Rose & Thistle

Prologue

My heart belonged here
In these hills that rolled like summer waves
In these streams that cut through the land like a knife through butter
In betwixt the blushing heather bush
In the crisp air that dances in my lungs

I could only hope to capture it's majesty on a piece of watercolour paper. I got close, but as my Prussian blue stained hands revealed, I had an unfortunate accident on my page. My blue sky bled and crept into my tree line. I was here for a sketching trip you see. So I could get a week or two away from my family. The situation back at home wasn't getting any better. There is huge pressure on my father to industrialise the land  so there could be actual income to sustain the estate. But mother only cared that the daughters get eloped before the papers get a hold of our financial troubles. I was caught in the middle of all of this, mother was finding every eligible bachelor with a rank she could find and thrust them upon me. I wanted none of it.

I've decided that I also wanted nothing to do with this particular painting. I'm at that stage of the painting process where I think that it looks absolutely horrendous. I'm hoping that if I avert my eyes from it for a few minutes and look back at it, that it will magically look better. It often does actually, that's my curse. I often don't appreciate things while they are happening, I see the forest for the trees. Stepping back and looking at the piece from another angle will do it some good favours. But for now I must pack my palette. Luckily I travel light when it comes to watercolours, only a few main pigments. I like mixing my own colours, I find it therapeutic. How the colours just melt into each other like a warm embrace.

In many ways I treat my life like a painting. That's why I'm in the Highlands isn't it? To get another perspective of home. To stop seeing the forest for the trees. To look at my life from another perspective. But I'm finding that assignment to be really difficult. The more I set my feet down on the soft grass of the Highlands, the more it beckons my name. The more I am convinced to leave my rank and become one of those spinsters with her cats that live in a small cabin in the middle of nowhere. I breathe that fresh Highland air one more time before I ready my things and proceed to my ever so patient chauffeur.

"Are we ready to go, Lady Charlotte?" The chauffeur asks.

"Oh quite, I'm in dire need of a change." I show him my blue stained dress. "Luckily I have a talented lady's maid who is used to getting out the toughest of paint stains."

"So the Fernsby hotel it is your ladyship."

"Indeed. Oh, and please don't tell mama that we're staying in a public house, she'd be furious."

I board the car and me and the chauffeur are on our way to my secret hotel room in some little Scottish town. The car rolls down the gorgeous little winding road surrounded by the most magnificent of downy and silver Birch. The cars had to top so I experienced the wind rush through my hair. I could swear to the gods above that I have never been happier in my entire life. I knew that as soon as I left these hills that I would only grieve the time I could have spent with my feet on Highland ground. I am not home sick in the slightest.
I secretly hired a guide to take me along the small Scottish villages. Father had always loved exploring these quaint little towns but mother couldn't imagine going out of her way to see such plain sights. I'd have to think of a way to hide all of this once I get back, I didn't come with a plan really. My feet were itching and I desperately wanted to escape crummy old Sodbury End.

We rode through past old Scottish houses that i'm pretty sure out-lives even my hundred year old great grandmama. Fernsby Hotel was quite nice for its location, it resembled one of those little hotels from outer London. A very charming building full of life. I carried the very little painting pochade box I had on me to my room where my lady's maid Lucy was patiently waiting for me. I had allowed her to go out and explore the village but she instead took the time to arrange my cases.

"Lucy darling can you bring out another dress for me, the purple one with the lace? I'm afraid I have stained this one." I ask of my darling Lucy.

"Of course your ladyship." Without hesitation she goes through her neatly organised closet and picks out one of my favourite dresses.

"Has the guide arrived yet Lucy?" I ask.

"Not to my knowledge your ladyship."

"After I'm dressed, can you ask the chauffeur to wait in the lobby and wait for a Beth Campbell. The reception should let him know once she's there."

"Will do your Ladyship." Lucy takes away my old clothes and fits me in my well-loved, lilac, ankle-length afternoon dress.

I look out the little window of my hotel room. I find the hustle and bustle outside oddly comforting. The view of the perfectly manicured lawn of Sodbury End that extended as far as the eye could see often got pretty lonely. I patiently await my guide, my feet are itching again for that soft and tender Highland grass. And that zesty, crisp, air that dances in my lungs.