"Wait 'til Milo hears what I've been doing today!" Peony said after they left the Chubbs' and were walking down the lane toward Bywater. "It was rather exciting--although I was worried when Mrs. Broadbelt began to ask her questions. Does she know about your investigation, Frodo?"
"Yes, she knows," Frodo answered, "and what's more, I'm sure she knows why we visited her sister today."
"I thought I spied a certain glint in her eye when she was talking about Florabel's cottage. Take care, Frodo--She's a clever old lady. I don't know her well, but I've met her at Ruby's house before. She's the eldest of the family, and I gather that she rules over Ruby and their brother just as their mother used to. She had an eye on her sisters today. I think she brought up the cottage to see how they responded. Did you notice?"
Frodo had noticed. He was beginning to wonder if Mrs. Broadbelt was conducting an investigation of her own. "I suspect there isn't much that goes past her unobserved."
"Do you think she knows where those jewels are?" asked Peony.
"I'm certain she doesn't. She'd be wearing her emeralds now if she did."
After he had thanked Peony for her help and saw her on her way home, Frodo did not go home himself, but went to the Green Dragon. It was still early; the usual crowd of local farm-lads and Bywater shopkeepers had not yet come in, nor had Robin finished his rounds, but Sam was there, talking softly to Rosie. The barmaid's cheeks were pink, and her eyes shone into Sam's as she leaned on one side of the bar and he on the other, and they held each others' hands across it. Frodo stopped in the tavern doorway, not wishing to interrupt.
When they did notice him, Sam blushed more deeply than Rosie. Drawing back from the bar to stand straight, he announced, "It's settled. I'm to ask Mr. Cotton for Rosie's hand this coming Highday."
"How wonderful! Congratulations!" Frodo sincerely offered them his best wishes. "Please, come up to Bag End one day soon," he invited Rose. "There are several nice bedrooms that have been closed up. You'll have to choose the one you like best for your own."
"Thank you, Mr. Frodo," said Rosie. "That's very kind." Then she asked, in a softer voice, "And where's Sam to go?"
"Wherever he likes. We can arrange the details when the time comes."
"And will I keep house for you, Mr. Frodo?"
"If you wish to. Bag End will be your home too." Frodo already planned to leave his house to the Gamgees. He hoped that Rosie would grow to think of Bag End as hers and Sam's as much as his long before that day.
If Rosie didn't entirely understand the reasons for Frodo's generosity, she nodded and accepted them nevertheless. She knew that Sam had finally proposed to her only because Frodo had encouraged him to do it.
They were discussing plans for Rosie's visit to Bag End when the first of the local shopkeepers and farmers came in and occupied Rosie with orders. Robin arrived soon after, and joined Frodo and Sam at his usual table. Over half-pints of ale, Frodo told them about his visit to the Chubbs.
Robin took particular note when Frodo mentioned the two boys. "It sounds to me like this whole mystery's most likely nothing more'n young Masters Wilcome and Sancho up to their pranks," he said. "We've had our share of those lads' games afore this."
"I'm afraid, Shirriff, that this is more than a prank," Frodo answered solemnly. "There has been a crime--or, at least, an attempt at a rather mean and petty one. Our burglars are sure to try again, because they haven't found what they're after."
"The missing jewelry, you mean?" asked Sam.
"Yes, that's right. I'm sure that Mrs. Broadbelt is right. It's still in the house somewhere, and I have a good idea who's looking for it. It's fairly obvious, when you think about it."
Sam and Robin stared at him blankly.
Frodo laughed. "Never mind--you'll see soon enough."
He rose to fetch a fresh round of ales and, as he walked away from the table, he heard a murmured exchange behind him:
"D'you know who he means, Sam?"
"No, but I told you Mr. Frodo was clever, didn't I?"
After they returned to Bag End that evening, while Sam made dinner, Frodo went around the house and peeked into the closed bedrooms.
"I've invited Rosie to come to tea on her next afternoon off. We can make arrangements then," he called out to Sam as he left one unoccupied room and opened the door to another. "What about Pip's and Merry's room? It's the largest in the house after the master bedroom. I don't wish to imply that they've worn out their welcome, but I think it's best that they go and visit somewhere else soon after your wedding, before Rosie comes to live with us. It's only natural that she'd like to manage the housekeeping once she's here, but I don't want her to feel as if she's taken charge of a boarding-house for young gentlemen." He stood in the doorway, considering the room where his cousins were staying, which was slightly untidy even though the two were away. Sam left the kitchen and came down the hall to join him. "What do you think, Sam? It needs some sweeping up, and perhaps some fresh paint, but I think it could be quite pleasant. Would you and Rosie like it?"
"It's a bit close to your room," said Sam, and glanced at Frodo's door just across the hall. "You know how we can hear 'em at it some nights. I wouldn't like us to be that close. Frodo... you passed it by when Rosie asked, but how d'you mean to arrange things between us?" His face and the points of his ears were flushed, but he had to have the matter clear. "Am I to spend a night in your bed, and the next one in Rose's, then go back to you again?"
"Something like that," Frodo answered, "although of course I'll see to it that Rosie has more of your time at first, until she feels quite settled in and comfortable. I want her to feel as if she truly has a home here, and a husband, and they aren't only granted her by my sufferance." He shut the door and went to look at the guestroom behind the kitchen. This room was not frequently used; the furniture was under dust-sheets, and the feather-mattress had been rolled up at the head of the bedstead. It was a smaller room than the one Merry and Pippin were in, but it had a second room adjoining it that might do well as a nursery.
"What if I don't like being shared?" wondered Sam as he followed.
Frodo turned to smile at him. "Oh, I think you'll enjoy it. Don't you think it rather flattering to have two people love you enough that neither wants to give you up?"
"Maybe it is... but it'll take some getting used to."
"Give it a fair chance. I believe that if we're all reasonable about it, things will work out wonderfully." When Frodo turned to leave the small bedroom, Sam caught him about the waist and held him close. Frodo let himself be held, bracing his forearms on Sam's sturdy chest.
"You'll miss me when I'm not there, won't you?" Sam asked him.
"You know I will." Frodo gave him a kiss. "But I'm willing to make the sacrifice for a greater good--for your happiness, and Rose's. Besides, it's not as if I've given you up completely. I couldn't bear to do that."
"And you'll be all right, sleeping alone? What if you have a bad turn?"
"Whichever room you choose in the end, it won't be too far away. If I have trouble in the night, you'll hear me and come to me, just as you always do. Rosie won't mind that." Frodo chuckled and slid his arms up from Sam's chest to wrap them around his neck. "Not if you don't come to me too often or stay too long, and she starts to suspect that it's all a trick to let me spend more time with you."
"You wouldn't do that, would you?" Sam asked with some surprise.
"No..." Frodo laughed and bestowed another kiss. "It wouldn't be fair to Rosie. We are going to share you, Samwise Gamgee, fair and square. If I meant to keep you all to myself, I would."
There was a hissing gurgle from the kitchen as a pot on the fire bubbled over. With a cry of "My carrots and taters!" Sam let Frodo go and raced off to attend to them. Frodo remained in the empty bedroom, smiling softly. When Rosie came to visit, he would show her this room and offer it to her; if she liked it, he would have it fixed up nicely for her and Sam as part of his wedding gift to them.
He found he was looking forward to doing these things. He wanted to have Rosie here as part of his household, to see if they could make this arrangement work. He could see that both Sam and Rosie had their doubts about his idea for sharing Sam--and it was a strange and unconventional idea for traditionally minded hobbits to consider--but he had talked them into it and he would have to coax them along carefully to have a success.
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