She turned the page and began to read about how “the droghte of March hath perced to the roote.”
Hazel’s new boot was incredible. The inside truly was molded to her foot, and the internal supports braced her ankle on three sides, holding it straight and better distributing the weight throughout her foot, rather than leaving the pressure concentrated on the jutting parts.
She still limped, but she no longer adjusted her gait based on whether or not anyone could see her, nor did she have to rely on the momentum of her body to start walking. And though there were a few blisters to contend with at the start, and her foot still ached at the end of the day, the improvement was enough to bring tears of gratitude. After only two weeks, her hip pain was nearly nonexistent.
Their marital routines quickly fell into place. Monday and Friday evenings, Hazel and Duncan engaged in discussions based on predetermined topics chosen by Duncan. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, they discussed topics of Hazel’s choosing. On Wednesdays and Sundays, they played chess, gin, or worked on a puzzle of some sort: physical or intellectual. On Thursday evenings, they responded to correspondences and did their own individual reading.
Hazel had initially found the idea of the routine a bit severe but had agreed to try it for a few weeks. To her surprise, she found it nice to know exactly what to expect. Thus, on the fourth Thursday of her married life, Hazel reread Amelia’s latest letter, which had come two days earlier and contained an invitation for Duncan and Hazel to come to Howard House for Christmas in two weeks.
It seemed that the Mayfield family was on a trajectory toward repaired relationships and new connections. She was glad for that for all their sakes, but did she want to travel the fifty-five miles to Howard House and playact her marriage in front of Harry and her cousins?
Peter was the only cousin Duncan had met, at Eastertime last spring, which meant the rest of them would have to make their own decisions about him. Did Hazel want to witness the awkwardness? Beyond that, the cooling temperatures of winter and comfortable routine they had established in their cozy house felt more comfortable than traveling to Howard House.
She turned in her chair at the writing desk to face Duncan, who was reading one of the medical journals Dr. Randall had given him earlier in the month.
“Duncan,” she said.
He did not look up from his reading. “Yes.”
“Aunt Amelia has invited us to Howard House for Christmas. Do you want to go?”
“We promised one another last year that we would attend this year together.” He continued reading, and she wondered if his amazing brain allowed him to focus on two mental tasks at once.
“Yes, but do you want to go?”
He did not look up as he responded. “I do not like to travel, but we promised.”
“I must confess that I am not looking forward to the long journey either, and I am less inclined to see my other cousins or Harry, for that matter. So much has happened these last few months, and I’m finding our life here in Ipswich comfortable enough that I do not want to leave it even for a week or two.”
“I should like to meet your brother,” Duncan said, finally lowering his periodical and looking in her direction. “He did not attend Easter weekend.”
Hazel was especially reticent about Duncan meeting Harry. Her attempts at subtle introduction of the idea not to attend had not worked, but then subtlety never worked with Duncan. “Would you be terribly opposed to celebrating the holiday here in Ipswich?”
“We promised we would attend Christmas at Howard House this year,” Duncan repeated.
“We promised that when we had not seen each other in over a year. Now we see each other every day, so the reason of the promise is no longer valid. We could forgive each other the broken promise and celebrate here, in Lavender House, instead.”
“How, exactly, do you expect to celebrate?” Duncan placed the periodical upside down on his lap and looked at a place past Hazel’s shoulder.
Hazel had not thought through the details, but did so quickly now that she had his full attention. “Well, when I was home at Christmas, our family would have a nice breakfast and there would be a small gift for each child at the table. On Boxing Day, we gave gifts to the staff.” Hazel’s family had not had elaborate celebrations, and the years she’d spent Christmas at school had been rather dismal. She feared her ideas could not compete with Amelia’s. “Did you celebrate Christmas with Catherine and your father?”
“I mostly remember putting up greenery on Christmas Eve and singing carols, which was enjoyable because Catherine was a very good singer. Since Catherine’s death, I go to Christmas services in the morning and then have supper with Delores at the pub on Christmas Day. There are not a great many patrons that day, so the pub is not too loud and they cook a goose for the Christmas meal, which I eat with Delores at the pub. I usually work on Boxing Day as there is a great deal to be done before the end of the year.”
“We could, um, make our own traditions.”
“Tradition implies repetition, but this will be the only holiday we shall share as man and wife.”
The comment made Hazel unexpectedly sad. “Still,” she said with a shrug, “we could enjoy a nice meal and avoid the requisite travel to Howard House.”
“Could we attend Christmas services?” Duncan said, sounding more excited. “It would be excellent to attend services together. Many of my fellow parishioners are curious about the woman who would marry me.”
Hazel cringed, wondering if that was exactly how the comment had been said. “I’m not much of a churchgoer, Duncan, as we have already discussed.”
“But surely you attend Christmas services. It is all about the birth of the Savior and helps to better focus our lives on the messages of His gospel. Even the non-religious should attend Christmas services.” He jumped up and began pacing.
“We could attend services on Christmas morning together, then have brunch upon our return as is your tradition. We could read about the birth of Christ in the book of Luke, his account is the most inclusive of that event, though Mark is my favorite gospel to read. Then we could go to the pub and enjoy roast goose with Delores. Celebrating in that way would be an acceptable exchange for not traveling to Howard House and meeting your brother.” He nodded in a way that made Hazel wish she’d not made the suggestion. He looked at her face suddenly. “That is acceptable to me, Hazel. Do you agree?”
To argue would risk ending up at Howard House. An hour of church was worth the trade, but Christmas dinner in a pub?
“Would you be willing to attend the dinner at the pub without me? It would be difficult for me to walk the distance, especially if I am to walk to church that day. And if the weather is poor, it may not even be possible.”