Highland Yuletide: Three festive novellas to transport you back in time by Jayne Castel

Author:Jayne Castel [Castel, Jayne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Winter Mist Press
Published: 2022-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

“Are ye not happy to have Rob home?”

Gavina’s question hit Elizabeth in the breast like a well-aimed quarrel. She paused her work on the holly-wreath she was fashioning and glanced up. “Of course I am.”

Even to her, the words seemed forced.

And of course, Gavina wasn’t fooled. “Ye don’t look pleased,” she observed, reaching for a length of red ribbon to tie on the wreath she was making.

The two women sat near the hearth in the women’s solar—hard at work on Yuletide decorations. The ‘Long Night’ was swiftly approaching.

There were still many preparations to be made, and Elizabeth was glad of it, for the tasks took her mind off her churning belly and her memory of that searing kiss she’d shared with Robert the day before. She’d avoided him ever since, but the time was coming when they’d have to speak again.

She was dreading it.

Elizabeth heaved in a deep breath. “I’ve never been able to hide much from ye, have I?”

Gavina’s mouth curved. “Nor I ye … that’s why we are as close as sisters.”

Their gazes met, and warmth seeped through Elizabeth. She had two younger sisters, but she hadn’t seen either in years, and they’d never been close as bairns. Gavina didn’t have any sisters—and had only been cursed with a treacherous elder brother. During Gavina’s first years at Dunnottar, the women’s relationship had been pleasant but interlaced by formality—they’d been sisters-by-marriage rather than friends. But the years had forged a bond between them, and once Gavina wed Draco, it was impossible not to be drawn to the happiness that emanated from her.

The door to the women’s solar opened then, and two pretty brown-haired women hurried in. One had smoke-grey eyes and a slender build, while the other possessed grey-green eyes and lush curves.

Aila Gaius and Heather Cato—the steward’s daughters. These days, Aila was wed to the Captain of the Dunnottar Guard, while Heather now lived with her husband and two daughters in nearby Stonehaven.

The sisters carried large baskets filled with ivy, mistletoe, pine sprigs, and holly. Their faces were flushed with cold as they hurried toward Elizabeth and Gavina.

“Sorry, we’re late,” Aila gasped. “Callum had a tumble in the snow this morning … it took me a while to calm him.”

Gavina frowned at this news. “Did he hurt himself?”

Aila shook her head. “Just a fat lip and bruised pride. His brother won’t stop tormenting him over it.”

Despite her low mood, Elizabeth found herself smiling. Callum and Duncan, born just eighteen months apart, were both tempests, despite that they were only aged four and six.

“It took me an age to get here from Stonehaven this morning,” Heather announced, taking her place at the table. She then started to pull out the various items she’d collected for wreath-making. “The snow’s deep for this time of year … it was up to my knees in places.”

“Here.” Elizabeth passed Heather a cup of warmed mead. “This should make the blood return to yer toes.”

Heather grinned back at her, before she wrapped her pale fingers around the cup, lifting it to her lips.

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