midnight.' He signalled to the fiddler, who struck up a jig as the company moved on with their lanterns bobbing. Moving shafts of light illuminated the pathways between the houses and at each stop they were received with small donations of money for the poor. Their last call was the manor house, where they were invited into the wainscoted entrance hall and their singing was rewarded with mince pies and mulled wine.

Stella joined her mother by the fireside, warming her hands in front of the blaze. ‘You look happy, Ma.'

‘I'm so glad you agreed to spend Christmas here in the country.' Jacinta turned her head as Mr Hendy made his way through the crowd to stand at her side. ‘It's been a wonderful evening.'

He took her hand in his, looking into her eyes with a tender smile that brought a lump to Stella's throat. ‘It's not over yet, Jacinta my dear. I have a surprise waiting for you back at the farm. At least, I hope so. We'll have to hurry home and see.'

IT WAS SNOWING
when the party spilled out of the manor house. The choristers warbled carols all the way back to the village to the accompaniment of the fiddle, but without the mellow tones of the violoncello. The choirmaster had the instrument strapped to his back and he staggered homeward bent double beneath its weight.

Belinda walked hand in hand with Bertie, but Perry had drunk deeply and not too wisely and was supported by Spike, whose legs were even more bowed as they wandered crabwise ahead of Stella. She clutched Bob's arm as the pair negotiated the grassy tussocks, with only the light of the stars to guide them across the village green as the lantern holders had drifted off in different directions. Ahead of them Stella could just make out the swinging beam from Mr Hendy's lantern as he walked with Jacinta on his arm. He quickened his pace when they reached the farmyard and was greeted by the dogs, who ventured out of their kennels barking and wagging their tails.

He thrust the door open, pausing on the threshold until they were all gathered. ‘Wait just a moment,' he said, holding up his hand. ‘I have to make sure that the surprise I organised is waiting.' He disappeared into the kitchen.

‘What can it be?' Belinda said excitedly. ‘Maybe it's a Christmas present for each of us.'

‘Don't presume anything,' Bertie said, pinching her pink cheek. ‘You might get something better.'

Stella turned to him with a puzzled frown. ‘You knew about this mysterious surprise?'

He nodded and grinned. ‘We've been working on it for some time, haven't we, Bob?'

‘I'm mystified,' Jacinta said, shivering. ‘Please may we come in, Thaddeus? I'm freezing out here.'

Hendy reappeared in the doorway. ‘Come in, my dear.' He ushered her inside with a flourish. ‘There's someone important who is waiting eagerly to see you.'

Stella followed her mother into the farm kitchen and her breath hitched in her throat. There was no mistaking the tall young man in naval uniform who stood with his back to the range. ‘Freddie,' she cried, clapping her hands to her lips. ‘I'd know you anywhere.'

Jacinta flew into his arms, laughing and crying at the same time. ‘My boy. My son. Oh, Freddie. I can't believe it's you.'

‘Ma.' His voice broke and he hugged her, burying his face against her shoulder, disregarding the powdering of snowflakes that clung to her mantle. ‘It's me all right, Ma.'

Belinda pushed past Stella and rushed to his side. ‘You devil,' she cried, slapping him on the arm. ‘Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you come looking for me?'

‘Hold hard, Belle. I didn't know where you'd gone and I've been away at sea for years at a time. How was I going to find you?'

Stella moved like a sleepwalker, hardly able to believe her eyes. Her mother and sister were hugging Freddie, who had been just a boy when she had last seen him. The whole scene was unreal. ‘Freddie. Is it really you? I think I'm dreaming.' She wrapped her arms around them all and burst into tears.

Maud raised herself from her seat by the fire. ‘He's a fine young man, Jacinta. We've had a long talk while we were waiting for you.'

Jacinta wiped her eyes on the back of her hand. ‘My boy has come home.' She turned to Mr Hendy with a tremulous smile. ‘Thaddeus, this is your doing. I don't know how you created this Christmas miracle, but I'm so very grateful.'

He crossed the floor in long strides and held her, stroking her hair and murmuring endearments.

Bertie cleared his throat. ‘Well, I'd say this calls for a celebration. I'm sure Freddie could do with a glass of something.'

‘It was a difficult secret to keep,' Bob said, pulling up a chair. ‘But worth it to see your faces.'

Stella held her brother at arm's length. ‘I'm still having difficulty in believing this is real.'

‘I'm here all right, thanks to Bob and Bertie.' Freddie brushed tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. ‘They went to a lot of trouble to trace me.'

‘I can't thank you enough,' Jacinta said, embracing them with a grateful smile. ‘You boys are wonderful, and so is your father. This is the best Christmas present a mother could have.' She turned to her son, holding out her hands. ‘Can you ever forgive me for leaving you in the workhouse?'

‘I did, and so must he,' Belinda said, chuckling. ‘I was sold into service. At least you went to sea, Freddie. You saw a bit of the world and I was a mere slavey.'

He pulled a face. ‘You should see how the new recruits live in the Navy. You wouldn't envy me then, little sister.'

Mr Hendy and Bertie had busied themselves filling a punchbowl with sliced lemons, adding a whole bottle of rum, half a bottle of brandy and a generous helping of sugar. Bertie grated a nutmeg and topped up the mixture with boiling water. He ladled some into a cup and tasted, nodding with approval. ‘This will keep out the cold.'

Mr Hendy handed a brimming glass to Freddie. ‘You need this, my boy. Merry Christmas, Freddie.'

‘How did you manage to trace him?' Jacinta asked, taking a seat next to Freddie and laying her hand on his knee as if to reassure herself that he was flesh and blood and not a mirage.

Mr Hendy pulled up a chair. ‘I wrote to the Admiralty and asked them to check their records. It took some time, but they replied eventually giving me details of young Frederick's ship and the date of its expected arrival in Chatham.'

‘We took a day off,' Bertie said, grinning. ‘It's the first time I've ever travelled on a train.'

‘And we met up with Fred eventually,' Bob added, ‘although we nearly picked the wrong fellow, but we realised our mistake and introduced ourselves to the right chap.'

‘I had to wait until my leave started,' Freddie explained, ‘or I'd have come sooner, but I'm here now and it's a miracle. I thought I'd never see Ma again, nor the girls.' His eyes reddened and he gulped his drink.

Jacinta grasped his hand and held it to her cheek. ‘You're right, Freddie. It is a miracle, and we have Thaddeus and his sons to thank for making it happen.'

Stella glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘It's almost midnight, everyone. Another few seconds and it will be Christmas Day.'

Thaddeus stood up, raising his glass. ‘Here's wishing well to everyone here.'

Stella joined in the toast, but her thoughts were with Kit. She glanced at Perry and Spike, who were seated on the opposite side of the table, and she went to join them. ‘We should make our own toast,' she said in a low voice. ‘To those who cannot be with us this Christmas.'

Perry raised his glass. ‘To Kit. God bless him.' He downed the remainder of his drink. ‘I haven't given up on finding who killed the old lady's stepson,' he said in a whisper. ‘And I'm still trying to find a way to expose Mr Gervase Rivenhall for the villain he undoubtedly is.'

‘Me too,' Spike said with a tipsy grin. ‘I'm working on it too, Stella.'

She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. ‘I'm sure you are, Spike. But perhaps it's time you went to bed. It's getting late.'

Perry helped Spike to his feet. ‘I'll take him up. I'm ready to turn in too. It's been a long day.'

‘You really are our guardian archangel.' Stella brushed his leathery cheek with her lips. ‘Goodnight.'

Next day Jacinta and Stella rose early to start preparing the festive meal. Thaddeus had given Mrs Spriggs the day off but she had prepared the turkey, and complete with chestnut stuffing it sat on a marble slab in the larder ready for the oven. Stella peeled potatoes, carrots and parsnips enough to feed a small army, bearing in mind there were now six hungry men to cater for including Spike, who could consume enough for two given the chance. She unpacked the plum pudding wrapped in its boiling cloth and took it out to the washhouse where first thing that morning she had lit the fire beneath the copper. She lowered the pudding into the boiling water and returned to the kitchen where, to her astonishment, she found Rosa and Tommy waiting for her.

‘Merry Christmas,' Rosa cried, flinging her arms around her. ‘I simply had to come and see you on Christmas Day. We're supposed to be on our way to church but I made Tommy take a detour.'

‘You know what a determined little minx she can be,' Tommy said fondly. ‘It was only a few miles out of our way, driving along snow-covered lanes, but we managed to arrive without mishap.'

Rosa slapped him playfully on the wrist. ‘Stop it, Tommy. You were as keen as I was to spread the good news.' She whipped off her kid glove and waved her left hand under Stella's nose. A diamond-encrusted sapphire ring glinted in a shaft of sunlight that filtered through the small-paned windows. ‘We're engaged,' she added unnecessarily.

Stella returned the embrace. ‘I'm delighted for you but it's no surprise. It was bound to happen sooner or later.' She released Rosa and seized Tommy's hand. ‘Congratulations. You've made a wise choice.'

He grinned sheepishly. ‘It's probably the only sensible thing I've ever done in my life, Stella. But I'll do everything in my power to make my dear girl happy.'

Jacinta abandoned the pan she was stirring and hugged Rosa. ‘I'm so glad for you both. When do you plan to marry?'

Rosa's eyes opened wide. ‘That's a good question. We hadn't thought that far ahead, had we, Tommy?'

‘As soon as possible,' he said firmly. ‘That's my opinion, but we haven't told my parents yet. I'm planning to make the announcement when the whole grisly bunch of my relations is assembled for Christmas luncheon. That should give them something to chew on.'

‘You're dreadful, Tommy.' Rosa shook her head but an irrepressible dimple in her cheek gave her away and she giggled. ‘They're not so bad. At least you don't have a criminal in your family. Not like Kit and me.' She was suddenly serious. ‘I'm sorry, Jacinta. That was tactless, considering you're still tied to the wretched man.'

‘He promised to divorce me,' Jacinta murmured, turning away to inspect the bubbling pan on the range. ‘I'll have to go and see him and demand to know his intentions.'

Stella frowned. ‘Is that wise, Ma? You know what he's like.'

‘I'll take the archangel with me. He'll protect me from Gervase.'

‘The archangel?' Tommy looked from one to the other. ‘I didn't know you had heavenly contacts.'

Rosa dug him in the ribs. ‘It's Perry, silly. Archangel is his Christian name. Didn't I tell you?'

He shook his head. ‘I'm discovering new things about you every day, Miss Rivenhall, and each one is a revelation.'

‘Be careful, Jacinta,' Rosa said with a worried frown. ‘Uncle Gervase is a dangerous man and he'll stop at nothing, as Ronald Clifford discovered to his cost.'

‘We don't know that for sure.' Stella sent her a warning look. ‘His death might not have had anything to do with your uncle.'

‘I think he knew too much, and for him that was fatal.' Rosa turned to Tommy, and her serious expression melted into a smile. ‘We'd best be on our way. Perhaps we can get to the church before the sermon ends and creep in unnoticed.'