Like a Laird to a Flame
Page 20
In my attempt to make certain the castle was described accurately, I purchased the excavation notes on the Laird’s Hall at Drum Castle, as well as spoke with the kind folks over at Drum who sent me more information. It was a wonderful document that described the cellars very well, what sort of bones and debris were found, and during what months they would be eaten. I looked at maps, blueprints, and models of the tower and surrounding land to create the most realistic recreation for my readers. I hope you feel as if you truly were at Drum Castle while reading this story.
The Yule lasted twelve days, starting the day of the winter solstice. Nobody was allowed to work, so making merry and wassailing were encouraged. The castle would have had evergreens and mistletoe all over, so I wanted those to be included in the scheme to bring Mary and William together. Mistletoe was considered good for fertility and it had already been a tradition to kiss beneath it for centuries. It would have been a time of peace, so it was unfortunate for my characters to have their Yule interrupted by the schemes of the dastardly Stephan and Archibald, but what better time to infiltrate Drum and cause chaos while everyone least expected it?
On a more somber note, Alexander Irvine was placed to rest in the Kirk of St. Nicholas in Aberdeen, just ten miles northeast of Drum Castle. I imagine it would have taken less than an hour on a horse to arrive there from the castle, depending on weather conditions. I felt it was important for Mary to be forced to face her demons and make peace with the loss of Alexander. That is what inspired me to make certain she ended up there when having her child.
Within that kirk, there is a section in the transept called the Drum Aisle where several Irvine lairds and nobles have been placed to rest, some with effigies. Alexander is one of them, interred after the Battle of Harlaw. To this day, you can visit the kirk and see his effigy, along with Robert, who was called Alexander once he became laird, and Elizabeth’s. Though Alexander only played a short role in the first book before his death, he had a huge impact on the arc of this series, so I wanted to make certain he was properly included and honored as an important character, even in death. Here is a sketch of his effigy in the Kirk of St. Nicholas.
I sure hope you enjoyed both my story and this bit of information about the real people who inspired it! I have had so much fun writing and researching for these books, as I am a proud member of the Clan Irvine of Drum and was inspired to write these stories while I was researching my genealogy. Although they were the first people to strike my fancy and inspire a story, I later discovered I am a direct descendant of Robert and Elizabeth, who are my 14th great-grandparents. So, these stories truly are a piece of my heart, and I thank you for taking the time to read them!
Sincerely,
Mia
About the Author
Mia is a full-time mother of two rowdy boys, residing in the SF Bay Area. As a child, she often wrote stories about fantastic places or magical things, always preferring to live in a world where the line between reality and fantasy didn’t exist.
In High school, she entered writing contests and had some stories published in small newspapers or school magazines. As life continued, so did her love of writing. So one day, she decided to end her cake decorating business, pull out her laptop and fulfill her dream of writing and publishing novels. And she did.
When Mia isn’t writing books or chasing her sweaty children around a park, she loves to drink coffee by the gallon, get lost in a good book, hike with her family and drink really big margaritas with her friends! Her happy place is the Renaissance Faire, where you can find her at the joust, rooting for the shirtless highlander in a kilt.
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