Chapter 13The first light snow flurries at the start of December were an ominous sign. Local countrymen, wise to the weather, muttered that this was only the beginning, and they were proved correct. As the month continued, so did the snowfall and any plans for spending Christmas in Marlborough had to be abandoned.
Indoor staff who had a distance to travel to spend the season with their families were sent away early, then those from local villages were discharged before the roads were blocked entirely. As Christmas grew closer, Charlotte had to admit there was a holiday feeling about living in a restricted number of rooms in the grand old house with only a few servants. With this temporary relaxation, a weight of responsibility lifted from her. Although she was disappointed not to see her
