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

24

As with all nights in the month of the Dullahan, Merida listened to Higgs dramatically make his way to his carriage and crack the whip as he headed into town. She had asked him once if it was just town that he did his duties in, but he told her that that was ridiculous. The carriage traveled quicker than one would expect and could go miles and back in one night. He had her recall the first time and how he had come back. Someone somewhere was always dying, so the Dullahan never had a night of silence, but if it was always the town, there would be no one left.

Melissa Granthum Merida heard in the night.

She sighed, deciding to forgo reading and going to sleep. Usually she didn't hear them if she went to sleep.

Seth Pendwell

"Goodnight, Mr. Higgs." She said to the air, blowing out her lamp.

***********************

The next morning, Merida went down the stairs and started to make breakfast. As she went down the hallway, she spotted muddy footprints coming up the stairs and into the hallway, all the way to Higgs' room. She made a face and a mental note for him to clean that up as she headed to the kitchen. She swung open the door and Marlow yelped, dropping an egg.

"You scared me!" she said, running her hands through her hair.

"Sorry. What's got ye all prickly?"

"I saw Lord Northumberly ride past my house last night."

"Oh?"

"I was so scared. I was sure he was going to stop at my house."

"What for? Ye got a disease I didnae ken about?"

"No."

"Then what would he be wanting from ye?"

"Have you seen him ride? It's scary! How do you deal with it?"

"I sleep. After the first year, the names just start getting annoying. It's sad that they are dying people but after while, it's just a constant annoyance."

"Ailers mentioned that Lady Hinkley stayed her last night?"

"How did he know?"

"Her horse was in the stables. You know that boy can tell the difference in anything immediately."

"Oh, yes, Mr. Higgs wanted her to be over here for the names."

"I see... Are we setting the table then or are we going up individually?"

"Weel, Higgs isnae going to eat and I'm not sure regarding Lady Hinkley. I'll ask if she would like to take her breakfast in bed. She's probably too tired from all of the names and such."

Marlow nodded and headed upstairs when she spied Elizabeth coming down the hallway.

"Lady Hinkley."

"Oh, Merida." She said, looking at her with an uncomfortable smile.

"Ye get proper sleep?"

"I was up all night."

"Aye, the names can be a bit-"

"That's not it. I was up all night because I couldn't hear the names."

"What do ye mean?" Merida asked, genuinely confused.

"I stayed up all night, ready to hear the names, but... I heard nothing."

"That's odd..."

"Does this mean that I'm not as precious to him as you?"

"What do ye mean? I didnae hear anything last night either." She lied, quickly.