Twelfth Night (11 page)

“I understand. I do think you ought to return
to your sister’s house now,” he said. Glancing toward the desk by
the entrance, he added, “I can see by her frequent looks in our
direction that the librarian would like to close up shop and go
home.”

“I can’t go to Luce’s house. I don’t want to
see a lot of people. Not tonight, not until I’ve had time to get
used to what has happened.”

“I rather think all the mourners will have
left by now. Lucinda was extremely concerned about your state of
mind. It would reassure her if you were to stop by for a little
while. I don’t mean to interfere, but it seems to me your sister
loves you very much.”

“I know. I love her, too, in spite of our
occasional misunderstandings. I said some nasty things to her
earlier today. I ought to apologize. All right.” Aline unclasped
her hands and stood up. “Since you are wearing the gloves, would
you mind packing the book into the box?”

“A favor for a favor,” he said, smiling a
little. “May I drive to Lucinda’s house with you? I came to the
library in a taxi, and I fear I would have a difficult time finding
another on such a night.”

“Certainly. I think I owe you that much.”
Aline stopped, reminded of the light-hearted bargaining she had
once done with a certain Norman baron. She said nothing more while
Phillip Mallory took care of the Book of Hours with a skill that
made her believe he was not unfamiliar with rare or ancient
books.

They emerged from the library into a heavy
snowfall. From somewhere in the direction of the college
dormitories came the sound of recorded Christmas carols.

“It’s the night before Christmas Eve,” Aline
said, still trying to reorient herself in the twenty-first century.
“So much has happened, yet it’s still only the twenty-third day of
December.”

“So it is. I expect this has seemed like a
never-ending day to you.” Phillip Mallory took her arm to guide her
down the icy library steps and along the unshoveled walk to where
her car was parked under a streetlamp. “It can scarcely be a joyous
and carefree holiday for you this year. Still, no how sad one may
be, each Christmas brings its own blessings. You only have to look
for them.”

“There was a time long ago,” she said,
clinging to his strong arm when she slipped on a patch of ice, “a
time when Christmas lasted for twelve days and twelve nights.”

“There are places where it still does.” She
could tell by his voice that he was smiling again. “Remember,
Aline, when Twelfth Night is over and gone, there will still be a
bright and hopeful new year ahead for you. Now, give me your car
keys.”

“Why?”

“Because I am going to open the door for
you.”

The smile was still in his voice, along with
a teasing note. Aline found herself smiling in response to it.

“It’s this key.” She handed him her key ring.
When he took it, his fingers closed around hers.

They stood there, beneath the streetlamp,
with the snow falling softly upon them, looking into each other’s
eyes. And in the distance, the recorded music began to play “The
Twelve Days of Christmas.”

* * *