Page 101 of A Scottish Country Escape

I fetched a pan from the cupboard below the hob. ‘Have you two lovebirds eaten yet?’

‘Yes. I made myself something before Angus came over.’ She hesitated. ‘We’re just taking things slowly.’

‘Oh, I could see that.’

She nudged my elbow. ‘That was our first kiss.’

My hand hovered over the pan handle. ‘So is this your first date then?’

She flushed and studied her loafers. ‘It’s our third.’

‘Third? Why didn’t you tell me?’

Grandma trailed her baby-pink nails along the edge of the granite worktop. ‘I don’t know. I suppose I felt a bit silly at my age.’

I brushed off her explanation. ‘You’re never too old for romance, Gran. And it’s not as if you’re trying to replace Grandpa.’ I took her speckled hands in mine and gave them an affectionate squeeze. ‘You’ve been on your own for twelve years now. He wouldn’t want you to be lonely.’

We stood, exchanging knowing smiles until I remembered that Elsa was coming over in around an hour. I divulged to my grandmother what was happening. ‘I can cancel her. I don’t want to spoil your evening with Angus.’

‘Nonsense. There’s no need at all.’

I fired up the plate on the hob and reached for a saucepan and a packet of boiled rice.

‘We were going to go to my quarters and watch an old Gregory Peck film that’s on this evening.’

‘Your quarters?’ I repeated, with a teasing raise of an eyebrow. ‘Are you sure you don’t need a chaperone?’

* * *

Once I had eaten my dinner of a chicken stir-fry, I threw on my slouchy off-the-shoulder pink jumper and faded jeans.

I had only just tied my hair into a messy top knot when Elsa’s pillar-box red Ford Ka pulled up in front of the house and I welcomed her in.

Grandma and Angus were wandering out of the kitchen clasping fresh cups of tea and they exchanged pleasantries with Elsa.

‘We’re just going to have a catch-up,’ I explained. ‘About Linda Carlucci.’

Grandma smiled and started to move after Angus, but he must have caught some of our conversation and stopped. His dark-blue eyes took on a pensive spark. ‘Dear me. That’s a name I’ve not heard for a long time.’

I pulled a face. ‘I think she’s a rather infamous character.’

Angus took a sip of his tea. His soft, open features grew hard. ‘You can say that again. There’ve been more stories and rumours about that family than there were about the Borgias.’

Gran shot me a look.

‘You know her then?’ asked Elsa.

Angus nodded. ‘You could say that. Linda Carlucci almost became my sister-in-law.’

A surprised gasp escaped from my throat. From behind him, Gran was wide-eyed. ‘Really, Angus? I never knew that.’

Excitement climbed inside me. ‘What can you tell us? If there’s anything at all, it would really help.’

Angus clasped his mug of tea tighter in one hand. ‘It’s not really something my family used to talk about.’

Gran patted his arm. ‘I think Gregory Peck can wait. Let’s go into the sitting room.’ She led the way, with Angus following behind and Elsa and me at the rear.

Elsa nervously smoothed her hair. We were both channelling so much optimism. Hopefully Angus could supply us with something useful, which might help us talk to Linda Carlucci again. I didn’t want to get too optimistic, but at least this was looking promising.