No one said a word at first, still in bemusement after that long dissertation. But then Derek said, “Remember that grave m’self, now that you mention it, cousin. Reggie and I came across it when we were younguns gadding about the estate. Always meant to ask you about it, Father, just never got around to it, then forgot about it.”

They were all looking toward Jason by then, but he merely shrugged his broad shoulders. “Devil if I know who was laid to rest there. That grave has been there since before I was born. Asked my father about it once, as I recall, but he put off answering, hemmed and hawed so much, actually, that I figured he just didn’t know, so I didn’t ask again.”

“Think we’ve all come across that grave at one time or another, least those of us who were raised here,” Anthony remarked to no one in particular. “Strange place for a grave, and a well-tended one at that, when there are two cemeteries nearby, not to mention the ancestral cemetery right here on the property.”

Judith, who had been standing next to the pedestal staring at the mysterious present, came over to her cousin Amy and held up her arms to take the two-year-old twin from her. Judy was tall for her age, and very good with the toddlers. Amy was only surprised that she got no greeting, and said so.

“Where’s my hug, puss?”

Those exquisite features just stared at her mulishly. Amy raised a brow toward the girl’s father.

Anthony rolled his eyes, but explained, “She’s pouting ’cause Jack ain’t here yet.”

Jack was James and Georgina’s oldest daughter. Everyone knew that Jack and Judy, who were only months apart in age, were inseparable when they were together, and they were so fond of each other that their parents made sure they were often together—especially since neither was very happy when they were separated for very long.

“Am not,” Judith denied in a pouting mumble as she marched back to the pedestal.

Jason was the only one to notice when Amy’s attention centered on the present that had garnered everyone’s curiosity. He would have thought nothing of it, except for her expression. Her brief frown made him wonder if she was getting one of her feelings about it. This niece of his had phenomenal luck, never having lost a wager in her life, which she attributed to these “feelings,” as she called them, that she got. Jason considered such things as feelings exceeding strange, which was why he would as soon not hear if she was getting one now. So he was relieved when her frown eased and she gave her attention back to his brother.

“Uncle James hasn’t arrived yet, then?” Amy surmised from Anthony’s last response.

Anthony did some mumbling himself. “No, and hopefully he won’t.”

“Oh, dear. You two are fighting?” Amy surmised again.

“Me? Fight my dear brother? Wouldn’t think of it,” Anthony replied, then, “But someone bloody well ought to tell him this is the season for good cheer.”