Christmas Special Recap: A Princess for Christmas

Later, Ashton practices his violin.  Frau and the maid are sitting on the steps eating cookies.  WTF?  Where is that Germanic discipline?  Oh yes, it all went away when you remembered the coal.

If I were butler, I would never permit servants to sit on the steps!  Perish the thought!

Then Ashton returns Maddie’s doll’s head (don’t bother) to Julie, and we see she’s been crying.  They discuss canapes.

Meanwhile, or later, or whenever, Milo picks the lock to a room that remains sealed.  So he’s a thief and a lockpicker.  This kid has a future, all right, here:

Welcome to San Quentin.

It’s immediately apparent it’s his dad’s room.  Ashton comes in and Milo asks him why the room is sealed.  Ashton says it’s painful to remember.  Milo says he tries to remember his dad’s face every day but it keeps slipping away and soon there won’t be anything left.  Well, you could look in the mirror, because according to the Duke you look just like your dad.  Also, photos.  Anyway, Ashton spouts some drivel about love will always be there, and agrees to keep the door open.

Finally we get to Christmas Eve.  While everyone is dressing to go to the ball, Jules packs up and sneaks away.  There’s a car just sitting outside the house, and in she goes to the train station.

Panic ensues when the servants realize she’s left.  Carrying a ballgown that has just been delivered, they dash off in yet another conveniently-placed car.  Luckily, the servants persuade Jules to get back in the damned car, and then tell her they ordered the dress from Vienna.  Apparently servants get paid so much money they can just do a whip-round and order designer dresses.  I really need to look into a career change!  Jules dresses in the car.

And here are the Duke, Jules, and the kids.

Meanwhile Ashton and Lady Snot Nose are having it out.  He asks her if she would love him if he didn’t have a title, and she says she wouldn’t give him the time of day.  He then tells her they want different things, and he won’t make her happy.  She says, she doesn’t want to be happy, she wants to be a princess.

Quite.

Ashton tells Snot Nose it’s over.  Her parents come in and make a scene.  Out in the ballroom,  the dancing is starting.  Ashton comes over to Jules, who says she’s trying not to be an embarrassment, and the misunderstanding is finally cleared up.  Jules and Ashton start to dance.

Awww.

Then Ashton tells Jules she absconded with his heart.  So basically she and her nephew are just thieves.  Dickensian!  And Jules and Ashton kiss.  Snow!

Arabella’s parents confront the Duke and say Ashton is “cavorting with a strumpet”.  The Duke spits out that Jules is more of a lady than Arabella will ever be.  Arabella says Jules is clearly out for money.  Jules, who has returned with Ashton, says they don’t need money to make them happy.  The only reason she came was to give the kids a family.  Ashton says he believes her.  Someone says Jules is “all fur coat and no knickers”, and Arabella and her family leave.

Oh, like this.