It must be because she was certain that Hannah would not participate in such manipulation. She had hated it when Danby tried to do so to her, or anyone else in her family for that matter, and Deborah was certain that her sister would not approve of such a plan.
Therefore, it was just by chance that she was with these two gentlemen.
“Which one will climb and which one will catch?” Tilson asked when they came to the trees and looked up.
“We will take turns,” Percy suggested.
She would feel much better if it was Percy always up in the tree, then she wouldn’t be alone with him on the ground.
“You go first,” Tilson insisted.
“I will collect and put them in the bag,” Deborah offered.
Percy lifted the ladder and placed it against the first tree and began to climb while Tilson braced and held it in place. However, the ladder was not tall enough and soon Percy was climbing the limbs while holding the pruner.
Her heart started pounding the higher he climbed and she wished that they had found mistletoe on lower branches.
What if he fell?
No, she couldn’t think like that, but it didn’t stop the worry as he reached near the top, stopped, balanced one foot on a limb, hugged the tree with his left arm, then reached out and began clipping the small branches holding the mistletoe until it gave way.
“Watch out below,” Percy called and she scampered out of the way as a large bunch fell from the limbs above.
“Let me help you,” Tilson offered as she opened her bag to collect the mistletoe.
“You should hold the ladder so Percy does not break his neck on his way down,” she returned and hoped that he made it to the ground safely, not at all comfortable with how high he was in the trees.
“Yes, of course,” Tilson said in a low tone, yet she noticed a small quirk of his lips as he turned away from her. What was he about?
Percy climbed down the tree with more care than he had used going up because he could not see where he needed to put his foot. He was also glad that he had not worn his greatcoat because he was hot enough from the exertion in his suitcoat. When he finally reached the ladder, he made certain that Tilson was holding it since the man had stepped away to assist Deborah.
Was Tilson interested in courting her?
It certainly appeared that way and Percy did not like it at all.
Somehow, he had to discourage his friend but wasn’t certain how he was going to go about doing so.
Once his feet were on the ground, Percy grabbed the ladder and went to the second tree that had mistletoe high above in the branches. “Your turn,” he said to Tilson. At least he would be the one on the ground and alone with Deborah this time.
“I am afraid that I am unable to climb,” Tilson admitted.
“Have you never climbed a tree before?”
“Yes, several, in my youth, but I am older and wiser now.”
Percy snorted. They were the same age of five and twenty. Hardly ancient.
“I do not want to tear my trousers,” Tilson finally admitted.
“Are they so tight?” Percy demanded.
“I fear that they are for climbing up a tree.”
It was a weak excuse at best. Tilson just wanted to remain with Deborah, not that Percy could blame him. “Very well,” he grumbled and shrugged out of his confining suitcoat and tossed it to his friend. “Hold the ladder and do not step away this time.”
Percy did not wait for a response but began to climb and wondered if dropping the bunch of mistletoe on Tilson’s head would be harmful.
He was also going to be quick about his task because he did not want to leave Tilson alone with Deborah any longer than necessary.
