The 14 Days of Christmas

“Fantastic idea,” Ivy said. “But of course, I can’t go. I’m too recognizable. Same for all of you lifers. It makes sense if Celia and Sebastian go. A young couple is far less conspicuous than a group of old codgers from the rival town.”

I wanted to go if it would help Snowsly, but realistically, I needed to stay close to the action. Also, a couple? Why did we have to pretend to be a couple? “I have to hold the fort here,” I replied. “What happens if things go wrong?”

“You’re only going to be out a few hours,” Ivy replied, her gaze flickering toward Barbara.

“Yes, you won’t need to be long,” Barbara said. “Go in the evening—that way at least you’re not making it too obvious. I think it’s entirely fair that we check out the competition, but we don’t need to be blatant about it.”

I sighed. “Okay. That’s fine. I’ll go on my own. I don’t need to be more than thirty minutes.”

“You don’t want to rush it,” Ivy said. “You’ll draw more attention to yourself. And if Sebastian goes with you, people won’t place you. No one in Snowsville will recognize Sebastian all these years later.”

“There’s no point in upsetting anyone unnecessarily,” Howard said and cleared his throat again. Was he coming down with a cold or something? “You and Sebastian should go together.”

I glanced at Sebastian, who I couldn’t read at all. “I’m sure it won’t take long,” he said. “And I can go on my own if Celia’s needed here.”

“No, no, no,” Ivy said at the same time as Howard shook his head and Barbara chirped, “Not at all,” as if she quite relished the idea of me not being around.

“You’ve been working so hard,” Keely said. “You might even pop into the Black Swan and have dinner or something.”

“What a great idea,” Ivy said. “You should go and enjoy yourselves.”

I felt slightly dazed, like I’d missed a part of the conversation that explained why it was so important to visit Snowsville tonight, and why it would be almost impossible for me to go without Sebastian. Everyone seemed so resolute.

“We don’t have time for dinner but if you want to come, Sebastian, I’m happy to drive.” The jingle in my stomach told me I didn’t hate the idea of spending the evening with Sebastian, even if it was on a mission to spy on our competition.

“Sebastian?” Ivy asked.

“I’m very happy to go, Granny.”

“Then that’s settled. Tonight, you and Celia will go to Snowsville and figure out what they’re doing and how. I suggest we meet back here and you can both debrief us.”

So it was settled. Sebastian and I would spend the evening together. And I wouldn’t think about him kissing me. Not for a second.

Eleven

Sebastian

I ducked my head to peer through the passenger seat window of the smallest car I’d ever laid eyes on. Why on earth hadn’t I had Bradley leave the car? That way I wouldn’t have to have Celia drive me in a toy car.

She waved and grinned at me before beckoning me in. I wasn’t sure I’d fit.

I opened the door and assessed how I was going to be able to fold myself up to fit in the front seat. “How old is this car?”

“I hope you’re not Claus-trophobic.” She laughed at her own joke. “Oh I don’t know. It was born sometime in the last century. You can’t say it doesn’t have personality.”

There were a lot of things I could say about this car. “Maybe personality isn’t something that’s top of my list when it comes to transportation.”

“Say it ain’t snow.”

I shook my head, trying not to crack a smile at how ridiculously awful her Christmas puns were. “It’s a short drive, right?”

“Just six miles.”

I groaned. That could take twenty minutes in the Cotswolds. “Does the seat go back any further?”

“’Fraid not, sorry.”

If it was anyone else, I’d have point blank refused to go, but I knew it would devastate Celia and I just couldn’t do that to her. After shuffling awkwardly, banging my head twice, and losing my shoe, I managed to get into the car in a position that would guarantee I’d get a cramp after five minutes. “I hope I manage to get out without you having to saw off my leg or something.”

Celia laughed, and a ribbon of warmth chased up my spine. As she pulled out of the space in front of the Manor, I tried to place what was different about her this evening. I’d not seen her white woolen hat before. It was less overtly Christmassy than her usual attire, with subtle blue snowflakes bordering the headband. “I can’t tell where your hair stops and the hat starts.”

“It’s my disguise. People always notice my hair. It’s so long and . . . you know, almost white, so I’ve put it under the hat so people don’t see it and immediately know it’s me.”