Chapter 5

Christmas Day and the Mysterious Presents

The next morning dawned bright and snowy. The snowflakes floated down on the ground, covering it until there was a thick blanket.

Aunt Connie, opened her eyes wearily, and rubbed at her forehead, a small smile stamped onto her lips. And then she remembered. She groaned as she rolled out of bed. She raised an eyebrow, when she saw Lord Emsworth outside her door. "Well, Clarence? What warrants this sudden appearance on my doorstep?" She asked impatiently.

Lord Emsworth shook his head, and stared blankly at his sister. "I came to see if you were ready to come down, my dear."

She shook her head. "Clarence, you are incorrigible! If I were not in such a Christmas spirit, I would most undoubtedly chastise. But not this morning. I have things to say to you, Clarence that you may be glad to hear." She tugged at his shirt collar, and pulled him into the room, shutting the door eagerly behind him. "Your son, Frederick is engaged." She announced impressively.

Clarence only goggled. "What? I thought you said that Freddie has just become engaged? I mean, what woman could possibly capture his interests in such a way that he would even consider matrimony? It's unthinkable, Connie!" He said, snorting derisively at what he thought was only a below stairs rumor.

"No, Clarence it is the truth. Freddie has just informed me that he intends to marry Miss Niagara Donaldson. He has actually already made arrangements for this to occur, and has even mentioned nurturing the Emsworth generations with children! Some of us," And she gave Lord Emsworth a meaningful glance. "Wish Freddie to marry women of a lower standing, but Miss Donaldson is charming, and can aid the family finances. She is a gold mine, and as far as can be seen, Frederick is hopelessly in love with her. It is just keeping this love alive enough to get it to the altar that worries me."

Her brother nodded. "Yes, that is as Freddie would say, a sticky wicket. Frederick has had many hapless affairs of the heart, and if some pretty young thing, much more accomplished than Miss Donaldson were to stray into his path…" He paused, his brow wrinkled.

"That is why this episode of the broken ribs is so providential!" Connie interrupted. "Frederick can go nowhere with such an infirmity! He is totally confined to the Castle, and Market Blandings! I would never encourage any further exploration!" She hummed a few bars of Silent Night, and opened the door, dancing in the halls with a benevolent smile playing on her lips.

Galahad appeared in his doorway, looking pale and sleepy-eyed. "These mysterious presents?" He called out to Connie as he stumbled in her direction. "Do you think they will really do young Freddie good? After all, Connie, he seems to have become a reformed man! He said himself he was going to marry a woman of goodly estate, what more do you want?"

Connie only shook her head. "Galahad, everything is under control. Freddie will soon find himself with a small family of his own to commandeer, and a responsibility that he has never had on his shoulders. " She replied tartly, turning as she spoke, in the direction of Freddie's room.

Inside, Freddie lay wrapped in his blankets like a cocoon, hugging the pillows and muttering incoherent speeches. He lay flat on his back, his eyes half open but his face so pale that is almost matched the snow outside. Aunt Connie rudely interrupted his sleep, by opening the drapes.

"Oh, Aunt C!" He exclaimed, pulling the pillow over on top of his face. He peeped out from beneath it, and gave his aunt a glare. "Can't a chappie get a good night's rest without having his relatives poking their noses in, wondering whether you're sleeping or not?" He gave a pronounced groan, as he tried to sit up.

Aunt Connie sighed. "I came to awaken you to the glories of Christmas day, Frederick, not just to terrorize you! In fact, I would say that you slept fairly well, considering that you're entire body seems to be focused on healing your ribs."

At the mention of Christmas, Freddie seemed to perk. "May I open my mysterious presents now Aunt C?" He asked hopefully.

She nodded, and produced from behind her back two small packages, wrapped in brown paper. She watched with very little enthusiasm, as Freddie tore at the paper expectantly.

Freddie looked at the book in his right hand, and the hundred quid in his left with a skeptical eye. "Alright, Aunt C, explain these presents."

Aunt Connie pursed her lips into a small smile. "I want you to use the principals in this book on money management, to make the hundred pounds that I have given you last until this upcoming July." She watched unsurprised, as Freddie seemed to swallow his disappointment.

"I-I shall endeavor to do as you request, Aunt C. And I promise you, that I shall use this money wisely-"

"And not on the race course, nor at that wretched placed called the Pink Pussy, promise me that." She demanded, watching Frederick's face to make sure he wasn't lying.

"I will also abstain from wasting it at the Pink Pussy. I solemnly swear." Freddie promised reluctantly, holding up a hand and giving his Aunt a pleading look.

Aunt Connie smiled and murmured, "There's no use pleading, Frederick. This is for your own good."