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‘Yes, ma’am Thank you, ill be well entertained, I am sure’

Dorcas went upstairs to play with Daisy, releasing Annie to join the other staff, and Tess curled up in theseat overlooking the drive and waited

My heart deht What did that mean? If he loved her, then he would have said so, surely? Please do not loveclose to theso that her breath fogged the cold glass and she had to rub at it with her hand in case it obscured the first glie It would be unbearable to leave hier son and willing to live out of society, a country squire as Matthew aspired to be, then perhaps it would be possible

But Alexander Tempest, Viscount Weybourn, was not an obscure country squire and never would be

‘Miss Ellery’

Tess ith a start to find Dorcas leaning over her She had fallen asleep on theseat, her forehead against the cold glass, which was probably why she had a headache That and the dreams Alex naked in her ar dragged into the House of Lords while all the peers turned their back on her Mother Superior explaining patiently, while Noel and Ophelia chased each other around her desk, why Tess must be thankful for even a menial position in a respectable household

‘I have been having suchdreams What time is it?’

‘Past three’ Dorcas jiggled Daisy in her arms and the baby chuckled up at her ‘I can hear fiddle music from below stairs’

‘He isn’t back yet, is he?’ Of course not, she would know if Alex was in the house

‘No’ Dorcas did not have to ask who he was, it seemed Was she so very transparent? Tess could only hope Lady Moreland could not discern that Tess was head over heels in love with her eldest son

The party downstairs was in full flohen she and Dorcas went down the back stairs, carrying the baskets of presents As they entered the kitchen the Moreland staff fell silent at the sight of guests in their domain

‘A Merry Christmas, everyone Please excuse the intrusion, but Mrs White and I have gifts for Lord Weybourn’s staff’

‘Of course, Miss Ellery’ Garnett, alnisable out of livery and with a sh to a second roo his lordship, so we have made the servants’ hall available to them until after he has been down’