Page 29 of A Dash of Scot
Poppy squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath, hoping whoever was on the other side would go away. She didn’t ever let anyone see her in a state like this. And she certainly wasn’t going to start now. Pulling her handkerchief from her sleeve, she swiped frantically at her tears and her dripping nose. She couldn’t remain hidden all day, and she wouldn’t let anyone see her looking so ridiculous.
Broken heart or not, she had to stand tall.
“Poppy?” Anise’s tone was full of concern. “Sir John and the colonel have gone. They say they’ll visit us in the Highlands once we’ve settled.”
Poppy swiped angrily at the tears on her cheeks that refused to cease falling despite her orders. She pushed herself to her feet. At least it was only Anise on the other side of the door. Her sister wasn’t one to judge, even if she was a bit headstrong and silly sometimes.
Poppy flung open the door and stared at Anise, daring her to mention that her face was likely blotchy from sobbing, her eyes red and swollen. Her dripping nose making it seem as if her face had become a waterfall.
Anise stared at her, mouth open, not hiding the horror of what she saw. Thankfully, however, she didn’t say anything. Just grabbed Poppy, wrapping her in her arms and squeezing her tight. They were close but did not often hug. At first, Poppy stiffened, putting her hands up to push her sister off. But rather than push, she pulled, hugging her just as tight. Needing the feeling of closeness, of being held, more than she’d realized.
Needing to know that someone was on her side. That maybe everything would be all right even if it felt as if her life was an utter disaster.
Even after their father died, they’d hugged but not clung like this.
“Papa is gone, and our lives are changing,” Anise whispered, her voice tight with emotion. “Again. But that doesn’t mean our lives are over, Poppy. We’ll make the best of it. We’ll be all right. I promise.”
Poppy had said something very similar just last night.
“We will rebuild. We’ll be the belles of the Highlands, and Mary can take her snooty self and shove it up her arse.”
Poppy laughed, sniffling from her running nose. “And Edward too.”
“He’s no brother of mine,” Anise declared. “Except when I want that dowry.”
“If Mary hasn’t figured out a way to confiscate it first.”
“Ugh, I hate her.” Anise pulled back a moment, frowning, her eyes searching Poppy’s.
“I hate her too. With a passion that might rival the gods at war.”
“Who are we hating?” their mother asked as she breezed into the room and popped the dressing room door open further.
“Oh, Mama, wild guess?” Poppy said, finally letting go of her sister.
“No need to be wild about it. Half of Edinburgh is already talking about her and what she’s done, and the other half will be by the end of the day.” Mama clucked her tongue as if she’d already had a letter to confirm the information.
“Are they?” Anise asked, rubbing her hands together.
Their mother nodded, waving a handful of notes. “Oh, yes, dear ones. My friends are making sure Mary’s actions make the rounds. They said as much in their farewells and promises to visit, along with their cleverly disguised insults to Mary and her vindictiveness.”
Anise grabbed their mother’s hand and dragged her toward the chaise longue, tugging her down to sit. “Give us one juicy insult, Mama, so we can walk out of the house with our heads held high.”
Poppy clicked the lock on their bedroom door so no one could interrupt.
“All right, my dears, I’d be happy to oblige. But not out here. We need the protection of one more door.” Mama hurried them into the dressing room and shut that door too. Poppy and Anise waited, breath held. “Lady Sutherland says, ‘I’ll be sure to send all of my invitations with the name Featherstone and Cullen to your residence in the Highlands and lament about you not being able to come on account of it being so far and shall wipe the name Leven from my book.’”
“My goodness.” Poppy’s mouth fell open. “Lady Sutherland is like a queen around here. And she is all but saying Mary will be shunned from society.”
“It does seem that way, doesn’t it?” their mother nodded, her face serious but her eyes dancing.
“One more, Mama?”
“I’ll not fill your heads with idle gossip, but do know that most of my correspondence reads like such. And I think we will not want for company in the country, as many have suggested ending their seasons early to come north.”
Poppy watched her sister’s shoulders sag with relief. And while knowing that at least they weren’t being tossed to the ends of the earth for quiet nonexistence, she was still devastated for other reasons.
“What did Dougal have to say?” Anise asked, not pulling any punches.
