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

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.