Rhys gets into the Christmas spirit

 RHYS BOWEN; For most of us it's going to be a quiet sort of holiday this year, isn't it? No big family celebration around the table, no silly games and paper hats and laughter. Just John and me alone for Christmas dinner (we're hoping the crab season kicks in as crab would be a treat). We hope to see our dear ones at least to exchange gifts and eat a mince pie together but it has to be outside at distance. Heavy sigh.

So one thing that has warmed my heart recently is that I have been doing final edits on my upcoming Royal Spyness books that is actually set at Christmas, in a house on the Sandringham estate where the royal family spends the holiday. So I was able to live Christmas vicariously--describing fun, games, meals, decorations.. in short my perfect Christmas of long ago. No commercialism. Not really any huge presents.  The closest I've come recently was when we took a Christmas market cruise up the Danube river and stopped at all the little enchanting towns. A real old fashioned Christmas. I hope to do that again some day, when we can travel.

Anyway, since everybody loves reading about food I'm sharing Christmas dinner from the book. I'm sure you'd rather read about that than the few murders that seem to occur. The book is called GOD REST YE ROYAL GENTLEMEN and the story is about a possible attempt on the life of the Prince of Wales

Then came the main event. One platter contained the turkey, another a goose, both brown and glistening with crispy skin. There were roast potatoes, roast parsnips, Brussel Sprouts, chestnut stuffing, oyster stuffing and gravy. Binky was asked again to carve the turkey while the major attacked the goose. I thought Binky did the better job but nobody was about to complain as plates were piled high and silence reigned. I noticed Mrs. Simpson had taken very sparingly.

 “So many calories,” she muttered to me. “I have to think of my figure.” 

I glanced across to my mother, whose plate was piled as high as any. I hoped I had inherited her metabolism so I never had to worry about my figure in future. But then the Duchess of York was becoming a little chubby and she didn’t seem to mind. 

 When nobody felt they could eat another morsel the plates were cleared away, a bell was rung and Heslop the butler appeared carrying the flaming Christmas pudding.

 “It’s got fire on it!” Addie exclaimed and was told that the fire was on purpose. 

The maid cut the pudding and the footman handed around slices. 

“Remember the custom of putting silver charms in the pudding,” Lady Aysgarth warned. “I believe you might find some in your slice so chew carefully.”

 We took generous helpings of brandy butter and started to eat.

 Colonel Huntley got a boot. “That means travel,” Mrs. Legge-Horne said. “Which is appropriate as you’ll be going back to the States soon.” 

Fig got the pig, which meant she was a glutton, which was absolutely untrue as she was rail thin. She was not amused. 

Podge got the silver button. “the bachelor button, Podge. You’re not going to get married this year,” Binky said and we all laughed. 

Then Mrs. Simpson exclaimed, “What on earth…?” 

And she was looking at the bone button from Queenie’s uniform now residing on her fork. 

“Oh, you’ve got the bone button!” I exclaimed. 

“How quaint,” she replied. “What does it mean?” 

I was trying desperately to remember what explanation Darcy had come up with. “It’s an old custom in our part of Sussex, made from the bone of a stag killed on Christmas Day,” I managed to say. 

“Yes, but why put it in the pudding? What on earth is it there for? Highly dangerous, if you ask me. I could have swallowed it.”

 Now my mind went blank. “Mean?” 

“It means opportunity,” my mother said smoothly. “The person who finds the bone button has a new door open for them during the year.” 

“Well, fancy that,” Mrs. Simpson said, clearly pleased at this good fortune. “Lucky I didn’t break my tooth on it.” 

Mummy caught my eye and we exchanged a grin.

So here's wishing all of you fond holiday memories and the happiest time that restrictions will allow. And the good thought that next year we'll all be together with loved ones again and the world will be a safer place.