The Mistletoe Seller: A heartwarming, romantic novel for Christmas from the Sunday Times bestseller

‘Might we know where we’re going, sir?’

‘Grantley Park has been in my family for two hundred years. It’s a Tudor house in its own grounds, on the edge of Low Leyton marsh. There, does that satisfy your curiosity?’

‘A little,’ Angel said doubtfully. ‘Is it far from London, sir?’

‘About seven miles, which is far enough to be away from the stench and corruption of the city.’

She did not know whether to question him further, but he had picked up his pen and it was clear that she had lost his attention. She realised that she had been dismissed and went to find Dolly, who was now out of bed and dressed in garments they had discovered in the clothes press. Lil had had to make some alterations in order to make them fit, but Dolly was thrilled with her acquisitions and even more delighted when they found a pair of boots that were too small for Angel but fitted Dolly to perfection.

She was in the middle of a twirl when Angel burst into the bedroom.

‘See how fine I look,’ Dolly said delightedly. ‘I ain’t never had nothing so grand in me whole life. I shall be a young lady like you, Angel.’

‘I think Sir Adolphus has other plans, Dolly. He said you would have to earn your keep when we go to his country house.’

‘I suppose it’s only to be expected,’ Dolly said philosophically. ‘I was just dreaming. I suppose I’d better take these clothes off then.’

‘No, certainly not. They were left to the moths so obviously they weren’t wanted. It’s a crime to leave them to rot. You look splendid, Dolly. I won’t let them turn you into a slavey. If it isn’t nice where we’re going, we’ll leave and set off on our own. We’ve earned our living before, and we can do it again. Now all I have to do is convince Lil that it is for the best.’

Starting out early on Christmas Eve, Angel, Dolly and Lil travelled in Sir Adolphus’ barouche, with Thor and Juno. Baines sat on the box next to the coachman and Sir Adolphus rode his chestnut stallion, Caesar. It had stopped snowing but the going was slow and difficult. At times it seemed that they would have to turn back, but Sir Adolphus was determined to reach Grantley Park. The bricks that Baines had heated on the kitchen range and placed on the floor to keep their feet warm had cooled, and despite their layers of clothing and woollen blankets the cold was insidious, creeping into their bones and chilling them to the marrow.

Angel peered out of the window at the vast white expanse of the marshes, with tufts of bleached grasses poking through the snow and steel-grey pools of frozen water reflecting the leaden sky. Dolly had fallen asleep with Juno resting against her, and Thor settled down at Angel’s feet, sharing her warmth. Lil sat with her arms folded and her head nodding, but each time she felt herself overcome by the desire to sleep she jerked herself back to consciousness.