Page 46 of Snowdrops and Winterberry
“I don’t know how to play the game though.” Adam’s brow pulled low and tense. “Maybe it isn’t fun.”
“It is a lark.” Lord Jonquil had five coins at the ready and had already plopped himself onto the floor in anticipation of playing the game. He motioned for Adam to join him. “Each player sets a coin at the bottom of the board and then shoves it toward the top.” He demonstrated. “If the coin stops between two lines, the player receives the points for that spot.”
Adam didn’t play for the first couple of rounds, preferring to watch and learn. But even when he did join in, he seemed distracted. His thoughts were elsewhere.
“We can take up a different game,” Robbie said. “It’s for you to choose.”
He pushed out a deep and tense breath. She knew he took any and every responsibility very seriously, but she’d thought he would find that night’s assignment enjoyable.
“We need to wassail the tree,” Adam said.
To her husband, Lady Jonquil said, “We are taking averytraditional approach tonight.”
“Except for the Christmas greenery,” Lord Jonquil said. “His Majesty has requested it remain up, on account of his being very fond of it.”
“Then, it most certainly will.”
Even that kindness didn’t entirely lift Adam’s spirits. Why was he so heavyhearted? He’d planned the evening’s party and had seemed quite excited only the night before.
“Oh, Howard,” she whispered to her sweetheart. “I had such hopes that this would be a joyous Christmastime celebration for him.”
Howard put an arm around her as they walked toward the walled garden. “I do think he is pleased with our Twelfth Night festivities.”
Robbie rested her head against him. “You’re telling me I need to have hope?”
“We have a great many things I’m hopeful about, my Robbie. More hopeful than I’ve been in years and years.” He kissed her forehead and squeezed her shoulders. “I know you’re nervous for our dear little duke, but I think we’ve reason to be hopeful for him as well.”
They arrived at the newly planted rowan tree, where a bit of wassail and bread awaited their efforts. Adam did look pleased, even if his expression was a bit anxious. Howard kept to Robbie’s side, brushed his hand against hers, offered her reassuring smiles. Even with so much uncertainty in her future, Robbie did, in fact, feel hopeful.
The group made short work of the tree-wassailing ceremony, choosing not to include any poems or songs or such.
“That is supposed to make the tree a good tree,” Adam told Lady Jonquil. “And it means the people here will have a happy year to come.”
“I hope so,” she said.
Howard took Robbie’s hand. “Hope is a powerful thing,” he whispered.
“I’m learning that from you, my dear.”
Adam looked to Lady Jonquil. She smiled softly, encouragingly. Some-thing unspoken passed between them.Adam’s shoulders squared, but he didn’t move or speak for a moment. Lady Jonquil gave him a little nudge.
That seemed to be enough.
Adam turned and faced Robbie. “I’m the king tonight, so that means I can make another royal decree.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
“I decree that...” He paused. He took a breath. And swallowed. “I decree that you and Mr. Simpkin should get to be happy. And that means when he travels, you should travel with him.”
Never could she have guessed he’d say that.
And he wasn’t finished. “You can’t marry Mr. Simpkin and travel in his coach to build gardens if you’re a nursemaid. And you can’t be happy with him if you are waiting here for me to visit.” His chin quivered, but only for a moment. “I am too old for a nursemaid. And Lucas and Mother Julia’s baby would be happy to have you as a nursemaid. But you won’t be happy without Mr. Simpkin. And I want you to be happy.” His voice broke, but he pushed on. “I wouldn’t love you very much if I didn’t want you to be happy.”
“My dear, wee Adam.” Robbie bent down to look him more directly in the eye. “Too many people have left you. I can’t join their number. That’d be unkind.”
But he shook his head. “You aren’t leaving me though. Not like they do. They leave because they don’t want to be with me.”
That wasn’t entirely true, but she was certain itfelttrue to the sweet boy.
