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‘If you need evergreens, ask Matthew’ Alex was on his feet, his face stony ‘I don’t iine for a moment that the staff want me down there, they’ll have anise carol singers then don’t expect ’

‘Then, that will be your loss I will go and speak to Mr Teether, Tess, she scolded as she picked up her candle and left,not to sniff until she was outside the door You knew he only tolerated your interference to be kind Lady Moreland had been enthusiastic about the idea of evergreens and this was her house She set out to look for Matthew

Chapter Eighteen

Alex arrived five minutes late at the dinner table in a mood that more than matched his father’s

‘You are late,’ the earl snapped

Alex inclined his head to his father and sies, Mama, ladies’ He took his seat and slapped his best aled sexual frustration, irritation, awareness that he had blundered with Tess and the necessity to write a reah to both kill his appetite and leave hi for the brandy bottle

Tess spared hilance and a smile, then turned back to Matthehom she was apparently deep in discussion about holly

‘I gather we’re to have a traditional Christarded Tess from under lowered brows and, as she answered, Alex braced himself to come to her rescue

‘Only if it will not disturb you, Lord Moreland’

‘Not at all, my dear’

My dear? What had coeon? It appeared he approved of Tess

‘The best berry-bearing holly are those trees along the west boundary of Tom’s Covert,’ his father said to Matthew ‘You should find so in that area—three oaks went down in the big storm last year’ He stared down the table at Alex ‘What are you snorting about?’

‘Was I? I as, Father?’

‘If Miss Ellery wants a proper traditional country Christather she’s not seen one in all that tis properly over there Foreigners’