A Princess for Christmas Page #4

Fingers either side.

And breathe.

Look at the target.

Which is clearer?

- The right.

- Then your right eye's dominant.

Had my share of black eyes

when I was your age.

Tricky business. Fighting.

Finally gave it up.

How come?

Couldn't take a punch?

On the contrary. No matter how many fights

I won, I still felt like a loser.

Now load your arrow.

One fluid motion.

And when you let go,

let the anger go with it.

- Cool!

- Again?

- Good morning, Your Grace.

- Good morning, Paisley.

There's nothing like

decorating the Christmas tree

to get you into

the holiday spirit, is there?

- Paisley, how many days till Christmas?

- Five, sir.

Five... It'll be a bit tight,

but we can do it.

We must get the invitations

out immediately.

- Invitations, sir?

- Yes, to the ball.

We're having a ball?

Yes, the Christmas Eve Ball.

I just made up my mind.

We must hire an orchestra.

You must tell Ashton to invite all his friends.

- Are you all right, sir?

- Never better.

- How are the children?

- Splendid, sir!

Ashton's giving Milo

an archery lesson,

and Miss Maddie and Miss Jules are currently

scouting the castle for Dolly Dinckle's head.

I'm so sorry, I could have sworn

I attached the head firmly.

- Yours?

- Thanks.

Look!

My! This is a tragedy!

Don't suppose you want a new one?

Then I shall get my best people on it.

They will not stop until this head is found.

Come on, Maddie,

let's go have a tea party.

I saw you and Milo

on the lawn earlier.

It's really nice of you

to spend time with him.

I hope he didn't

give you too much grief.

Actually, the lesson

went quite well.

- And you're next.

- I'm not very good at weaponry.

How about waltzing? I just got word

that father's throwing a Christmas Eve ball.

- He is?

- Yes.

Someone seems to

have turned him around.

Shall we?

- You're too stiff.

- I could say the same thing about you.

I meant your arm.

- How's it supposed to be?

- Responsive.

Much better.

Now, you need to count.

One, two, three.

One, two, three.

Sorry, I'm just not

very musical.

That's all right, I am.

Violin lessons from age five.

- You play the violin?

- Yes.

- Now, please, try to focus.

- I just find it interesting is all.

I find it interesting you eat hot wings

and know the works of Christopher Landry.

Children, I have been thinking,

that as you're both Huntingtons,

it's my duty to expand

your cultural education.

Can't you be off-duty for the holiday?

You have the choice of language,

literature, music, dance or art.

I picked ballet.

- What did you pick?

- Electric guitar.

- This is impossible.

- Come on, loosen up.

- I'm not really the funky type.

- Don't worry, because I am.

Jam-nastic lessons of the YMCA.

Come on! I know you're a prince,

but I think you've got some dance training somewhere.

Terribly sorry to interrupt

your little... ghetto dance,

but we had...

- Lunch... with your parents!

Excuse us.

- I'm sorry. Really, I am.

- I forgive you. This time.

You've had quite

a lot of distractions.

You know, Ashton,

I think it's wonderful,

what you're trying to do

with these children. I really do.

They seem to be enjoying

themselves, don't they?

Yes, but their lives are in Buffalo

and they'll be going home soon.

Of course, you'll see them occasionally...

on holidays and graduations.

But one has to be realistic,

they're not like us.

It's not fair for you

to try and change them.

Change them?

I'm terribly sorry to

interrupt, sir,

but we're in a trifle ponder

over the canapes for the ball.

- Fire away. - Chef can't decide between

shrimp quiche and salmon mousse.

I prefer the salmon. But of course,

caviar would be so much better.

Salmon, then?

Or neither?

Perhaps I should come back later.

Speaking of tomorrow night,

I bought the most splendid dress for the ball.

Here, walk me to my car.

- Miss Jules said it was beige.

- This must be it.

- Not much of a ball gown.

- Maybe a good pressing will help.

- How's the guest list coming along?

- Fine. Practically everyone's accepted.

Good.

Aren't you supposed to be at lunch

with Arabella and her parents?

I botched the time.

We're going to reschedule.

That's rather irresponsible.

They're a very fine family,

de Belmont. So we don't want

to run around insulting them, do we?

Be a mistake.

- No, father.

I assure you,

it wasn't intentional.

Everything's fine

then, isn't it?

I hear you've been spending

some time with Jules.

Yes. I've been teaching her

to waltz, for the ball.

Do we have to invite her?

Let me guess, you don't want her there

because she has no title.

Or fortune, for that matter.

But apart from that, she is obscenely crass.

I don't suppose we can

uninvite her?

No. Let's just hope she's not

an embarrassment, that's all.

Hello.

That clock hasn't worked in years.

The suspension just had a whack.

It should work fine now.

You're amazing!

I gotta go make Christmas cookies,

I promised the kids.

Quite nice!

- Miss Jules made them.

- Lovely girl.

- I wonder what made him start playing again?

- You mean who.

- What is it, Floyd?

- Sorry for the intrusion, sir.

But I found it!

I believe you've been looking for this.

Thanks, Maddie will be thrilled.

- Are you all right?

- Got something in my eye.

- I'm fine.

- Of course.

- Was there anything else?

- Yes.

I've been wanting to ask.

It appears to be a quandary

about the canapes.

- What is it?

- Shrimp quiche or salmon mousse.

- Which do you like?

- Shrimp quiche.

There you go then.

- Do you like shrimp?

- Very much.

Quandary solved, then.

Goodnight.

Charles was the best,

you know. Your father.

Much better than

I could ever have been.

- Why do you keep his room locked?

- I suppose...

It hurt too much to remember.

But this is all that's left

of my father.

That's what keeps him alive.

Why don't you want to remember?

Every day I wake up,

and I try not to forget, but...

His face just keeps slipping

further and further away.

And pretty soon, if I don't keep trying,

there'll be nothing left.

That's not true.

The love he had for you

will always be here.

You know,

you're a lot like him.

- Really?

- Charles was wonderful.

Milo, I'm so grateful that you, Maddie

and Jules have come for Christmas.

It's lifted everyone's spirits.

I hope you know that.

How about we leave this door

open from now on?

Come on, it's late and

you've got a big day tomorrow.

I'm coming.

- I'm sorry, did I wake you?

- Is everything all right?

- No. There's been a slight incident.

- Incident?

I'm so sorry, Miss, I didn't

realize the iron was so hot.

It's okay, Abigail, it's okay.

What are you blubbering about?

Miss Daly is the one with nothing

to wear to the ball tonight.

What's that burning?

- Oh, I say, that's a big one!

- Thank you, Paisley, for your keen observation.

What are we to do? All the village

dress shops are closed for Christmas!

We'll have to repair it,

as best we can.

- Maybe this is a sign.

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