“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.
No one who witnessed the kiss could have been left unaffected. French-born Charles Alexandre wore his passion for his wife on his sleeve. Hugh sensed a small pang of jealousy toward his sister and her joyful union, but he chided himself for it. Adelaide had found Charles after a long period of heartbreak and deserved every moment of happiness.
After the mistletoe ceremony, Mary slipped from the great hall. Hugh spent the rest of the afternoon in Ewan’s study, discussing estate matters. He was not the duke, but as the second son of the house, and heir presumptive, he still had his duties to perform.
“Now I have tallied up the heads to receive Handsel Monday coin purses, and it stands at fifty-seven. Master Crowdie has confirmed the number,” said Ewan.
Hugh sat and stared at his hands; his mind was completely elsewhere. His thoughts focused solely on Mary.
“I thought we should give every man one hundred pounds.”
One hundred pounds.
“What?!” replied Hugh.
Ewan sat and stared at his brother. “I thought that might get your attention. I know you find estate matters a tad boring, but if you could just concentrate for a few minutes, then you can go back into the hall and continue to make doe eyes at Miss Mary Gray.”
Hugh had been caught daydreaming, a fact he could not deny. “Is it that obvious?”
Ewan chuckled. “Yes. Do you remember when I had a small thing for Lord Stirling’s daughter some years ago? Well, the look I wore on my face all that summer is the very same one you have had plastered to your face since you got here. I’m surprised that the two of you are not already betrothed.”
“Her father was my professor, and so pursuing his daughter would not have been proper. And now that she is alone, it is going to be difficult to convince her that I am acting beyond mere pity for her changed circumstances. Add to that the fact that I do not know if she holds any romantic feelings for me, and you will have an understanding of how complicated this situation actually is,” replied Hugh.
Ewan sat back in his chair with a look of serious contemplation on his face. If anyone had an appreciation of dealing with a complicated love life, it was him. He had thrown Lady Caroline Hastings over in order to marry her sister, only to be jilted by his fiancée who had died while giving birth to his illegitimate son. It was a miracle he had managed to win Caroline back and secure her hand in marriage.
“The only advice I can give you, if you are asking for it, is to be honest with her. It took some time for me to come to that realization when Caroline and I were estranged. Make a promise to yourself that before New Year’s, you will talk to Mary and tell her how you feel. It was the only thing that brought Caroline back to me in the end.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, and don’t let Mama or any of the others try to play cupid. They got away with it, last Christmas, but that is because
