“I didn’t. It’s still a work in progress, so far as registering it goes. I haven’t had the time, what with all the extra work needed on the gardens for the wedding. Then we’ve got to get the tree down to the village square for the ceremonial lighting. And then after that, the gardens are open to the public again up till Christmas. You remember the drill.”

Nory did.

Christmas was always a busy time for both the castle and her family’s business. On Friday, the garden team would drive a giant fir tree—freshly chopped from Robins Wood—down to the village and erect it in the village square. Then that evening the whole village would come out, and Lord Abercrombie, Marquis of Braddon, would turn the lights on, instigating carols and mulled wine and general merrymaking.

In the run-up to the tree lighting, there would be a rush to the nursery to pick up handmade wreaths for front doors all around the village—courtesy of her mum and Shelley—because nobody wanted to disappoint. It wasn’t only about keeping up with the Joneses; lots of visitors would drive though the village to get to the castle, and if the village was picture-perfect, the visitors would stop to eat in the cafés and pubs and pick up last-minute gifts in the little independent shops that dotted the tiny high street. Noel and Son also supplied the garlands and fresh decorations for the castle’s garden shop. Far from winding down, if anything, the nursery got busier as the weather got colder.

“You could call it the ‘Robinwood Castle Hellebore,’ ” Nory suggested. “I’m sure gardeners would want to buy it. It really is lovely.”

“Maybe,” said Isaac. “Or maybe I don’t want the castle to have a claim on it. Once it’s called the ‘Robinwood,’ it won’t be mine anymore. My family have a history of losing things to bigger powers.”

Nory waited for him to elaborate but he didn’t, so she said, “Call it the ‘Isaac Malik,’ then. Then everyone will know it’s yours.”

He didn’t reply.

The snow began to ease up, and Nory couldn’t help feeling a little sad. Snow was such an impractical thing and undoubtedly made everything more difficult, yet she loved the way it seemed to slow down time. She thought of her shop and wondered if it was snowing in London; the window display would look particularly lovely in the snow.

“Will you be coming down to the tree lighting on Friday?” Isaac asked.

“If I can get out of whatever Jenna has planned, I definitely will. Although by Friday I would imagine she’ll be in full wedding mode, so with any luck I’ll be able to slip away unnoticed. I might see if Ameerah and Dev want to come too.”

“I guess it’s been a while since you’ve been to one.”