The Settling of Scores

Chapter 26

December 21st, On the train to Warrick Abbey

            "Look at the snow falling, Avery," Priscilla said as she looked out their train window. The snow started falling not long after they boarded the train this morning for their trip to Peterstoke, the town near Warrick Abbey.

            "I'm glad to see you came prepared for cold weather," Avery told her.

            "I am too," she replied with a smile as she turned to look at him. "I didn't think we would accomplish all the shopping we had to do in one day, but we did."

            "My idea of splitting the list was a good one, I think," Avery said returning his wife's smile. "You shopping for the ladies and me the men made easy work of it." It also gave him time to shop for her and Amanda at a jeweler where he found them both the perfect gifts, along with a little something special for Cheyenne and Geraldine, the new mama's.

            "It was a very good idea and your information about some of the ladies I've never met was very helpful too," she told him. In addition, it gave her time to find her gift to Avery. "It was a long list."

            "Well last year when we were in California, most of the people here, if you remember, were spending Christmas at Wolverleigh Castle. This year they are at Warrick Abbey which also made it easier for Cheyenne and Lady Geraldine since they are new mama's."

            "Yes I remember," she answered him. She also remembered Amanda telling her, when she was staying with them, about how Cheyenne's sister-in-law and the sister-in-law's brother tried to kill both Cheyenne and Wolverleigh so the sister-in-law could be the next duchess when Wolverleigh's brother, Marcus Baldwin, came into the title. Jamie was the one to foil the last attempt made by the sister-in-law when he ran her through with a sword on top of the castle walls.

            Yesterday when they arrived in London, Avery took them all first to the Claridge Hotel where he had made reservations for their stay. Two beautiful suites awaited them and from there they parted ways to each shop for the people on their list. Medborrow went with her because Avery didn't want just Priscilla and Lily to travel the streets of London alone.

            They'd agreed to meet at the hotel for a light luncheon before continuing with their shopping. It also allowed them to drop off their already purchased gifts in their suites.

            Later that night Avery had reserved a private dining room and they ate a delicious meal and compared notes at to how their day of shopping had gone. After dinner, Avery joined her in her suite as they sorted through gifts and divided them between them.

            When Avery left her suite later, she thought he was going to kiss her goodnight but he didn't. She found herself feeling just a little disappointed that he didn't, then promptly admonished herself for feeling that way.

            "It won't be long now," he told her as she felt the train slowing as it neared the station at Peterstoke.

            Two coaches awaited them and once the trunks were loaded, they were on their way. Avery asked one of the footmen how far they still had to travel to reach the Abbey. He informed Avery they had only about thirty minute ride.

            The snow was still falling making the landscape beautiful as they drove through the gates to the Abbey. Dust was just coming on as they both saw Warrick Abbey for the first time. "Oh my goodness," Priscilla said as she saw the sprawling Abbey with it's hundreds of windows lit making the place glow. "Its…its not an abbey but more of a palace," she said in awe. The Abbey was large enough it sprawled over at least three acres of land, designed in the baroque style with large mullioned windows, it was extraordinarily glamorous with its many spires, copulas and tall chimneys.