Pleased by his interest, she sipped her wine as she said, “Well, tomorrow night, Christmas Eve, we have the concert, of course. Then we’re planning to get up early in the morning to open presents before going to the shelter to serve hot meals for the homeless. Leanne and her mother organized it, so there are several of us going. After, we were expecting to return home for a roast turkey, just the three of us, but Andee and Graeme have invited us to join them and we’ve accepted.”

His eyes lit up. “Marvelous!” he declared approvingly. “Two of my favorite people. And will any of their children be there?”

“Apparently Andee’s daughter has already flown to South Africa to be with her brother.”

He nodded. “And Graeme’s sons?”

“I’m told they alternate between their mother and father and this year they’re with their mother, but coming to Kesterly on Boxing Day. When are you back, by the way?”

“On the twenty-eighth, so I’m hoping I can claim you for the New Year?”

Loving the idea, she said teasingly, “That might depend on what you have in mind.”

With playfully narrowed eyes he said, “You’ll find out when you open the Christmas gift I have for you,” and to her surprise he reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope.

Taking it, she glanced at him curiously, and realizing he was hoping she’d open it now, she did so. When she saw what was inside her eyes lit up with amazement. “Tickets to see Les Misérables,” she declared joyfully. “How did you know that I’ve never seen it?”

“I heard you telling someone a while ago,” he replied, “so I hoped it would be a welcome surprise.”

“It is,” she assured him with feeling. “This is such a lovely gift. So thoughtful and . . . generous.”

He was watching her intently, seeming to wait for her to notice something else. In the end he cautioned, “It’s not a matinée.”

She located the start time and her heart tripped as she processed what it could mean. “It probably won’t finish until ten or even eleven o’clock,” she said, looking at him.

He nodded agreement.

“Too late for a last train?”

“Not quite, but do we really want to see the New Year in a Great Western carriage?”

Enjoying this a lot, but managing to sound serious, Marcy said, “No, I don’t think we do. So, should we stay over?”

“Wow! That sounds like a good idea.”

Daring to go further, she said, “Hotels are very expensive in the West End, so perhaps we should . . . share a room?”

He looked amazed, as if the thought had never occurred to him, and as she laughed, he sat back to allow their seafood starters to be served.