I am back again with a chapter and this time, I am right on time.
Two months later
Wendy tried to hold back her laughter but failed.
David made a face at her.
Her brothers stood - cleaner than she'd ever seen them - in a line as Mademoiselle Victoria took their measurements for the coats she was making.
"Such a handsome and strong boy." The dressmaker chided David and felt his arms.
He didn't even look up this time.
Wendy's mother was sitting beside her and had stars in her eyes from how clean her boys were.
"I cannot thank you enough, Baroness," she said breathlessly.
"You will be spending Christmas here, of course, your sons deserve a nice set of clothes for the occasion." The Baroness mumbled behind a cup of tea.
"Still, you invited us to Christmas already and then to give us a new set of clothes…" Wendy's mother continued.
"We'll never be able to work in this. It is hard enough to move in." William exclaimed and pulled at the ruffles on his sleeve.
Wendy laughed, along with her mother and future mother-in-law.
"Do not worry my little one, I will be keeping all these sets of clothes forever." Their mother smiled.
"Oh dearest. But what will they wear the next time they come?" The Baroness made an off-handed gesture with a charming smile.
Wendy stopped her laughter with her hand as her mother became silent in shock at the thought of being invited back.
"I am nearly done here, my lady." Mademoiselle Victoria said with a smile and twirled. She did a deep courtesy towards Wendy. "And my muse."
Wendy smiled. When she had first contacted Mademoiselle Victoria about the possibility of making every one of her family a set of clothes for Christmas, the French woman had been elated at the thought of meeting more people from the fairy tale countryside.
But her last words made Wendy's smile fall. She instantly thought of Elias.
When the snow started falling in early December, Elias exclaimed that he was done with all the paintings, and asked for a week to find another place to stay.
The Baroness had been right. She had started a new trend. Now everyone wanted to be painted like a fairy, and Elias had moved on to the next family. But not before solemnly telling her that his offer to run away together still stood no matter how much time had passed.
"I love you, my wild and untamed muse." He had whispered the last time they were alone together.
With Elias gone, she felt Eric's absence more than ever.
There was nothing to distract herself from it except her lessons and social events, which only made her miss Elias more, as she remembered their talks about how silly it all was.
"Is there something wrong, Wendy?" Her mother asked and Wendy was pulled back to reality.
"No, no mother. I was just thinking about something really sad."
"Well, you should not think of such things before Christmas." The Baroness said. "In a week, your parents and brothers will be staying here for Christmas Eve and morning, and we will have a grand celebration. There's no need to think of those things now."
Wendy forced a smile. "Of course, my lady."
The Baroness got an odd gleam in her eyes. She had had it for the last two months or so, every time Wendy addressed her, the older woman's eyes gleamed – like she knew something, that Wendy did not.
There had been an odd feeling in the air. Her lessons had gone from many different subjects to the duties of a Baroness, table manners, and planning of parties. When Mademoiselle Victoria came, she had a big book of dress designs, that Madam Shearmore took over for a lesson. Not to mention that at the tea parties and luncheons she went to, the same topics as her lessons had been brought up numerous times - most of the time by Duchess Knightley.
"That reminds me…" The Baroness trailed off. "Where are our husbands at this time?" She asked a servant. "It is almost time for tea."
"I shall go find them, my lady." The young girl said with a curtsy and stepped out of the room.
Another maid replaced her. "Madam, the guest you requested has come, should I send him in?"
For a moment, the Baroness glanced towards the boys but then nodded. "Send him in."
Elias stepped into the room and made a deep bow to the Baroness. "My lady, you called for me?"
"Yes, Elias, thank you for coming on such short notice." The Baroness smiled and addressed the rest of the room. "This is Elias di Angelico, the painter that made the fairy paintings."
"Oh?" Wendy's mother smiled. "They are very beautiful."
Elias gave her a polite nod. "Thank you, Madam."
"I called Elias here today because I would like him to make a family portrait of all of us this Christmas." The Baroness explained.
Wendy's mother stuttered as she protested.
"Now now, dear." The Baroness reassured her. "Do not worry too much. Elias is a very efficient painter. He could probably get the painting done in the day."
Wendy watched as Elias took in every single person in the room. "That is correct. Please do not worry, Madam, I will be able to finish the painting after observing you."
After being reassured that it would not take too much of the Baron and Baroness' time, Wendy's mother reluctantly agreed to it - though Wendy's brothers seemed irritated at the thought of sitting still for an entire day.
"Then it is settled." The Baroness sat and clapped her hands. "Elias will come a week from now and start preparing for the family portrait."
Elias bowed deeply to the Baroness.
Then his eyes glided over to Wendy, and he looked at her briefly with soft, dreamy brown eyes.
Two weeks later
Wendy's eyes flickered briefly down to the hand on her waist.
The last two weeks have been nice.
Eric had finished his work for the winter early and now had nothing to do until the new year.
They had spent their time between meals and Wendy's lessons by wandering around the snow-filled gardens, taking a carriage to the capital to buy presents for her siblings and parents, and trying to guess what they were giving each other.
Wendy couldn't have been happier. It was like being united with an old friend.
They even went riding in the forest together, danced in the ballroom just the two of them, and cuddled in front of an open fire.
She had told Eric how long she had felt without him, how she had begun to miss home. He had kissed her forehead, apologized, and promised that he would never leave her no matter what, then he told her that he had something special planned for Christmas.
Wendy was happy.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that will be all," Elias said and stepped back from the canvas, as he wiped sweat from his brow.
"Finally," Arthur exclaimed and stepped out of the line.
"Arthur!" Their mother scolded.
"That was rather fast," David said. "I thought it would take days for us to get done."
Elias' eyes twinkled at the question. "Normally it would, and if I could be so bold, I would like to continue tomorrow afternoon. but I can do the rest from memory."
"Fascinating," David remarked impressed.
"Yes, one would think with such ability you wouldn't have to steal my fiancée away for days to paint a portrait," Eric said with laughter in his voice as he pulled Wendy closer to his side.
Elias bowed his head. "The young lady is exceptionally beautiful. Who would not make excuses to see him just one more time?"
Wendy smiled. "You flatter me, Mr. Angelico."
"Pardon me, Madam." A maid said as she entered the room. "Dinner is ready to be served."
"Just in time." The Baroness said and clapped her hands. "Come now everyone, let us sit down at the table."
When Elias packed up his canvas and things and started heading towards the door, Wendy's father stopped him. "Are you not going to eat with us?"
Elias seemed confused but then smiled politely. "I would not want to intrude upon your family dinner." He then did an elegant bow to the room. "Merry Christmas, my lords and ladies." Then he walked out the door.
William and Ethan stared at the table full of food but sat still and well-behaved.
Wendy smiled.
Her parents had probably gotten Elizabeth to teach them all table manners so they would not stand out.
Eric would constantly glance at her and smile as they ate.
Her brothers' and parents' manners were quite good considering, they had never seen a plate with golden trim and three pairs of silverware.
Polite conversation flowed as the Baron and Baroness wanted to know more about the countryside and Wendy and the others' childhood.
Though Ethan and William kept interrupting the conversation to ask about the gifts under the big tree, and who had decorated the tree.
The Baroness seemed amused by their questions and answered them, before continuing the conversation with Wendy's mother.
Wendy felt her fingers being knitted together with Eric's as the servants placed the next course in front of them.
There was a gleam in his eyes as he carefully lifted her hand and kissed it.
Wendy laughed silently and looked back at the table.
Her father was explaining woodworking to the Baron, who seemed utterly amazed. Edward had joined in the conversation, while David and Arthur were telling the Baroness stories from their childhood, while their mother laughed along and William and Ethan were discussing, who got which presents.
Wendy felt pleased that she smiled at the scene.
She would not have believed a year ago that her parents and siblings would be able to come to Christmas at Eric's estate, that they would be wearing tailored clothes and sleep in their a room of their own, or eat in a ballroom with the biggest Christmas tree she had ever seen.
She smiled at Eric content. His eyes reflected the flame of the candle on the table.
She had never thought that she would be able to spend a Christmas like this with Eric. The last two weeks had been so romantic, so magical that the loneliness from before did not even bother her.
"No, no. What is this?" The Baroness said, directed to them and both Wendy and Eric looked up. "Please do not give the surprise away too early." The older woman said with a smirk.
"What is she talking about, Eric?" Wendy asked with a smile.
Eric tried to smile innocently, but he failed.
"Please wait till after dessert, my love." He said and patted her hand.
"Is it going to be after presents though?" William asked, which caused his mother to shush him.
Dessert was a sweet cake that held an almond. It is a tradition that had become popular in France, and whoever got the almond, would be the one to open the first present. William and Ethan were allowed to decide which piece of cake went to whom, and they took great delight in it.
Wendy got the almond and Eric smiled. "Then I will give you your first gift."
He leaned over and gently kissed her cheek as the dessert plates were carried out.
Her brothers groaned at the display of affection.
"Very well then," The Baroness said and clapped her hands. "Now that the meal is over, we should sing a carol or two."
William and Ethan tried to protest, but a look from their mother kept them quiet.
Wendy really couldn't stop smiling. She had forgotten how childish the two of them could be.
One or two carols turned into five.
Wendy had someone fetch her violin, and she played along, while the others danced and sang.
A few of the maids that were cleaning up the table got pulled into the dance, and they danced in pairs of two and three, at some point the Baron, Baroness, and her parents sat down and watched as the young people and the maids danced and sang.
Wendy could not remember when, but at some point, she put down her violin and just danced with Eric.
After the final song, everyone was short of breath.
Wendy laughed, as Eric breathed heavily.
She forgot for a moment that everyone was there and placed a hand on his cheek. "Thank you. I don't think I have ever had such a magical Christmas Eve."
Eric smiled at her and placed a hand over hers. "Then let me make it even more magical."
Wendy raised a confused eyebrow as Eric got down on one knee.
He pulled out a familiar ring box.
That was the ring box that he had asked Wendy to put the engagement ring in about a moment ago, she had completely forgotten all about it.
"Wendy," He said and looked up at her. "I think I am a very lucky man that I get to do this twice." He opened up the box and her engagement ring was sitting there in a small pillow and glittering at her. "Over the last year, we have all seen how hard you worked to prove yourself. You have worked hard, and you have shined in your effort…" as Eric continued to speak it was like everything slowed down.
Wendy became aware of the shining lights on the tree, the gleam in Eric's eyes, the way his hair was slightly ruffled from the dancing, her reflection in the golden buttons on his jacket, the snow that gently fell outside the ballroom's big windows.
"... with your presence alone, you have made my life feel like a fairy tale," he paused for a moment and Wendy smiled expectantly. "And now, I would like to be your happy ever after … Wendy, will you marry me."
Wendy felt like one thousand butterflies had just taken off from her stomach.
She could not contain her smile or her laughter, as she looked down at him, and forgot all about etiquette and proper behavior. "Yes, Eric. Yes, I will!" she said happily.
Smilingly, he placed the ring on her finger and stood up.
They kissed and he swung her around. "I love you," he whispered.
Applause broke out all around them.
Wendy looked up from their moment to see everybody clapping. Not just her family and Eric's parents, but the butler, the servants, the maids – everyone – even Elias was congratulating them.
Bobbles of laughter escaped her mouth.
"This really was the best present." She whispered to Eric.
I kind of like this chapter.
But tell me what you think
I hope to be back next week but we will see :)
