Riverbreeze: Part 3 (17 page)

“Good.” He said, rising. Moving towards the clothes chest, he added, “Now, I want you to eat as much as you want.” He pulled out a clean pair of woolen stockings and his good doublet and breeches. “Worry not about conserving food. I’ll worry about that.” He returned to the bed to pull on his stockings, then his breeches.

“Do we need to worry about conserving food?” She asked, holding Robin a little tighter. “That day we spoke in the cellar—“

“We’ll be fine.” He interrupted her, regretting that day when he had shown that he was indeed worried. But she shouldn’t have to worry about that. That was his job. “You need not worry.” He told her in a firm voice. “Eat all you want…and you too, Robin. Come now, let’s get you dressed.” He said, going to the chest again and rummaging through the contents. “Where is that new suit you and Evelyn made for him?”

“’Tis in Evelyn’s room. She hasn’t quite finished all the embroidery—“

“Embroidery!” He interrupted, taken by surprise. He had known that for the past two weeks while Jamie had been leaving every day to help out at the Matthews’ place, Elizabeth and Evelyn had been working on a new suit for Robin, but he hadn’t expected it to be embroidered. That was too much. “On a little boy’s suit? How fancy is it?”

“Not too fancy, but you know Evelyn…” Elizabeth said with a smile. “She couldn’t resist doing something.”

Robert rolled his eyes and snorted. “Well, whether it’s finished or not, we’re dressing him in it anyway. I’ll go get it.” And before Elizabeth could protest, he walked out the door, shaking his head at Evelyn’s foolishness.
Embroidery
! He scoffed.

He found the small breeches and doublet laid out on Jamie and Evelyn’s bed. He picked it up and as much as he had mocked Evelyn’s idea to add embroidery to Robin’s clothing, he couldn’t help himself from marveling at the workmanship. Evelyn’s needlework, done in tone on tone thread and in connected inverted heart-shaped scrolls, made the utilitarian canvas fabric look like fine linen. Her skill with needle and thread would never cease to amaze him.

He wondered where the unfinished part was and turned it over to examine the back and that’s where he saw, close to the side seam, the faint lines where Evelyn had drawn the pattern in ink onto the fabric with a fine-nibbed pen. She had very little left to do and he didn’t believe that anyone would notice if Robin wore it like this.

When he returned to his bedchamber, Elizabeth was still sitting on the bed with a squirming Robin in her lap, looking as if she hadn’t moved an inch, but there was a pleased smile on her face and Robin looked as if he were ready to explode with some fabulous news.

And in fact, it was rather funny the way he couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Daddy! Look!” Robin crowed, “New shirts!” He pointed to a spot at the foot of the bed where two new shirts had been laid out side by side, one large, one small.

“What?” He asked, stepping right up to the bed. He looked back and forth from the shirts to Elizabeth. “You sewed these?” He asked softly.

“Presents for you and Robin.” Elizabeth said shyly, but proudly.

He dropped Robin’s new suit off to the side of the shirts and fingered each one, quite proud of her. “These are wonderful!” He praised her. “And you used the lace from my old shirt on Robin’s.” She had finished the sleeves with two layers of the lace and used the remainder to trim the neckline of the shirt.

His shirt was very plain, but perfectly stitched. There was only an inch of lace finishing the long sleeves which were long enough to be turned back over the doublet sleeves to form cuffs.

“I hope you do not mind. I couldn’t see discarding the entire shirt.” She said.

“No, no, I do not mind at all.” He said quickly, holding up the garment by the shoulders and looking at it all over. “’Tis perfect. Thank you.” He added warmly.

“You’re welcome.” She said softly, bowing her head at his compliment.

“Do you like it, Robin?” He asked his son.

Robin nodded his head vigorously. “Yeh, I do!”

“Shall we give
Maman
her present?”

“Yes!” He yelled, clapping his hands excitedly.

“My present?” Elizabeth asked, completely surprised.

Robert smiled, sharing a secret look with Robin, then went to the chest where he dug down towards the bottom. He pulled out a package, wrapped in a piece of linen and tied with a ribbon bow. “
Nadelik Lowen
.” He said, handing her the package.

She gently moved Robin off of her lap and set him down right beside her. Then she gingerly took the package in her two hands, her eyes starting to tear up. “What is it?”

“Open! Open!” Robin demanded.

She laughed a little. “All right.” Without wasting any time then, she pulled the bow off and spread open the two sides of the cloth. Inside was a pair of ankle high, doeskin moccasins, soft and supple and decorated with blue glass beads and tiny freshwater pearls. “Oh Robert! They’re beautiful!” She gushed. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

“Do you like them?” He asked, not sure of himself. He remembered her saying that she needed new shoes and while these moccasins wouldn’t take the place of a good quality pair of leather shoes that she could wear out in public, they could be worn at home and in the garden.

“I love them!” She said, beaming. She turned to Robin. “Did you help Daddy?”

Robin nodded, his eyes bright with happiness. “I help.”

“Good boy. Thank you.” She kissed Robin on the cheek, then looked up at Robert with love in her eyes. She held out her hand to him. “Thank you.” She said with much feeling.

“You’re welcome.” Robert took her hand and kissed the back of it. And then, because he knew how she always thought of her sister, he added, “And yes, I helped Jamie make a pair for Evelyn, so you’ll still be alike.”

“Oh Robert!” She cried, jumping up and hugging him tight. “Thank you. Thank you. You read my mind.”

He chuckled a little. “No, I didn’t. Jamie and I decided together that’s what we wanted to give both of you and we knew we couldn’t give one of you something without giving the other the same thing.”

She blushed then. Bashfully she said, “Evelyn and I also made a new shirt for Jamie. We felt the same way.”

He smiled ruefully. “I must admit I think you two were made for Jamie and me.”

“Does that surprise you or…displease you?” She asked in a small voice, afraid of the answer.

“No.” He answered truthfully, caressing her sweet face. “Last night, or perhaps it was early this morning, on this wondrous day, I came to appreciate all of God’s gifts, you, Robin, Jamie, Evelyn and this new life of ours. I’m very happy He brought you to me.”

She sighed and relaxed into his arms. “I am too
, mon mari
.” She whispered.

He liked hearing that,
mon mari
, in her soft voice. Perhaps one day he would ask her how to say ‘my wife’ in French or better yet, he would try to remember how to say it in Cornish, but because he had only been two years old when his mother had died, he had never heard his father speak those words. Alas, he would just have to say it in English.

“My wife.” He whispered in turn.

She let out a little contented hum and he liked that too.

Robin, however, was not pleased at being left out. “Daddy! Me hungry!” He reminded them in a loud voice.

Robert had to laugh. “Well, Robin has spoken. I guess we should get dressed and go down to breakfast.” He released Elizabeth and turned to his son. “This little boy is hungry!” He tickled Robin on his belly. They all laughed and now dry and warm and in a much better mood, they donned their new finery and headed down to breakfast.

* * *

As they descended the stairs with Robert carrying Robin, Elizabeth was unusually quiet and instead of heading directly towards the kitchen, she lingered a moment at the bottom of the staircase. Robert glanced at her and noticed how serious she appeared. He suspected something was bothering her—he hoped he hadn’t frightened her by bringing up the issue of food—and he put Robin down and gave him a little push. “Go ahead, son. We’ll be right there.”

Robin looked up, confused. Elizabeth bent down to kiss his cheek. “’Tis all right. Go see Auntie Evelyn now.”

“Yes, mama.” He said, obeying her; and he left them in the hall.

“What is it, Lily?” He asked, once Robin had disappeared through the kitchen door. “Is it about the food?”

“No, no.” She shook her head. “But I need to ask you something.” She said, sounding concerned.

“What?” He caressed the side of her face, wanting to wipe away all her concerns.

“Do you know a man with a large scar across his cheek from his temple to his jawline?” She asked softly.

Robert frowned, thinking. He shook his head. “No, why do you ask?”

“I had a dream—“

He didn’t let her finish. Those words would always scare him now. “What was this man doing?” He was immediately filled with suspicion.

“Nothing.” She answered quickly. “We were being introduced—“

“By whom? Where?”

“I didn’t recognize the room we were in. And I never saw the person introducing us.”

“Do you think it means anything?”

“I do not know.” She let out a sigh. “Actually, probably not. Evelyn said she didn’t have the same dream so I’m assuming it means nothing. I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have said anything.” She said, giving him a reassuring touch to his face. “Let’s go into breakfast.”

“You can’t just ask me that and then tell me ‘tis nothing!” He said, agitated, but he kept his voice down. “You know I’ll be looking for this man ‘till the day I die! What else can you tell me about him?”

“Well…” She hesitated, trying to recall any other distinguishing features. “He wasn’t as tall as you. His hair was slightly darker than yours but not quite brunette, and he was dressed rather plainly, so I’m assuming he wasn’t very prosperous. Do you think he could be a new settler to the colony?”

“Could be.” Robert mused, thinking hard. But her description was so vague, other than the scar, the man could be anyone.

“Oh, never mind!” She said briskly. “I’m sure ‘tis nothing. Let’s eat.” She wove her arm through his. “I’m starving!”

That got his attention. He didn’t want her to starve. He smiled down at her. “All right. Let’s eat.”

She may have been able to put aside their conversation, but he didn’t find it that easy. He knew he would think about this man for a long time and from now on, where ever he went he would probably become obsessive about studying every man’s face, looking for this mysterious man with a scar on his cheek and wondering what he meant to his wife. And when he found him, this man better not come between him and his wife or this man may end up with more than a scar on his face.

* * *

Breakfast was a simple affair: the same old corn cakes, oatmeal, etc, etc. and then instead of going to church, which all agreed was not sinful, Jamie read from the Bible and then moving to the parlor, Elizabeth played several hymns and holiday songs on the virginal while everyone sang.

It was a good time for all, that short hour. Jamie and Evelyn exchanged their gifts and immediately had to put them on! The twins acted so silly comparing their new moccasins and parading around the parlor in them, giggling the whole time. Everyone laughed along with them, enjoying their antics. And then, Elizabeth and Evelyn presented Abigail with six new handkerchiefs trimmed with lace and embroidered with her monogram which she adored and greatly appreciated, and even the servants received new handkerchiefs embroidered with their initial, although only two a piece—Robert had known about these presents and had agreed to allow the girls to give the handkerchiefs to Nathan and Dolnick today rather than on New Year’s day when he and Jamie would give the servants their new sets of clothing for the year—and Jamie presented Robin with a miniature horse magnificently carved from cherry wood. Robert was a little jealous of Jamie’s talent for carving and woodworking, but on the other hand, he had a green thumb and a knack for tanning buckskin and stitching quality garments from those skins.

As the noon hour approached, the snow finally ended and it was time to travel to Maureen and Phillip’s for the rest of the afternoon. The women gathered up the food they had spent the last two days preparing, four mincemeat pies made in oblong casings, three loaves of raisin-studded bread, two batches of excellent small cakes and two plates of gingerbread. Then everyone bundled up in their coats, cloaks, and hats and gloves and piled into the shallop, including the servants and the dogs.

The past two years Robert hadn’t cared what he did on Christmas day, but Jamie had always insisted he join him at Francis’ place, celebrating the day with Francis, Maureen, Phillip and their children. Robert had always gone along not wanting to spoil Jamie’s day but more importantly, he wanted to allow Robin time with his grandfather and aunt and to keep the holiday spirit alive in him even if Robert himself didn’t have any.

And today he hadn’t wanted to spoil Elizabeth’s and Evelyn’s day. They had told him and Jamie about their last Christmas in London and how Oliver Cromwell had passed ordinances to suppress the performances of plays on Christmas day, attempting to squash holiday merrymaking. They had put on their own plays at home, but it wasn’t the same as going out with their friends and neighbors and celebrating the holiday in high style.