Dear Reader,

Upstairs and downstairs in the Regency household mirrored each other in numerous ways – although, of the two, downstairs was possibly the more rigid and stratified. And while the domestic staff had to think about their employers and their guests every minute of their working day, the privileged inhabitants of the upstairs world could go about their lives blissfully unconcerned about what the staff thought of them.

Lucas and Rowan think they know what is best for their friends and intend to set their love lives straight by plunging into the looking-glass world below stairs. I hope you enjoy their Christmas masquerade as they battle with the mysteries of the brushing room and the boot cupboard, the etiquette of Pug's Parlour, the formalities of the Servants Ball and the mortifying insight into the servants'-eye view of their masters' lives.

Their love affair seems doomed by circumstance, but this is Christmas after all, and under the mistletoe wishes can come true.

Louise

December 12th 1816

'Your stepmother expects you to marry a murderer?' Lady Rowan Chilcourt stared at her white-faced friend. 'I go away for two years and when I come back I find you meekly allowing yourself to be led to the slaughter like some lamb?'

'Slaughter? Oh, do not say such things, Rowan! And how can I prevent it?' Miss Maylin turned even paler, although how that was physically possible it was hard to see. 'We do not know he is a murderer-surely he is not-but the stories are alarming, and Lord Danescroft- Oh, Rowan, if you could only see him for yourself-he is bleak, unsmiling, utterly sinister.'

'You must say no,' Rowan retorted as she paced, the skirts of her Parisian carriage dress swaying. This was so typical of Penny: she was the sweetest, most loyal friend anyone could hope for, but she was painfully shy and utterly incapable of saying boo to a goose, let alone to a formidable creature like Lady Maylin. And what Penny's stepmother lacked in breeding she more than made up for in sheer bullying determination.