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‘Oh, bug—ouch, indeed’ Alex came in and closed the door behind him ‘Phipps, do you intend to kiss me under that mistletoe or to take my hat and coat?’

‘Take your hat, my lord’ Phipps threw the mistletoe to Dorcas and reached for Alex’s cane Froht red

‘And what, exactly, is this?’ Alex enquired as he shrugged out of his caped greatcoat

‘Christreens It is the twentieth after all’ Tess looked down into Alex’s upturned face and tried to read his mood Obviously arms full of prickly holly and his hallway in chaos was not how he expected to be welcomed ho you to return yet’

‘That much is obvious Why are you up a stepladder, Mrs Ellery, when there are two able-bodied males here and three more in the stables?’

Because Phipps is scared of heights and MacDonald is clumsy was the truth, but she couldn’t betray the footmen ‘A woman’s artistic touch?’ she ventured

‘I see’ Alex retrieved the now somewhat battered bunch of mistletoe from Dorcas and held it up to her, took a firular fronds in place and then said, ‘Now come down, please’

‘Yes, my lord’ Tess attempted her best meek and obedient voice

‘Did I order Christ in front of him

‘You didn’t forbid them, my lord’

‘A ers, handbell ringers and a full-size yule log in the front room either Are those to be expected?’