by Cate Dean
Everyone in the village had brought gifts. Fun, silly, and sometimes useful gifts. Maggie and Martin spent more than an hour opening them, to the wild amusement of everyone watching. The biggest hit was Spencer’s gift: a matching set of digging tools.
Maggie looked over at him, and he shrugged, smiling. “I called in some favors.”
She couldn’t have wished for a better wedding day.
By the time they said goodbye to everyone, standing at the door for what seemed like hours, Martin looked exhausted, and Maggie wanted to curl up on the nearest flat surface.
“Ready, you two?” Spencer stood in front of them, a mischievous smile on his face.
“What did you do?”
“It’s not a wedding without a wedding night.” He winked at Maggie, and led her and Martin outside. Ashton, who had been absent for the wedding, stood in front of a horse and carriage, a grin on his face.
“I had to go quite a distance for it,” he said. “I am sorry I missed the ceremony.”
He held out his hand to Maggie, helping her up into the two seat carriage. Both Spencer and Ashton assisted Martin, settling him next to her.
“Spencer?” Maggie leaned out of the carriage. “Where are we going?”
“To your favorite B&B.”
“The White Rose?”
He nodded, draping his arm across Grace’s shoulders. “I know someone.”
Grace laughed, and pulled free, moving to the carriage. “Enjoy yourselves. You’ve been booked for two nights, but you can stay longer. Just let Mrs. Murphy know, and she will take care of it.”
“Thank you. And thank everyone else for us.”
Spencer swung up and kissed Maggie’s cheek. “Anything for my best girl. Now get out of here, start enjoying your alone time.”
He stepped off the carriage, and Ashton climbed into the driver’s perch, slapping the reins. Maggie waved to Spencer, Grace, and Lilliana, tears blurring her final view of them.
“All right, love?”
She laid her head on his shoulder, and wiped her eyes with her third handkerchief. “Perfect,” she whispered. “How’s your shoulder?”
“It should be fine for a couple of days.”
She lifted her head, and he smiled at her.
“Martin—”
“Hush, wife. I am not going to let a sore shoulder interfere with my honeymoon.”
“And I don’t want to spend my honeymoon in the emergency department.”
“I promise, that won’t happen.” He cupped her chin, his eyes warm. “Now, kiss me, Mrs. Martin. It feels like it has been years.”
She framed his face, relishing the feel of stubble, warm skin, and the slightly spicy scent that was Martin. Her husband.
With the quiet clop of the horse’s hooves, and the quiet night as her soundtrack, she kissed him.
~ ~ * ~ ~
Thank you for joining Maggie and Martin as they solved their latest mystery! Dancing on her Grave, the next Maggie Mulgrew Mystery, is now available.
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I’ll leave you with a sneak peek at Dancing on her Grave. Enjoy!
Excerpt from Dancing on her Grave
Maggie was going to kill her.
Too bad the subject of her intended violence was already dead.
With a sigh, Maggie stomped down the stairs—and skidded to a halt when one of the heavy silver candlesticks that usually sat on the mantle flew past her.
“Enough.” Her breath plumed out, and she pulled her wool robe tighter. The candlestick wobbled, like Maggie had surprised her, but it kept going. “I mean it, Anthea. Either tell me what you want, or leave me alone.”
To her surprise, the candlestick moved back to its place on the mantle. A second later, Anthea appeared, in the middle of the lounge. Maggie approached her, slowly. More often than not, the ghost disappeared before revealing the reason for her visit.
This time, Maggie was determined to find out why she was wreaking havoc in Maggie’s house.
“Okay.” Maggie stopped out of arm’s reach. “Why are you doing all this? Can you show me?” The ghost nodded, and glided out of the room. Excitement built as Maggie followed her to the library. “I wish Martin was here.”
He had been called away to the dig site, after the archaeologist in charge found artifacts he couldn’t identify. Martin had been calm, but Maggie knew he was thrilled to be consulted. She didn’t expect him back for at least a couple of weeks.
Anthea moved around the roomy library, like she was scanning the ceiling high bookcases. Great Aunt Irene had loved to read, instilling that love in Maggie from her first visit. This library was one of Maggie’s favorite rooms.
She followed Anthea, keeping her distance—until the ghost crouched, reaching her hand through the books on a bottom shelf. She looked over her shoulder at Maggie.
“Did you want me to—touch something? Move something? Open something?”
Anthea nodded vigorously at her last question. Taking a deep breath, Maggie stepped to her side and knelt.
All she saw were one of the encyclopedia sets Aunt Irene had scattered around the shelves. She had bought from every salesman who came to her door, claiming that certain information never changed.
“They’re just books, Anthea.” The ghost tilted her head and studied Maggie, obviously questioning her intelligence. Maggie shoved down the need to curse. “Is it behind the books?”
Anthea nodded, and reached through the books again. Braced for cold, Maggie reached in, over the books, gasping when she brushed against Anthea’s arm.
After fumbling for a few minutes, Maggie was ready to give up, sure the ghost was teasing her. “I don’t—wait.” The tip of her pinky had touched a protrusion. She twisted, sliding her hand down the back wall of the bookcase. “There’s some kind of knob.”
Anthea shocked the breath out of Maggie when her head appeared above the books. Right next to Maggie. Once she could breathe again, and her heart stopped trying to pound out of her chest, she met Anthea’s gaze.
“Do I turn it?”
Anthea nodded, her hand popping up, twisting to the right.
“To the right. Got it.”
Maggie closed her eyes, shivering as the ghost’s close proximity wrapped around her, and closed her fingers around the knob. She turned it, clenching her jaw when it stuck. In her awkward position, she couldn’t get enough leverage.
She pressed her forehead against the top of the books, stretched her arm until the muscles in her shoulder protested—and jerked her wrist.
The knob moved, grudgingly. A rough scraping told her why. She kept adding pressure, ignored the growing ache in her arm as the knob kept twisting. A different kind of cold licked at her hand; she almost snatched her hand away, but she realized the cold came from the opening. It was next to the knob, widened with every inch.
When she couldn’t move the knob anymore, she brailed her way to the opening. Her heart skipped as her fingers brushed over fabric. She gripped what felt like a book, her hand shaking, and carefully pulled it free.
Once she could, she set the bundle on top of the books and shook out her right arm. Anthea fidgeted like an anxious child.
“Give me a minute.” When the ghost gave her the closest to a glare, Maggie shook her head. “Okay, okay. I’ll use my left hand.”
She slipped the bundle off the books and set it in her lap. The fabric, a faded blue and gold damask that looked eerily familiar, slid off the book. It was a journal, almost identical to the one that had been tucked in a box of items she’d bought at a charity sale.
Ma
ggie looked at Anthea. “This is yours, isn’t it?” The ghost nodded, flickering in and out, like she was agitated. Swallowing, Maggie gently lifted the fabric off the book, and opened the cover.
On the first page, in Anthea’s familiar handwriting, was a single sentence.
Dear Reader ~ if you have found this hidden in the library of my dearest friend, then I have been murdered.
~ * ~
List of British Slang
Here is a list of words, proving that English and American are two different languages. You will find some of them in Spirit of the Season, and I guarantee more will appear in future Maggie Mulgrew Mysteries. Enjoy!
Daily life
advert - advertisement, commercial
anticlockwise - counterclockwise
bank holiday - legal holiday
Beefeater - nickname for the Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London
bobby/The Bill - a policeman
cashpoint machine - ATM, cashpoint for short
cheers - goodbye, thank you, also a toast
concession - discounted admission
dear - expensive
fancy - to be attracted to someone - I really fancy her!
football - soccer
fortnight - a contraction of fourteen nights, or 2 weeks
fringe - hair bangs
half eight - 8:30 - think half past (insert hour) and it will be a breeze to remember
holiday - vacation
interval - intermission (in theatres)
jumble sale - rummage sale, usually for charity
left luggage - place to check luggage for the day, replaces luggage lockers
lift - the elevator
loo - the toilet - ask for the bathroom only if you want a bath
mate - your friend
naught/nought - nothing
on offer - for sale
pavement - the sidewalk
pillar box/letter box - public mailbox (look like short red pillars, hence the name!)
Police Constable/PC - police officer
power point - electric wall socket
queue - line
queue up - line up
Remembrance Day - Veteran’s Day
ring/ring up - call on the phone
ring off/rang off – hang up or end phone call
self-catering - rental accommodations, a flat or house that is rented by the week
solicitor - an attorney
stone - 14 pounds in weight
ta - thank you
tick - check mark
toilet - just what it says
top up - refill – also refers to adding minutes to pay as you go mobiles
Vice-Chancellor - administration at university
WC - short for water closet - just another name for the loo or toilet
wee - small
zed - the letter Z
Everyday items
bin - a trash can
biro - a ballpoint pen
braces - suspenders
brolly - an umbrella
clingfilm - saran wrap or plastic wrap
cooker - the stove
cotton buds - Q-tips
cozzy - a bathing suit
draughts - checkers
dummy - a pacifier
duvet - a comforter, with removable cover - often it will replace the top sheet on your bed
flannel - a washcloth
fag - a cigarette
fiver - £5 note
hob - the stove burner
hoover - the vacuum cleaner
jersey/jumper/pullover - a sweater
knickers - ladies’ panties
ladybird - a ladybug
mac - a mackintosh raincoat, can also be generic for a raincoat - rain mac
mobile - a cell phone
moggie - a cat
nappy - a diaper - not a napkin
pants - underwear, briefs
plaster/sticking plaster - a Band aid
pound note - a dollar bill
quid - another name for a pound note
rubber - an eraser, not the other kind of rubber
Sellotape/sticky tape - Scotch tape
serviette - a napkin
skip - a dumpster
smalls - underwear
spanner - a wrench
surgical spirit - rubbing alcohol
suspenders - garters, as in the kind that hold up stockings, not your trousers
telly - the tv
tenner - £10 note, or ten pounds
tights - pantyhose, any type
tin - a can
torch - a flashlight
trainers - sneakers or tennis shoes
trousers - pants, slacks
Wellingtons/wellies - rubber boots, rain boots
English food
afters - dessert
aubergine - eggplant
banger - sausage
bangers and mash - sausage and mashed potatoes
bap - a soft, round, floured roll
beetroot - beet
bill - your restaurant check
biscuit - cookie - and to confuse you further, biscuit can also refer to crackers, as in biscuits for cheese
bitter - dark ales served a little below room temperature - order beer and this is what you will get
black pudding - sausage made from cooking animal blood with filler until congealed
bubble and squeak - pan fried potatoes and cabbage (other veg can also be used)
Cadbury - creamy, delicious chocolate in loads of different flavors - if you have had Cadbury in America, it is nothing like this
candyfloss - cotton candy - just as sticky, just as tooth-achingly sweet
chicory - endive
chips - French fries
cider - fermented apple juice - and quite potent!
clotted cream - thick, incredibly delicious cream to spread on scones, or served with cake coriander - cilantro
cottage pie - minced beef and veg, topped with mashed potatoes - not to be confused with shepherd’s pie
courgette - zucchini
cream tea - consists of a pot of tea, scones and strawberry jam, with the previously mentioned clotted cream - delicious!
crisps - potato chips - in a million and one flavors
crumpet - what we think of as an English muffin, but loads tastier
cuppa - cup of tea – ah, instant relaxation
digestives - tasty round cookies, made for babies and toddlers
entrée - appetizer - not the main course
fairy cake - cupcake
fizzy drink - pop or soda
Flake - a long, crumbly stick of Cadbury chocolate - heaven!
gammon - ham
gateau/gateaux - a rich cake, usually served with cream
golden syrup - a thick syrup used for sticky pudding and desserts - my nephews have it on their peanut butter sandwiches instead of jam or honey - yum!
hot pot - a one pot stew, usually made with lamb, veg and sliced potatoes on top, slow cooked in a low oven
jacket potato - baked potato
jelly - jell-o
kippers - smoked herring - I’ve had them cut in half and served on a plate for breakfast - beautiful!
ladyfingers - light, crispy, sweet sponge cakes
lady’s finger - okra
lager - closest to American beer, drunk from a pint glass instead of a bottle and served cold, but not as cold as you’re used to
lemon squash - lemonade, still
lemonade - lemon lime soda, carbonated - think Sprite or 7-Up
mash - short for mashed potatoes
mince - ground beef or other meat
mushy peas - dried peas that are soaked overnight and simmered until they go all, well, mushy - much tastier than they sound
pasty - (pass-tee) savory half-moon shaped handheld pie, originally from Cornwall - a good one is heavenly, a bad one is like eating flavored glue (I’ve had both, unfortunately)
pickle - a mixture of veg, spices and vinega
r - looks like a brown lump on your plate, is a surprising burst of flavor when you eat it
pickled onions - shallots in pickling vinegar - lovely with a good, creamy cheese
pub grub - aka pub food - can be surprisingly good, and a good value as well
pudding - general name for dessert
rasher - slice of bacon
sausage roll - sausage wrapped in pastry
savoury/savouries - pastries that are savory instead of sweet
Scotch egg - hardboiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated with bread crumbs and deep fried, then eaten cold
shandy - lager and 7-Up
shepherd’s pie - minced lamb and veg, topped with mashed potatoes - not to be confused with cottage pie
soda - soda water
soldiers - finger size slices of toast - perfect for dipping in egg yolk
squash - a concentrated drink for kids - add water and you’re good to go
starters - appetizers
stone - the pit in your fruit
stout - dark beer or ale
sultanas - golden raisins
swede - rutabaga
take-away - fast food places like Pret a Manger or EAT will ask if your order is eat in or take-away - it means to go, and unless you’re dying to sit in that noisy, often narrow room for an extra charge, say “take-away, please!”
tart - like our pies, with fruit or jam - I’ve always had mine served with cream or custard
toad in the hole - sausages cooked in Yorkshire pudding batter
treacle pudding - steamed sponge cake with a thick syrup topping - can also be served with custard or cream
Yorkshire pudding - a light batter that is baked in a tin with hot oil at very high heat until it rises – similar to popovers in America... but not really... just another unique bit of English cuisine
Places
apothecary – place that dispensed medicine and medical advice - now the modern chemist
bridleway - public right-of-way path for walkers, horseback riders, and cyclists
bungalow - single story house
canteen - a cafeteria
casualty - emergency room, may also be called A&E for accident and emergency
chemist - pharmacist/ pharmacy - what you know as a drugstore, plus loads more on offer than you would ever expect
chippie/chip shop - fish and chip shop
cinema - movie theatre, where you go to see a film, not a movie
dress circle, upper circle - the upper rows in the theatre (may also be called royal circle, grand circle, depending on the theatre) - these seats are close together, so you will be nose to knees with the person behind you
