Page 19 of Mistletoe and Kisses
Adelaide put down her dust cloth and retrieved the box she had brought with her. With a curtsy to her mother, she handed it over.
“Lady Caroline is indisposed this afternoon and has asked that I continue my role for this year,” announced Lady Alison.
Mary set her broom aside and walked over to where the others stood. She was eager to see what item of importance lay within the box that warranted such a ceremony.
Lady Alison removed the black ribbons which held the box closed and handed them to Adelaide. With great reverence, the lid was lifted. Mary and Aunt Maude both leaned in close, peaking over the side of the box.
A golden ball of mistletoe sat before them.
Aunt Maude and Lady Alison both gasped. The castle servants turned and bowed low to Adelaide.
Mary didn’t know where to look. All this had been for a branch of mistletoe. She stifled a nervous laugh.
“Absolutely magnificent. Adelaide, you have done your family proud,” whispered Lady Alison. A soft smile sat on Aunt Maude’s face.
Mary’s clear lack of understanding of the significance of the moment, together with her embarrassment, were saved by the arrival of Ewan, Hugh, and Charles through the front doors of the great hall.
With a solemn look on his face, the Duke of Strathmore strode over to where the mistletoe lay in the box. He looked down, paused for a moment, then nodded. “Near-perfect formation. Bright coloring. And just the right amount of branch on the end. I couldn’t have chosen better myself.”
“I know,” replied Adelaide.
Ewan chuckled at his sister’s words. “Now to get this beast up where it belongs.”
After the hammer and a nail were handed to him, Ewan set to work attaching the branch of the mistletoe to the piece of wood. Several more nails were added before he stood back and declared that the job was done.
Everyone watched while the wood was hauled back into the air, coming to rest some ten feet above the floor. The rope was then tied off a second time with a firm knot.
Hugh came to Mary’s side. “The hanging of the mistletoe is a very important part of the annual festivities. I am glad you were here to be able to witness it,” he said.
She felt safe enough to ask him the obvious question. “I know people in England see it as a fun part of Christmas—most everyone has kissed under the mistletoe — but why is it so important here?”
“Because it holds real magic,” he whispered.
She met his eyes. Hugh was about to become a curate for the Church of England, and yet here he was talking about magic. She had never known him to be anything other than serious about matters of his faith and life’s calling.
“It’s alright; I won’t get thrown out of the church for respecting old customs and ways. All forms of religion have a degree of believing in something we don’t fully understand,” he said.
If her father could hear Hugh right now, he would be frowning with disapproval. Professor James Gray had been strict to the letter in his observance of the scriptures.
“This is Scotland; we do things a little differently here,” he added.
With the mistletoe now in place, eager looks passed between the members of the gathering.
Charles slipped an arm around Adelaide’s waist and drew her to him. She pretended to bat away his amorous advances but did not put up a fight when her husband steered her in the direction of the mistletoe.
“Just remember that with great power comes great responsibility. We expect to hear word of a new arrival from the two of you if you dare to kiss under the Strathmore mistletoe,” said Ewan.
Charles laughed, and taking his wife in his arms, he gave her a soft, loving kiss.
Applause rippled throughout the great hall. The mistletoe had captured its first couple.
“And there will be many more before it comes down after Hogmanay. I wonder who will be next,” said Adelaide.
Mary kept her gaze fixed on the rest of the group, quietly praying that Hugh did not see the heat which she felt burning on her cheeks. She could only pray that she was one of those whom the magic of the mistletoe would touch.
Chapter Twelve
Hugh hadn’t failed to see the bright red of Mary’s cheeks as she watched Charles and Adelaide embrace.
