‘Three rings please,’ I said, siding with Ned, as I kissed David on the cheek.

We had planned to take a walk around the reserve, but it was already too dark so after locking up the barn and the gate we headed back to the lodge instead. It was an even more magical sight in the snow.

The lights on the veranda made the snow glisten and through the windows, I could see the fire glowing and the lights from the tree twinkling. It was picture perfect and as Ned and I walked hand in hand towards it I felt a deep rush of affection for the place.

I had felt it long ago, during that time before Chelsea’s teasing had made me loathe rather than love it, but now it was back in full force. I welcomed it, knowing I would never turn my back on it again.

‘Come on,’ I said squeezing Ned’s hand, ‘let’s get inside. We can catch Carols from King’s on catch-up in lieu of going to church later.’

‘That,’ said Ned, dropping a kiss on my head, ‘is a wonderful idea.’

I was fast beginning to learn that when one opportunity didn’t work out, there was always another waiting in the wings.

David was right about the snow. No more fell overnight, but there was a dramatic drop in temperature so the scene beyond the lodge windows on Christmas morning was frozen solid and sparkling. If anything, it was even more beautiful than the day before.

I woke early. Far earlier than I had expected to and crept down the stairs, remembering to step over the one from the bottom which had always been prone to creak. Bandit had followed me down, his claws skittering on the wooden floor.

‘Merry Christmas,’ I whispered to him.

Thankfully, he didn’t bark back.

Underneath the Christmas tree looked rather different to when Ned and I had gone to bed and I wondered how long he’d waited for me to fall asleep before he came down and arranged everything. Clearly, he knew about the trick step too. Unless of course, Santa himself had managed to squeeze in a trip to Wynter’s Lodge on his whistle-stop trip around the world.

‘Look Bandit,’ I whispered. ‘Who do you suppose did that?’

The carrot we had left for the reindeer was missing and where there had been a mince pie there were just a few crumbs. The tot of whisky had gone too. I hoped it had warmed Santa’s cockles on such a cold night.

I flicked on the tree lights, all the better to show off the gifts which had been set out beneath it.

‘Couldn’t you wait just a little longer?’ said a sleepy voice, making me jump.

Ned, at the bottom of the stairs, looked seductively tousled and I rushed into his arms. He was still warm from the bed.

‘Merry Christmas, Liza,’ he said, kissing me.