“I suppose I could go out and shoot you a couple of swans from the pond,” Sir Oswald said, with deadpan seriousness. “Would they do instead?”

“Don’t be silly, Oswald,” Lady Hawse-Gorzley snapped. “That’s not even amusing.”

“Why, are swans not good to eat?” Mr. Wexler asked.

“Nobody’s ever tasted them,” Bunty said, giving him a withering look that he could be so clueless. “Swans are reserved for royalty. In the old days killing a swan was punished by hanging. I don’t think they’d hang us anymore, but it’s still an offense.”

“Fancy that. How quaint,” Mrs. Wexler said. “You have the quaintest laws over here.”

“That’s because some of them date back to the Middle Ages and nobody has bothered to repeal them,” Lady Hawse-Gorzley said. “Those of you who are going to matins should think of getting ready.”

“Have my car brought around, Humphreys. I do not intend to walk through the snow,” the dowager countess said to her companion, who scurried off like a frightened rabbit.

“Hopeless creature. Don’t know why I put up with her,” the countess commented before the companion was out of earshot.

“Maybe we could hitch a ride with you, Countess,” Mr. Wexler said.

The countess regarded him through her lorgnette. “I always think that one should walk whenever possible,” she said firmly. “Had there not been snow on the driveway I should have never considered wasting petrol and using the car.”

“But since you are using it,” Mrs. Wexler said, giving her what she hoped was a winning smile.

The countess did not return the smile. “Those two young people of yours will grow up fat and idle if you mollycoddle them,” she said. “What your son needs is a good boarding school. Cold showers in the morning and cross-country runs before breakfast.”

“That’s positively barbaric,” Mrs. Wexler said, putting an arm around Junior’s shoulder.

“Ah, but it made us what we are today,” the countess said, smiling at last. “Rulers of half the world.” She nodded to the Wexlers. “I will see you in church.”

As she went out I caught Darcy’s eye and moved closer to him.

“Isn’t she marvelous?” Darcy muttered to me.

“Come with me,” I said and, taking his hand, I led him from the room.

“Is this a repetition of the other night?” he asked, his eyes challenging mine. “Are you leading me to your bedroom again?”

“Don’t keep reminding me of that.” I blushed.

“Oh, I think I’ll enjoy reminding you of it for a long while yet.”

We reached an alcove beside the front hall. I turned to face Darcy. “I wanted to give you your Christmas present,” I said. “And bear in mind I bought this before I knew you were part of this house party.”

I handed him the little box. When he had taken off the wrapping I saw the grin spreading across his face.