Page 9 of Mistletoe and Kisses
Knowing his mother and great aunt, as soon as they set eyes on Mary, they would be looking to replicate their success. Two Christmases; two weddings. He couldn’t fault the logic. He wouldn’t be disappointed if indeed that was what transpired, but only if Mary was willing to take a chance with her heart.
Hugh broke off the burning end of his cheroot, and after butting it out in a small patch of snow, he put the remainder in his coat pocket. He got to his feet.
“I shall bid you a good night, Charles,” he said.
“I won’t be long out here. Adelaide is settling William down, and I shall go up to our room shortly. Good night, Hugh.”
Hugh snorted. Charles would do anything to avoid being exposed to the smell of his son’s soiled linen clout before bedtime.
As he walked back into the inn and sought the warmth of his bed, Hugh Radley was struck with a thought. Earlier in the day he had sent prayers to heaven about finding his book and they had been answered. With the unexpected addition of Mary to the group headed for Scotland, perhaps another of his longtime entreaties had finally been heard.
Chapter Seven
Mary looked at the price tag on the long emerald and blue scarf and put it back on the table. It was beautifully made, the thread around its edges no doubt real gold. The silk scarf was worth more than the cost of all the clothes on her back.
“That’s nice. It suits you—it matches your enchanting green eyes.”
Mary saw the smile on Adelaide’s face. Her remark about Mary’s looks was the latest in a slowly growing list of small kind ones Adelaide had been offering since they’d left Cambridge.
Mary nodded, then turned to look at another shelf of goods in the shop.
They were in High Street, Edinburgh, along the Royal Mile, undertaking a morning of shopping before leaving on the last leg of their journey to Strathmore Castle.
Mary wasn’t particularly interested in shopping; the small number of coins in her possession had all been earmarked for living expenses. She could not risk spending money on non-essential items until she had managed to secure a regular group of students in need of her tutoring. Building that client base, however, would take time. And in the meantime, she still needed to pay rent and feed herself.
Still, it was good to be out of the travel coach. Three days from Cambridge to Edinburgh in even a spacious coach, such as the one hired by Charles Alexandre, had played havoc with her back and hips.
Hugh had not helped matters either, constantly asking her how she was to survive going forward. Making lists of people he would speak to on her behalf at the college to get her old living quarters back. Then a shorter list of people he would speak to if his first overtures failed. By the time he had finished mentioning yet again that his brother was the Duke of Strathmore and his brother-in-law the Duke of Mowbray, Mary had developed a headache which lasted two whole days.
She quietly chided herself. At least she wasn’t spending Christmas alone in the bedsit of a boarding house. Hugh and the Alexandres had no connection to her beyond mere friendship, and they were under no obligation to render her assistance. She should be grateful that they wanted to help at all.
“So where else do you have in mind to visit today?” asked Mary.
Adelaide shrugged. It was the first day she had let Charles take their son off her hands for more than an hour. Mary had noted that every so often, Adelaide would look down at her empty arms and sigh. She was missing her baby.
“We will be leaving early tomorrow for Strathmore Castle, so if you wish to walk the street at the bottom of Edinburgh Castle and wander into a few more shops, I can meet you back at the inn in time for supper. I have a private errand to undertake in the meantime; I have something to collect,” replied Adelaide.
Having never visited Scotland before, Mary was keen to take in a few more of the sights of the great city of Edinburgh. There was every chance she may not get the opportunity again.
With Adelaide off on her secret mission, Mary was surprised as to how quickly she welcomed the time alone. The one thing she did not welcome, however, was the biting wind which pierced her coat. Cambridge was cold in winter, but a thick scarf and her trusty red coat had seen her through the worst of the chilly days. Here in Scotland, her English attire failed against the onslaught of an icy Scottish breeze. Standing outside a drapery, peering in through the window, she hugged herself in an effort to stay warm.
“Stockings—that is what I need. Thick wool ones,” she muttered.
Hugh dropped the last of his Christmas gifts into his leather satchel and gave himself a silent cheer. “Ewan, Caroline, David, Mama, Great Aunt Maude, Adelaide, Charles, and William. Not that the baby will actually do anything with his gift, but it’s the thought that counts,” he said.
His Christmas shopping was complete. At the bottom of the satchel lay two other gifts. One was a special Christmas present for Mary, the other a small box.
It was the item inside the small box which had taken Hugh most of the morning to choose. He had thought to ask Adelaide’s opinion, but decided it was best if he kept his own counsel. He had already failed Mary enough times without adding the pressure of his family’s expectations to her worries.
When the time was right, he would speak to her.
Stepping out into High Street, he turned in the direction of the inn and began to walk. His morning had been a success. Apart from all the gifts, he had also bought two new bottles of black writing ink and some extra parchment. He had even remembered to get the small silk bags that Ewan had requested for giving coins to the castle staff on Handsel Monday.
He was quietly pleased with himself; for once he was organized for Christmas. He did, however, make a mental note to write out a long list once he got back to the inn—just in case he had stayed true to form and forgotten something of importance.
Crossing over High Street, he spied McNally’s sweet shop. His stomach rumbled at the thought of Scottish tablet, and he made a beeline for the front door.
“Hugh.”
