Christina decided she would go to bed early, it was cold and snowing heavily outside. She said goodnight to her father John and brother Jacob and made her way upstairs.
Winter nights were long and there never seemed to be enough hours in the day.
Christina lived with her father and brother. Her mother had died fifteen years ago when she was only five years old. Christina still remembered her mother well and for years she was sad and lonely without her. Jilly had been ill for weeks with a chest infection which turned into pneumonia.
Life had been difficult for the family without Jilly, as Christina got older more was expected of her in the running of the house.
John and Jacob worked hard, they had cattle to look after and winter was a difficult time for them, particularly when there was heavy snow.
The family were by no means rich, but they got by. Sometimes Christina helped at the local hotel when they were busy, which gave her a small income. This, she was saving for something special.
**
As Christina pulled the heavy drapes across the window of her bedroom she noticed a red glow in the sky. She pushed open the window and could see flames and smoke coming from the village. She pulled on her robe and ran downstairs.
‘Father, Jacob there is a big fire in the village, you must go”, she cried out, “I will follow in the trap”, she called back as she ran upstairs.
John and Jacob grabbed their coats and rushed to the barn to get their horses.
Christina heard them gallop off at high speed.
When John and Jacob arrived in the village it was chaos. There were people running everywhere, people were lying on the ground. It was an awful scene. The hotel was burning and so were three other buildings.
Little could be done to save the buildings so everyone was busy trying to help the injured.
When Christina arrived, she could not believe the sight. She rushed to find her father and Jacob.
Amongst the smoke, she saw her father.
“Help where you can lassie, it’ s a mess, there are people missing possibly dead, do what you can”, he said, while bending over a young child.
“Of course, father”, she said rushing off.
As Christina rushed closer to the burning hotel she heard the voice of a man.
“Miss, miss please can you help me look for my sister? She worked in the hotel and I can’t find her”, he asked desperately.
“Of course, I can, do you mean Jane?”, Christina queried.
“Yes, I do, I am her brother Sebastian”, he replied.
Christina and Sebastian searched for some time, eventually, they found Jane. She was badly burnt on her arms and feet.
“We need to find the doctor, please stay with her while I go and look”, said Sebastian, looking very worried.
After a long wait he returned.
“The doctor is very busy. We have to give her sips of water and keep her still until he can come”, said the young man, trying to comfort his sister.
Sebastian looked so upset, he had ash and dirt all over his face.
“Thank you for helping me Christina, I have seen you in the village sometimes”, he said.
Christina smiled.
After what seemed like an eternity Dr Franklin came over and checked on Jane.
“Jane has bad burns I’m afraid son. She is going to need a lot of care”. The doctor announced.
“There is only me to look after Jane sir. Our parents died some years ago, Jane and I look after our small farm”, Sebastian answered.
“You need to take her home, keep her comfortable and I will come as see her first thing in the morning”, Dr Franklin said before rushing on to another patient.
“What am I going to do Christina?”, Sebastian said looking at Christina worriedly.
“Look, I will find my father and tell him I am going with you to look after your sister. Hold tight I will be back in a minute”, Christina said as she hurried off.
**
Christina found her father and brother Jacob. They were helping an injured man and a small child. She quickly explained about Jane and her need to help Sebastian.
She then ran back and told Sebastian she would go and fetch her rig, so they could transport Jane home.
Carefully Sebastian lifted Jane on to the back, she was crying in pain. She was only sixteen and a pretty young lass with lovely long red hair. Tears streamed down her pretty face and Christina did her best to comfort her on the two-mile bumpy ride home. Christina even sang gently to her to help soothe her.
Dr Franklin had given Sebastian some medicine to help with the pain.
As soon as they arrived at the little cottage Sebastian ran to open the door, so he could carry his injured sister in and lie her on the big couch.
“I will sit with your sister, can you get me some water and a cloth, so I can bathe her head”, asked Christina.
“Of course, and I will make you some tea. It will be morning in a few hours so try and rest too, we can take turns sitting with Jane if you like”, replied Sebastian.
Christina nodded, she too was weary and was grateful for the tea.
**
Around eight in the morning, Dr Franklin arrived.
“How is Jane?”, he asked Sebastian as he walked in the door.
“She is in a lot of pain doctor but is very brave, Christina has been helping me look after her”, he answered.
“That’s good, as you will need help to nurse her. I will come every day while the bandages need changing. There are a lot of folk needing help after the fire”, replied the doctor.
The next few days were difficult. Christina’s brother came over to see how everyone was. He said both he and his father worked through the night helping people who were affected by the fire.
“Two lives were lost sadly, an elderly couple who were staying in the hotel perished. Everyone is very upset”, he said looking visibly affected, “I have brought you some clothes and food as I am sure Sebastian needs you here more than father and I do now”, he said looking at his sister.
“Well yes please, I would appreciate it and Jane too of course. Your sister has been an amazing help and we could not have managed without her”, Sebastian said looking ever so grateful.
“I will be off, work to do. I will come back next week and check on you all,” called out Jacob as he left.
‘Your family are very kind, thank you”, Sebastian said smiling at Christina.
**
Over the next week Jane grew stronger and when Jacob came to see how they were going it was decided Christina could go back home.
Sebastian knew he was going to miss having Christina around, she had been an amazing help, looking after Jane, preparing meals and generally looking after them.
Christina also felt a pang of sadness, she had grown very fond of Jane and Sebastian and promised she would come and visit them as much as possible.
“You have been so kind to us”, Sebastian said as he gave Christina a hug goodbye.
Christina leant forward and gave him a peck on the cheek, then suddenly felt quite embarrassed.
“Are you getting a little sweet on Sebastian?”, joked Jacob as Christina climbed up into the trap.
“Don’t be silly, I have become very fond of them both”, she snapped back.
With that Jacob gave her a sly smile.
**
Christina’s father was happy to see his daughter home, he had missed her and especially her cooking.
“Glad to have you back lass, we missed you, but you did a good thing looking after young Jane”, John said smiling at his daughter.
Christina soon got back into her routine at home. She kept wondering how Jane and Sebastian were coping and asked her father if Jacob could take her over for a visit on Sunday.
“Can I go and visit Jane and take a pie on Sunday please father?”, Christina asked.
“Of course, you can, but don’t be late back as we have the Brown’s coming for supper”, replied John.
“Yes Father, we will be back in plenty of time and I will prepare food before I leave”, answered Christina.
“Good girl”, said her father.
**
Sunday came around, and Christina had baked a meat pie to take with her.
On arrival, she had to knock at the door several times before Sebastian answered.
Christina immediately could tell he was upset.
“What is wrong Sebastian? You look terrible”, asked Christina, looking worried.
“You had both better come in”, said Sebastian as he gestured to Christina and Jacob, “Jane is very ill, the doctor has been to see her. He is calling in once a day. She got an infection in one of her burns, ” said Sebastian looking very upset.
“Why did you not come and get me?”, asked Christina anxiously.
“I could not leave my sister and I thought I could cope”, he replied.
“Jacob, I need to stay here, can you go home and explain to father please?”, said Christina, turning to her brother.
“Of course, and I will be back tomorrow,” said Jacob feeling concerned.
**
Overnight Jane got worse. Sebastian got in his horse as soon as it was daybreak to fetch the doctor.
Dr Franklin arrived two hours later.
“I am gravely concerned for Jane, I cannot get the infection under control and she has a very high temperature. Can you stay with her Christina?”, he asked.
“Of course, I will doctor, I will not leave her side”, replied Christina.
Sebastian walked the doctor to the door.
Both men were worried.
“It’s a matter of wait and see, I cannot do any more for your sister, I am sorry. I will be back tomorrow”, advised Dr Franklin, shaking Sebastian’s hand as he left.
“I will make you some tea”, Sebastian said as he walked back into the room.
Christina nodded.
Jane was sleeping peacefully, and Christina gently sponged her pale little face.
**
The night was long, and Jane was restless. She still had a fever and Christina and Sebastian took turns sitting with her.
Doctor Franklin came back the next morning.
“I am afraid she is no better son, I fear she is getting worse, we just have to pray”, he said gravely.
Christina could see the stress was taking its toll on Sebastian. He was unable to do farm chores but thankfully a couple of farm hands from the next farm came over to make sure the animals were ok, and they had feed.
Jacob came with food in the afternoon, he too was worried as he could see Jane was very ill.
He took Christina outside and gave her a hug.
“You are doing everything you possibly can, it is in God’s hands now. You must be brave”, Jacob said, trying to comfort his sister.
Sebastian thanked Jacob for the food but neither he or Christina felt like eating so they just had a cup of soup each.
Christina told Sebastian to go and have some rest for a couple of hours then they could change places.
After awhile Sebastian came in and told Christina to rest.
Christina had only been asleep for about twenty minutes and she heard Sebastian screaming.
She jumped up and ran into Jane’s room.
Sebastian was cradling her head in his arms.
Christina gasped.
“She has gone, she has gone, oh god why, why?” he called out.
Gently Christina encouraged Sebastian to lay her back down, as he slumped in a chair sobbing.
“Jane was all I had, I was supposed to look after her”, Sebastian said with tears streaming down his face.
“You did look after her, none of what happened is your fault”, Christina said trying to comfort him.
Sebastian looked up at Christina, “There is nothing more you can do now, perhaps you should go back home”.
Christina felt Sebastian was too upset to talk about things so decided to borrow the trap from the farm and head home.
“I will be back tomorrow with Jacob to see what we can do to help”, she said, touching Sebastian’s arm gently.
Sebastian barely acknowledged Christina, his grief was so deep he could barely talk.
**
The next morning Christina was up early and did some baking. As soon as Jacob had finished his farm chores they set off to see Sebastian.
When they arrived, he was sitting at the dining table, his head buried in his hands. He had a cold cup of tea in front of him and he looked like he had been sitting there for hours.
Sebastian looked up at them and said the undertaker had been and a funeral had been arranged in two days’ time.
“We are here for you, we will do all we can to help you”, Jacob said, feeling sad for his friend.
The day of the funeral came and there were around twenty people from the village present.
Jane was buried alongside her parents.
Christina, Jacob and John stood beside Sebastian to support him. After the service, John invited people back to his home to have some refreshments and support Sebastian.
Sebastian said he would rather just go home but Christina encouraged him to come as people wanted to pay their respects to Jane.
As the weeks went by Christina and Jacob went over to visit Sebastian regularly. He was not doing well, he was missing his sister and had lost interest in the farm.
Both Christina and Jacob were concerned for their friend. They invited him home for dinner, but he always politely declined.
**
One cold we morning there was a knock at the farm door. Jacob answered it as he was on his way out to do some chores.
Christina heard Jacob invite the person in.
“Hello Christina, said Sebastian, I am here to say goodbye to you all. I have put a manager in to look after my farm for awhile and I am heading to London to stay with some relatives”, he announced as he took off his hat.
“Oh, well I hope this will help give you the time you need, and you will benefit from the trip”, Christina replied with a smile.
“I hope so too and thank you to you all for all the support you have given me over the past months, I will always treasure your kindness”, he said as he made his way to the door.
Sebastian shook Jacobs’ hand and gave Christina a small peck on the cheek, to which she blushed.
Christina felt a tinge of sadness as she saw Sebastian ride off, she wondered when or if she would ever see him again.
**
After Sebastian left life was not quite the same, Christina had got used to visiting him and he had become a close friend to both her and Jacob.
It was almost a year later when Christina and Jacob were in the village getting provisions Jacob pointed out he thought he saw Sebastian in the distance.
“Yes, I believe it is him, he looks very smart and he has a lady on his arm,” Christina replied awkwardly.
Jacob waved out and caught Sebastian’s attention.
“Hello”, called out Sebastian as he walked over, “I was going to call at your house tomorrow, I am back for a few days to sell my property,” he said smiling at them, “Oh, pardon me for being rude, this is my fiancée Phoebe Dwight. We are to be married in the autumn. Phoebe is the daughter of my Aunt and Uncle’s best friends in London, I have known her for years”.
“Oh, congratulations!”, said Christina suddenly feeling very flustered.
Jacob nodded and shook Sebastian’s hand.
They then parted ways.
Jacob looked at his sister. He knew she liked Sebastian and had always hoped one day they might be together.
The ride home in the buggy was tense and Jacob could see his sister was upset but decided not to discuss it with her anymore.
When they arrived home, she rushed past her father and ran upstairs.
Jacob explained to his father what had happened.
John liked Sebastian and he too had hoped that he and Christina might end up together one day.
Two days later there was a knock at the door and it was Sebastian on his own.
“I just thought I would drop by and let you know my farm is now for sale”, he said.
Christina decided to stay in her room and not come down and see him.
Sebastian looked around to see if Christina was in the kitchen.
“If you are looking for Christina, she is not home but I can pass on a message”, said Jacob, wanting to protect his sister from more hurt.
“Oh. Just tell her I will always remember her kindness and if either of you ever come to London you must look me up, here is my address”, he said handing Jacob a piece of paper.
As he was leaving he said he hoped they would all attend his wedding.
Jacob went upstairs and knocked gently on his sister’s bedroom door, he could see she had been crying. He passed on Sebastian’s message and gave his sister a big hug.
It was only then that Christina truly realised she had feelings for Sebastian.
**
The wedding invitation arrived, and the family were in two minds as to if they would go to London for it.
“I really don’t want to go”, Christina told her father.
“I know, but its an excuse to go to London and you might like to buy some new clothes and something special to wear to the wedding”, he said trying to cheer up his daughter.
With very mixed feelings Christina agreed to go to London with her father and brother, although she was dreading the wedding.
It had been some time since the family had been away from their farm and the break would do them good John insisted.
They stayed in a small hotel in near Bayswater which was a pretty area close to Hyde Park.
John took his children shopping to buy new clothes for the wedding. Jacob chose a dark blue suit and new black boots, and Christina chose a beautiful red dress which was laced up at the back.
The day of the wedding arrived. It was sunny, and soft autumn leaves made a pretty carpet of leaves near the church entrance
Christina, her father John and Jacob made their way into the church. It had been some time since the family had been in a church as big as St Augustus and it felt special.
The wedding was lovely, and Phoebe made a beautiful bride Christina thought. Sebastian looked handsome and seemed happy.
The reception was held in the grounds of Sebastian’s Aunt and Uncle’s property. They had a large stately home and grounds to match.
Sebastian came over after the formalities and had a chat with the family. Christina found it hard to look directly at him. She was hurting but was happy that he appeared happy.
The after function went on into the evening and Christina danced with her brother and Sebastian’s cousin Clive, who was best man.
He was not unlike Sebastian to look at but had lighter hair colour.
As he danced with Christina he told her that Sebastian had told him all about her and Jacob and how they had supported him at the time of Janes’s death.
Christina felt embarrassed and Clive sensed it.
“What’s wrong Christina you seem upset?”, he asked.
“No not at all, I am happy if Sebastian is happy”, she said trying to push herself away from him, she didn’t want a stranger to see she was so upset.
Later, in the evening Sebastian came over to Christina and asked her to dance.
“I don’t think its appropriate, you are now a married man”, she said curtly.
“Nonsense you and Jacob are my friends, of course, its appropriate”, he said as he whisked her up to the floor.
“Now what’s this I hear you are upset for some reason, my cousin told me,” asked Sebastian, looking at her quizzingly.
“What nonsense, I do not know what he is talking about”, Christina replied looking at Sebastian directly in the face.
“I’m sorry if I somehow hurt or offended you, Christina, that was the last thing I would want to do”, he said looking down at Christina intently.
Christina was unable to hold a tear back and Sebastian gently wiped it from her face. Suddenly it all seemed to make sense to Sebastian.
“I had no idea you cared for me, I thought you saw me as a brother figure. I am truly sorry if I have hurt you”, he whispered.
With that Christina rushed away leaving Sebastian standing in the middle of the dance floor. Jacob saw what was happening and quickly came to her aid.
A short time later, after Christina had composed herself, the family made their leave.
Christine felt embarrassed and upset, she just wanted to get back to the farm.
On the trip home, Christina didn’t talk. Her father and Jacob decided it was best to leave her alone as they knew she was upset.
**
After months of keeping to herself, Christina decided she needed to busy herself and her thoughts and so asked Jacob to take her into the village more regularly, where she began to meet new people.
On one outing while Christina and Jacob were having a social drink with some friends at the pub, Sebastian walked in catching Christina completely by surprise.
As she watched him walking over she tried to get up to leave. But Jacob encouraged her to sit down.
“Hello Christina, hello Jacob”, said Sebastian as he approached the group.
Christina thought he looked downcast but didn’t want to pry.
“May I speak to you both please, I was going to come over and see you in the morning”, he asked.
Christina and Jacob excused themselves from their friends and sat down with Sebastian at another table.
“I am moving back to the village as soon as I can buy a property. Phoebe died recently due to complications in pregnancy, I need to come home and start again”, he said announced sadly.
Christina let out a gasp, “Oh, I am so terribly sorry”, she said touching Sebastian on the arm.
It was hard for her to hold back and not give him a hug.
“You must come home and stay with us until you find a place, father would be happy to have you”, Jacob said, extending a hand of friendship.
“I don’t want to impose, I can help around your farm. Lambing time will be coming up and I can help”, replied Sebastian.
“Of course you can help”, Jacob answered, patting his friend on the shoulder.
**
John welcomed Sebastian into his house, he had always liked the young man and was happy to have a bit of extra help.
Christina gradually began to feel more comfortable having Sebastian around. Both she and Jacob helped Sebastian look for a new property in the summer. After a long search he found a small farm twenty miles away from their property. It was pretty and had previously been owned by an elderly couple who could no longer put the upkeep into it. There were well-established gardens, fruit trees, and the little cottage was pretty and quaint.
Christina told Sebastian she would gladly help him freshen it up.
Sebastian was glad of her help, “Once again you are helping me, Christina, I owe you such a lot”, he said smiling at her.
“I am happy to be useful”, she replied, smiling back at him.
**
Over the next few months, Christina and Jacob spent a lot of free time helping Sebastian settle back into his new farm and back into the district.
On one of their visits, when Christina arrived at the house with a lovely fruit cake, Sebastian took her by the hand and gently said, “You have always been there for me Christina. I do care about you very much, I always have but I didn’t think you saw me that way”.
“Oh Sebastian,” Christina said almost crying, “I have always cared for you, and I thought you saw me as a cousin or sister”, she said looking sad.
“How silly we have both been. Now I want to take the time to give you the attention you deserve”, he said reaching for her other hand.
‘Well, it’s about time you two”, laughed Jacob as he made his way in the door.
They all laughed.
**
Six months later Christina and Sebastian married. They just had a small wedding without any fuss. In respect of Phoebe, they just wanted it to be small and intimate.
Both Christina and Sebastian knew life together would be good and the new farm would be an exciting challenge for them both.
This is the first story I have written since the passing of my darling husband Edward and I would like to dedicate it to him.
By Kay Rayner
Writer and film producer.
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