Christmas was a day they had all looked forward to. The kitchen was decorated with paper chains and native bush holly. The smell of roast pork and chicken wafted through the air. Christmas pudding hung from the ceiling in calico cloth and Mary was busy at the stove stirring brandy sauce. It was a room full of bustle. A day for them all.

"Jessica is the table ready?" Mary called.

"I've just got to finish putting the cutlery out, and then it will be all done, Mary. What else do you want me to do?"

"I need the potatoes turned."

Louis got up from where he had been sitting watching the activity and went to Mary. Putting his hand on her shoulder he said, "I can do that for you, where is the cloth?"

Mary smiled. "Oh no, Master. Jessica will be back in a moment."

He held up his hand to hush her. "I can do it, Mary, the cloth."

"In the corner, Sir. Beside the stove and mind ye don't burn yeself."

Louis smiled and tilted his head to one side. "Are you wanting to be my mother now, Mary?"

"Oh no, Master I am sorry, Sir. It's just some men..." she blushed realising to finish the sentence could be offensive.

Louis laughed at her and took hold of the cloth shaking his head.

*

They sat at the dining room table, contented but silent, each with their own thoughts.

"Wouldn't it be lovely if one of us could play the piano?" Alice said dreamily.

Louis smiled. "Yes, I'm afraid it wasn't one of my strong points, much to my mother's disappointment."

"Oh it would be lovely. We could all sing songs." Mary was extra chirpy and full of enthusiasm.

"I can play," Jessica whispered but no one seemed to hear.

Alice and Mary continued to reminisce of other times, pianos, and songs that were sung.

Only Louis heard her speak. "What was that you said, Jessica?"

"I can play, Sir." Jessica lifted her head, looked over at him and blushed. "The piano."

"Well, well, Jessica can play, Alice did ye hear that." Mary twittered and chirped. "Oh please do!"

Jessica looked from one to the other and waited for Louis to speak. She watched his face, his fingers held to his chin. He showed no emotion, but she could see his eyes were smiling.  

He rubbed his finger on his bottom lip, and then pointed to the piano. "Please do, Jessica."

She moved to the stool and sat. Lifting the lid to expose the ebony and ivory keys. Jessica looked at them and ran her fingers lightly across their smooth surface. She was unsure of where to begin. "What shall I play?" she said turning to look at them, and then focusing her gaze on Louis.

His smile lit up his eyes and lifted the corners of his mouth. Jessica's heart thumped as he looked over at her.

"Perhaps something with a Christmas theme, a hymn, perchance?"

She smiled, nodded, and then began to play. At first they sat in awe and listened to the music she made. Then they started to sing.

Jessica played the songs she remembered then repeated them over until they'd had enough.

The music took Louis to another room of many years ago.

"Thomas! It's Louis, he's been in a fight, should I send for the doctor?" Victoria led their son across the carpeted library to where Thomas was working at his desk.

He turned to see a small boy, almost unrecognizable, standing in front of him. He gently took the boy by the chin and tilted his bruised and swollen face upwards. Thomas grinned.

"Well, well, well, is the name Louis or Daniel?"

"Is Louis, Sir."

"So, Louis what have you been up to today, lad?" Thomas chuckled. "Looks like tis time to teach you and your brother to box, son."

Thomas was not easy on them. When they finished their schooling he introduced them to the shipping business. They started as labourers loading the ships at the docks. Thomas's belief was, you could never fully understand how a business ran, if you hadn't experienced each link in the chain. A sentiment he had learned from his own father.

And, many young dockhands wanted to teach the rich newcomers what it was like to live in the hard real world. Louis and Daniel held their own and soon earned the respect of their fellow workers.

Copyright© 2019 Donna Fieldhouse. All rightsreserved.

I've had to split up this chapter as is was 5000 words.  OMG what was I thinking when I first wrote.  I should add that chapter 37 was the first part of it so from 37 to about chapter 45 where originally one chapter.  

I hope you enjoy.  Thanks for being here. ♥♥♥