I let him fuss over Trix for a few moments more, recognising her need for some aftercare, then she was handed to Dimitri and Rosie to be hugged and praised and poured champagne.
‘Sarah,’ said Jasper softly, holding out his hand towards me, still at the mantel in my original pose.
‘Oh,’ I said, laughing at my failure to take my hands off my head. ‘I didn’t think …’
I put my hand in his.
‘You had something to say to me,’ he said gravely. ‘Shall we go on to the terrace?’
‘It’s freezing,’ I said, looking at the snow-flecked windows, then down at my state of semi-dress.
‘Put a coat over it.’
He led me to the kitchen, grabbed my long wool coat from the pegs by the back door and took me out into the snow.
It whirled and settled on my skin, melting on my face. We stood looking over the back gardens to the woodlands beyond, silently together for a long snowy time.
‘So?’ said Jasper at last, so quietly that he sounded like one of the snowflakes whispering around us. ‘What did you want to say?’
‘Yes,’ I said, linking my arm with his and laying my head on his shoulder. ‘Just yes. To everything. For ever.’
He tilted up my face and kissed it, driving the cold away with the warm force of his mouth and his energy.
We were still kissing ten minutes later, when Rosie and the others spilled out of the back door, demanding to pour us champagne.
‘Do you know,’ said Jasper, with the smile I knew and loved so well. ‘I think a glass or two might be in order.’