The next morning found Lucas and Clara tramping up the slope to Castlebury Manor yet again, with Tommy in tow once more. ‘We should just ask for a bed there at this rate,’ grumbled Lucas, watching the interloper to their otherwise romantic walk romp around the hillside like a spring lamb. ‘Yes, Bunty would love that,’ teased Clara, turning to Lucas with a barely concealed snigger. ‘Come round to her way of thinking at last, have you?’ ‘I thought you said you’d warned her off?’ ‘I did, but whether she listens or not is another matter.’ She nudged him playfully, mischief twinkling in her eyes. ‘It’s not just foolish old men who would have a hard time saying no to a young, lively person begging them to take them to bed.’ Lucas gaped at her, lost for words. ‘But I wouldn’t – I’d never – you know that, don’t you darling?’ Clara linked her arm through his and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Of course I do, dear,’ she said, wiping the scarlet imprint from his face. ‘I’m only teasing.’ ‘Well, I wish you wouldn’t,’ he said crossly. He wriggled his arm free and wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling her close to him. ‘You’re nearly as bad as my mother for it, you know.’ ‘But where’s the fun in that?’ she said, grinning wickedly at him. ‘Anyway, you should learn to flirt a little. It’s a good way of getting information out of people.’ ‘Do I want to know how you know that?’ he asked, knowing the answer was a resounding “no.” ‘Probably not,’ said Clara cheerfully. ‘But it’s all in a good cause, and you know I only have eyes for you.’ ‘Hmm,’ said Lucas with undisguised disapproval. ‘Oh, come on,’ said Clara. ‘You might even enjoy it, when you know what you’re doing.’ ‘I’ll leave the flirting to Tommy, if you don’t mind. Anyway, I’m out of practice these days, now I’m engaged to your lovely self and don’t need to flirt anymore.’ Clara laughed, the sound muffled by the white powder transforming a familiar landscape into a picturesquely strange land. ‘Were you ever in practice, dear?’ she teased, reaching up and playfully tugging the lapel of his coat. ‘If you were, I never noticed.’ Lucas opened his mouth wordlessly, torn between the truth of how he’d carefully avoided flirting with his best friend’s little sister, for what he hoped was obvious reasons, and a lie that might help him save face. Thankfully, no lie was needed as Tommy created a magnificent diversion by losing his footing on the slope ahead and landing face down in the snow. He bounced back up like a rubber ball, unhurt and laughing, then collapsed back on the ground to make snow angels. Thus, the question of Lucas’s flirting capabilities — or lack thereof — was forgotten for now. Tommy waited for them, giggling and pelting them with handfuls of snow as they approached. After a brief snowball fight followed by making themselves look presentable again, the trio continued their tramp up to Castlebury Manor in good spirits. By the time they rang the bell, their cheeks were rosy with cold and aching from laughter. Even Lucas was cheerful, despite Tommy’s persistent company. As he rang the doorbell, Tommy once again admired the magnificent building, and Clara imparted her knowledge of the manor’s history to him in such an adorably sisterly manner that even Lucas couldn’t help but smile. The impromptu history lesson was cut short when the sour-faced butler opened and stared haughtily down his nose at them. ‘Her Ladyship is not at home at present,’ he said, looking rather pleased about this. ‘That’s all right,’ said Clara brightly, peering around him. ‘We actually want to have a word with Jono – sorry, Lord Cassiobury, if you know where he is.’ She stood straight again, grinning happily. ‘I believe that’s his hat on the telephone table. Glo – Miss Gloria Hawkes, was telling me all about the rather smart bottle green hat she got him for his birthday, and how it’s still his favourite even after, you know.’ She leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially. ‘After he broke their engagement. Terribly sad, isn’t it?’ A small muscle twitched under the butler’s eye and stepped backwards into the hallway. ‘I shall see if the young master is in.’