After their visit to the village, Mary had been stolen away from Hugh and pressed into service by the women. While the great hall was to be utilized by the family for a small Christmas gathering, its main purpose was as a place for all the castle staff and villagers to gather for Hogmanay at New Year’s.
“It is not officially Hogmanay until you can smell the wild boar roasting over the fire pits in the center of the castle courtyard,” said Lady Alison.
Aunt Maude rubbed her hands. “I cannae wait.”
Mary was surprised to see the Radley women dressed in simple brown woolen gowns with aprons. The dowager duchess held a broom in her hand, and she was sweeping ash from around the fireplace.
Maude was seated in a chair, tying together bundles of what appeared to be small branches of juniper. Beside her on the floor sat an impressive pile of completed work.
“Hogmanay traditions are to be kept. The first one is for the women of the family to clean the castle from top to bottom. It’s like spring cleaning in England, only the redding is done in preparation for New Year’s Day,” explained Lady Alison.
“Redding?” replied Mary.
“We clean the house now, then at Hogmanay we sweep all the ash from the fireplace so that our home is clean for the start of the new year. We light the juniper bundles and walk them around the castle to ward off bad spirits from the old year. The other bundles are for the villagers to take with them and perform the ceremony in their homes.”
Lady Alison handed Mary the broom and pointed to the back of the great hall. Mary was used to cleaning the small apartment at the university, so domestic work was not an issue. What did have her gripping the broom handle tight was the notion that she was considered a member of the family.
“If you would like to start sweeping from the back, I will get another broom and work in from the sides. Oh, and don’t fret over the rest of the castle; it was all done last week. I wouldn’t press you into service in such a way on your first Christmas here,” she said.
First Christmas.
Mary caught the remark. It sounded like Lady Alison expected to see her at Strathmore Castle in future years; not just this one. If only that could be.
Adelaide and Lady Caroline appeared at the foot of the stairs. Adelaide carried a red box in her hands, holding it with obvious reverence as she walked into the great hall. Mary could only imagine what precious treasure was contained within.
Adelaide set the box down on a table out of the way of where the women were working. “Nearly time,” she said.
Lady Caroline took a seat in a nearby chair while Adelaide picked up a dust cloth and began to bustle about the great hall, dusting and polishing every surface as she went. Lady Alison came and spoke to Lady Caroline, who said only a few words before rising from her chair and leaving the room.
As she passed, Mary could see that she was pale, and her features drawn. She gave Mary a wan smile as she made her way to the stairs. The duchess had been quiet the whole time, barely saying anything beyond the minimum required by good manners.
Two castle servants appeared at the front door of the great hall. One carried a wooden step and hammer, while his companion had a large coil of rope hanging over his shoulder and a piece of wood in his hand.
They bowed to Lady Alison, and she pointed toward a spot on the floor. “That should do nicely. If I recall, that is the same spot we used last year.”
The man with the rope took the piece of wood and tied them together. He then stood on the stool and began to throw the wood up toward one of the oak beams which supported the roof of the great hall. His colleague held onto the other end of the rope.
Mary stopped her sweeping and, along with the others, watched in silent fascination at the goings on. On the fourth attempt, the wood cleared the beam and then came rattling back toward the floor. The servant holding the rope pulled back, stopping the wood before it could hit the ground. He tied off a knot in the rope, but left the wood hanging.
With this piece of work now complete, the two men stood back from the stool.
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
