“Oh, I had not wanted to interfere in your duties, Mrs. Baker.”
“It would not be interfering with my duties, Your Grace, not at all.”
“Well, if you are sure…”
The housekeeper smiled at her and curtsied.
“You can help us with the staircase then, thank you, Mrs. Baker.”
An hour passed without any of them noticing it, for indeed, they were all enjoying their tasks. Multiple exclamations from the opened door of the sitting room could be heard as the ladies expressed their appreciation of their work.
“Look how beautiful!”
“The tree looks like a garden grew on it!”
“The sitting room smells wonderful!”
Leaving Helena and Mrs. Baker to check on the younger ladies’ progress, Dahlia’s walked with a bounce in her step.
The tree was looking wonderful. The red and white flowers contrasted beautifully with the green of the fir tree, creating a festive picture. She imagined it with pinecones and ribbons; the vision made her smile. Hands clasped together, she praised the three for their work.
“Brilliant work!”
“Why, thank you, Your Grace!” Claire curtsied.
“We are only halfway done,” Mary added. “We had to rearrange the flowers twice.”
“I think this practice is wonderful; where did you say it hails from, Dahlia?” Chastity inquired of her.
“Germany,” Dahlia said. “I shall be back with the pinecones; let me just get them. We are almost done with the staircase decorations.”
Smiling warmly at them, she gave them her thanks again.
“The pleasure is all ours, truly, Dahlia.” Mary smiled back. “I have never had so much fun preparing for Christmas before.”
She hurried out to Helena and Mrs. Baker and stopped as she saw their handiwork, appreciating the difference the flowers brought to the decorations.
“How is it looking from there, Dahlia?” Helena asked.
“Splendid!”
Dahlia walked backwards slowly, widening the angle of her view of the staircase, when her back collided with a solid wall. Hands firmly on her shoulders steadied her before she even had a chance to lose her balance.
“Is this a practice in Germany as well? Walking backwards?” Peter asked, a laugh in his voice.
His words, so close against her ear, sent a funny shiver across her skin.
“Peter!” Dahlia whirled to face him. Stepping back, she saw that Matteo was with him. too.
“You have been busy, Your Grace.” Matteo walked towards the staircase appreciatively.
“Lady Helena, I trust you and the Duchess have all the pinecones you need? Just say the word and we shall shake more trees for you,” they heard Matteo say as he went up to talk to Helena and Mrs. Baker.
“These are quite enough, thank you, Your Grace.”
“Quite fortuitous that Peter and I walked your way.”
“Yes, quite,” was Helena’s reply.
