The Christmas Carriage Read Online Free PDF Page A

free of snow, a holly wreath on the door. He had no justification for tarrying, and he was already late for work.
    The walk across town was… pretty, the fresh snow hiding a world of mud, and putting smiles on the faces of those braving the early morning air. London wasn’t Aberdeen, but neither did it lack for some charm.
    Lizzie lived here, that was charm enough for any city. Or it would be if she’d have him for a husband.
    If she wouldn’t, then darkest Peru might not be a distant enough posting. Frederick’s sense of wellbeing faded further as he approached his place of employment, for there stood Bickerman on the front steps, arguing with a woman in a deep purple dress.
    “This is a proper place of business, I’ll have you know. I cannot indulge the fancies of a woman who seeks to accost my employees when about their labors. You will be on your way, madam, before I call the watch to remove you.”
    The lady’s back was to Frederick, a straight, elegant back. “At least confirm that he still works here,” she said, her tone very severe, “or I will have words with your direct superior, sir. It’s urgent that I speak with Mr. MacIntyre.”
    “Lizzie.” Frederick said her name softly, not so much to get her attention, as to enjoy the pleasure of speaking it.
    “In a moment,” she said without turning. “You will also please deliver a message to Mr. MacIntyre, sir. You will tell him Elizabeth Winklebleck loves him, and wants to marry him. He hasn’t heard from me, you see, and being a man he will have gotten all manner of wrong-headed notions, though I do love him. I love him to distraction, and I miss him. You will tell him this.”
    Bickerman’s scowl faltered. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it.
    “It’s urgent,” Lizzie said, and Frederick heard tears in her voice. “The most urgent communication I’ve ever attempted.”
    There on the front steps of a dignified a place of business, before all the passersby, Lizzie, Frederick, and even before Mr. North, who was getting out of his carriage, Bickerman smiled. “Tell him yourself, young lady.”
    He pointed to Frederick, standing not three yards away from Lizzie, and grinning like a baboon.
    “Frederick?” She wiped at her cheeks with her gloves, and Frederick opened his arms.
    “Happy Christmas, Lizzie. I’ve been looking all over Town for you.”
    She pelted into his chest with a good solid thud, rather like the good, solid thud Frederick had felt in his chest the first time he’d seen her sharing a hymnal with her sister.
    “Frederick, I’ve missed you so! I’ve missed you and missed you, and I should have come here much sooner, but I’d forgotten I knew this, and it isn’t the done thing, and oh, I’ve missed you.”
    “I couldn’t find you,” Frederick said, breathing through his nose just to catch the rosy scent of her. “I asked the pastor, I tramped all over Mayfair, I watched the Sunday church parade in the park each weekend. I couldn’t find you.”
    “You’ve found me now, and I’m not letting you go.”
    She wasn’t, either, she was bundled into his arms, there for the world to see. Over her head, Frederick saw a smiling Mr. North leading Bickerman into the building, but against the window, a horde of sorting clerks was grinning down at him, Tims included.
    “You have to let me go, Lizzie.”
    “Never.”
    And wasn’t that just the best answer. “You have to let me go as far as my knees.”
    Comprehension dawned in her eyes, their sparkle became luminous. “Only as far as your knees, Frederick, and only for a moment.”
    He went down on one knee, took her gloved hand in his bare grasp, and felt his heart soaring. “Miss Lizzie Winklebleck, will you make the happiest of Christmas memories with me, and agree to be the wife of the newest postal supervisor to serve the king’s mail at the Greater Uppington sorting station?”
    “Yes! Yes, yes, I shall, and you will make the happiest of Christmas