🏁 To Love A Myth - Book 2: Mr. Higgs and the Lady 🎩🔨🤕🐌 ⏯ 🚩🔮 🐇

20

Merida made her drink in the kitchen and realized someone was behind her. She turned and found Edgar asleep on the table. She walked over and shook his shoulder to wake him up. He mumbled something and then she sniffed at him.

"Laird, laddy, how muc did ye drink? And when did ye?" He didn't answer her so she shook him again. "Edgar."

"Huh?" he said, not opening his eyes.

"Get up and get to bed, youngin."

"I'm fine."

"No ye're not."

Edgar mumbled something incoherent and Merida frowned, trying to figure out how she was going to get him up the stairs if he didn't wake up. And also where he got the alcohol. She didn't smell any on him when they were in the carriage on the way back home, but then again, she may have missed it from all the talking him and Emmerit were doing.

A yawn caught her off guard as Higgs walked in, stretching his arms over his head.

"Evening." He said.

"Evening."

Higgs looked at Edgar. "What happened?"

"Apparently the little git had a nightcap of his own. Pissed as a fart, he is."

Higgs chuckled. "At least he had fun. How is our random guest?"

"Settling in nicely."

"I know he's not Gretchen's cousin, so who is he?"

"Please believe me when I say that I cannae tell ye... at least not yet."

"Hmm... Could you make me a drink?"

"An ye help. Ye used to be so helpful and now ye've pushed me aside." She said dramatically.

"No offense, Merida, but I am a lord; it's actually more confusing that I do help than not."

"Look at ye. Ye get a few other people in the house and start courting a lady and now ye ken ye're too good to be of help."

"I never said that." He said, pushing up his sleeves as he started helping her. "You're right though, it feels like forever since we were in here together talking about Uncle Kans' wedding announcement."

As they spoke discursively while making their drinks, Edgar opened his eyes and squinted. Seeing Merida and Higgs standing next to each other and talking civilly made him smile.

"I like this." He said out loud.

The two turned to him, finding him smiling at them from the table.

"What?" Higgs asked.

"I like this... it's how it should be."

"Go back to sleep, ya divvy." Merida said.

"I hate Elizabeth." Edgar moaned, sitting up to look at them. "I wish she would leave us alone."

"Edgar-" Higgs started but Merida put her hand on his chest.

"He's drunk, Higgs. He cannae help what he says."

"Out of abundance the mouth speaks..."

"We were happy!" Edgar suddenly yelled, his eyes brimming with tears. "You were happy. I'm so sorry that I ruined everything but please... I just... I want us to stay together. You and Mum and me... You're my family and she's taking that away."

"Edgar..."

"I'm sorry I ruined everything, Papa!"

Higgs' eyes widened as Merida watched to see what he'd do. She always knew that Edgar viewed Higgs as a father, whether Higgs thought of himself as one or not. Edgar put his face in his hands, sobbing in his drunken reverie. Higgs walked over and pulled Edgar to him, petting his hair gently.