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Morning came quickly. Pouring herself a cup of tea, Elisabeth thought; Christmas eve, how fast the day had arrived. The girls hurried down to join their mother for breakfast. They were very excited.

"Mother, what is a Christmas ball like" asked Sarah. I'm so excited. I wish we could leave right now."

"It will be time to go before you know it, dear. It's actually been some time since I've been to one although I doubt that it's changed much.

"The Christmas Ball is the most elegant of all the parties given during the year and it's been held at Roxbury House ever since I can remember. The ballroom is positively huge and is decorated in evergreens, holly and colors of deep red, green and gold. Everyone is dressed in their finest clothes, as you will be. When you arrive, you are announced to the host and hostess who invite you to join in the festivities. There is laughter and merriment everywhere--music, dancing and caroling. Everyone is in such good spirits."

">So girls, since we don't have to leave until later this evening, what would you like to do today?"

Amy asked her mother if there was time to go ice skating. After thinking about it for a moment, Elisabeth told the girls to get their skates and they walked down to the pond.

It had been quite cold this winter and the pond had frozen solid almost completely. Out on the ice, they wandered, the youngest having a hard time staying upright in spite of the fact that she was holding her mother's hand. Elisabeth was only a fair skater, but Sarah in a matter of moments was doing all kinds of spins and turns. They didn't stay out long as the wind was bitterly cold as it blew across the frozen water.

"We will have to do this again soon, girls. I hope you all had fun?"

"Yes, mother we did" replied Sarah while little Annabelle cried out "me too, me too".

As they walked back home, they sang Christmas carols.

When they got home, they had some hot chocolate and then the girls spent the rest of the day at play.

The day passed quickly just as their mother had said it would. Elisabeth had just finished tying the ribbon in Annabelle's hair when she stopped to look at her daughters standing before her. How beautiful they looked she thought. Sarah, why Sarah looked much older than her 14 years and was quite the young lady. And Amy and Annabelle, well how fast they had grown up...why, it seemed like only yesterday that they were babies.

"Mrs. Ashton? Mrs. Ashton? Elisabeth was brought back to the present. "Your carriage is ready, my Madam."

"Thank you, Mrs. Beckett. Come girls, put on your coats. It's time to go.'

As the coachman took them on their journey to Roxbury House, they looked out the window and admired the scenery. It had snowed earlier in the day; leaving a fresh blanket of untouched snow on the ground. There was a full moon this night and its beams across the snow-covered trees and ground, gave the illusion of sparkling diamonds everywhere. It was a winter wonderland to behold.

As they went along, Elisabeth could not help but remember the times she and her husband had made this very trip. Those were happy days. Not that she wasn't happy now, but she deeply missed the companionship and love that she had shared with her husband.

Glancing at her daughters she wished that he could be here right now so that he could see them.

It was Amy who broke the silence.

"It's too quiet in here. Let's sing a Christmas song." They all agreed, and led by Amy, began to sing The First Noel.

A short while later the coach came to a halt in front of Roxbury House and what an elegant place it was. The house consisted of some 20 plus rooms. Each of its road visible windows had been decorated with a wreath with a glowing candle in its center. The columns and railings of the house had been decorated in garland of evergreens and holly berries.

They were greeted at the door by the butler who took their coats and led them through the foyer past the decorated circular staircase to the huge ballroom. Many of the guests had already arrived and from the laughter and music it was obvious all were in good spirits. Elisabeth and her daughters were then announced to the Earl of Roxbury and his wife who welcomed them to their party and urged them to have something to eat. Quickly spotting the Vicar and his wife she and her daughters went over to join them.

The room was brightly lit with lamps and candles throughout. The outer wall consisted of glass doors decorated in dark red drapes with gold cord tie-backs. All of the pictures had been draped with evergreen adorned with pine cones and red velvet bows. Small round tables had been placed throughout the room on which pots of poinsettias had been placed. Along the far end were three tables which had been set with fine crystal and china and a feast fit for a king. In one of the corners was an eight-piece orchestra and several of the guests were already dancing to a waltz. Just beyond the orchestra was the fireplace which was ablaze with the yule log. And in the center of the ballroom had been hung the traditional kissing bough.

"Elisabeth, how wonderful to see you and your daughters. You all look so beautiful tonight. Merry Christmas to you all."

"Thank you and a Merry Christmas to you, Vicar and Mrs. Langley, Mr. and Mrs. Wexford. It's good to see you." She then added "It's been such a very long time since I was here, and it hasn't changed at all from what I remember. This room is still the most elegant I've ever seen. The Roxbury's have always seen to that."

Elisabeth herself looked exquisite in her rose-colored silk brocade gown trimmed with seed pearls around the neck and hemline. The sleeves just slightly capped her shoulders. Around her neck she wore a large cream-colored cameo which had been threaded onto a rose-colored velvet ribbon.

Her hair done up in curls was held in place with rose and gold-colored combs. Her daughters then took sight of their friends and with their mother's approval left to join them.

As Elisabeth talked with the Vicar and his wife and a few of the other guests, little did she know that she was being admired from across the room. Lord Whitcombe saw her enter the ballroom, but decided to give her some time before he approached her. The shy, young female he once knew had turned into an elegant and gracious lady, one who sparked feelings inside of him that he hadn't had in a very long time.

Barely half an hour passed and unable to stay away any longer he crossed the room to join the group.

"Merry Christmas, everyone."

"And a very Merry Christmas to you also, Lord Whitcombe" returned the group.

Gregory then turned to Mrs. Ashton and bowing, asked if she would like to dance. Elisabeth's knees began to weaken and butterflies again began to rage wildly in her stomach. Not wanting to appear unsociable to the others, she accepted his invitation graciously.

Taking her right hand into his left and putting his arm about her waist as she lifted her skirt, he waltzed her across the ballroom. What a handsome couple they made. He was an excellent dancer and the two appeared to glide effortlessly across the room. Slowly the butterflies began to disappear from Elisabeth's stomach and she raised her eyes to meet Lord Whitcombe's. They exchanged a glance that could not be mistaken.

When the dance ended, he escorted her back to the group and volunteered to get some punch. By this time, Elisabeth's legs were shaking badly. Again not understanding her reaction, she tried to regain her composure so that the others would not see her nervousness.

Gregory brought back the punch he had promised and joined in the group's conversation. A short time later, he again asked Elisabeth to dance. Feeling somewhat trapped, she again accepted.

As they again danced and noticing that they were under the kissing bough, Gregory stopped, nodded for her to look upward and then before she had a chance to protest he leaned his head forward and kissed her. To her surprise, she found herself kissing him back.

At that moment the orchestra paused for an intermission. Shaken by the feelings which were beginning to stir within her, Elisabeth pulled away, thanked him and hurried back to join the Vicar's wife who was deep in conversation on the true meaning of Christmas.

Gregory, thinking back to a love lost, wasn't going to let this lady get away. She was someone special and he was determined to make her his.

When the music began again, he walked over and whisked her into his arms and back onto the dance floor. He wasn't going to give her the opportunity to say "no thank you". There wasn't a person in the room who didn't take a moment to admire the couple who seemed to take over the dance floor. Even her daughter, Sarah, paused to reflect how perfect they were together and for each other. This dance, led to an entire evening of dancing.

Finally Elisabeth told Gregory that it was getting late and that she had to leave. He then asked if he might see her and her daughters home.

"Thank you kindly, your Lordship, but my coachman has been waiting for us. I want to thank you for a most enjoyable evening."

With that Elisabeth curtsied and then left to say goodbye to her hosts and the others, find her daughters and be on her way.

The trip home was barely 20 minutes. Her two youngest daughters exhausted from the evening's activities fell off to sleep. Sarah then approached her mother again on the subject of Lord Whitcombe.

"Mother, it was terribly hard not to notice that you spent most of the evening dancing with Lord Whitcombe. You and he are excellent dancers."

"Yes, dear; he does dance very well. I must say it was an enjoyable evening."

"Do you think that he will ask to see you again? Sarah asked.

"Sarah, what is this sudden interest of yours in Lord Whitcombe and myself?"

"Nothing really, mother; except . . ."

"Except what?"

"He appears to be interested in you mother, and . . ."

The carriage came to a stop before Sarah could finish what she was going to say.

"Wake your sister, Sarah. I will carry Annabelle up to bed. She then said good night to all of them and went to her own room unable to get the kiss she had shared with Gregory out of her mind.