Even though he had acted like things were going to go back to normal between them, immediately he started to go and see Elizabeth again. The strange whiplashing behavior that Higgs was starting to exhibit made Merida curious. She decided to keep her distance from him to observe what she could. It seemed as if Higgs was fighting against something that could only be overcome by drunken stupors. The fact that he couldn't get away from Elizabeth puzzled her because that's exactly what it felt like to her, that he was trying to go against something, as if something was blocking him. Merida decided to put her pride and knee-jerk reactions aside to try and get a better sense of what could be going on with her employer. The first thing she needed to do was get into the mind of Elizabeth to see how she was. The only way to do that, was to finally read those letters that Patrick had left with her.

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

"What are you reading?" Marlow asked as she whisked in a bowl.

"Letters."

"Is there any way you could do that later?" Merida looked up at her. "This is the first time we've had more than one or two dinner guests here and as much as I worked in households with far more than this, I can't do it all myself."

"Sorry. Let me clean this up and I'll come and help ye."

"How can you be so invested in some letters? Who are they from anyway?"

"None of yer business and true, I'm not one for letter writing or receiving. I get one everra once in a while from Coinneach, I ken I got one from Fearghas and I'd never get one from Doughall."

"Why's that?"

"Doughall is a... verra private man. Always has been. Dinnae ken why, he pisses like everraone else. It's not like his tally is sacred..."

"Merida." Marlow said, blushing at the talk. "So then if you don't get that many letters from your brothers then..."

"As I said, none of yer business, but as to why I'm reading them, it has to do with emotional content."

"I see... I'm trying to make little sponge cakes; there's Lord and Lady Northumberly, Lord and Lady Graves, Mr. Higgs, and Lady Hinkley, correct?"

"Aye, and I'm sure Elizabeth will bring Gretchen."

"Is Ms. Gretchen going to be attending dinner?"

Merida blinked. "Ye arenae going to make sponge cakes for everraone?"

"What do you mean?"

"Marlow, unlike most houses that ye have been serviced to, when ye make dinner, ye dinnae make one thing for them and one thing for us. Ye make enough of it that we all can eat. If they get sponge cakes, we get sponge cakes."

"Oh."

"Have ye been making two different meals for all of us and then for Mr. Higgs and Lady Hinkley?"

"Yes..."

"No wonder ye always look so frazzled and we hardly ever have a clean kitchen."

"Well... that's how it was in my other jobs."

"Does this place look like it's the same as other households?" Marlow shook her head. "Larid's beard, ye are a tenacious woman. Imagine an I really had been fired!"

"I don't want to think about that... and obviously it looks like you dodged a bullet there. You two seem to fight all the time now. Before this year, it was constant flirting and giggles but now it's like a mad house. If someone isn't falling down the stairs or crying or drinking to oblivion, then there's not activity."

"Aye, I know what ye mean. I've been suspicious about it too. Something is going on and I just cannae put my finger on it. I've decided to try and keep my distance and look at all of this from afar. I'm missing something and it bothers me."

"Well, if anyone can find it, it's you."

"Aye. Weel, let's get to going on this dinner. I'm afraid ye'll have to teach me a bit about courses; I'm used to service Mr. Higgs one meal three times a day, not five courses everraday."

"No worries, Merida. This will be quite adventurous."

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

LATER THAT NIGHT

"Do I look alright?"

"Same as ye always do. Did ye drink yer tonic?"

"Yes, I did."

"Did ye really? Last time I asked ye, ye lied and said ye did but when I went to stoke the fire ye almost ravaged me from behind."

"You have an extraordinarily cute bum and it was in the air all sweet-like."

"Stop fantasizing about my tooshie."

"But you have such a nice one." He said with a pout.

"Focus."

Higgs laughed. "I promise that I took the tonic."

Merida frowned. "I have a hard time believing ye for some reason."

"Believe what you want, Merida. By the way, I'm going to talk with Elizabeth tonight about the merman before dinner."

"Why before?"

"Well, we'll most likely be going our separate ways so this will be the only time I can be alone with her. It's not something you just slip a note about and hope they understand."

"Ye do what ye want, Mr. Higgs. It's yer curse to live with regarding that. Did ye talk to yer pa about it, though?"

"Why would I need to talk to him?"

"Ye know, about how it all works. Will it alleviate everrathing an ye do it? Will ye still want more? Are ye going to still be at that height throughout the month? Those kinds of things are important."

"I would rather not discuss my sex life with my father." He said with a frown.

"It's a part of ye, Mr. Higgs. I ask because what if being with Lady Hinkley isnae enough? What if it makes ye stir crazy and ye just want to ravage everraone? This is something new to ye and as much as ye dinnae want to mess it up, ye dinnae want to take it lightly either."

"I don't think it works that way, Merida..." He put his hands on her shoulders. "Don't worry about it. Let's just have a good dinner and be on our way. One step at a time. What is for dinner?"

"Ye'll see. Marlow was an excellent decision of hire since she kens how to work with a large group. Cannae imagine having to make all that food and then some."

"Well, who knew I was going to invite more than a few people over at a time? It's new for me as well... You're going to be dressed in something a little better than that, I hope?"

"What for? This is my serving dress, after all."

"Why would you be in a serving dress?" he asked, truly puzzled.

"To... serve?" Merida asked, confused as well.

"Nonsense. You'll be eating with us at the table."

"I... am?"

"Why wouldn't you be? You eat with me all the time."

"Weel, this seems a bit different. Ye've got lairds and ladies and the like. A multiple course dinner and all..."

"It's just family, Merida, why wouldn't you be invited? Maybe if it was a party with the ton I'd have some reservations but you've always been a part of my family, status or no."

"Um..."

"You have the night off. That's an order." Merida closed her mouth. "Marlow, Edgar, and Gretchen can serve, I'm sure."

"Alright, an ye say so..."

"And wear a nice one, not a fruppy one."

"I have a closet full of nice ones, I'm sure I'll find something."

"And yet, you always wear a fruppy one. You know what? I'll pick your dress."

Merida sighed. "Fine, whatever makes ye happy."

He grinned as they made their way to her room to sort through the dresses.

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

Elizabeth fluffed her yellow dress and primped her brunette curls, fidgeting at Higgs' front door as Gretchen watched beside her.

"If you keep messing with it, my lady, you'll mess it up."

"I'm just so nervous!"

"We've been here plenty of times."

"Yes, but I'll be meeting with his family. This is the first time I'll be in the company of Lord Northumberly and Lady Saxon as well as his sister and her husband. It's like an engagement party all over again. Do you remember when I went to Patrick's house for our engagement announcement?"

"Yes, but you've known the Clarvins family for years, it wasn't something new."

"Exactly. I've only spoke to the new Lady Graves a few times and the Northumberlys even less. I do hope they like me."

"Shall we knock then? I don't think we'll get anywhere just standing here... By the way, why are we so early?" she asked, knocking on the door.

"As you know, I baked some cookies for Lord Higgs and I wanted to give them to him in private."

"They're just cookies."

"They aren't just cookies." She snapped, taking Gretchen off guard. "They are cookies that I baked myself. If they are terrible it would be embarrassing for him, don't you think?"

"I guess..."

The door opened and Edgar made a face but quickly composed himself.

"Good evening Lady Hinkley, Ms. Weebles."

"You clean up nicely." Elizabeth commented on his serving attire.

"Thank you. Please come in. May I take your coats?"

"Where's Merida?" Gretchen asked, shrugging off her coat. "Doesn't she usually do this?"

"Mr. Higgs said he wanted her to join everyone for dinner tonight rather than serve. It's family, after all."

"How interesting... He is so very good to her." Elizabeth said with a smile as she handed him her coat.

"Indeed."

"I guess I should go help then?" Gretchen said, thumbing to the kitchen.

"That will be fine." She turned to Edgar. "Where is Mr. Higgs? I wanted to speak with him before everyone came."

"He's in the living room with Merida. I'll lead you there."

He turned around and led Elizabeth to the living room.

They entered the room and Merida looked up from drinking tea. Elizabeth was actually struck by how nice Merida looked when she was dressed up nicely. The beautiful olive green dress with small flowers on it complimented her skin tone as well as her fiery hair. Elizabeth cleared her throat.

"Good evening, Ms. Dunbrough. You look lovely."

"Aye, ye look nice too."

"I hear you will be joining us for dinner?"

"At my employer's request. Ye are early, ma'am."

"I wanted to speak with Mr. Higgs alone... Where is he, perchance?"

"He spilled tea on his cravat so he went to get a new one."

"Merida, how do you tie this damnedable thing-" Higgs growled, walking in trying to get his cravat to work when he looked up. "Lady Elizabeth."

"Would you like some help?"

"Um... yes, if you please."

She walked over and undid what Higgs had tried to do.

"Patrick could never get them right either. He usually about choked himself every time he tried." She leaned in. "Would it be too bold to ask if we could speak in private?"

"Not at all. I wanted to speak with you as well regarding this month's creature."

"Oh, I see." She finished tying the cravat and then turned to Merida. "Ms. Dunbrough, would you be a dear and leave us for a few moments?"

"There is another room down the hall. Help yerself." She said, putting the cup back in the saucer.

Higgs made a face but grabbed Elizabeth's hand. "Let's pop into the sitting room since it seems my maid isn't cooperating."

Merida just smirked as he led Elizabeth to the sitting room, both of them sitting in the small chaise that were there.

"Before you tell me about your transformation, I wanted to give these to you." She pulled out a small bag with some cookies in it. "I made these for you. As in I made these for you, on my own."

"Oh, wow, that's very thoughtful."

"Will you please try one? I'm dying to know what they taste like." She said, pulling the drawstring.

"You didn't taste them?"

"I did, but considering how Merida cooks and bakes for you all the time, I have no idea if they will be adequate to your liking. I just wanted to be able to say that I have cooked something for you..."

"You shouldn't compare yourself to Merida like that. You two are vastly different but that's what makes you so appealing." He grabbed a cookie. "I'll try one since I've never had one made for me by an actual lady."

He bit into the cookie and an explosion of a strange flavor set upon his tongue. He tried to smile without feeling physically ill but by the look on Elizabeth's face it didn't come about as graceful as he wanted it to be."

"They're horrid." She said.

"They are... unique. Um, there is a flavor that I just can't seem to place..."

"They are tea cookies, so I mixed some afternoon tea in the mix."

"Ah, I see. That's probably what that wonderful bergamot aroma is."

Elizabeth giggled. "Mr. Higgs, if they are disgusting then it's alright to say so. Honestly, I won't take offense."

"Ah... well... they aren't good..."

"I suspected as much. One day I will get them right. I'll practice until you like them for sure!" she said, determined.

"I think you should maybe just try something easy, like shortbread. From the way I've seen Merida make them, it isn't a hard recipe."

"You've... helped her?"

"Lots of times. It's more fun when I'm in my phoenix form. Somehow I'll turn into a child from overexertion and I get to play in the flour." He said with a big smile.

"I see... So, what was it that you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh well... It's about this month's transformation. I am a merman but I won't transform into anything unless I get wet. Getting caught in the rain or the such-"

"We should go for a swim!" she said, clapping her hands.

"Um..."

"A river runs through my property since it's stationed near the forest. It's a bit chilly, but it's the best time when the deer and such come out. It's nice and crisp."

"Well..."

"I'd love to see your tail." She said, leaning into him and walking her fingers up his arm. "You and me and nature? It would be fantastically romantic. Like a folktale come to life."

"Um, well," he said, his voice cracking in him trying to contain his own excitement. "As... as much as I would love to oblige you, my tail doesn't look very nice. It's mangled from what Lord Clarvins did at that party and I'm also having a bit of an issue."

"Issue?"

"Yes, well, the curse has this thing where if you haven't sired any children in a certain amount of time it seems to... make you."

"Make you? Sire children?"

"Yes... um... to put it simply, it's a failsafe of sorts. The curse is passed on through the male line unless it's broken before a child is born. That being said, we can't outrun that fact, and so even if we are celibate the curse will make us have sex with someone to carry on the line. It makes us quite randy."

"Oh!"

"The only reason why things are civil is because Merida was able to get me a tonic that is helping to keep me in control. I know that if the urge isn't met, it won't go away and will get stronger, resulting in brothels and whores. I don't want that. I would never want to make a child go through this blindly, without guidance. So, I... since..."

Elizabeth put her hand on his cheek. "I would be honored, Mr. Higgs. That you think so highly of me to ask this of me... And you said there is a guarantee?"

"Yes. The line must be furthered and so if we do this while I am the merman, it's a guaranteed pregnancy as well as a guaranteed male." Higgs took her hands in his. "I know this is a lot to ask you to bear, but I just can't stand the thought of another child going through this all on his own."

"Another?"

"There are many illegitimate sons out there due to this part of the curse. The urge just gets too strong."

"I see."

"But you won't be left with such a task to be done on your own. I have a few more months before I am done with transforming for the year and so I will then ask for your hand in marriage."

Elizabeth gasped. "Really?!"

"For what I am asking you as well as because I love you, of course. It works in everyone's favor."

Elizabeth reached over instinctively and hugged him tightly.

"Oh, Mr. Higgs, I'm the happiest girl in England!"

"Just don't tell anyone yet. This must be calculated well. We don't want a scandal to start."

"Of course. My lips are sealed."