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They stepped outside, and Freddie put a hand to his brow to block out the light. It was not an overly sunny day, but much brighter than the house. “Most people are going in that direction.” He motioned toward a stand of forest. “Perhaps if we go over there, we will find something different from everyone else. It might give us an edge in the competition.”

They headed away from the house and toward the other side of the estate. Clumps of crunchy snow dotted the grass and pathways. But there were just as many puddles where smaller patches had melted in the warmer weather. He tried to lead Pippy away from the mud, but it was not an easy task. Finally, he led her off the path and onto the grass. “This looks promising. Is that not a yew there?”

“Yew is not so unusual. I’m certain we could have found it closer to the house,” his father grumbled.

Freddie cast him a dour look over his shoulder. “Where is your sense of adventure, Father?”

He only harrumphed.

The servant stepped up beside Freddie. “Which branch do you prefer, my lord?”

Freddie looked at Pippy. “What do you think, my dear?”

She pointed to a full, green section of the tall shrub. “It looks to be the fullest there.”

Freddie nodded to the servant. “Perhaps a dozen branches? That should be enough for the banister and the tables, I should think.”

“You can’t take it all from one spot.” Ari complained. “You’ll leave the poor hedge with a bald spot.”

“It’s a hedge, Arabella. I believe it will recover,” her father said with feigned exasperation.

Freddie noticed Pippy watching the interaction. Her brow furrowed, as if she were trying to figure something out.

“Look, there’s mistletoe.” Evie pointed up into a nearby tree. She lifted her brows and grinned widely. “We could make a kissing bough to hang over the front door. Then everyone who entered would have to kiss someone. Would that not be diverting?”

Their father frowned. “No, Evangeline. It would not. I will not have you or your sister ruined by a Yuletide decoration.”

Evie and Ari gave each other a look.

Freddie bit back his smile. He knew that look. His sisters would see the bough above the door if it was the last thing they did. “I’m certain even kissing boughs have rules, Father. You need not worry. It’s all in fun, you realize.”

He likely didn’t. His father never had fun. He only lectured and scolded.

A pile of spikey yew branches lay in a heap on the sackcloth. The servant looked at the mistletoe, then at Freddie, and then his father, as if questioning whom he was to obey.

His father sighed and looked heavenward. “Oh, very well. But do show restraint, Evangeline.”

Evi grinned victoriously.

The servant sucked in a breath before shimmying up the tree trunk to cut down the mistletoe.

Freddie whistled low. “He climbs a tree almost as fast as you do, Ari.”

Ari tipped her head to the side. “Almost,” she said. “I’d climb and retrieve the mistletoe myself, but I’m certain Papa would object.”

“You are correct,” their father cut in. “Now, what else do we need to find?”

“Laurel would be lovely. And some hawthorn branches. The red berries will look beautiful against the greenery,” Pippy said timidly.

Freddie wished she would speak more boldly. His father would surely respect her more if she didn’t cower to him. Perhaps he would speak to her of it when next they were alone.

“Then we are not to collect holly?” his father asked in challenge. When had he become so fond of holly?

Pippy cleared her throat, but then straightened. “No, I think the holly will add much to the arrangement.”

Freddie smiled. Ah, perhaps he did not need to speak to her after all.

“How many red berries does one need in their decor?” his father grumbled.