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‘Christmas presents,’ she said She flipped open her notebook, produced a pencil and stared at hi dictation

‘Whose Christmas presents?’

‘For the staff The men, of course, Dorcas and little Daisy And Annie I think Annie should stay for a few nights, I don’t like to think of her having to go back to that lonely lodging house’

‘Who the blazes is Annie? The scullery maid? No, don’t answer that Do what you want about staff ive them all money on St Stephen’s Day’

‘Of course you do and I aenerous But Christmas presents are special, don’t you think? Personal’

Alex considered a range of things he could say and decided it was probably safer not to utter any of theive you some money and you can buy them’

‘I think the staff would really appreciate it if you chose the and could only ade as she continued to smile ‘It is more in the Christmas spirit, don’t you think?’

‘Tess, you know perfectly hat I think about Christ Ridiculous sentimentality’ Anyone else would have backed down in the face of that tone and his glare All the men he knew certainly would have done They obviously raised them with backbones of steel in convents

‘But I know you value your staff,’ she said in a voice of sweet reason ‘We could go out this afternoon unless you are very busy’ By not so much as a flicker did her eyes ues, cru ‘It isn’t raining And I have a list’

‘I’ll wager you have’ Alex got to his feet ‘I surrender Wrap up ware sent around’

Half an hour later when hea smart loves on How pretty she is with the bruise gone and that bonnet fra her face ‘Where is Dorcas?’ he snapped

‘Daisy was fretful and Dorcas has a lot of work on her hands he petticoats for me and it would only distract Annie from her work if she has to watch the baby, as well We don’t really need Dorcas, do we?’

The innocent question, the questioning tilt of her head to one side, got to hioing to happen ‘Not if you feel coe with me’ Alex kept his voice neutral, but she still turned a delicate shade of pink

‘Of course I do We discussedthat I thought we had forgotten about it’

Forgotten that kiss? Forgotten that you admitted that the attraction wasn’t just one-sided? When you become prettier and happier with every day that passes? When hell freezes over Alex wasn’t going to lie to her ‘I think we are doing a very good job of pretending it doesn’t exist,’ he said drily ‘Best put that veil down in case anyone sees you Nohere to?’

‘A music publishers first, there’s one in Albeood tunes, ballads, dances MacDonald can play the violin and read music and Phipps plays the flute, but only by ear, so MacDonald’s going to teach hiot one or two pieces now’

Alex helped her out of the carriage and into the shop, his ears ringing, while Tess talked He had learned more about his footmen in ten minutes than he’d known in five years, he realised as he stood back to let her go through the door into the shop in front of him

Chapter Eleven

‘That was easy,’ Tess said fifteen ave a satisfied pat to the brown paper parcel on the carriage seat ‘Now then, tobacco jars for Perring and Hodge John Coachman says he’ll not be responsible for his actions if he has to deal with two grooer And he takes snuff, so a new box for him, don’t you think?’

Alex directed John to Robert Lewis’s tobacconist shop in St Jaest the discovery that he was actually enjoying himself Part of it, of course, was Tess’s company Her enjoyoodas infectious, and he found he had no objection at all to the ie he saw reflected in shop s of the two of theely, it was more than that