A Highland Hogmanay by Meg Mardell

Author:Meg Mardell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA+, historical, Victorian England, holiday, Christmas, Scottish Highlands, lesbian, wlw, mistaken identity, humorous, family drama, interracial, intercultural, road trip, age gap
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2021-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Fin’s life was absolutely nothing like Sharda had imagined. It was much, much better.

Had she thought true happiness was owning a turreted castle? How much better it was to return to a cosy home each night, one full of cooking smells and family photos on the walls and many, many memories. And dogs. Two brown eyes were currently gazing at her cake plate. Such hopeful eyes. Only the watchful presence of Fin’s mother prevented Sharda from tipping a mouthful of the tempting treacle tart onto the floor in response to the silent request.

“Careful, Miss Holkar, or she will have that tart right off your plate.” Mrs Forbes pointed to the other dog, the one who appeared completely absorbed with Sharda’s handbag.

“Why, she has not so much as looked at my cake,” Sharda said.

Fin reached down to ruffle the dog’s silky ears. “She’s the more guileful of the two. Never lets you know where her real interest lies.”

“Well, I could say she resembles her mistress, then, Fionnula, for I remember how you used to pretend to covet your brothers’ new drawing pencil or spyglass so as to distract them from your real target. They often handed over what you wanted as an apology.”

“That was only once they had grown too big for me to wield influence in another way.” Fin grinned across the tea set at Sharda and brandished a neat fist.

“Tush,” Mrs Forbes chided. “You’ll have Miss Holkar thinking you were a ruffian. A better older sister did not exist. Fionnula spent hours patiently teaching the lads to fish and swim in the loch.”

A vision of three happy children bending their red curls over a single fishing rod floated into Sharda’s mind. A hound slept off its morning of rabbit hunting by their feet. Much as the childish Sharda had loved Tiddles the tabby cat, she had always longed for a dog. Well, she would get one now. And not just a fashionable lady’s pet either. No, no. She would obtain one of those inconvenient beasts of which her cousins so complained. Its slobber would be legendary.

“You must come and meet my sons when they arrive tomorrow, Miss Holkar. Indeed, you must join us for all the festivities.”

“Oh dear, oh dear, there is no help for it now, Miss Holkar.” Fin gently nudged Sharda. “You’re in for a proper Highland holiday whether you like it or not. But I can heartily recommend my mother’s fish pie. She makes it instead of the traditional haggis and tatties because it’s Stu’s favourite, the indulged oaf.”

“Why should I not indulge my lad when he comes home so seldom?”

“You do his future wife no favours, màmag. He’s far too good an opinion of himself for any woman save you to tolerate him for long.”

“I would very happily beg the girl’s forgiveness on my knees—if only he would produce her.”

“You see, Miss Holkar, my poor mother despairs of ever seeing a child of hers wed. Ham at least was once engaged.”

“Oh, let us not speak of that episode, Fionnula.

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