'Where have you been?' Zoe asked Juliet. 'And why is there such a strange smile on your face? Oh my God. You haven't?'

Juliet beamed at her and nodded. 'We have.'

'You and Harrison?'

'No. Me and Rufus.' Juliet laughed and linked her arm through Zoe's. 'Of course me and Harrison. And believe me it was almost worth waiting twenty years for. Apart from the fact that I now realise even more what I've been missing. And I've been missing a lot.'

Zoe burst out laughing too. 'I'm so happy for you, sis. I was beginning to think it would never happen. Luke and I have been trying to think of ways to get you two together since the pair of you came home. We wanted you to be friends, but both of us were certain there was a chance of something more than that. I must tell Luke.'

'Whoa! Perhaps Harrison should be the one to tell him. When we came back downstairs, one of the caterers grabbed him, but he'll be back any second.'

'There he is,' Zoe said.

Juliet looked in the direction of her sister's gaze. Harrison was striding towards them with a breathtaking smile on his face and even from this distance, she could see the passion in his deep brown eyes.

'Now that's a man in love,' Zoe added.

He slipped an arm around Juliet and kissed her on the lips in front of everyone. There were a few gasps, a few claps and several shouts of 'Cheers!'

From somewhere close by, Juliet vaguely heard Dan's unmistakable tones. 'Well done, darling. It's about bloody time.'

Juliet and Harrison laughed into their kiss, and slowly eased away from one another. He gave a little bow to the crowd, held her at arm's length, and, like an actor on stage, presented her by holding out his other hand towards her. She smiled across to him and gave a little curtsy to everyone. And the room burst into raucous laughter and celebrations.

Rosa and Bernard hurried towards her and Harrison, hugging them both in turn.

'Finally,' Rosa said, a wide smile on her face and joyful tears at the corner of her eyes.

'Well,' Bernard said, smiling at Harrison. 'I hope this means you will be staying.'

'I'll be wherever Juliet is,' Harrison replied with a beaming smile.

'Welcome to the family,' said Zoe.

'Welcome to ours,' said Luke. 'It took you two long enough. I was beginning to think we would have to lock the pair of you in a room and throw away the key.'

Harrison gave a devilish smile. 'I was thinking the same thing myself less than fifteen minutes ago.' He winked at Juliet.

Rufus appeared from nowhere. 'So you've finally got the girl. I wish you both happy. But I need a minute of your time, my boy.'

Juliet could feel Harrison tense, but after a moment he smiled at her. 'I'll be back in a second. Don't go anywhere without me.'

'Giving orders already?' Dan said, as he stood at Juliet's side, but he was smiling.

Harrison smiled back. 'Pleading, actually. I don't want to lose her again.'

'I don't think there's much chance of that, do you darling?' Dan kissed Juliet on the cheek.

'Absolutely no chance at all,' she replied, looking into Harrison's smiling eyes, before he turned and walked towards his study, with Rufus at his side.

'Is that carollers I can hear?' Zoe asked.

Luke nodded. 'Harrison thought it might be a good way to bring the evening to a close, but I don't think anyone is ready to leave just yet, and there's plenty of champagne and food.'

The carollers voices grew louder as they came from outside into the hall, and everyone gathered round, joining in with We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

'It's such a shame Harrison is missing this,' Juliet told Dan, glancing towards the room where she had watched Harrison and Rufus enter. 'I wonder what Rufus wants to talk about. I really hope it's not me. Harrison told me tonight that twenty years ago, Rufus made Harrison choose between me and Luke.'

Dan gasped. 'The bastard!'

Juliet shook her head. 'Please don't say anything about it to anyone, especially not Luke, because I don't know the details and I don't want to cause any problems.'

'Especially as you're all so happy now. My lips are sealed, darling. So tell me, what was Harrison like? I assume he wasn't scowling when you finally surrendered to his wild passions.'

Juliet laughed. 'You've been reading too many romance novels. But actually, it was him who surrendered to mine. Although how do you know we did anything?'

'Darling, please. Even if you had a beacon flashing on the top of your head saying, 'Just had incredible sex,' it couldn't be more obvious. I can see it on your face. And I saw it on his. And that man is definitely head over heels in love. So Merry Christmas, darling. You've got the icing on the cake. I'll grab us more champagne.'

'It seems you won.'

Juliet turned to find Kiki standing behind her.

'Won? I wasn't aware it was a competition. Tell me, Kiki. Why did you lie about you and Harrison?'

Kiki sipped her champagne and shrugged. 'Only a fool would let that man go without a fight. But you got him. So congratulations. I'm moving on to greener pastures.'

'Really?'

Kiki nodded and raised her glass in the air as Dan returned with drinks. 'Merry Christmas.'

'And to you.'

Kiki walked away without so much as a smile.

'I really don't like that bitch,' Dan said, handing Juliet a glass of champagne. 'Oh look. Harrison's coming back. I'll leave you to him, darling. See you later. But don't do anything I wouldn't do.'

'Is there anything you wouldn't do?' Juliet asked, with a laugh.

'No, darling. Not a single thing.' Dan waved as he walked away.

'That didn't take long. Is everything okay? He hasn't given you another ultimatum, has he?'

Harrison pulled her into his arms and kissed her in response, and when he released her he was smiling oddly.

'No. And if he had I would've told him where to shove it. It seems he's going away on Boxing Day. Possibly for some time.'

'Going away? Where? Because of us?'

Harrison shook his head. 'He hasn't decided where, but to somewhere hot. He's had enough of the cold and snow, and the warm weather will be better for his joints.' He gave a little laugh. 'Apparently, he isn't going alone.'

'Oh. Who's going with him?'

Harrison raised his brows and smiled. 'Guess.'

Juliet furrowed her brows for a split second. 'Oh my God! Not Kiki?'

Harrison nodded. 'It seems they've become quite fond of one another in the last couple of days.'

Juliet couldn't believe it. 'She just told me she was moving on to greener pastures.'

'Did she indeed? I hope she won't be too disappointed.'

'What will you do without her? Wasn't she your executive assistant?'

'Yes. It seems I have a vacancy to fill.' He pulled her closer. 'May I ask you something?'

'Anything. Oh. Are you going to ask me to become your executive assistant?'

He shook his head. 'No. I've got an entirely different position for you in mind.'

'Oh really? I do need a job.'

'We can discuss that later. This isn't about work. If I asked you to move away from here, from this house, would you do it?'

'Of course I would.'

'Even if it meant never setting foot here again?'

'Yes. But I'd have to come home to see my family.'

He let out a sigh. 'I knew I didn't need to ask. I'm sorry I did. But that old man still found a way to get to me. He said I'd better make sure it was me you wanted and not the house.'

'Harrison!' She pulled away from him, more than a little hurt. 'How could you think that for a second?'

'I don't. I didn't. But you don't know how that man gets under my skin. I'm sorry, Juliet. I had to be sure. Forgive me.'

She sighed and stepped back into his arms, as the carollers burst into Silent Night.

'I do forgive you. I suppose, in a way, I can't blame you for asking. I have been rather obsessed with the place. But if I had to choose between you and the house, there really is no contest. I'd choose you, Harrison. Without hesitation.'

She kissed him passionately while the carollers finished Silent Night and got to the end of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

'This is going to be the best Christmas ever,' he said, when they finally parted lips.

Juliet had a sudden thought. 'If things work out between Kiki and your grandad, do you think she'll be moving into here?'

'No. Apart from the fact that Kiki prefers bright lights and lots of parties, it's not his house.'

'It's not? Oh, you mean you'll inherit it when he dies?'

'No, my darling Juliet. I mean it's not his house. It's mine. And don't get cross because I didn't have any idea until I was thirty, but it's been mine all along. The old man bought it with my money. Well, with the money Dad left and funds from an ancient trust. Grandfather made me believe it was his money and that he was taking care of me and Luke out of the goodness of his heart, rather than the fact that he was the trustee of Dad's estate.'

'Oh Good grief. That's dreadful.'

He raised his brows. 'That I own the house?'

'No. What Rufus did.'

Harrison shrugged. 'He is who he is. He'll never change. Thankfully, Dad was nothing like him, and Mum was the epitome of sweetness and light. I think I take after them. At least I hope to God I do.'

'You do, Harrison. You're nothing like Rufus. I wish I could've met them.'

'So do I. They would've loved you almost as much as I do.' He glanced around the room. 'Are these people ever going to leave? I want to go back upstairs and admire the view.'

She grinned up at him. 'I think everyone's going to be staying on for a while yet.' She grabbed his hand. 'There's a pretty good view from the Rose room too. Allow me to show you. And that door also has the key in the lock. I noticed that the night I stayed here.'