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“Or lass,” said Emily with a teasing smile directed at her husband.

“Lass, definitely,” insisted Aileen, winking at her sister-in-law. The good-humored exchange between the three of them brought a smile to Muriel’s face. Her friend had found a good man and a good home.

The footman returned, setting a plate before her. The smell of hot biscuits wafted to her nostrils. “Excellent.”

From across the table, whichever Powell twin it was gave her a broad grin, his straight white teeth on display. “And how fares the countess this morning?”

Surely that smile had to be Robbie’s. “I am quite well, thank you, but don’t be expecting me to go sledding with you, young man.”

“No matter that, Muriel,” came his reply, accompanied by a smirk. “As soon as the kissing bough is up, I’m claiming a kiss.”

Muriel took a sip of her coffee. “I expect that will be the pinnacle of my day.”

“Speaking of our day,” said William, “once we have dragged in the Yule log from the shed and helped Emily to decorate the house, those of you who wish may adjourn to a nearby hill to try our skill with a sled, Muriel and Emily excluded, of course.”

“Thanks to our deer-stalkers,” Emily said, “we’ll have a special Christmas Eve dinner tonight of roast venison. And my sister-in-law has graciously agreed to play the pianoforte for us in the parlor afterward.”

“English Christmas carols and hymns of the season,” put in Ailie, adding with enthusiasm, “I’ve been practicing!”

Both Powell twins grinned at the pretty girl, but it was Nash who said, “I shall look forward to that.”

Robbie took hold of the heavy birch log. Together with Nash, William and Nick, he heaved it onto the sled where it landed with a loud thud. Tara and Ailie, who had come to lend their encouragement, clapped their hands.

Nick stood back, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. “That log’s as heavy as my best bower anchor.”

“Ain’t light,” observed Robbie.

William picked up the large loop of rope at the head of the sled and glanced at Robbie and Nash. “How about if Nick and I pull while you two push from the sides?”

Robbie and the others agreed.

William said, “There’s enough snow on the ground to help us, but ’tis all uphill.”

Nick laughed. “You would have to remind us of the hill.”

Robbie stared down at the giant birch log William’s men had dried, stripped of bark and cut to fit the fireplace. Now, they had only to get it there. He and Nash took the sides of the log and began to push. Tara and Ailie stood to the side urging them onward.

Nick and William took hold of the rope at the front of the sled and began to pull. “My men could have brought in the log,” said William, “but where is the fun in that?”

“Indeed,” said Nick, “I always thought hauling in anchors to be ‘fun’, too.”

From the side, Tara laughed. “’Twill do you good.”

Robbie gave the log a shove. “This might be my only chance to add ‘dragging in a Yule log’ to my list of skills.”

Ailie rolled her eyes.

“A list that is doubtless in desperate need of additions,” tossed in Nash. Robbie was glad his brother could jest given the serious nature of their recent conversations. Until this assignment for Sidmouth, they had always enjoyed doing things together.

“Put your backs into it men!” William shouted.

With many grunts and groans, they pulled and pushed the heavy log up the hill. Once, it had threatened to slip away on a patch of ice, but they recovered it and pushed on. Though he might have chosen another activity for Christmas Eve morning, Robbie enjoyed the camaraderie of his brothers and Will spurred on by the cheers of Tara and Ailie.

Eventually, they reached the top of the hill. By that time, Robbie was wiping his brow. His cravat had begun to feel like a constricting snake around his throat.

“Make way for the Yule log!” William shouted when they arrived in front of the house. Like the rest of them, their host was breathing hard.

The front door opened and Emily stepped out with the butler, who appeared quite beside himself to see his master and some of his guests sweating as they lifted the birch log from the sled and placed it on the long runner Emily had provided for them.