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Elisabeth woke early the next day. She still had the last of her daughters' dresses to complete and then she had promised that she and the girls would go down to the church for a while to help prepare holiday baskets for the poor. How fortunate she was she thought, to not only have the means to support herself but to have three beautiful and loving daughters.

She decided that it would be best to go to the church right after breakfast and then later finish working on Annabelle's dress.

When they arrived at the church the Vicar' wife greeted them at the door.

"Elisabeth, how nice it is to see you and your lovely girls. I'm so glad you were able to come. Everyone has been extremely generous this year and we can use all the help we can get."

"It's good to see you, Mrs. Langley, and Merry Christmas."

Elisabeth and the girls took off their coats and Mrs. Langley led them over to the work area where several other volunteers were already busy at work. They quickly joined in helping to fill the baskets. After a short while, the area had become so packed with the finished baskets that movement around the tables was becoming difficult. Elisabeth gathered up several and placed them over her left arm and picked up another two in her right hand. As she went to turn, she tripped over one of the baskets on the floor and lost her balance, suddenly finding herself in the arms of none other than Gregory Whitcombe.

With a smile on his face, he replied "We've really got to stop meeting this way, Mrs. Ashton" and then broke out into a gentle laugh.

Embarrassed, her face, a deep red, Elisabeth excused herself and went about her work. About an hour later she gathered her daughters together and was preparing to leave, when she heard someone ask "are you leaving already? I surely hope it isn't on my account."

"Please don't hasten to flatter yourself, my Lord, it isn't."

She then paused to say good-bye to the Vicar and Mrs. Langley as well as to Mrs. Wexford and Mrs. Smythe, two of the other volunteers, and quickly left the church. Once outside, she paused to take a deep breath. Her legs were trembling and she could barely breath. The butterflies in her stomach were raging. She had to get as far away from him as she possibly could.

"Let's go girls; hurry please." She helped her daughters into the carriage and they left for home.

Later that evening after dinner the girls went upstairs each to their room to wrap the gifts they bought at the Bazaar the day before; Sarah, helping her sister, Annabelle.

"Girls? Are you ready for bed? I'll be up in just a minute. "Elisabeth straightened up the sitting room and then went up to kiss each of her daughters good night. As she walked to her own room, tears began to fill her eyes as all of a sudden she felt so very lonely.