Page 77 of Escape for Christmas

Sophie stepped in. ‘I don’t want to be a party-pooper,’ she said, obviously trying to be diplomatic. ‘But …’

‘OK, I wouldn’t want to force anyone,’ Tegan replied, deflated. ‘We could always watchIt’s a Wonderful Lifeinstead.’

Nico smirked. Brody had an irresistible urge to punch him on the nose.

Tegan’s face lit up. ‘OrI could give you all a tour of Felltop!’

Brody gave an audible gasp. ‘Erm, the place is a bit of a mess.’

‘Oh, we don’t care about that,’ Agatha said, clearly delighted for any escape from party games and movies. ‘I’d love a tour. This is a gorgeous old place, Brody.’

‘Itisgorgeous. Is it listed?’ Una asked.

‘No,’ Brody replied.

‘Are there any ghosts?’ Amber’s voice had a hopeful uplift. Suzanne looked petrified.

‘I do hope so!’ Agatha declared, putting her book aside.

Nico glanced up from his phone with a smug grin. ‘Brody might not want us snooping around his house …’

Brody didn’t think he’d been listening. Nico was correct, but Brody didn’t want him to know that he agreed.

‘Oh, he doesn’t mind!’ Tegan said airily. ‘And there used to be a rumour about a ghost in one of the attic rooms. One of the maids from way back, wasn’t it, Brody?’

‘It’s only a daft rumour,’ Brody murmured. ‘I’ve never seen it – her.’

Agatha was on her feet, clapping her hands. ‘Ah, but attic rooms and ghostly maids! Howdelicious. Wemusthave a tour.’

‘That’s settled. Is everyone coming?’ Tegan asked.

Una dug Hugo in the ribs. ‘Wake up! We’re going on a ghost tour?’

‘What?’ Hugo’s eyelids fluttered and he tried to come round.

‘It’s not compulsory,’ Tegan said, looking at Sophie again. ‘I wouldn’t want you to be bored if you’ve already been around Felltop.’

‘I haven’t,’ Sophie said firmly. ‘And I really don’t mind a tour.’

‘Can we play “Sardines”?’ Amber asked hopefully. ‘Or “Murder in the Dark”? I’m sure it’s going to be that kind of house.’ Suddenly she smiled. ‘Iamjoking, though I did love “Sardines” when I was little.’

From the rear of the group Suzanne let out a tiny gasp. ‘I loved that game too.’

‘And me …’ that was Agatha, grinning wickedly at Brody.

Before anyone else could comment, Tegan jumped in. ‘I think a tour will bequiteenough excitement. Felltop is abigproperty. We wouldn’t want anyone to get lost. Are you coming, Brody?’

No matter how painful it was, there was no way Brody was going to let Tegan – or anyone else – give strangers a tour of his home without him being there. To his dismay,everyone suddenly sprang into life at the prospect, with even Amber and Suzanne in unison about exploring every nook and cranny.

Only Sophie showed less enthusiasm, which was hardly surprising, given the circumstances. Brody felt for her. She could hardly refuse and seem to be a misery.

They toured the ground floor first, Tegan regaling everyone with the house’s history and encouraging Brody to fill in any gaps.

‘I’m no real expert,’ he said. ‘My family has only lived here since the war, and I can only tell you what my grandparents and parents told me.’

Despite Brody feeling like a fish out of water, the guests seemed impressed by his anecdotes, marvelling at the old beams, the bread oven tucked away in the dining-room wall and the small piece of oak panelling dating back to 1714. There had actually been a farmhouse on the site since the fifteenth century, a fact that seemed to impress everyone.

‘You’re practically landed gentry,’ Nico observed.

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