After the men had had their port and cigars and joined the womenfolk for coffee it was suggested that we play sardines and I was sent off to hide. I chose the linen cupboard and squeezed under the bottom shelf. Almost immediately the door opened and somebody squeezed in beside me.

“Finally we get a chance to be alone together,” Darcy whispered, nuzzling a kiss at my neck.

“How did you find me so quickly?” I whispered back.

“Have to confess I cheated. I saw which direction you were heading and I remembered your fondness for linen cupboards. And I’m not wasting any more time talking,” he added before kissing me. It was cramped and awkward and utterly blissful. I’m not sure how long we were alone together before the door opened again and another figure slipped in beside us. “Found you, you little minx,” said Johnnie’s voice. “You can’t get away from me this time. I have you trapped.”

“I should point out that’s my waist you are grasping, not Georgie’s,” Darcy said. I giggled as Johnnie hastily moved away.

“Well, I never did,” he muttered. “How did you find her so quickly, O’Mara?”

“Let’s just say I have good instincts,” Darcy said, “and I see now that those instincts were right and I needed to protect her from cads like you.”

“It’s a Christmas party game, old chum. Only a bit of fun, what?”

Their talking was overheard and soon more and more people crowded into the cupboard until the door would no longer close and the game was declared over. Darcy winked at me and held me back as we trooped down the stairs. “Next time we need not try too hard to find anyone,” he whispered, “and nobody will notice we’re missing.”

I have to confess I didn’t need much persuading, and when the others scattered around the house Darcy and I ducked into Sir Oswald’s study and picked up where the last kiss had ended.

“It’s been so long,” Darcy murmured.

“And whose fault is that? I’ve been stuck at Castle Rannoch. You, on the other hand, were seen entering the Café Royal recently.”

“Do you have your spies on me?” he laughed. “I did go to the Café Royal. I had to meet a man who had a small assignment for me. As it happened I turned it down. Sailing a little too near the wind for my taste.” He looked at me with sudden longing. “I wish I could find a normal, everyday sort of job and make a decent living, enough to support a wife and family.”

“You’d be bored in a normal, everyday sort of job.” I tried to make light of it.