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“Aye, I suppose I do, but for all that, my father is a good man and has built some fine ships.”

Nash crossed the room to ask Ailie, “Is there a ladder, per chance?”

Ailie glanced at the footman, standing just inside the large doorway like a statue. With a nod, he departed, saying he’d bring one straight away.

Soon, they were covered in greenery, red berries and white flowers. It was a new activity for Robbie. In London, their mother had always seen to decorating the house on Christmas Eve.

Ailie handed up a hawthorn branch to Nash, who stood on the ladder in front of her father’s portrait. “Ouch!” she shrieked and stuck her finger in her mouth. Robbie thought it a tempting sight. “Mind the thorns,” she warned Nash.

Nash added the hawthorn branch to the pine branches he had already placed on top of the gilded frame. “Thanks for the warning.”

Robbie entwined greenery around the candelabra on the dining room table and thought of his other Christmas holidays. About now, he would be sinking into a comfortable leather chair at his club, brandy in hand, with nothing more on his mind than a lady’s face and that evening’s card game. Instead, here he was in the frozen north decorating a table.

Since Nash had claimed the only available lady in sight, Robbie would concentrate on their current assignment for Sidmouth. And, for that, he needed Nash.

“I’m going to see if Emily has some velvet ribbon for bows,” said Ailie. “I think they would look nice on the chandelier.”

As she flounced out of the room, taking the footman with her, Nash looked down at him from the ladder. “I don’t even want to think about tying bows on that hanging tower of crystal.”

Robbie regarded his brother. “I expect you will if Ailie wishes it.”

Nash breathed out a sigh Robbie took as significant. “You’re right, of course,”

“By the bye, Brother, have you thought more on your reservations about our apprehending Kinloch? Might I hope for a change of mind?”

Nash peered down from his perch. “I told you I would go, and I will. But as for a change of mind? Not a chance.”