Christmas In The Boss's Castle

The maid who saved Christmas

Chambermaid Grace Ellis loves Christmas, but after losing her beloved grandmother, she’ll be spending this festive season working. So when her boss, Finlay “Scrooge” Armstrong, offers her a magical Christmas in Scotland, it’s a welcome distraction from her grief.

Widower Finlay is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past, but snowbound in his castle, Grace starts to melt his frozen heart. He never thought he’d find love again, but finding Grace is his very own Christmas miracle...!

Maids Under the Mistletoe

Promoted: from maids to Christmas brides!

Maids Emma, Ashleigh, Grace and Sophie work for the same elite London agency. And with Christmas just around the corner, they’re gearing up for their busiest period yet!

But as the snowflakes begin to fall, these Christmas Cinderellas are about to be swept off their feet by romantic heroes of their own...

A Countess for Christmas

by Christy McKellen (October 2016)

Greek Tycoon’s Mistletoe Proposal

by Kandy Shepherd (November 2016)

Christmas in the Boss’s Castle

by Scarlet Wilson (December 2016)

Her New Year Baby Secret

by Jessica Gilmore (January 2017)

Dear Reader,

There’s something so nice about writing a story about a heroine and her boss. I was lucky to be asked to take part in the Maids Under the Mistletoe series and given a suitably gruff Scottish hero that only my beautiful heroine could win around.

When I found out my story line included the fact my heroine got to decorate the hotel—and then the castle—for Christmas, I was in my element. It was almost as if the editors knew about my Harrods and Fortnum & Mason ritual every Christmas of buying a new Christmas ornament...

I also added in a few elements of my own. My elderly Alice Archer with her zest for life and her pristine 1940s’ wardrobe was a joy to write.

And as much as I love Christmas, it was useful to reflect on those who find Christmastime tough because of personal circumstances. Because I can’t give every one of you who feels like that a big hug, I just wish you all find a little comfort in this story.

Wishing you all a special Christmas,

Scarlet Wilson

Christmas In The Boss’s Castle

Scarlet Wilson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

SCARLET WILSON writes for both Mills & Boon Cherish and Mills & Boon Medical Romance. She lives on the west coast of Scotland with her fiancé and their two sons. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached via her website, www.scarlet-wilson.com.

This book is dedicated my favourite little people, Taylor Hyndman, Noah “Batman” Dickson, Lleyton Hyndman and Luca Dickson. Let’s hope you’re all on Santa’s nice list this year!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

GRACE BRUSHED THE snow from her shoulders as she ducked in the back door of the exclusive Armstrong hotel in Chelsea, London. It was just after six in the morning, the streets were still dark and she could see her footprints in the snow outside.

Frank, the senior concierge, came in behind her. A wide grin lit up his face as he saw her looking at the snow outside. ‘Finally,’ he muttered as he shook the snow from his coat and started to sing the words to It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. The words of the song floated from his lips. He gave her a nudge. ‘You’re too young to remember this one.’

She raised her eyebrows. ‘Frank, you should know, I know every version of every Christmas song that’s ever existed.’

They walked into the changing room. ‘What version do you want to go for? Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, or Michael Buble?’ She started singing alongside him as she wound her long brown hair up into a loose bun and tied on her white chambermaid’s apron over her black shirt and skirt.

Christmas was her absolute favourite time of year. It brought back great memories of the Christmases she’d spent with her grandmother in the little flat they’d shared in one of the poorer parts of London. But what they didn’t have in wealth, they’d certainly made up for in love. This would be her first Christmas without her gran and she was determined not to be sad and gloomy—her gran would never have wanted that for her.

Frank slid his arms into his dark green and gold jacket and started fastening the buttons. ‘I swear this thing shrinks every night when I put it into my locker.’

Grace laughed and closed her locker, walking over to Frank and pulling his jacket a little closer across his wide girth, helping him with the buttons. He kept singing the whole time. She finished with a sigh. ‘I wish those words were true.’

Frank frowned as he glanced at his reflection in the nearby mirror and straightened his jacket. They started walking down the lower corridor of the hotel together. She shrugged. ‘I wish it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas.’ She held out her hands. ‘Because it certainly isn’t in here.’ She gave a shake of her head. ‘I don’t get it. All the other big hotels in London have huge Christmas trees in their reception area and garlands and holly wreaths everywhere.’