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behind her and held the sprig of mistletoes over her head again, leaning down to kiss her neck. She stayed still for a few moments, enjoying the touch of his lips, and then slowly stood up and embraced him.
    â€˜Now enjoy Hogmanay in Dundee,’ he whispered.
    â€˜I will if you are there,’ she replied quietly as she slid her arms round his neck and looked deep into his eyes. ‘I love you, John Carnforth. Thank you for coming into my life and staying there.’

Chapter Two
    John surveyed the clear sky with a sailor’s experienced eye as he and his family walked on the West Cliff during the early-afternoon of Christmas Day. The morning had been devoted to their final packing for their journey to Dundee and now they enjoyed relaxing in each other’s company.
    â€˜Should be fine for our ride to York tomorrow,’ he commented.
    â€˜And hopefully for the rest of our journey,’ added Jennie.
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    At ten-thirty the following day, at precisely the time John had stated, the coach he had hired from the White Horse hostelry in Church Street pulled up outside their residence in New Buildings on the West Cliff. Amidst all the bustle and excitement their luggage was carefully stored on top of the coach.
    â€˜Have you wrapped up well against this fog?’ Jennie asked her daughter as she came downstairs.
    â€˜Yes, Mama,’ replied Lena in a jocular tone, displaying her grey coat with its three layers of shoulder capes. Embellished with large buttons down the front, it flared slightly from the waist to the top of her black shoes. The comfortable sleeves had deep cuffs. She wore dark blue gloves to complement her close-fitting bonnet.
    â€˜There’s a breeze, Mama,’ called James, coming out of the drawing-room, pulling on a pair of leather gloves. ‘It’ll blow the fog away.’
    â€˜Maybe,’ she returned doubtfully. ‘But it’s cold, and could be colder still across the moors.’
    â€˜You’re looking quite elegant, brother,’ commented Lena. ‘Trying to impress our cousins or the Scottish lasses?’ She hesitated a moment and then added teasingly, ‘Oh, maybe the new coat’s to attract Olivia’s attention?’
    â€˜It doesn’t matter whose, so long as you like it,’ he said.
    â€˜Very smart.’ She admired the tight black frockcoat as he strutted around the hall. ‘And it goes well with those grey-striped trousers.’
    â€˜Come along, come along!’ The urgency in John’s tone as he came through the front door put an end to all exchanges of compliments.
    Servants bustled around, seeing to the family’s final needs and plying Jennie and Pauline with rugs as they settled in the coach. A few moments later the coachman sent the horses forward and in a matter of minutes they were outside the Nashes’ house. More luggage was stowed; greetings between the two families soon giving way to goodbyes.
    â€˜Sorry not to be coming! Have a safe journey,’ called Albert and Georgina as the coach rumbled away and gained momentum.
    The coachman urged the two horses on the climb out of Whitby but once they had reached the moorland heights he allowed them to settle into an easier pace. Similarly the excitement inside the coach at the start of the ‘adventure’ quietened somewhat, though conversation still flowed easily. John showed concern for everyone’s comfort by occasionally asking them if they were warm enough, especially when they experienced dampness from the persistent fog on the heights. Once they started to negotiate the long incline towards the market town of Pickering they began to leave the mist behind. Though it was still cold and they did not see blue sky as they had done yesterday, they were thankful at least that it was not freezing. They stopped at the White Swan for warming drinks and then made quicker progress across the flat country to York.
    Silence descended on the coach