She’d handed the young maker at the sewing machine a business card, but the woman hadn’t shown any interest in the idea of New York markets or expansion of any kind.
‘Don’t you want to sell to new markets overseas?’ Nina had asked.
‘No’ really. I’m happy here. I have my loyal customers and my online sales. I’ve enough orders in my book to keep me going all year long.’
‘But you could expand, make a fortune?’
The woman smiled and turned to her pattern cutting. ‘Why change a thing when I’m contented now? Bigger and better, more and more, isn’t always the answer to people’s prayers they think it is.’ Nina thought how much she sounded like Mutt. The woman nodded a handkerchiefed head to the little window. ‘Look at my loch, and my lovely workshop. Why would I change a thing?’
Nina had to admit she had a point. She hadn’t wanted to leave the complex of shops, but Ruth and Mark were waiting for her at the little cafe kiosk and they had enough time to grab a takeaway lunch before hitting the road again.
By the time they reached Port Willow it was already growing dark and Mutt was finishing up securing his ladders in the back of his truck after a dry day’s painting.
Ruth and Mark had insisted on paying the taxi fare and hurried inside to get a coffee in the bar leaving Nina face to face with Mutt on the pavement. He seemed to have been waiting for her. Bear was snoring in his arms. She wondered if Bear had grown since the last time she’d seen the little fur ball.
‘Good day?’ Mutt asked.
‘Interesting. It was nice getting to know those two.’
‘Good, good.’ Mutt seemed distracted. ‘Um, did you get anything to wear to the Burns Night ball?’
‘Why would I? I’m not going.’
‘No?’
‘No.’
‘We can’t have that. You need to see the castle all lit up for a party.’
‘I do?’ Nina stifled her smile.
‘Aye, definitely. Will you, maybe… come with me? I know there’s a busload leaving from the inn, but I could take you, if you wanted me to?’
Nina watched him trying to appear nonchalant and almost managing it.
‘OK,’ she blurted.
‘OK?’
‘Where do I get a ticket?’ Nina asked.
‘I happen to have two right here.’ He tapped his pocket. ‘I did some work at the castle recently, Lochlainn gave me them.’
‘Lochlainn?’
‘The laird himself.’
‘Is that like Scottish royalty?’
‘If you mean, is he skint and begrudgingly tied to a crumbling old country pile by duty and blood, then yes. It’s on Tuesday night. I’ll pick you up at six-thirty so there’s time to show you around the castle before the rest of the guests arrive?’
Nina hadn’t said anything else, only smiling her acceptance and reaching out to scratch Bear’s sleepy head.
‘Any luck scouting for makers?’ Mutt added.
She sighed before she spoke. ‘I met Munro, the glass-maker, he showed me round his workshop, and Florence Sakura, the designer.’
‘Ah, I don’t suppose she was keen on letting you have her designs?’
