Thomas Silkstone Mystery) Chapter 40 For the first time in six years Lady Lydia Farrell was enjoying Christmas Day. Richard was with her and his excitement was infectious. She had risen early and when he opened his eyes she had been there to wish him joy. Kissing him on the forehead, she had felt herself surely the most fortunate woman in the world. To think that last Christmas she could only have the vaguest of hopes that he might still be alive, let alone be able to hold him and hear him call her “Mamma.” After breakfast they attended a service at St. Swithin’s. The new vicar, the Reverend Unsworth, had given a passable sermon, even though Richard was not the only one who found it on the dull side. Sir Theodisius, newly back from his London sojourn, had joined them in their pew, together with Lady Pettigrew. The coroner had proceeded, in a most irreverent way, to distract Richard with tricks he learned during his days in the Royal Navy using lengths of string. Afterward, Sir Theodisius and his wife accompanied Lydia and Richard back to Boughton Hall to enjoy the festivities.
