"Olivia? Would ye and Lily like to accompany Willy and I to town after breakfast?" Bree inquires as we are all seated around their breakfast table. The scottish cuisine is quite peculiar with all of their various options. I am already familiar with bacon, link sausages, lorne sausage, and smoked ham, however I have never heard of black pudding, haggis, and Tattie scones. I try each dish and they are all absolutely scrumptious. Rodger is at the head of the table with Willy to his right and Bree to his left. I am next to Bree and Lily is across from me.
"That would be very pleasurable, thank you Bree! Also could you possibly explain what are black pudding, haggis, and Tattie scones, if you please?" I ask with a confused look on my face.
"Oh, of course. I apologize for not doing so earlier. Black pudding is make of a type of blood sausage that uses pig's blood as the main ingredient, along with grains, herbs, and fat. Haggis is a delicacy to be sure in scottish society, it is a pudding that is made a wee sheep's liver, kidney, lungs, and is stuffed with oatmeal, onions, and spices. It is quite delicious, though I fear Lily will most likely not enjoy it. A tattie scone is a sort of how you say potato pancake. I believe that Lilly will prefer these to the haggis." Bree explains and I nod in understanding. I then quickly reach across from me to Lily's plate and steal her haggis before she noticed. Thankfully she is quite distracted by her soon to be cousin. I then take my knife and cut the haggis before taking a bite. I chew while pondering the flavors flowing through my mouth. Bree looks at me smiling expectantly probably in the knowledge that I will despise the dish. The dish is quite gammy and slimy but the flavors is incredible.
"The texture is quite peculiar but the flavors are pleasing." I declare and Bree chuckles at my assessment.
"Pray tell, Duchess Basset, what do you normally eat for breakfast back in Virginia?" Rodger asks as he sips some of his whiskey. It is strange that people in Scottland would drink whiskey with breakfast.
"Oh please, let us dismiss the formalities. We are to be family soon, yes? You can call me Olivia. We usually have eggs, scones, flapjacks, sausage, and we usually drink coffee or tea." I explain as Rodger nods while smiling.
"Very well, Olivia. Maybe we can prepare some of those foods so you might feel more at home here. Though I must confess that I have never heard of flapjacks." Rodger says with a confused look. I chuckle softly and Bree joins along with me.
"Dear, flapjacks are a type of bread served with butter and syrup. Jamie told me of them in his letters when he stayed with the Merrimans." Bree says as she places a loving hand on her husband's arm. Rodger nods in understanding and chuckles at his confusion as well.
"Will ye be joining us on our outing, Pa?" Willy asks Rodger with a pleading look onto his small face.
"I really wish I could dear boy, however I must give my regrets family." Rodger declares as Willy's face falls with disappoitment.
"What could occupy yer attention that would intrude on an outing with yer family, darling?" Bree asks with a confused look on her face. Rodger gives her a curious look that implies that there will certainly be a discussion about that later when they are not in certain company.
"Rodger do not give me that look, now I asked you a simple question, please answer it." Bree says sternly and Rodger sighs in surrender.
"Very well, I have to settle some business with Mr. McDonald about that horse he wishes to purchase from me, good day family." Rodger says as he stands up from the table but not plucking a scone off the plate and disappearing out of the dinning room.
"Ye will have to excuse Rodger, his horse business caused much stress on him, indeed." Bree apologizes and I smile with a quick nod of acceptance.
"Well, we best all dress for the unpredictable weather that Edinburgh has to offer." Bree says as well all leave the dinning room and head to our rooms.
When Lily and I walk in our room, there are new dresses sitting atop the bed. There is a long-sleaved purple gown with black boots and stockings for me. Next to my outfit there is a long-sleaved sky blue gown with black boots and stockings. We each get dressed and head out into the town.
***
The venders and shopkeepers fill the streets of downtown Edinburgh. I hold Lily's hand as we promenade down the dirt encrusted streets. We then come upon a modiste shop and Bree leads us in.
"Ma, why are we at the modiste? I do not require any clothes nor do I want any." Willy complains with his hands folded across his chest in a full on pout position.
"Yes Willy, yer Auntie Olivia and cousin Lily need appropriate frocks for the cold Scottish air. Now quit yer griping and be patient." Bree scolds her five year old son and I try not to laugh.
"She is not my auntie. She is just a Duchess who is trespassing in our house. I wish Uncle Jamie would come home and be here instead of these trespassers." Willy cries with tears starting to form in his brown eyes.
"ACK! WILLIAM BAIRD!! YOU APOLOGIZE TO YOUR AUNTIE AND COUSIN THIS INSTANT!" Bree reprimands and Will mumbles as soft "sorry". We all walk in with a tear-eyed Willy. I purchase some clothes for Lily and I to where while we stay here. We all return home and I have a feeling Willy will go to bed with no supper according to his mother's angered expression.
YOU ARE READING
A Patriot Romance
RomanceThis is a childhood friends to lovers romance story. Olivia Merriman has to marry well since no one will come to her father's shop because of the tax on tea unfairly given by King George III of England and so her younger sister, Evelyn can marry wel...
