Freeing Ebony

Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty – Six

Financial hardships had always stopped Ebony from giving Celeste the kind of Christmas she deserved. They were lucky to scrape together some mutton and boiled potatoes for Christmas dinner. She was happy to leave that all behind. Henry was right, nobody did Christmas like the Alcotts.

Once they’d arrived at Catherine’s farm, Ebony was welcomed by Catherine with a warm hug. She smelled like marzipan. Catherine’s hazel eyes were dancing as her family was together again.

Henry’s aunt and uncle had already arrived, as had his cousins. She was introduced to Daniel and Jane. There was no question as to who was Sebastian’s sister. Seeing the female version of him let her know exactly who Kitty looked like. Ebony really liked his cousin, Sabine. She was a very sweet lady. Her husband startled Ebony a little for she’d never met a man with such a thick accent before. Catherine’s northerner accent was nothing to his Scottish voice. He was kind though, and a very proud father of his little ones.

Considering there were several young children joining their parents, they were so well behaved. Catherine had entertained them by charging them with decorating the beautiful fir tree that had been planted in the corner of her living room. They were happily flinging strings of popcorn and sweets over the tree. Some of the string was bare where Clara and Georgiana, Little J and Harrison’s youngest, had been snacking. The tree was quite untidy, but that was what made it perfect. Paper dolls and ribbons were being attached to the tree by the older children.

Ebony occupied the days with the ladies, helping Catherine prepare the food for the feast that was to be had on Christmas Day. Catherine had prepared the mince for the pies three months earlier and had brought it out to make her traditional mince pies. Ebony and Little J were rolling out gingerbread while Kitty, Sabine and Annie were making shortbread. Emilia and Jane were happily leaning against the counter with glasses of cooking sherry as they caught up, much to the amusement of the girls who were actually working. The men were out in the woods with an axe as they searched for the perfect yule log.

“It’s traditional,” Catherine explained when Ebony asked about the yule log. “It’s burned on Christmas Eve and we all make a wish. It’s kept burning for the twelve days of Christmas. Then I save the ashes and we use them to kindle the next year’s log. It’s good luck to do so.”

The nights were spent around the pianoforte, with Little J playing and Ebony singing.

It was December twentieth. In other words, it was five days after December fifteenth. While everyone was trying to be merry, they couldn’t help but wonder where William was. Kitty spent all day, every day, sitting by the window watching and waiting.

“Ebony, Little J,” Catherine said quietly. “Quickly sing something. Distract her. I’ll fetch the spiced ale.”

Little J took her seat at the pianoforte once more and began to play I saw three ships come sailing in. The happy jig was one of Ebony’s new favourites.

“I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas Day in the morning. And what was in those ships all three on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day? And what was in those ships all three on Christmas Day in the morning?” Ebony sang as happily as possible as she kept an eye on the sombre Kitty. Little J ran her fingers over the keys as the next verse began. “Our saviour Christ and his lady on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. Our saviour Christ and his lady on Christmas Day in the morning. Pray wither sailed those ships all three on Christmas Day in the morning. Pray wither sailed those ships all three on Christmas Day in the morning –”