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‘It ether,’ she ventured

‘I don’t want bringing together’ There was silence ‘I suppose you are going to be disappointed’

‘Yes’ She was not letting hile out of this

‘Very well I’ll talk to Mama In fact, we’ll both talk to her I’ll explain that you were organising it for me because Hannah was sick’

He did not seem to be in any hurry to move ‘Alex?’

‘Wriggle like that again’ His huff of laughter tickled her ear, his good humour apparently resorted ‘Come on, then, let’s find Mama’

Lady Moreland was in her sitting room with her household accounts spread out before her ‘Alexander, can you explain e appear to be consu three times more wax candles than this time last year?’

‘No idea, I’ht my household staff with me as you know I had promised them the whole of Christmas Day off for their own celebrations, now I find myself in a difficulty because we are here’

‘The entire day? You are very generous, Alexander’

‘I normally just have a cold meal that day Miss Ellery and Mrs White profess the to make do, as well’

‘We wondered,’ Tess ventured, ‘if perhaps a hot luncheon would be sufficient for above stairs, with a cold buffet laid out for the evening All of the downstairs staff could then celebrate together’

‘We could forgo dressing for dinner, just this once, Ma doesn’t seeant, once a year’

‘Unless that would be too disruptive for Lord Moreland?’ Tess said, suddenly wondering how that sickly and irritable despot would take to the idea

‘If Alexander can persuade his father, then I have no objection To tell you the truth, a quiet Christ just now’