“Oh, Bjårk, ” said Isla, then she looked at him. “Well, I suppose you’re being helpful for once.” She caressed the stupid animal’s big pointy ears as he panted appreciatively.

“Bjårk!” came another voice, rushing in. “I brought you down to say hello to your family, not eat the kitchen. ”

He stopped at Isla.

“And you too,” he said. “Aren’t you coming to say hello?”

Isla looked at him. “Not like this,” she pleaded. Her apron was dirty, her hands filthy and soaking wet.

Konstantin came over, unpinned her cap, then carefully pulled the pins out of her hair, which came tumbling down. She looked up at him, scared.

“Let me kiss your mouth rosy,” he said, then proceeded to do so. “Okay. Now you’re perfect. Come on.”

And he tossed the cap to the side and led her out through the swinging doors.

Bjårk stayed behind and dealt very efficiently with the gravy.

Chapter 72

T he dancing was in full swing in the dining room, with an energetic Strip the Willow going on. The usual lines of four or eight couples appeared to have morphed into all sorts of numbers, and Agot and Ash were racing hand in hand through every archway whether it was their turn or not, so it was pretty much business as usual.

Isla could never have known how delighted Konstantin Senior was to meet, for the first ever time, a friend of Konstantin’s, properly introduced, who didn’t look like an overindulged party girl or behave like a spoiled brat. Someone sweet, pretty, normal, kind. She was just conscious, still, of her apron and her damp hands.

“It’s lovely to meet you,” said the old man genuinely, and, feeling slightly ridiculous to be meeting a strange white-bearded man with rosy cheeks and a Scandinavian accent on Christmas Day, Isla smiled back and managed not to accidentally curtsy.

“Ahem.”

There was a clearing of throat behind them, and Isla turned round. There sat her mother, refusing to get up, clutching her handbag.

“Ah,” said Isla. “And this is my mother.”

“Enchanted,” said Konstantin with all the charm he could muster.

Please don’t be rude to them, thought Isla with all her might. Please don’t be off with them.

Vera stood up to her full height, extending a hand as if she herself were royalty. “I see your son has had the very good fortune to meet my daughter,” she said calmly.

Chapter 73

B oxing Day dawned clear and bright. Breakfast was tasty and done quickly; there would be no further meal services that day. Konstantin looked nervous, Isla realized. He had stayed up late, speaking Norwegian to everyone, and she had taken her mother home, the pair of them getting in and opening their presents. One of Isla’s was a new, cool Cath Kidston teapot.

“I thought you might like it,” said her mother shyly. “For the new place.”

“I do,” said Isla. “Very much. But not as much as yours.”

THEY STILL HAD the emergency council meeting at ten A.M.