Highland Tides Read online

  TOBIAS SMOLLETT

  I chose the pseudonym Charles Tobias for Charlotte in honor of 18th century Scottish picaresque novelist, Tobias Smollett. Click on the link to find out more about him. He penned The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle and the poem Tears of Scotland in which he laments the horrors perpetrated on his country after the ’45.

  JOHN REID

  I based the character of John Reade loosely on John Reid a British army officer and Robertson descendent who fought on the government side in 1745. His name dovetailed nicely with Rheade Robertson, the hero of Pride of the Clan, Book I of the Caledonia Chronicles.

  LIQUEURS

  Royal Usquebaugh was a spicy concoction containing flecks of gold leaf thought to capture the sun’s golden radiance. It was usually flavored with aniseed, liquorice and saffron and sweetened with fruit sugar extracted from figs and raisins. The name derives from the Irish uisce beatha, which is literally the Gaelic translation of Latin ‘aqua vitae’, ‘the water of life’. The word whisky is also derived from the Irish uisce beatha, but this was not the same as the cordial consumed in 17th and 18th century England and France which bore no resemblance to the spirit we now call whisky.

  Vespetrò was another popular liqueur d’ltalie, flavored with anise, angelica and lemon.

  RUFF AND HONORS

  A trick-taking card game popular in the 16th, 17th and early 18th centuries. It was superseded by whist.

  COFFEEHOUSES

  Mrs. Rochford and Moll King did operate coffee houses in London, but they were notorious dens of prostitution. It’s unlikely Charlotte’s book would have found an audience there. The coffee house in Edinburgh did exist.

  BEGGAR’S BENISON CLUB

  Founded in Anstruther on the Firth of Forth in 1732. A Scottish gentleman’s club dedicated to “the convivial celebration of male sexuality.” Charlotte’s hair would have curled even more had she been aware of what went on there.

  MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS & JAMES HEPBURN

  Historians disagree about the relationship between Mary and James Hepburn. I’ve tried to remain as impartial as possible, but by all accounts James was a ladies’ man. He had no brother, only a sister. I based my belief Hepburn wore armor to his wedding on a oil painting by James Drummond, The Marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Earl of Bothwell, now in the museum in Glasgow. Of course, the work was painted three hundred years after the event! The description of Mary’s gown is also based on that painting. Hepburn died in prison in Denmark, apparently driven mad after spending years chained to a pillar.

  PRESTONFIELD

  Originally built in 1687 and called Priestfield, the name of the estate was changed to avoid offending Scottish Protestants. The house still exists. Sir Alexander Dick was the first to cultivate rhubarb, and the restaurant there bears the name of that versatile plant. Dick served eight consecutive terms as President of the Edinburgh Royal College of Physicians.

  AINSLIE TAVERN

  Did exist and Hepburn’s supporters gathered there to sign the Ainslie Tavern Bond. Many of them later reneged and withdrew their support.

  DEAN VILLAGE

  Now part of Edinburgh. I was taken with this name partly because it sits on the river, but also because I was christened in Deane, Lancashire!

  PANSIED SLOPS

  Google them!