Spirit of the Season

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.

  If you enjoyed Spirit of the Season, I would love it if you took a moment and left a review. They are so important, and help other readers discover the books they want to read. Thank you!

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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