"How have you been getting on?" Lucy asked Eden, having come to check on her.

"Alex Hetherington has got jam everywhere, and Bella Ward spit French custard all over Nurse Melia," Eden reported. "Oh, and Kenric Mears threw a huge tantrum."

"You really are a heroine to have taken on the baby's table," Lucy said gratefully. "I'm sorry I haven't helped you, but there's so many things to take care of."

"That's alright. You're doing a great job," Eden assured her. "Everyone's having a good time."

"I hope so," Lucy said anxiously. "Have you had anything to eat?"

"Not really," Eden said. "Haven't had time in between the jam and custard."

"I'll get you something," Lucy said, coming back a moment later with a plate of food she'd nabbed from the older children's table.

"Thanks," Eden said through a mouthful of crab sandwich. "I was starting to feel a bit woozy."

"Would you be an absolute blessing and take some food to the nurses, and the two assistants, Miss Faye and Mr Spencer?" Lucy asked. "If you haven't had time to eat anything, they probably haven't either."

"Righty ho," said Eden, grabbing a meringue to sustain her. "Shall I just rummage around for uneaten food?"

"No, I'll ask a footman to bring in a trolley of fresh food and an urn of tea," Lucy said. "That way you can push the trolley, rather than carrying plates and cups to and fro."

Most of the nurses wanted something to eat, and they all wanted tea, so Eden was kept busy pouring out and distributing plates for some time.

"Thank you very much, Miss Eden," Nurse Melia said as she accepted a cup and a mushroom pastry. "I wonder if the kings and Dame Barton might like something – they've got themselves squashed into that little corner, and may have been forgotten about."

It seemed very unlikely to Eden that nobody would bother feeding the king of Lindensea in his own palace, but she pushed her trolley across the room to them with resignation.

Being a queen will be even duller than this sometimes, she told herself sternly. My girl, one day you will be in your throne room signing endless documents, and wish you were doing something as simple as bringing people cups of tea.

Pip was sitting in close conversation with Dame Barton when she arrived, greeting them both.

"May I offer you something to eat?" she asked politely. "I didn't know if you'd had supper or not."

"Thank you very much, Eden, we've had something already," Pip said, giving her a warm smile.

"It's very sweet of you dear, but Baxter himself brought us the loveliest supper," Dame Barton said. "Monsieur Leroux's salmon mousse is one of the great wonders of the world."

"A cup of tea then," said Eden, patting the urn.

"Thank you, I would absolutely love one," Dame Barton said. "It's so kind of you to think of us."

"I'll never say no," Pip said, reaching out for a cup. "My old granny used to say that a cup of tea could save even the worst day, and improve upon the best day."

"Would Bernard like one?" Eden asked, as she passed them the milk jug and the sugar bowl. "For when he gets back."

"Oh, Bernard had to go up to his private drawing room," Pip said, giving her a knowing smile.

"At a party?" Eden asked in amazement.

"You know how it is being a king – always something that needs doing," Pip replied with what might have been a tiny wink.

For some reason, when Eden took the trolley back, she stopped at the forbidden cupboard behind the tapestry screen, and carefully tried the door.

It was locked. Which struck Eden as strange since Lucy had told them it had no key. Not for the outside, at any rate.

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Supper was coming to an end when Otto rang a bell loudly to get everyone's attention.

"I have just been informed that the Yule Father has been sighted outside the palace," he announced impressively. "I must ask you to please remain calmly seated, and not look for him out the window."

It was inevitable that the children rose in a body and rushed to the window with excited shouts. Some claimed they could see the Yule Father, others complained that they couldn't, and many more fretted that they couldn't see anything at all with the others in the way. Otto rescued smaller children from being trampled underfoot, but otherwise didn't interfere.

The lamps suddenly dimmed until there was only candlelight. The children looked back from the window, and then a chill breeze went through the room – with the fresh smell of outdoors, and the scent of apple and chamomile upon it. The breeze was so strong it made the flames of the fire flicker, and all the candles blew out, so that they were left in near darkness. One child whimpered; others whispered in excitement.

"Light the candles, please!" Lucy called out, and there was the sound of people fumbling for matches as servants rushed to comply.

When the candles on a tall candelabra were sparked into life, there was an intake of breath by the children, because there was now a tall man in a dark green hooded cloak before them. Despite being so sturdy and hale, he had a long white beard that covered up nearly all his face, and wore a leather patch over his left eye.

"The Yule Father! The Yule Father!" the children shouted, jumping up and clapping their hands.

A few little kids backed away nervously, and a couple of very devout children knelt down to do him honour.

"Yes, it is I," came the voice of the Yule Father, oddly deep and rasping, as if the words were forced from his throat. "I have travelled through the Nine Realms from my home in Asgard to bring gifts to those worthy to receive them. Who dares ask me for their reward?"

Nobody seemed very daring, and Lucy took charge of the situation.

"Everybody line up," she said firmly. "Little ones at the front, older kids at the back. Come forward when the Yule Father calls your name."

The children hastily got into a line, with the palace children allowing the orphans from the home to go ahead of them. Eden and Lucy stood on each side of the Yule Father to keep some semblance of order.

The babies were led forward by their nurses, or by Miss Faye and Mr Spencer. Penelope held her little brother Alex by the hand. Nurse Melia carried Bella Ward. The Yule Father's deep voice was gentle as he called upon each little one, gifting them their bag of goodies, and placing his hand on their heads with a blessing.

When it was time for the children aged five to ten, The Yule Father made it more difficult for them.

"Savitri Kapoor, will you accept my blessing, or would you prefer a bag of gifts?", he asked bending down to talk to a little girl with long dark hair and big eyes.

"Blessing please," said Savitri solemnly.

"You are a brave girl. May you seek and find new horizons next year," said the Yule Father kindly. "And because you asked only for my blessing, I shall reward you with gifts also."

Savitri looked in her bag, and pulled out the doll in a pink saree.

"Ravi, look! Pretty doll, pretty doll!" she squealed, dragging her bag behind her to show her brother what she had received.

Eden discovered that Ravi was the little boy with spectacles she had briefly danced with in the first game. He admired his sister's doll, with a wistful smile of what he had given up for her sake.

After Savitri, the other children realised they would get their gifts no matter what, so readily asked for a blessing also. Flora Dingle was the next in line, and she asked for a blessing with a rather plaintive expression.

"Flora, you are named for the goddess of flowers," said the Yule Father to her. "May you learn to see your own beauty as easily as you find it in nature, and may your little garden bloom this summer. I grant you gifts that shall help you in your task." He handed her the bag with her name on it as he pressed his hand upon her head in blessing.

When the little kids all had their bags of presents, and were swapping sweets and toys with each other, the Yule Father gave the older children another choice to make.

"I gave my left eye in order to drink from the well of wisdom at the base of the World Tree," the Yule Father croaked out. "Much have I sacrificed for knowledge, so I ask now if any will accept my wisdom in exchange for their gifts?"

There was some anxious muttering among a few of them, but Daphne Woodcroft told them not to be afraid, and that all would be well if they spoke up gamely. Ravi was the first of their group called forward, and he heeded Daphne's advice, keeping his shoulders back and looking straight at the Yule Father.

"Ravi Kapoor, will you prefer divine wisdom, or mere gifts?" he asked, looking deep into Ravi's eyes.

"My Lord, I ask only for your wisdom," said Ravi, "because I have already given away my right to gifts."

"Ravi, know that the world is one of abundance, with plenty for all," said the Yule Father. "Trust that your needs will always be met, as well as everyone else's. Here are your gifts, which you earned truly with your loving heart. You are a good brother."

Ravi gave a little exclamation of surprise, thanking the Yule Father with a grin as he looked through his bag to find the presents Eden had chosen for him. She looked to see if he liked them, and was pleased by his response of immediately taking out the ball and testing its weight with a swing of his arm.

Daphne was last of all, because as the eldest, she had ushered even the palace children before her. Her face was pale but composed as she approached the Yule Father, and she looked at him steadily. Before the Yule Father could say anything, Daphne spoke.

"Yule Father, I am no longer a child, and need no toys or sweets," she said quietly. "Thus I only apply for a taste of your wisdom."

The Yule Father replied in a voice so soft that, besides Daphne herself, only Eden and Lucy were close enough to hear it. He no longer sounded strange and hoarse, and in this whisper, there was something familiar about his voice.

"My daughter, you will never be left alone and unguarded," he said to her in gentle tones. "If you have fears, I beg you to share them with Dame Barton, who is here to help and guide you. Will you do so tomorrow, please?"

"Yes, sir," Daphne said, a faint blush on her cheeks. "I promise."

"I know that you are no longer a small child, but this is your last children's party, and I would ask that you allow yourself to enjoy your youth a while longer," the Yule Father counselled. "In this bag, you will discover no toys, but things in which young ladies will find interest. Please take it, you have earned your gifts tenfold or more with your many acts of kindness over the years."

"Thank you, sir," said Daphne, dropping a little curtsy as she took the green bag with her name writ across it.

Daphne only looked inside her bag, touching some of the items with her hand, but Eden knew what Lucy had chosen for her. A pale green silk evening wrap; a romantic novel as sweet and innocent as a field of daisies; a mother of pearl case with a mirror inside it; a set of white lace handkerchiefs; a box of chocolates; sugared almonds; a clementine orange; a gold coin.

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

"Children, I must return to my home in Asgard now, for the journey across the Nine Realms is long and arduous," said the Yule Father. 

His voice was very hoarse and wavering now, as if his journey to the mortal realm had aged and tired him.

"Good Yule to you all, and my blessings upon you," he continued. "Farewell!"

He raised his arm in salute, gave a meaningful stare around the room, and on the last syllable, the candles were all snuffed out at once.

Chaos reigned for one minute, with children shrieking excitedly and running around in the darkness. Then every lamp was turned on as if a single switch had been pulled, and they all blinked at the sudden brightness; the light blinding their eyes for a moment after being in soft candlelight for so long.

"The Yule Father has gone!" cried Flora, and indeed once everyone could see, it was clear that the man in the green cloak had disappeared.

"Yes, the Yule Father has left Camden Palace," Otto announced knowledgeably. "However, if you look out the window, you may see him riding home to Valhalla."

Everyone rushed over to press their faces to the glass, and almost at once Penelope's brother Nigel yelled out, "Look! There he is, on a white horse!"

Sure enough, a tall man in dark green could be seen riding across the lawn on a magnificent white stallion, his face hidden in the hood of his cloak.

"And it's snowing, it's snowing!" Savitri squeaked; her brother Ravi was holding her up so that she could see better.

White flakes were falling from the sky, so thickly that they covered any hoof prints the horse may have left. More than one child audibly wished that they could run downstairs onto the lawn.

"Well, I don't think that was the real Yule Father," said a boy of around twelve with fair hair and a superior expression. He looked around to make sure everyone was listening, and continued loudly, "I'm pretty sure that was the king dressed up."

"Be quiet, Algy," Nigel said sternly. "You don't say things like that. You just don't, alright?"

"Well, where is the king then?" Algy demanded triumphantly. "I don't see him anywhere."

Savitri looked wounded to hear this, and cuddled into her brother, who comforted her. A few of the smaller children began snivelling.

Daphne calmed them, saying, "Don't listen to Algy. He doesn't know what he's talking about. How could the king have got onto a horse so quickly? No mortal could move with such speed."

Little faces looked hopeful, as if they might believe after all. Others still doubted, and gazed at Algy, waiting for him to make a counterargument.

"Hello, hello," said a cheerful voice. "What did I miss?"

"Mr Bernard, sir! The Yule Father has brought us all gifts, and now he is leaving on a white horse," said Ravi.

"Goodness me, the Yule Father," Bernard said with a cough. "I'll just wave to him through the window. I don't want to offend him."

Bernard seemed to gather children with him, ushering them forward to catch one last glimpse of the Yule Father on his white horse. He was barely visible through the snow now.

"Farewell, Yule Father! Good journey to Asgard," called Bernard, waving his hand frantically. "And he brought the first snow of the season, how very lucky. Don't forget to wave, Algy."

Algy gave Bernard a long look, but held up his hand to say goodbye, and the little ones were satisfied that Algy had admitted he was wrong. Nigel joyfully punched Algy's arm, as a sign that he was forgiven for his lapse of judgement.

While everyone looked out through the windows at the snowy night, Eden alone was looking behind her, to the back of the room. Only she had noticed that Bernard had entered it from behind the green tapestry, which meant that he had come through the mysterious cupboard.