"The Mallory clan is back and this time celebrating Christmas at Haverston manor. However, not everyone is happy at the yuletide season. James Mallory has a tiff with his wife when she has heard her daughter blurting out foul language which she learned from her uncle, James' brother, Anthony after coming home one day. James's ire extends to Anthony, who is unrepentant about the misdeed. And when Rosalind, Anthony's wife, learns about it, she gets angry at Anthony too. Jason is miserable when his marriage proposal was rejected again by his long-time love and mistress, Annie. Annie, a housekeeper of the manor and mother of Jason's only son, Derek, doesn't want to cause scandal for Jason by marrying him because of her lowly society status.
The season also brings them a mysterious present, a journal from their ancestors telling the love story between Christopher Mallory and Anastasia, a traveling gypsy. The story goes back to the time of Christopher and Anastasia. One look at Anastasia and Christopher knows that he's in love. On an evening of revelry and drinking, he marries Anastasia even though it is a taboo - a noble man marrying a lower class woman. Realizing his mistake, Christopher tries to break off the marriage but Anastasia escapes before the divorce can happen. Anastasia flees to her Englishman friend who helps her to be launched in the London society. They concoct a background for her that she is a Russian princess who has been suddenly orphaned. Anastasia with her exotic beauty and mystery is a success. Every gentleman wants to seek her hand. But she refuses their proposal waiting for Christopher to hear about her and come for her. After months of futile searching, Christopher realizes that he loves Anastasia and he wants her back in his life. He is surprised to find out that she is residing in London and advertising to all men that she is still available when she is still lawfully married to him. Furious with her, he confronts her and there he realizes that he needs to be honest with his love for her to win her back. He takes her back with him to Haverston and starts a family regardless of the scandal it may create. With Anastasia's initiative they pen their story wishing it will bring hope and love for their descendants. The story moves back to the present again. When Annie reads the journal, she finally understands Jason's intentions and agrees to marry him meanwhile James makes up with Anthony and his wife, Georgina.
"
Katrina Lo, Resident Scholar
|
