CHRISTMAS MORNING DAWNED BRIGHT IF CHILLY at Haverston, though the parlor where most of the family was gathered was quite comfy, with a nice fire crackling. Jeremy had lit the small candles on the decorated tree. Though the extra light wasn’t needed, the flickering flames fascinated the children, and the sweet scent from the candles was a nice touch.

The last to arrive were James, Georgina, and their three younguns. Jack ran immediately to her oldest brother, Jeremy, whom she adored, and got her usual tickle and hug from him. Then, typically, she headed straight for Judy, ignoring everyone else, though she would make the rounds to greet the rest of her large family after the two young girls finished their morning whisperings.

Anthony, never one to let a prime moment pass, said to his tardy brother, “Now that you’ve managed to find that bed of yours again, having trouble getting out of it, eh?”

Anthony had got most of his teasing done yesterday, though. When he’d seen James in such obvious good spirits, he’d been unable to resist taunting, “What? No longer in a mood to pass out black eyes?”

“Put a lid on it, puppy,” his brother had replied with a snort.

That never worked, at least not with Anthony anyway. “George has forgiven you, I take it?”

“George is having another baby, or babies, as the case may be,” James said drolly.

“Now, that’s what I call a nice Christmas present, news like that. Congratulations, old boy.”

Just now, though, it wasn’t James who replied to Anthony’s renewed teasing, it was his own wife who, in her charming Scots burr, said, “Put a lid on it, mon, or you’ll be wondering where your own bed has gone.”

To which James burst out laughing, and Georgina said, “It wasn’t that funny. Notice your brother isn’t one little bit amused.”

“Course I did, love, and that’s what’s funny,” James replied.

Anthony did some mumbling and shot James a disgusted look before he leaned close to whisper something to his wife that had her smiling. Obviously, notorious charmer that he was, he’d just patched things up nicely.

The present-opening began soon after, with the children all gathered on the rug before the tree. Judy noticed the missing Present on its pedestal, and went to Amy for questioning. She and Jack hadn’t come near the parlor during those days the journal was being read, having much more adventurous things to do at their age.

“It was just a book?” Judy asked after Amy answered her first question, obviously disappointed that what had caused her and Jack such interest was actually not at all interesting in her mind.

“Not just a book, love. It tells the story about your great-grandparents, how they met, how it took them a while to realize that they were meant for each other. You’ll want to read it someday.”