15. Dancing and Merriment

CHAPTER 15

DANCING AND MERRIMENT

A minute later

Several servants had already gathered in the great hall when Ivy and Robert joined them. Some were dressed in their Sunday best and similarly coiffed for the Christmas Eve event while others were still dressed as they had been to make the decorations. Those who had been in service to the Ritchfield earldom for more than a year or two knew what to expect on this night—an enjoyable evening of dancing and merriment, of games and gifts.

The trestle had been pushed to the side of the great hall and was dressed in a red linen tablecloth. Glasses were lined up on it, and several bottles of champagne were set in buckets filled with snow.

The kissing bough, featuring apples, flowers and small dolls, had been hung just inside the front door. Although no one was expected to come through the door given the awful weather, Ivy knew that particular location would become more popular as the evening progressed.

Barbara, already dressed for the evening’s entertainments, appeared from the kitchens. Her arms were laden with a large salver of sugared plums and fruit cake.

When he saw the scullery maid, Robert leaned over and whispered, “I should have dressed more formally.” He nodded to the servants when they curtsied and bowed.

“Nonsense. This is not a formal occasion,” Ivy countered. “You can dress for the Twelfth Night celebration if you’d like.”

Robert displayed a frown. “What? We’re doing this all again in a fortnight?” he complained.

Ivy patted his arm. “You’re the master of the house, so if you don’t wish to?—”

“They’ll expect it, won’t they?” he interrupted.

“Probably,” she agreed, turning her smile on her lady’s maid. Anne and Tom were standing next to one another, her arm threaded through his elbow, as were Bobby and Christina. Bobby held his violin and bow, obviously waiting for a cue from the earl to begin the music. “I’m going to start playing the piano-forté, but if you should like to dance with me, Mrs. Ashton can perform in my place,” Ivy said, nodding in Christina’s direction.

Robert tugged on her hand, “I haven’t danced in an age,” he reminded her.

“Neither have I.”

Ivy made her way to the piano-forté, and Bobby joined her. When she had the sheet music in place, the two began to play.

Maids lined up on one side of the hall while the men did so on the other, and given there were more women, Robert gingerly joined the line of men for the longways dance that ensued. A Scottish reel followed, which had the servants quickly forming into two circles of four, and laughter ensued when Perkins couldn’t quite keep up.

Breathless at the end, Robert stepped away from the others and moved to the refreshment table. He nearly downed his champagne in a single gulp, and soon, others joined him. He took the opportunity to address the servants again.

“I don’t wish to take too much of your time on this evening, but I do have a couple of announcements. First,” he waved for Tom and Anne to step forward. “I have the honor of sharing the news that the Mr. Walker has proposed marriage and Miss Salisbury has accepted.”

Although the news didn’t seem to come as a surprise to most, applause and cheers erupted from the servants. When they quieted, Robert said, “Two days from now—Boxing Day—will be a day for you to do as you wish. You of course will not be expected to work at all for the entire day or night.”

A murmur of appreciation sounded.

“With any luck—we should certainly have some given we’ve all taken a seat on the Yule log—the weather will cooperate, and you’ll be able to go to visit your families, or go shopping in Castleford, or spend the day in quiet contemplation,” he continued. “My countess has seen to it you’ll all be receiving an orange or two this evening.”

“Maybe three,” Ivy said from where she sat in front of the piano-forté, lining up the next sheet music.

Her comment was met with chuckles.

“As for tomorrow, I rather doubt it will be possible to go to church, so please know you are welcome to use the chapel here at Ritchfield Park.” He turned and arched a brow in Ivy’s direction. When she responded with a nod, he said. “Please feel free to stay up and dance as long as you’d like, even after her ladyship and I have retired.” He paused. “And with that, let the dancing resume.”

Ivy and Bobby played “L’Hipparchia”, a piece appropriate for a quadrille. One of the maids called out for a waltz, and when they were about to begin the appropriate three-count music, Robert gave Christina a beseeching glance. “Do you mind playing this one?” he asked .

“I would be honored, my lord,” she said, hurrying over to the piano-forté.

Robert motioned for Bobby to continue playing, and he took Ivy’s hand from the keyboard to kiss the back of it. “Will you do me the honor of dancing with me?” he asked.

“I thought you would never ask,” she said, sliding off the bench. Christina quickly took her place, and although her playing skills weren’t as refined as Ivy’s, she managed to keep tempo with her husband’s playing.

The earl and countess joined the circle of other dancers already engaged in the waltz, the hems of gowns swinging in arcs as the couples moved about the hall.

“I do hope you’re enjoying yourself,” Ivy said, her face flushed from the dance.

Robert turned her under his arm and recaptured her hand in his. “I am, but I think it’s time we left the servants to their merriment,” he said. “What about you?”

“I haven’t given them their gifts yet,” she said in protest.

Robert nodded in the direction of the refreshments table, where Graves was lining up pasteboard boxes adorned with ribbons. “You can do so when we finish this dance,” he said.

“Where did those boxes come from?” she asked in surprise. “They are far nicer than the ones we usually use,” she added in awe.

He chuckled softly. “I might have found them earlier. In one of the trunks Perkins brought down from the attic,” he hinted. “They were flattened, but Graves assured me he could make them presentable, and it appears he has.”

“I think he must have had one of the maids make the bows,” Ivy remarked. “They look positively beautiful.”

“Indeed. I hope you don’t mind, but I had him put the coins in the boxes with the oranges.”

Ivy’s eyes rounded. “Robert,” she said on a breath .

“It’s only a few coins, but... I thought it only right since I’m having the butler at Gladstone Hall do the same thing.”

“With oranges, too?” she asked in surprise.

He grimaced. “Apples, actually. Oh, and enough money in Mr. Walker’s box so he can buy a marriage license,” he added. “He won’t be able to get one at his own parish in London.”

She tittered as the music ended, leaving them next to the front door.

Robert glanced up and Ivy followed his gaze. “Oh,” she whispered, discovering the kissing bough hung directly above their heads.

“Oh, indeed,” he said, before capturing her lips with his. Although the kiss was short, it was a prelude of what he intended to be doing once they were in his bedchamber.

The two quietly made their way up the stairs, sure they wouldn’t be missed.