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"May I kiss my stepdaughter goodbye?" Tony
asked. "Goodbye, Leigh. See you soon." His long arms held me and even through the leather they felt strong and muscular. He kissed me on the cheek, but very close to the corner of my mouth. Momma seemed impressed with how long he held me and how soft and lovingly he kissed me. Then she threaded her arm through his and they were off. Curtis opened the big doors for them and then shut the doors behind
them. He nodded at me and walked away.
I heard the voices of some servants and staff
echo from the ballroom as they carried things back to
the kitchen. Doors were closed and suddenly a great
hush fell over the enormous entryway. I looked
around. It was as if all the spirits of Tattertons past
were sucked back into their portraits and eternal
places. The new silence became deafening. I gazed
out a front window and saw that the Christmas lights
were turned on. The grounds, the hedges and trees
were ablaze with reds and greens and blues. It was as
though a rainbow had shattered and bits of it had
rained down all over Farthinggale.
Mrs. Hastings came down and told me Troy
was fast asleep. She went off to join the other
members of the staff, who were, I gathered, now
having a celebration of their own and feasting on
leftovers in the kitchen.
I went to the music room where Tony had had
the ten-foot Christmas tree placed and decorated. Its
light had been turned on and it looked lovely with its
glass angel shining brightly on top. Gifts were
scattered and piled around it. There was a fire going in
the marble fireplace. The room looked all set, readymade for a family.
But where was this family and who had done
all this? It was almost as if the house had a life of its
own, each of its rooms coming to life in its own way
when its time came. Was everything set on some
