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‘No, my lord At least, there will be carols downstairs But no handbells, I pros’

‘And are any other roo? Just a little, perhaps

‘No, my lord Just the hallway and below stairs’

‘I think I could tolerate a sprig or two of holly in the study And fix that wreath back on the front door, MacDonald We don’t want the neighbours to think we are lacking in Christmas spirit, noe?’ Yes, there is a definite twitch Almost a smile ‘You, Mrs Ellery, are a very bad influence on aze flickered up to the mistletoe immediately over her head ‘And on me,’ he added softly

Tess took three very deliberate steps backwards ‘Shall I have tea brought up, my lord?’

‘Tea? No, brandy to the study, MacDonald Is my post there?’

‘Yes, my lord’ The footman doubled away; Alex vanished into the study

Tess looked round at her re helpers ‘We are al holly, the pieces with lots of berries, and I’ll arrange it in a vase for the study Dorcas, if you could tidy up and, Phipps, you remove the stepladder—’ FroThen silence ‘What was that?’

‘Sounded like the silver salver, Mrs Ellery’ Phipps hesitated, his aro and see?’

‘No, it is all right, carry on tidying up, I’ll go’

One of the few advantages of the Christmas season was a definite reduction in the amount of correspondence, Alex mused as he hitched one hip on to the corner of the desk and spun the salver round to pick up the bundle of post that had arrived since Bland had left after lunch

He began to shuffle though the pile Invitation, bill, bill, circular, tickets from the Opera House, letter from Rivers, a journal And a letter on thick cream paper with a heavy seal He turned it in his hands, saw the iainst a stylised cloud Tempest

For a moment he was tempted to toss it onto the fire unopened Alex looked down at it in his hand His shaking hand Coward With an effort of will he stilled the tremor then broke the seal