A Gerrard Family Christmas (Arrangements, Book 8)
Page 23
Harward went to the door and opened it. “Good evening.”
“If it were warmer and less wintery, it might be, but it certainly is brisk,” chirped a voice they all knew well.
“Oh no,” the adults murmured as one, feeling the usual combination of dread and delight the owner of said voice brought.
“Tibby!” the children cried.
Then suddenly, she was before them. Lady Raeburn, the most eccentric and well-loved woman in England, wrapped in the colors of their evergreen boughs, complete with an appropriately red bow on her head, stood proudly in the wake of her dramatic entrance. She carried a bundle in her arms, wore a black fur about her shoulders, and had her cheeks tinged with rouge, as usual.
“Happy Christmas, beloved Gerrard family,” she cried jubilantly, waving one gloved hand in grand fashion. “I have come to spend Christmas with you all. I do apologize for my tardiness, but the snow really was quite dreadful. And we were delayed ever so slightly by this lovely creature.”
She pulled back part of the bundle to show them all.
“Humphrey!” Ginny cried as the goat in Tibby’s hold bleated.
“What a perfect name, Ginny!” Tibby exclaimed as the others gaped at them in disbelief. “The poor dear was wandering in the snow, quite lost. I had my driver stop and fetch him. He must stay here until we can return him.” She turned to face the hall. “You there, footman. Take this animal down to the kitchens and put him in a room where he will not do any harm. A spare cupboard, perhaps? With blankets, you understand.”
The footman came forward and did so, his expression carefully composed.
Colin was fighting laughter so hard he shook with it, while Kit just held his head in his hands. Marianne rose to greet her aunt, who kissed her cheeks fondly.
“I don’t know why you two are laughing,” Tibby scolding, pointing at Colin and Kit. “Goats are wonderful, as I told Ginny before you all left London. You should think of getting one.”
Laughter exploded from Colin and Kit shook his head again.
Hugs and kisses were exchanged as everyone else greeted Tibby, and when the older Gerrards had regain control of themselves, they rose and dutifully greeted Tibby themselves.
She kissed their cheeks and looked down at the cider and hot cakes. “Ah! A Devonshire delight! You must pour me a cup, Colin, I adore these things.”
Colin did as he was told, still smiling to himself.
Tibby looked around her, frowning. “But where are the gifts?” She turned to look at all of the adults. “The packages I had sent over. Where are they?”
“Packages?” Rosie repeated, a smile forming. “You sent packages?”
“I most certainly did!” Tibby proclaimed with a sniff. “A great many, as a matter of fact. And you all must have them!”
“Why, Tibby?” Marianne queried, looking the least surprised of any of them. But she was Tibby’s niece, and quite used to her eccentricities.
“For my wedding, of course!”
There was not a single noise after that announcement, not even from the youngest children. They all stared at Tibby in stunned silence.
“Wedding?” Marianne repeated, blinking her wide eyes. “To whom, Tibby?”
“Well, I haven’t quite worked that out yet,” Tibby confessed, looking thoughtful. “Only that I am going to marry again. I so miss being married, so in the coming year, I will once again join myself to a suitable man in wedding bliss.”
That was entirely too many surprises for one day, even for Gerrards, and there was no telling what could happen next.
There was only one thing to do.
Colin and Kit rose as one. “Wasn’t there a special Christmas Eve service at the church we were thinking of attending?” Colin asked of his brother.
“Yes, everyone bundle up!” Kit ordered brusquely. “Surprise!”
“Surprise!” Rafe and Matthew echoed in delight as everyone rose quickly.
“Oh, I do love a good church service!” Tibby chirped as she rose as well. “Nothing calms me like devoted worship! My third husband was a clergyman, you know, and he always asked me to assist in writing his sermons.”
“Of course he did,” Colin said helplessly as he assisted his children with the coats that the servants were impossibly quick to provide.
“And I was always willing to sing for the services, if called upon.”
“Of course you were,” Kit replied, taking Daphne from Marianne.
“But do you know what the best part was? Hiding mistletoe around the church.” Tibby grinned at them all. “Attendance was never better than at Christmas service!”
“Tibby!” the adults said together.
“Happy Christmas, one and all! Look out for mistletoe, and no matter what the clergyman says, smile and nod!”
“Oh, Tibby…” Colin sighed, amused and resigned, and secretly quite pleased.
Tibby swirled her skirts and cloak and strode proudly for the door. “Come along, Gerrards! Christmas is here and we mustn’t waste a moment of it!”
Epilogue
The next Christmas, they were all in Derbyshire with their friends and families. There were no goats, no mysterious gifts, and no kitchen fires. Tibby had no grand announcements, as she was in Prague with her new husband, who had everyone’s fervent condolences. Rosie and Freddie had no fights, and not a single hair was cut for the occasion.
Well, not human hair, at any rate.
The tree was taller, and was more impossible to decorate, yet no one complained. Colin and Kit behaved themselves for the entire holiday season, went to church, and had the utmost restraint, thanks in part to the careful and strict guidelines of their wives.
Who had no such restraint themselves.
But that’s a Christmas story for another time.
About the Author
Rebecca Connolly has been creating stories since she was young, and there are home videos to prove it. She started writing them down in elementary school and has never looked back. She lives in Minnesota, spends every spare moment away from her day job absorbed in her writing, and is a hot cocoa junkie.
Coming Soon
The
Lady
and the
Gent
“He’s a Gent, but they love him.”
by
Rebecca Connolly