‘You were poorly, weren’t you?’ said Anna, sounding concerned.

‘It was just a cold,’ Dolly said dismissively. ‘It’s long gone now and to tell you the truth, I’m much happier having seen the hall dressed for Christmas.’

‘Well, you are welcome to come anytime,’ said Catherine, ‘and please don’t wait for an invitation. People are always dropping in here. It’s how we like it, isn’t it, Anna?’

‘Definitely,’ she agreed.

The sound of talking on the other side of the door stopped the conversation and Anna looked at me and smiled as she picked out Beamish’s voice. I pretended I hadn’t seen the look she gave me and focused my attention on the inside of my beautifully patterned teacup.

‘So how are we getting on in here?’ asked a man who strode purposefully into the room, and could only be Angus. ‘Have you left a morsel for poor old half-starved me?’

He practically jumped out of his skin as Dorothy bustled in behind him.

‘Poor old half-starved you nothing,’ she tutted, ‘you’ve just had yours with the boys in the kitchen!’

‘Ah Dorothy,’ he said, pushing his thumbs behind his braces, ‘I didn’t see you there.’

‘Are you suggesting I haven’t filled you up?’ She frowned, ‘When you almost couldn’t manage that last sandwich.’

‘No,’ he blundered, ‘no, of course not.’

‘I should think not,’ said Dorothy, winking at me before she rushed out again, ‘half-starved indeed. The very idea.’

I couldn’t help but laugh along as Catherine introduced me to her husband properly.

‘Beamish tells me you and Dolly have created a Christmas Wish List,’ he said after vigorously pumping my hand in greeting.

His eyes were shining and I could tell he was enthralled by the idea.

‘That’s right,’ said Dolly before I had a chance. ‘We’ve filled it with things Hattie would like to do before she heads off to sunnier climes in the new year.’

‘What a wonderful idea,’ he said wistfully. ‘Catherine,’ he added, turning to his wife, ‘I wonder . . .’

‘Well I’d rather you didn’t,’ she cut in, not unkindly. ‘Your wondering generally leads to something monumental, Angus, and I think we’ve got enough on our plates at the moment, don’t you?’

‘Perhaps,’ he relented. ‘Was your visit here today on your Wish List, Hattie?’

‘It was,’ I said, ‘but it was Dolly’s addition actually. She was secretly hoping for a private tour.’

‘And Beamish arranged it,’ smiled Angus as the man himself, Gabe and Jamie filed in followed closely by Bran.

The ample room suddenly felt fit to burst.

‘I was hoping to end the visit with a sleigh ride for you,’ said Angus, ‘but it’s still being serviced ahead of the Wonderland. You’re more than welcome to take a turn through the woods and around the trail though.’