Hilary couldn’t have been more excited that night. Puppy helped her get her into that red velvet gown they found in the attic. Thank heavens she’d vetoed the corset. The gown itself was hard enough to climb into! They hadn’t found shoes that fit, so she wore her own red heels.
“There!” Puppy nestled the small gold plated tiara in her auburn curls. “Miss Hilary,” she breathed, “you look incredible! Like the Austrian queens from my history books. You are truly an inspiration.”
“I am, aren’t I?” She turned and straightened the white bow on Puppy’s ear. “You look rather nice yourself. That dress is very sweet on you.”
“Oh, thank you!” Puppy blushed the color of the red dress under her gold fur. It did look adorable. They even found white stockings and a white lace apron for her. “I haven’t dressed up like this since…well,” she coughed a bit, “in a long time.”
She patted the girl on her shoulder. “Why don’t you run along and have fun? It’s Christmas Eve. Troll will be along to pick me up any minute.”
“Oh, thank you, Miss Hilary!” Her doggy grin lit up the bedroom. “And merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas!” She chuckled as the girl nearly ran into the door hurrying out. She was a little dear. If anything, Pavla should have been horsewhipped for hurting that poor child, even inadvertently. She couldn’t have been more than 15 or 16, and she certainly didn’t deserve being trapped by a curse.
She remembered the last time she and Jeff went dancing before…before he went to Europe. They’d gone dancing at the newly-opened Stork Club in New York, and it was as if time stopped. Paul Whiteman played “Honeysuckle Rose” and “I’ll Always Be In Love With You.” They danced until closing, so wrapped up in each other, a janitor had to tell them it was last call.
She swirled to the music in her head, remembering that last night, how it had been with her tall, handsome, strong Jeff in her arms. She swore she even saw Scott Sherwood, brooding over a drink at a table in the back, his amber eyes half-drunk and perhaps, even a bit disappointed. He’d tried to ask Betty out that night, but she had writing to do and had turned him down cold. It was for the better, Hilary thought. Betty, and frankly, her Jeff, were too good for that scheming scoundrel of a manager.
Her mind was so far away as she hummed “Honeysuckle Rose,” she didn’t even hear the sounds of claws scraping on wood floors and carpet. She danced right into something hard that managed to be silky and slimy at the same time. “Oh, sorry about that.” Hilary tried to catch her breath. “Wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“It’s perfectly fine, Hilary.” Troll looked down at her, amusement filling those dark almond eyes. “No harm done. You look,” his own deep voice caught in his skinny throat, “so beautiful. I’ve never seen…” He coughed hard before continuing. “Well, you look fabulous like that.”
“I do, don’t I?” She nearly coughed herself when she saw what he was wearing. “Where…where did you get that?”
She’d know that tuxedo anywhere. The last time she saw it was at the Frick Mansion…and in the nightmares she and her sisters had been having since they arrived. “Where did you get that tuxedo?” The words came out in a near-whisper as her eyes roamed over his bony frame. The pants had to be belted twice. The black jacket was crusted with slime and hung all wrong on narrow shoulders. Even the shirt billowed where it should have clung. He’d actually managed to do something with his tangled mass of mouse brown curls, tying them back with a black velvet ribbon. His horns shown with fresh polish and smelled vaguely of lemons.
“That’s Jeff’s best tuxedo!” she gasped. “How did you get it?’
“I’ve had it.” He straightened the ruby cufflinks. “I bought it last year, actually. It…fit better then.”
Hilary gulped. “It’s identical to the one my hus…ex-husband wore the last time I saw him.” And in the Dreamscape, she mentally added to herself.
“Tuxedos do tend to look alike.” He offered her his needle-sharp elbow. “Shall we, Miss Booth-Bloom?”
All she could do was nod. She never remembered the walk from her room to the ballroom. He spoke of the excitement of the night, of the gift he had planned for her, but she didn’t hear a word. She was too swept up in the moment, in the memories she saw in those glittering dark eyes.
They were the last ones to arrive. Mr. Rabbit played “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” as they walked in the door. Puppy rushed up to her, beaming under that enormous snowy ribbon. “Oh, you both look wonderful! Master, that suit is gorgeous.” She showed them the tiny foods on her silver tray. “Did you want any grilled oysters or cucumber cups?”
Troll shook her head. “That’s all right, Eni…Puppy. We’ll eat later.”
“Hilary!” Betty waved at them. “You two look wonderful! Like a real prince and princess.”
“Yeah, Master look good! Hilary pretty!” Bear sported a white silk shirt and black trousers. It was more likely they couldn’t find a jacket or black tie that fit his hulking frame. Still, he certainly wasn’t unattractive, for a bear. The smile a mile wide on his snout helped, even with those sharp canines. “Bear like party. Nice song. Good food.” He gently rubbed Betty’s gloved hand. “Pretty lady. Bear with pretty Betty.”
“Thank you, Bear.” Her dark eyes locked with his amber ones as she held his paw in her gloved hand. “Why don’t we get some of those cucumber cups, then start dancing? I want to talk about our gifts for the others tomorrow.”
Bear nodded. “We eat. Then, we dance.” His snout and bristly whiskers fell. “Bear not dance good. Not dance good before…when he…” He whimpered a bit and rubbed his temple. “Well, before.”
“I’ll help you.” Betty rubbed his paw gently. “I helped you in the music room, didn’t I? I’m not the best at it, but I doubt anyone will be looking at us anyway.” She led him to Mrs. Fox, looking regal in her black velvet gown, as she handed around appetizers.
“Hi, you two! Hey, you look amazin’!” Maple almost literally dragged Eagle across the floor, her golden train trailing behind her like a sequined caboose. Eagle wore all black, black silk shirt and black trousers, though someone had managed to get a white bow tie on his fluffy feathered neck. His feathers were perfectly preened, and his wings shown in the soft light of the chandelier.
His whiskey eyes roamed over Hilary and Troll before he gave them a happy squawk and an approving nod. He’d even cleaned his talons. “He thinks ya look great, too. Come on!” She tugged his wing. “Let’s go get the snacks, before Bear eats ‘em all. You know what his appetite is like!”
Hilary chuckled as she dragged him off. “She’s something else. Poor Eagle! She’s going to yank his wing out of the socket if she keeps throwing him around like that all night.”
“I don’t think he minds that much. I haven’t seen him so much in love since…” He coughed. “Well, in a long time.” He gave her that oddly boyish, toothy grin of his as Mr. Rabbit started playing “The First Noel” and bowed low for her. “Would the fairest queen in all of Pittsburgh mind dancing with a lowly troll such as I?”
Hilary curtsied for him. “I see no troll, good sir. I see a gracious prince.”
She hadn’t danced so much since that last trip with Jeff. They whirled to every Christmas carol Miss Organ knew, and probably a few Mr. Rabbit and Maple had looked up for the night. They talked about their Christmas Carol performance earlier in the day. They talked about the differences between acting for the stage and acting on radio. Hilary was fully against it. She wanted to be seen by a live audience. Troll said live audiences were all well and fine, but on radio, you could play more roles in an hour than any stage or film actor played in their entire lifetime, and you weren’t limited to what people expected you to play either.
Even as she leaned her head on his narrow shoulder during “The First Noel,” her eyes roamed to her sisters. Betty’s head was pillowed on Bear’s broad silk-decked shoulder, her eyes closed. They were barely moving, which was probably a good thing. Bear had spent most of the night stepping on her toes. Maple was enveloped in Eagle’s wings, which closed around her as they whirled around the dance floor.
“You know,” she began, “I never thanked you for letting my sisters stay. I’ve never seen either of them as happy as they are here. Betty’s not permanently attached to her typewriter anymore. And Maple…well, all she can talk about is flying and what’s going on in Europe. At least your friend gave her something to do.”
“I’ve never seen Eagle and Bear this happy, either. Not even…” He coughed. “Well, I’m glad I changed my mind about them being here. Bear is devoted to Betty. He lights up when she comes into the room. He goes out of his way to be with her. Sco…” He coughed again, “ let’s say he’s always been crazy about her. And Maple being able to drag Eagle outside to do something other than feed his beak is nothing short of a miracle.”
“This has been one of the loveliest Christmas Eves I’ve had in years.” She wrapped her arms around Troll, leaning into his crusty white shirt. “It’s been so long since I’ve been to any kind of a party, let alone one like this. Especially in the arms of a wonderful man.”
Troll’s almond eyes widened. “You think I’m a wonderful man?”
She turned nearly as red as her heavy velvet gown. “I…well, yes. I mean, you have the worst temper I have ever seen, but you’re so good to those roses. You nurture them like they’re children. And you have been better about helping around here and encouraging Bear to solve those codes for the past few weeks. It’s like…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “It’s like you’re someone I know, or knew. Someone I thought I lost. But…”
Troll gently lifted her chin to gaze into her own dark eyes. “Hilary, it’s more than that. I’m closer than you think. Hilary, would you marry me? I have a gift for you. Something very, very special, too big to wrap under the tree. It’s…”
“Hey Hilary!” Maple shook Hilary’s arm. “We’re gonna sing carols together. You guys wanna join us?”
Hilary hoped they couldn’t hear how hard her heart was beating. It seemed to be hammering right out of her chest! “We’ll be there in a minute, Maple!” She flashed Troll a flirtatious grin. “Hold that thought?”
He gently took her hand. “I can wait tonight for your answer, but not much longer. I need to know by New Year’s Eve.”
“Yes, well, why don’t we just join the others?” She took his hand and tugged him over to Maple and Bear at the grand piano.
The piano had been polished until it gleamed the day before. It was a little out of tune, but Maple could play just about anything. She was surprised at how well Bear managed to do, even with his claws. They started with “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” Maple’s luminous soprano somehow melding with Bear’s deep, gravely growls. Betty leaned over them, her hands gently resting on their shoulders as she added her gentler soprano.
Hilary would have given anything for her whole family to have been there. She could almost hear Father’s own lusty baritone. He was actually quite a singer. Used to have an act with her mother around the turn of the century, before they had children and opted to settle down. Puppy’s sweet little soprano would have worked nicely with C.J’s tenor, if one could actually get him to sing at all. C.J always said he preferred to be behind the scenes. He’d probably be more interested in figuring out how the rigging on the chandelier worked.
They’d just started “Silent Night” when Mrs. Fox tapped her on the shoulder with her paw. “Hilary, there’s a phone call for you. It’s your brother.”
“I’ll get him.” Hilary nodded, rubbing Troll’s shoulder. “We were going to call them later tonight or tomorrow anyway.” She gave him a kiss on his warty cheek before heading into the hallway.
Mr. Cat was there with the phone. “It’s your brother, Miss Hilary. Said it was urgent and I was to get you right away.”
Hilary nodded. “Thank you. Hi, C.J. Merry Christmas!”
Her brother’s gentle voice sounded anything but merry. “Hilary…it’s Dad. He’s sick. He’s coughing, and he has a fever and a raspy sound when he breathes. We’ve had the doctor here, and he prescribed medicine, but I’m worried. He’s…he’s not good, that’s for sure, and I don’t really know what to do for him.”
She nodded, her face tightening. “You want us to come home? It might be best. It sounds like he needs more nursing than you can give. Not to mention, I know what the Nixon’s schedule is like at this time of year. You have your job to do.”
“Hilary,” C.J started, “you don’t have to. What will your friend the monster say?”
“He’s not a monster!” Hilary’s protests came out more violently than she’d planned. “He’s…I think he’s…well, he’s not what he looks like. I’ll explain it when I’m home. I don’t know how we’ll get a cab on Christmas Eve, but we’ll manage.”
“Hilary,” C.J protested, “you don’t have to do this…”
“Nonsense! You two need us. We’ll help with Dad, then come back here in a few days.” She narrowed her eyes. “Besides, I want to talk to Pablum at the Nixon. I think she has everything to do with what happened to these people. What she did to poor Bear alone would probably have her locked up for observation in ten states.”
C.J sighed. “Hilary…”
“My mind is made up. Tell Dad we’ll be home by midnight.” She put the phone down and handed it to the kindly old white feline in the rumpled tuxedo. “Mr. Cat, would you be so kind as to call a taxi for my sisters and me? We need to go home for a few days. Our father is very sick, and he needs us.”
Mr. Cat wisely nodded. “You need only ask.”
“I’m asking.”
She hurried back to the ballroom as soon as Mr. Cat got on the phone. They’d just wrapped up “Away In a Manger” and were discussing opening gifts early. “Troll,” she said, “I’m sorry, but the ladies and I must take our leave. We have to go home. Dad is very, very sick. It might be pneumonia."
“What?” Betty’s eyes widened. “Is he ok? What about C.J?”
“Dad’s sick?” Maple frowned. “I hate to break this up. I’m really havin’ fun. But…”
“But Dad needs us.” She turned to Troll. “We’ll be back before New Year’s, just as long as it takes to get Dad back on his feet.”
Troll’s almond eyes were unreadable, but he clenched his jaw. “You do what you think is right. We won’t be here when you come back.”
“Don’t be silly! It’ll only be a few days!”
“We won’t be here.” Troll glared at the others. “The party is over. Mrs. Fox, you and Eagle clean up this mess. Puppy, help the women pack. Mr. Rabbit, move Miss Organ back to the music room. Bear, take the food in the kitchen. Now.”
No one moved. It was Bear who broke the spell after what felt like an eternity, but was really a minute or two. He broke into sobs and dashed upstairs, rushing back into the ballroom with what looked like a box in his arm. “Betty,” he sniffled, “take this. Bear write it. Write it when you working in room. Not good writing. But good story. Bear make it himself. For Betty. He knows…Betty come back.”
“Of course I will!” She hugged him. “Thank you! This is so sweet of you. I’ll read it when we get home.”
Eagle just leaned into Maple. “Yeah, Prince Charmin’.” She rubbed his back. “I’ve got somethin’ for you, too. Ordered ya some real dancin’ records from the Sears Robebuck catalog. I’ll give ‘em to you on the way out. You can listen to ‘em and practice our dance for New Year’s Eve.” He squawked softly and rubbed her back, his own whiskey eyes flooding with hope.
“Are you sure you have to go?” Puppy choked back her own sobs. “Can’t you stay for Christmas?”
“Oh sweetie, we’ll be back!” Betty hugged her. “And when I get back, I’ll read that story you’ve been working on, ok?”
The little gold dog gulped, her blue eyes wide and sorrowful. “All right, Miss Betty. I’ll continue to refine it until your return.”
“You don’t need to do this.” Troll grabbed Hilary’s arm. “You could bring your father here. I could call all the doctors in the universe.”
“He doesn’t need all the doctors in the universe! He needs us!” She yanked her arm away. “We will be back. We’re not going to be gone forever. The girls would never forgive me.”
“Of course Betty come back!” Bear growled. “Betty not leave Bear! Not forever!”
Troll glared at him. “Go to the kitchen and do as you’re told. Clean up this mess.”
“No!” Bear’s furious growl rattled the chandelier. “Bear go to library! He has stories to write. Bear not go to the kitchen! Not anymore!” He gave Betty a fierce, engulfing bear hug. She leaned into it, rubbing his back as he growled softly into her ear.
Troll glared around the room. “Is anyone else going to argue with me?”
Hilary narrowed her eyes. “I’m starting to wonder why I ever considered your proposal. You really are a monster, and no marriage will ever change that. I wouldn’t take a gift you gave me if it was the size of the Frick Mansion. Come, ladies. Let’s go home. Our family needs us.” Betty reluctantly followed her. Maple gave Eagle one last hug before going after them. She ignored the sounds of a Troll’s furious roar, a Bear’s heartbroken growls, and an eagle’s confused and frustrated squawks as the sobbing Puppy followed them to their rooms.
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