'Wow,' Rowan said, as Neva came downstairs. 'You look good. Are we hoping to see someone special?' She winked at Neva.
'It's Christmas. I want to look nice. You look good too.'
Nigel wrapped his arms around his wife. 'She always looks good. But so do you, Neva. And you, Dawn.'
'What about me, Daddy?' Sasha tugged his sleeve.
'No, angel. You don't look good. You look fabulous.' He lifted Sasha in the air and spun her around. No mean feat in the fairly narrow hall. 'Although you might want to change out of that zombie princess outfit. You don't want to get it ruined before Christmas Day.'
'I'll be careful.' Sasha smoothed down her knee-length black satin dress and the strategically torn, deep pink ruffles of the net overlay, and readjusted her cobweb-covered, diamante tiara.
'Perhaps we could leave the festering blister at home,' he suggested.
'No way,' Neva said. 'I'm coming with you.' That at least made Sasha laugh.
'Funny,' Nigel said. 'I'm trying to stop my daughter going out in public, and for lunch no less, with a rather realistic-looking, puss-oozing, silicone blister stuck on her face and you make jokes about it.'
'Well, she is a zombie princess, Nigel. And she can't be a zombie princess without a festering blister or two.'
'Then she's sitting next to you. I thought the idea was for her to kill the zombies. Not turn into one.'
He threw Neva her jacket but he was smiling so she knew he wasn't cross.
'But if you can't beat them, it's best to join them. Besides, it's a cunning plan to get the zombies to think she's one of them, when really, she isn't at all. That way she can catch them with their guards down and kill them all at once.'
Rowan shook her head. 'Sometimes I wonder exactly who the eight-year-old is in this family. My daughter or my sister.' But she was smiling too.
The pavements weren't as icy now as they headed towards the pub and the temperature seemed to have warmed up just a touch. As they passed the red house, chattering loudly, the door flew open and two men, dressed in somewhat clashing tartans, stood in the doorway.
'How wonderful to see you again, Dennis. How did you manage during that frightful power outage? We were going to come and check but it was as black as pitch. I assume the lovely Sean brought you ample supplies. I'll say one thing for Rafe Wynter, he may have an ugly past but he's clearly trying to make amends. He even asked Sean to bring us some lanterns, and he didn't need to do that at all. But this must be your delightful family. Hello all.'
'Hello,' they all replied as they hurried past.
Neva stopped and grabbed Sasha's hood, pulling her back and wrapping an arm around her to pin her in place. She smiled as the two men's lips curled upwards in horrified looks.
'This is my niece, Sasha. We're hoping this country air will help her condition. Oh. Don't worry. It's not contagious. At least we hope not. Wasn't that power cut frightening? But not as frightening as it'll be when the river floods later and comes crashing through all our front doors. Lovely to meet you. Have a super day.'
'What? Good heavens! You can't be serious!' Cecil shrieked.
She glanced over her shoulder as she and Sasha walked across the cobbles, now drowning in puddles again, and no longer covered in ice.
'About the river? I'm deadly serious. Ask Sean. I'm sure he'll confirm it. Bye-ee.'
Sasha giggled. 'They think I'm a real zombie, don't they?'
'I think they're the zombies, sweetie. But yes. I think they do.'
Dennis grinned as he held open the door to the tiny, Wyntersleap Inn where the others had already gone inside. Sasha smiled up at Neva before she dashed in to join them.
'Sean may not thank you for that, and neither will Rowan and Nigel if those two men start telling the locals Sasha is diseased, but at least she's speaking to you again. The expressions on their faces were priceless.'
'I couldn't help myself. And no one will believe them about Sasha.'
She glanced around as she stepped inside. The pub really was tiny. Only room enough for five small tables and chairs, a couple of padded seats by the windows and two more beside the fireplace in which there was a roaring log fire. The bar ran the length of one wall, with stalls in front of it here and there and the long mirror on the wall behind, made the place look a little bigger than it was. Tinsel of various colours glistened between every bottle and glass and were reflected in the mirror, while nets of twinkling lights hung like stars from the low, blackened ceiling. Jugs of holly, ivy and mistletoe sat on every table and the small Christmas tree in one corner of the room was dressed with so many colourful decorations that hardly any pine was visible.
Apart from Neva and her family, the only other person inside was a pretty blonde woman in early forties if Neva had correctly judged the woman's age. Perhaps this was Sean's wife, Wendy. But just as Dennis was about to close the door behind him, someone called out to him.
'Hold the door please if you don't mind, young man.'
Dennis pushed it open again and two elderly women stepped inside, arm in arm.
'Thank you, handsome.' The one with tight grey curls and what appeared to be a knitted tea cosy on top of them, gave him a huge, toothless smile and a wink. Her multi-coloured coat was about three sizes too big and almost touched the floor. And she was wearing fluffy boots that looked more like slippers than outdoor wear.
Her friend, who looked as if she shared the Queen's dressmaker, patted him on the arm, adjusted her three-stringed pearl necklace and pushed her mistletoe festooned tiara back in place on a head of tight and perfectly coiffed, silver-white curls.
'Boris and Duchess are right behind me, if you don't mind, my good man.'
She wafted into the pub and two corgis trotted behind, both wearing blue and gold, majestic-looking dog coats and little matching hats in the shape of tiny crowns.
'And we thought Sasha would get strange looks,' Rowan whispered to Neva as both women walked towards them.
'Oh my dear, you were positively marvellous. I'm Queenie and this is my dearest friend, Ethel. Cecil and Ronnie were beside themselves with fear.'
'Yes, dear,' Ethel added, with another toothless grin. 'Well done. It's about time someone stood up to those two.'
'You heard? It was a bit mean of me really. I'm Neva. Neva Grey. And this is my sister, Rowan. You've met my dad, Dennis.'
'He can't be your dad,' Ethel said. 'He's far too young. But I can see where you get your good looks from.'
'Thank you,' Dennis mumbled, squeezing past and hurrying towards his wife.
Neva tried not to giggle. 'This is my mum, Dawn.'
'Oh yes. I can see the likeness,' Ethel said. 'Another beauty.'
Dawn's cheeks flushed as she smiled at the women and said, 'Hello.'
'I'm Sasha and I'm a zombie princess. And that's my puppy, Tempest. She nearly drowned yesterday.' Sasha came and grabbed Neva's hand. She pointed to Tempest who had found a spot by the fire and curled herself into a ball of sable and white fur, resembling a large, plump cushion.
'So you are,' said Queenie. 'And your puppy looks exceedingly cute. We heard about your little adventure. You're so lucky young Rafe was there. He's such a dear.'
Ethel nodded. 'And you're a very lucky girl.'
'Where are your teeth?' Sasha asked. Neva tried to shush her.
Ethel shrieked with laughter. 'At home in a jar, princess. I can't get on with the things.'
Neva gave Ethel an apologetic look but the woman didn't seem at all bothered or embarrassed.
'I like your tiara,' Sasha said to Queenie. 'Is that mistletoe? I wish I'd put some of our mistletoe in mine. May I have a little bit of it, please? You can have some of ours tomorrow.'
'Sasha.' Nigel stepped forward and took her gently by the arm. 'That was rude.'
'Why? I said please.'
'Sorry. I'm Nigel. Her dad. Sometimes she forgets her manners.'
Queenie tapped his arm. 'No cause for concern, my good man. And of course you can, Princess Sas
ha.' She took several sprigs of mistletoe and fixed them under Sasha's tiara.
'Thank you, Your Majesty.'
Sasha made the most polished curtsey Neva had ever seen. Not that she had seen many, other than on TV.
'Hello, Wendy,' Ethel waved to the barmaid. 'The usual, please.'
'Hi Ethel. Hi Queenie. Coming up.'
'Oh I do apologise,' said Queenie. 'You were here before us.'
'It's not a problem, ladies,' Dennis said. 'We don't know what we want yet anyway.'
'You live in the village?' Neva asked.
Ethel nodded. 'All my life. I was the cook up at the house until I got too old. Now my daughter, Penny's replaced me and I'm a lady of leisure. My dear departed Norman worked there too. But he's long gone. Butler, he was. Now that stuffed shirt, Archibald Carruthers rules the roost.'
'Have you met the Wynters?' Queenie asked.
'Adam and Rafe, yes.' Neva unbuttoned her coat to cool herself down. She was suddenly feeling rather warm.
'Not Olivia? She's their grandmother.'
'And tough as old boots.'
'Ethel, dear. We shouldn't criticise or we'll be no better than Cecil and Ronnie.'
'Hmm. You're right. Let's just say the old boot and I didn't see eye to eye. I must sit down. My arthritis is giving me gyp.'
'It was lovely to meet you, ladies.' Neva smiled at them and stood aside to let them pass.
'Rafe! You young devil. Looking as handsome as ever I see.' Ethel hurried towards the bar, her arthritis apparently forgotten.
Neva's head shot round and her eyes met Rafe's. How long had he been standing in the doorway at the end of the bar? He hadn't been there when she had first looked around.
'And you are more lovely every day, Ethel.'
He smiled at her as she tugged his shirt collar, pulling him down so that she could plant a kiss on his cheek.
He wasn't wearing his coat, just the casual pale blue shirt Neva had noticed earlier, and a navy-blue jumper and jeans, so he must've been here for a while.
'Get away with you. I bet you say that to all the girls.' Ethel giggled loudly.
'I can promise you I don't. Hello, Queenie. You look wonderful as always.'
'Thank you, Rafe. And thank you again for popping in to check on us this morning.' She looked at Wendy. 'Without those lanterns, I'm not sure what either of us would've done on Friday night. I rushed next door to Ethel's as soon as it happened and nearly took a tumble, but your lovely Sean came to my rescue, and brought us the lights from Rafe.' She smiled at Rafe again. 'Bringing light into our lives. As you always have. And then to come and check that we survived the night, was above and beyond, dear boy.'
To Neva's surprise, he coughed and appeared to be somewhat flustered, and her heart skipped a beat when he shot a look in her direction. It almost stopped when Sasha raced over to him and threw her arms around him. Due to his height, she only came up to his waist.
'You're the lovely man who saved Tempest. I should've said thank you then but I didn't.'
'Er. It was my pleasure.'
Rafe's face was a picture. A mixture of surprise, amusement and embarrassment.
'I'll love you forever,' Sasha added. 'Neva said it's OK for me to tell you that.'
'I said no such thing!' Neva's was as hot as the fire.
Sasha did her pouty and knit brows look, as she turned her head in Neva's direction, still clinging to Rafe's waist.
'Yes, you did. You said it was OK for me to say it because he'd probably never hear it from anyone else. I remember exactly-'
'That's enough, Sasha,' Rowan said. 'Leave the poor man alone.'
Now Rafe's face was a completely different picture. And not a happy one. His voice was soft but his eyes were cold when he replied to Sasha; his gaze fixed firmly on Neva.
'She's probably right. Now if you'll excuse me, someone's waiting for me.'
He gently prised himself free and went to another doorway, this one behind the bar, at one end of the mirrored wall. He ducked his head so as not to hit the beam above the door.
'That was awkward,' Rowan said, as Ethel, Queenie and Wendy all gave Neva somewhat cooler looks than earlier, and Sasha skipped back to give Tempest a hug.
'Come and sit down, sweetheart.' Dawn patted the chair next to hers. 'And don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll understand.'
'I wouldn't bet on it,' Neva said, dropping onto the chair and suddenly feeling deflated. 'Not that I care. But I think I'm now in the same book as Cecil and Ronnie as far as our new friends are concerned.'
'What's everyone having?' Wendy asked, having given Ethel and Queenie two large glasses of sherry. She smiled broadly at Sasha, a little less so at everyone else and positively glowered at Neva.
'A hole in the ground to swallow me,' Neva whispered to Rowan who was sitting the other side of her.
'I think she'll dig that for you,' Rowan whispered back.
Everyone gave their drinks orders and Wendy handed over a pile of menus, although as there were only four choices, she probably could have simply told them what was on offer.
'I'll have the cottage pie,' Dennis said, the moment he saw it, and Dawn and Nigel ordered the same.
'Macaroni cheese for me, please,' Neva said. 'It sounds delicious.'
'It is,' Wendy replied, a small smile breaking onto her face.
Sasha jumped up as Dennis handed her a menu and her face lit up.
'Burger and chips, please.' Sasha beamed at Wendy.
'What the hell,' Rowan said, handing back her menu. 'I'll have that too. Sod the bloody diet. It's Christmas.'
'Swear jar!'
Rowan rolled her eyes at Sasha. 'You and that bloody swear jar. Oh s-damn it!'
'What is the matter with you today?' Dawn asked, frowning slightly as Wendy strolled off towards the doorway Rafe had gone through.
'I got about an hour's sleep, that's what. I had the most dreadful nightmares. Add those to Nigel's snoring and a restful night's sleep was a far-off dream.'
'You had a lie-in though,' Neva said.
'I stayed in bed. Tossed and turned. Had more nightmares. Or daymares, or whatever they're called and got up feeling even worse. I thought I'd be fine, but suddenly I feel a bit grumpy. Nothing some food and a glass or two of wine won't cure.'
'Have a sleep this afternoon,' Dennis said. 'Your mother and I intend to.'
'Me too,' said Nigel. 'It's always the same with me and holidays. I feel shattered the moment I leave work for a break.'
'Well, that's that then. I'll have to look after Sasha, won't I? And someone needs to take Tempest for a walk.'
'I'll do it,' Neva said. 'I'll take Sasha and Tempest in the opposite direction to the way I went this morning. There's a smaller waterfall down there, so I won't be quite so concerned about anyone falling in. And it's no longer that icy, so we'll be fine.'
'But I thought you had a bad night too?' Rowan queried.
'I did. But I can have a nap before supper. Or an early night.'
'We need to discuss whether or not we're going home,' Dennis said.
He and Neva had mentioned it to the others earlier but said they would see what Sean or any of the locals felt about the prospect of a flood.
'Let's ask Wendy,' Neva said, as the pretty blonde brought their drinks on a tray.
'Ask Wendy what?' Her tone was still a trifle cool.
Rowan smiled at her. 'About the river. We hear there's a very real chance it may flood.'
Wendy looked annoyed. 'Who told you that? Those two in Ruby Cottage, I don't doubt. It's never flooded in my lifetime. And I've lived here for forty years. I don't know why they want to scare away our tourists.'
'Actually,' said Dennis, 'Rafe told my daughter, Neva this very morning.'
Wendy blinked several times. 'He did? Oh. As it happens, that's one of the things he and my Sean are discussing right now. They're in the back. You can ask for an update after you've had lunch.' She looked Neva up and down and opened her mouth as if she intended to
say something else, but she turned and walked away.
'That was helpful,' Rowan said, before taking a large gulp of wine.
'We may as well do as she says,' said Dennis. 'If they're discussing it, they might have more information for us later.'
A little bell tinkled over the door at the end of the bar and Neva's heart pounded as Adam Wynter walked in. He spotted Ethel and Queenie, gave them each a friendly wave and headed towards Wendy, but he did a double take as he spotted the group of Neva's family. He smiled broadly as his gaze rested on Neva and instead of going to the bar, he turned and came towards her.
'Hello again. How are you all doing? I hope last night wasn't too awful for you. We got it sorted as fast as we could.' He stretched out his hand towards Nigel who shook it. 'We haven't met. I'm Adam.'
'Hi. I'm Nigel. Last night was a surprise but it ended up being fun.'
'I'm pleased to hear it. And who is this lovely lady?'
'I'm Rowan. Nigel's wife and Neva's sister.'
'A pleasure to meet you.' He smiled at Neva and his eyes sparkled. They definitely weren't as dark as Rafe's. 'Yes. I can see the resemblance.'
'I'm Sasha. No one ever asks about me.'
For a split second, Adam flinched, but his smile was quick to return.
'No one ever asks to be introduced to the most beautiful girl in a group, especially if she's clearly a princess. It's too hard to pluck up the courage.'
He gave a little bow and Sasha clapped her hands with delight.
'Would you like to join us?' Neva asked, blushing profusely.
His eyes scanned her from head to toe and his smile grew wider.
'Nothing would give me more pleasure but sadly, I'm here to meet my brother. Have you seen him? He's tall, grumpy and domineering. I'm only joking. He's the best brother in the world.'
'He went that way.' Neva nodded towards the door behind the bar.
'Then if you'll excuse me, I'd better go. He doesn't like to be kept waiting. Lovely to see you again.'
'Adam?'
'Yes, Neva.'
'Um. I was thinking of going for a walk to Little Wynter Falls this afternoon. I just wondered if you thought it was safe to take my niece and her dog. I went out walking earlier and it was rather icy.'
Christmas at Wynter House Page 9