Archie and Lilias each stood before their glittering and grand Christmas tree admiring its sparkling beauty. It was Christmas Eve at Misselthwaite, and the staff and their Master and Mistress lined round the tree to sing Christmas carols including Silent Night and other sacred hymns.
Lilias also sang again whilst at the harp and then at the piano...Archie and Lilias even played a duet which granted them applause from their servants.
Later, Master and Mistress gave each member of the staff a wrapped gift, happily handing them out by name, smiling graciously, and wishing every one a very Happy Christmas.
After gifts were opened, they bid goodnight.
Archie locked the door to Lilias's quarters behind them to be certain they were afforded their privacy in all of hours of the night and in the morning. He did not wish for the servants to disturb their blissful reverie. They climbed her private wooden staircase together hand in hand as if they were ascending into some heavenly atmosphere. Outside of the Cathedral arch-shaped window at the corner of the room that snow was falling. The fireplace cackled. Archie lay in bed as Lilias emerged from her bath and dressing area gliding towards the bed and Archie wearing a beautiful, intricately detailed and delicately sheer lace peignoir.
"Archie," Her voice was a song.
His eyes twinkled with such a soulful stare as she untied her dressing gown and bared her body almost shyly but with serene grace.
She joined him in bed under the covers sweetly bringing his body against hers-longing to be close to him in the most intimate of ways. Her eyes spoke to him.
"My love," Archie responded tenderly. He couldn't help but smile at her haste in her need.
"Make love to me now." She sweetly whispered. It was not a lustful request but a soulful yearning to become one with her husband. Her voice was soft and innocent.
"As you wish..."was Archie's loving reply.
She seemed to passionately latch on to her husband never wanting to let him go. Archie moved inside of her. The position of her body allowed him to penetrate her deeply, but he was always gentle. And yet, it had been so long. Lilias moaned mellifluously. Lilias was usually timid and a bit meek and mild, but not concerning her romance with her husband abed. Though still very respectfully amorous in her ways of lovemaking, she grew bolder this time. They both realised how much they missed this sacred joining and the union of their bodies completely as one and soul to soul. She wanted Archie to keep his eyes open to witness her bliss-her body's pure orgasm. He had some difficulty doing so, for his very soul touched hers, and his eyes seemed to shut involuntarily. She loved concentrating on his eyes and that endless deep twinkling of adoration that always lay within his gaze.
She knew Archie lived to please her, so she wished for him to truly behold the fulfillment, contentment, blissful gratification her body and her soul experienced from his body and soul.
...
"Angel. Ethereal beauty. I am in awe of you. You have redeemed me. I love you." Archie's sweet actions and his gentle touch when they made love combined with these words after brought tears of sheer bliss to Lilias's eyes as she lay in his arms.
"I love you so very, very much." She responded. "Could you ever know..." she whispered.
His arms sweetly held her against him.
"Never will I love any thing on earth or in heaven as I love you, Lilias, my own." He swore this promise romantically holding his Lilias-a promise he affirmed each time and night that they made love. Lilias never tired of hearing it, for she always promised the same.
...
Christmas morning began with a glorious breakfast-of muffins, and all manner of baked breads-sweet and savory, juices, cider, coffee, eggs, and sausages. Neville wished them Happy Christmas and joined them at the table.
Any bitterness between them on this Christmas day seemed to be forgotten.
...
Archie and Lilias moved to sit near their Christmas tree. This Christmas day, Rose and Albert and other family arrived to exchange gifts.
The footmen and servants stood to attend to any person wanting refreshment.
"Happy Christmas, my love." Archie said as he handed Lilias a pretty little gift tied up with a red velvet ribbon, a presentation in front of guests.
Lilias smiled as she began to open it. The guests watched anxiously awaiting the reveal. Beneath the wrapping was an ornate box and inside was a delicately engraved and carved jeweled Rose brooch hidden beneath packets of seeds-seeds of rare Roses!
Lilias's eyes sparkled in gratitude. "It's exquisite! So beautiful! And seeds for more Roses! Oh, I love them!" She hugged him and brushed her face to his.
"And now, for your gift. She summoned two footmen to carry towards Archie a very large present.
"What could that be?" a guest whispered curious.
He opened it to reveal a camera.
Lilias knew her husband held an interest in photography. He attended several photographic exhibitions in London. She thought it might be of some fun and use to them in their garden. They could take pictures of the flowers or of themselves in the garden.
"How perfectly marvellous! Thank you, my darling." Lilias and Archie were not shy of or embarrassed to display their affection for each other whilst in the presence of others this day. Archie took her hands in his and sweetly kissed her.
The guests clapped and whistled as if to cheer it on. They broke the kiss and laughed at the response.