They played trivial pursuit in pairs, Joan and Jill had said 'they were happy to watch' and happy they had been to watch the lingering touches of Harry and James and smile at their bitter disagreements over the answers.

The game finished with Charles and Antonia winning.

James jumped up, put on a record on and offered to top up everyone's drinks. He had managed to learn who always drank the same and who could be persuaded to try some new cocktail. At the same time he had invisibly managed to get the dancing started.

He took Isobel's hand and led her protesting to the centre of the room. He looked up to the mistletoe then kissed her lips ever so briefly. "Now that we've kissed you'll have to dance the next one with me" he charmed her.

Harry accepted her fathers hand, as they started to dance Harry watched Dempsey encourage Steven and Ruth to dance; she questioned Freddy quietly "You don't think…"

"My dear he's fantastic; it's been a brilliant Christmas"

Dempsey moved amongst everyone without any effort enhancing the natural high spirits of everyone, encouraging everyone to dance he danced with every lady present at some point. Come midnight various people were drifting off, some of the elderly 'were never so late to bed' and those with children had 'been up since the early morning'. "Goodnight" "Happy Christmas"

Dempsey put on a tape he had made; He took Harry as his partner for the first time that night and the words of Tom Jones started. Leanne and George sung happily to each other as they danced, almost jiving, 'It's not unusual to be loved by anyone.'

Joan spoke to Freddy, "I think we'll leave these young ones to it. It's been a good Christmas"

"I choose some special songs" James intertwined his fingers with Harry's. Harry was back at the summer ball, remembering how James had come to support her, how she had wished so much for them to be a couple and now here they were, they'd been together for 4 months, the best four months of her life.

The song changed to Frank Sinatra I've got you under my skin. James and Harry forgot that anybody else was still there as their eyes focused on each other. Freddy caught Ruth and Steven glancing at each other, George winked at Freddy and beckoned the remaining few out of the room.

"I would sacrifice anything
Come what might
For the sake of holding you near"

James sung to Harry and they stopped moving as he kissed Harry. The others stood at the door aware that the lovers had become so engrossed in each other they had forgotten anyone else. Freddy returned with a bucket of ice and a fresh bottle of champagne and placed it in the room. Harry and James had started to dance again, but their gaze was still fixed on each other. The next song started 'I've had the time of my life' George recognised the song from Dirty Dancing and as Harry and James swung out from each other George pulled the door shut. "Goodnight everyone" he whispered "We'll leave our hosts to relax I think"

Harry and James heard the door creak shut; "It's just you and me now babe" James spoke as he swung Harry back into himself.

Outside was a final chorus of 'Merry Christmas' and 'goodnight'.

Harry felt James firm grip around her waist. She looked back into his eyes, down to his lips and allowed him to kiss her again.

She pulled away and James threw some cushions from the sofa onto the floor in front of the fire. He spotted the champagne on ice and the glasses. Harry followed his eyes and saw them too; she walked across the room to fetch them over to the fire while James grabbed any other cushions he could get hold of. Harry poured the champagne and as James took a glass from her guided her onto the floor with him.

They half sat, half lay together, supported by the cushions in front of the fire watching the flames.

"Happy Christmas" James whispered and kissed her ear and neck

Harry's right arm reached backwards and found James' head, she ran her fingers over his hair "You have enjoyed it haven't you?" Harry still found herself anxious

"I loved every minute. I love all this; the people, the real fires, the organising, the village stuff, the traditions, the big old house…"

Harry felt her stomach pit; she had always wished she had an older brother, or even sister for that matter. Anyone who would inherit all the problems that that come with the house and its management. It was a task she had learnt to hide from; joining the police force had even been involved in that. She watched the flames dancing; she felt the gentle caresses of James' hand running up and down her arm whilst the fingers of his other hand ran gently through her hair.

She turned herself and kissed him gently; before it became anything else she broke away, continuing to run her hands around his shoulders she looked at him "All these things you love…. They're… they're not permanent, well not guaranteed"

"I know"

"I just don't want you to have expectations and be disappointed because the things you love are gone"

"Harry I love all these things, the old knights, the creaking doors, the butler and maids but there is only one person I care about"

"Care?"

"There is only one person that I have fallen in love with and that's you. Princess I am totality and absolutely in love and besotted with you, I…"

Harry stopped him talking with a long hard kiss. James was the one who pulled apart and refilled the champagne glasses. As their hands caressed each other they reflected over the last two days. Laughing at how competitive Paula and Peter had been at Trivial pursuit, how transformer battles had seen the grown men take over the floor from the younger kids and how Mr Jim had explained about kissing. As they laughed at Elizabeth's interruption about sex their wandering hands had found their way under shirts and towards dress zips.

"Two years ago you came here as guest of my father and had everywoman falling over themselves for you 'Jim Dempsey'" Harry teased

"You never kissed me once, not even under the mistletoe" Dempsey faked hurt

"I never had the slightest inclination" Harry protested

"That's not true"

"It is"

"Not, else why give me the cuff links?" demanded Dempsey triumphantly

"Well only the slightest of inclinations" admitted Harry

"And now?" He asked as he gently eased her bra off for the second time that day.

"And now 'Jim Dempsey' we're about to make love on the drawing room floor"

"It's your house princess"

"Now that's a fact" she grinned wickedly, she could feel his caresses. He had responded, kissing her body from her neck down to her belly, when she had called him Jim for the first time.

He looked back up to her eyes "I wanna kiss your body all over" he moaned

"Why don't you" she grinned with anticipation