~English Renaissance carol Christmas morning at Rougemont was delightful mayhem, high-pitched squeals from the children as they dumped presents from their boxes then created yet more noise with the toys. Madeline Cavendish and Christian Tilmore pounded away on a piano duet. Dishes and glasses clinking competed with low to high-pitched voices laughing and buzzing in conversation. It all made Wesley’s ears ring, but his smile was genuine; he found other people’s naughty children hilarious. Richard, one of Lord Devon’s mischievous twins, had found the box of crackers meant for Christmas dinner and went around pulling them open with a pop, trying to startle his unsuspecting relatives. Apparently he’d eaten the bonbons inside; his mouth was ringed with chocolate and raspberry jelly. His mother, Lady Devon, was preoccupied laughing with Elise, whose children had opened replica Roman shields and swords in their presents, and so declared war on Lord Devon, whom they called “Uncle Wil.”
