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“I’ll be careful,” she said.
“I won’t let anything happen to her,” William assured him.
Greer made some noise, but when Lucy looked his way, he was staring off toward the coop.
“I’m leaving,” Lucy called out to the children, and all three barreled out, making the roosters scatter and the pups bark.
“Lord help me,” Simmons said and turned, trudging into the house. He ran fingers through his sparse hair, standing it up as if he didn’t care anymore about his proper presentation.
Lucy gathered the children around her. “Be gentle on Simmons. He’s lost a friend.”
“I will,” Catherine said, nodding solemnly.
“As long as he doesn’t try to kill my roosters,” Nick said, crossing his arms.
“We will take care,” Alyce said. “And thank you again, milady, for allowing us to stay in your grand home.” She smiled. Even though it pulled at the scar on her cheek, the happiness was beautiful. She was beautiful. If only she could believe it.
Lucy tugged on her own glove, forcing a smile. “I’m off to court to make merry.” Whether she felt like it or not.
William put out his arm immediately for her to take. She took it as Cordelia took William’s other arm.
Lucy looked over her shoulder at Greer, who walked to unhitch his horse, but she still didn’t feel like talking to him.
With evident strength, Greer rose in the stirrup and threw his leg over his horse. With a press of his booted heels, the horse took off in a fast walk past them.
William murmured something, but Lucy watched Greer ride away. Infuriating man. To think she was predictable, marrying William just because he asked.Ifhe asked.
Greer didn’t know anything about her if he thought she was predictable.Damn Highlander. I’ll seduce him.She chuckled.
“Did you say something?” William asked.
“No, I’m just randomly merry,” she said, keeping her smile. Wouldn’t Greer be surprised. Seducing him would certainly prove that she wasn’t a simple sum of bland actions.
Chapter Seven
“The Queen had a notoriously sweet tooth and was especially fond of candied violets. She ate so much sweet stuff that, inevitably, her teeth started rotting from a relatively young age. But since only the rich could afford snacks made with sugar imported from the New World, black teeth were widely-regarded as a status symbol and an indicator of not just great wealth but also cosmopolitantastes.”
History Collection.com
“Stand in line!”Lucy called over the rabble of brightly dressed people in the long Stone Gallery of Whitehall. There were invited commoners and nobles jumbled in the corridor without any frowns or lifted noses. It was a wonderful aspect of Christmastide, even at court, where commoner and aristocrat could make merry together in the celebration of the season. If only she could get them to line up.
“In a line. Now.” The thunderous voice made Lucy jump, her face snapping to Greer. He stood with his muscular arms crossed, booted legs braced, and scowl in place. He was far from merry, but he was quite effective. The parade participants slid along the wall to form a long line.
Richard Whitby hadn’t a chance to lead the Christmas parade about Whitehall before he was killed. So the responsibility lay heavily on Lucy’s shoulders. Decked in a golden gown with panels of jewel-tone colors sewn into it, Lucy was ready to take on the challenge of making people merry. Even the damn Highlander who looked like he could eat baby birds.
She held a scepter made of mistletoe, ivy, and holly. The red holly berries punctuated the greenery, and red and gold ribbons hung from it.
Lucy waved the scepter in the air. “Let us start.” She nodded to the minstrels who stood directly behind her at the front of the line and began to walk forward. The minstrels started playingThe Boar’s Headcarol, known by all.
“The boar’s head in hand bring I,
Bedeck’d with bays and rosemary.
I pray you, my masters, be merry
Quot estis in convivio
Caput apri defero
