Charles hugged her back, though a bit more lightly than she was embracing him. He couldn't keep a grin from his lips and took her in, making sure that she looked as healthy and happy as she sounded.
"Happy Christmas, Abigail! I've missed you as well! I'm only sorry I haven't been able to write to you more often. I had not fully anticipated how much time I would spend studying, though it's all terribly interesting so I've been enjoying it, as I mentioned," he said. He offered her his arm and gestured off towards his favourite room in the house. "Your gift is waiting in the library, I thought we could steal away some time there while everyone else arrives. I don't think we'll be missed straight away!"
It wasn't the greatest of plans, considering it was likely he would be missed rather quickly, but he didn't feel like they would get another chance to chat alone before the evening was over. He could chance his brother or sister finding them, as they wouldn't be doing anything untoward.