Page 17 of From Scotland with Love

Hector clocked who it was she had indicated, then an expression came over his face that Lori couldn’t read.

“Oh - I see. Your parents died in that tragic boating accident?” He put his hand on hers and for a moment Lori felt distinctly uncomfortable at his directness.

“Erm…yes…it was a long time ago. We’ve... all come to terms with it now.” Lori wondered how to change the subject, there was no way she wanted to discuss her parents with this man who she didn’t even know. She bit into a buttered pancake from the top of her plate as Hector took his hand away and awkwardly sipped his tea. “You have a beautiful house and the gardens are so neat and tidy as well as picturesque!”

“Thank you, I have a very attentive gardener.”

“Dougie?” Lori smiled as she swallowed a chunk of an egg sandwich, she was ravenous. “I know him, he’s a friend of Grans. He’s getting on a bit, I mean…to handle all of this himself isn’t he?”

“He is a little older than most, but he does the job very well. No complaints from me!”

Lori smiled, the old man had worked most of his life for the estate, spending the majority of his time outside in all weathers, just to keep the beautiful garden in order. He probably knew a lot better than her of what it took to manage things effectively, thought Lori laughing at herself – after all, Gran hardly let her age get in the way of anything!

“Do you have weddings here?” She could hear her grandmother start to bring her own conversation to a close, and knew she would be coming to look for her soon.

“Yes yes, it’s a busy time of year for weddings. We have most weekends fully booked now.” He held his cup up as a serving lady holding a teapot weaved in and out of the tables. “We usually put a large tent in the gardens and hold the main event there, but sometimes we have the whole wedding - from service and dinner to ceilidh - in the big house. Mainly if the party is blessed with torrential rain!”

“You know, I haven’t actually ever been in the big house.” Lori smiled over her cup; if she could get this place for Tammy’s wedding, her sister would be over the moon, she just knew it. Most brides would kill to have a wedding here, she just needed to get Hector on her side.

“Really?” He smiled “Well I could give you a private tour?” He looked at her intently.

“Erm…yeah, that ...would be lovely!” Lori was happy to jump on this rare chance, if she could secure this venue then everything would fall into place.

He looked at his gold watch, then moved his plate away from him. “I’m afraid I must go; I’m booked to dish out some prizes. But you could come back tomorrow, say midday? I can show you around then.” With that he got up from his chair with a slight wince rubbing his left leg, and walked away.

Gran came over. “Talking to the laird?”

“Hmmm... yes.” Lori pushed her lips together tightly. “Just between us: I want to try and have the wedding here!”

Gran raised her eyebrows, and took a sip from her cup of tea. “Have you asked Tammy?”

“I won’t until I know we can. He’s said it’s booked out, but it’s last minute - there might be an opening. I have a good feeling about this!” She mentally made a note in her head to contact tent-hire companies; if there was to be a wedding here, they’d most certainly need a beautiful marquee.

10

The next day Lori arrived at the big house earlier than arranged so she could take a look at the grounds more clearly. The tents from the previous day’s show were sitting empty, the whole space quiet and still in contrast to the day before. Lori walked across the short grass and headed in the direction of the apple orchard she could see on the far side of the house. The trees were heavy with white blossom, promising an abundance of apples to come. Lori walked through the trees, which trailed all round one side of the large stone building. From the front garden she could see the silver bay on the far horizon. She breathed in the sea air, mingled with the heady perfume of blossom. She continued around the building to a stone shed, with rose bushes trailing up its front walls. The gardens were flourishing with springtime now passing into summer, and nature was coming alive across the county. Twittering birds fluttered in and out of the apple branches behind, and out beyond the shed in front of her. She looked at her watch, and seeing she had some minutes before their meeting, decided to walk further on, hoping her invitation from yesterday included a little independent exploration. She felt a little guilty somehow, but told herself there was no such thing as private land in Scotland, freedom to roam and all that, and she did have a few minutes after all; Hector wouldn’t mind. She continued on a grassy path behind the shed, and strolled beneath some giant oak trees, which were so large they blocked out the sunlight. It was so tranquil: just her, the birds and the gentle rustling of the wind. Lori breathed out, she felt calm just being here. Then a thought popped into her head; work hadn’t crossed her mind until now. She had forgotten to even check her phone for updates. Lori shook her head, today she had woke to birdsong and read some pages of a book she’d been trying to start for over a year now. A wholesome breakfast of avocado on toast had been consumed and then she slowly made her way to the estate house. A simple day, of just being in the moment. No panic attacks, no anxious thoughts of being out of her depth, or of being an imposter in the wrong crowd. She squirmed a little inwardly; she hadn’t even missed Michael. Her family had taken up her thoughts almost entirely, and she had barely considered his caseload or his strange mood at their parting. Lori was just about to turn back to the house to keep her original appointment, when she saw an opening in the trees ahead, and some kind of stone statue at the end of the path, standing in the gap as though waiting for her. Curious to see more, she walked briskly, and as the trees that lined the pathway stopped, she was hit by bright sunlight. She squinted to see in front of her was a statue of a naked lady, with a thin layer of cloth draped over her shoulder and one breast, chiseled to almost-sheerness by the skill of the sculptor. The girl covered herself with one hand and with the other raised hand, she held the rippling cloth. To Lori, she looked to be half-temptress, half-innocent – not quite caught unawares, but still concealing most of her charms from the onlooker. Behind this figure, tall bushes were tightly bunched together, too high for Lori to see over. She walked past the statue, and saw that a small tunnel lay ahead between the bushes, which looked enticing, but dark with the chance of getting lost. Lori glanced at her watch again, she was already running late for her appointment with Hector, so she quickly left the slender young woman with the knowing expression, and ran back to the house. Within a few minutes, she stood at the front door catching her breath from the run, and wafting her t-shirt to filter cool air back over her body. The door opened and Hector’s ruddy face beamed back at her, welcoming her in. He wore smart jeans and a green checkered shirt, with the top buttons open to expose a little greying chest hair. Lori followed him into a light room, with a large tartan sofa in one corner, and a dining table on the far side. The window on the west side of the room was huge, and opened out onto the islands in the distance, the view almost like a painting in Lori's appreciative gaze.

“I’ve never seen the grounds from this angle before; it’s incredible!”

Hector chuckled, standing beside her. “Yes it’s a nice spot - I usually sit here every morning for breakfast.”

“God, I’d love to have breakfast here every morning!”

Hector gave a little smirk and gestured to the table. “Would you care for tea?”

Lori accepted, but all she really wanted to do was look around the house. That would have to wait though, she grimaced, until all the niceties were over.

“I’ve not seen you in the village yet, Lori?” Hector asked as a small plump woman appeared from a door behind them. She was carrying a tray, and laid out an elegant teapot alongside a plate of sandwiches and cakes.

“Thank you, Mrs. MacPhail,” Hector nodded as the woman poured out the tea.

“Yes, thank you Mrs. MacPhail!” Lori smiled, recognising the woman; the problem with being from a small village was everyone knowing everyone. Living away for so many years, Lori annoyingly couldn’t remember several names. Luckily, people tended to know hers, which kept her right – or in this case, Hector had provided an aide-memoire.

“You’re welcome Lori, I heard you were home! I hope you’re looking after your gran, she’s a good woman.”

“Oh, you know gran; she doesn’t want anyone looking after her!” Lori picked up her china teacup. “But she’s well, thank you – and as young as ever!”

“Good, I’m glad. Well I’ll leave you both to it.” She bustled away with tea towel over her shoulder, carrying the empty tray with her.