‘They sound happy enough.’ Tom grinned as he buttoned his shirt in their bedroom. Barney had caught the excitement and was barking loudly.

‘They certainly do.’ Sunday fastened the last of the pins into her hair and patted it into place before suggesting, ‘Should we go and be bombarded, then?’

‘I can’t think of anything nicer.’ He held his arm out to his wife and after hooking hers through it they ventured out onto the landing.

‘Sunday, Tom, look what Santa left for me! A wooden train. How did he know it was just what I wanted?’ Little Zeke hurtled towards them clutching the precious gift to his chest as Tom winked and tapped the side of his nose.

‘Ah well now, he must have got that letter you sent to him, and even if he didn’t, he’s magic, see? He knows just what every child wants.’

The little fellow nodded and toddled away hugging his treasure and almost colliding with Zillah as she came out of the nursery.

‘I’ve had a job to get them dressed this morning,’ she chuckled. ‘I think we can safely say they’re all happy with their presents. Even young Maggie has a smile on her face.’

‘Hallelujah! Long may it last,’ Tom said comically as Sunday playfully punched his arm.

‘Come along you,’ she scolded with a giggle. ‘We have to get the children in to breakfast or we’ll be late for church.’ And on that happy note they set off for the dining room.

The rest of the day was almost magical, as Sunday remarked to her husband when they finally retired to their room that evening. The morning service conducted by the Reverend Lockett at Chilvers Coton Church had been beautiful, and when it started to snow as they made their way home, the children were thrilled to bits.

‘Will we be allowed to get the sledges out?’ they cried. ‘Please, Tom!’

‘Yes, if the snow lies deep enough,’ he had agreed indulgently.

They arrived home to the appetising smell of roast goose and once seated at the enormous table they had all done justice to Cook’s wonderful meal. It began with a thin leek soup accompanied by fresh-baked crusty bread, and was followed by roast goose, Cook’s home-made sage and onion stuffing and crispy roast potatoes, along with a selection of vegetables. Finally, they were served with an enormous Christmas pudding, which to their delight was brought into the dining room with flames licking around it from the brandy which Tom had lit with a spill from the fire.

Once the Christmas dinner was over, the adults organised a number of games to keep the children happy. The boys continuously crossed to the window, delighted to see that the snow had indeed begun to settle and they all sat and planned where they would take the sledges the next day. Eventually they had all come flocking in for their Christmas tea and Sunday and Tom were shocked to see how the children tucked in again after what they had eaten at dinnertime.