Page 36 of A Scottish Country Escape

I listened, appreciating what she was trying to say. She raised a finger and indicated next door to Adam Fraser’s cottage. ‘He’s a case in point.’

Dexter’s attention followed Fran’s jabbing finger. ‘Can you tell us where we can find this Robert Masters, please? Anything’s worth a try.’

Fran looked at both of us. Then she snatched up an old envelope and pencil sitting on top of her tea trolley and began scribbling on it. ‘Here is Robert Masters’s address. He was friendly with my Bertie. He was my husband, God rest his soul.’

She handed it to me with an absent smile, when a tall man with receding blond hair strode into her sitting room, emitting a cheery, ‘Hi, Mum. Only me,’ and taking us by surprise.

He drew up when he saw Dexter and me with his mother. Fran rose and patted the lapels of her son’s navy pinstripe suit. ‘This is my son, Joshua. He’s a developer.’

Dexter and I stood up and shook hands with him. I noticed his hooded muddy-coloured eyes bore a fleck of appraisal as he said hello.

‘Busy day, darling?’ she asked, her voice brimming with pride.

Joshua Boyd smoothed his claret sliver of a tie and jutted out his chin with an air of self-importance. ‘You know me, Mum. Always busy.’ He let out a theatrical sigh. ‘Tough decisions have to be made.’

Fran beamed up at her son, adding that he was employed with Atticus Development. ‘Oh dear. Tough decisions about what, love?’

He puffed out his chest. ‘Sorry, Mum, but I can’t divulge that sort of information at the moment.’ He pinned on an indulgent smile. ‘But let’s just say that Fir Haven will be attracting a different class of clientele in future. Luxury holiday homes are on the horizon!’

I digested his words. A spark of panic flared. The subject of holiday homes and their rumoured connection to the reserve shot through my mind. ‘Excuse me, but are you talking about the nature reserve?’

Joshua Boyd’s smugness evaporated. ‘How do you know about that?’

I didn’t answer him.

He sounded weary, as though he had trotted out this explanation a hundred times already. ‘We’ve looked at all the options, but…’ He allowed his pompous voice to fizzle away. He was savouring the attention.

‘But what?’ I asked, folding my arms.

Joshua Boyd raised his attention to his mother’s Artex ceiling and held it there for a few moments. Then he deigned to look back at me. ‘The council are in dire straits round here and supporting a failing nature reserve isn’t doing them any favours.’

The breath jarred in my throat.

He surveyed our faces. ‘Oh, I might as well tell you. It will be public knowledge soon enough anyway.’ He couldn’t conceal his delight. ‘They’ve agreed to sell the reserve to us.’

Chapter Twenty-Four

My stomach plummeted to my feet. ‘But they can’t!’

Joshua Boyd’s eyes slid over me like treacle. ‘It’s been a difficult decision for them, but sometimes you have to be realistic.’

‘But the nature reserve is a huge part of Fir Haven’s heritage!’ I pleaded. ‘The flora and fauna that lives there… it’s been part of this area for generations.’

He tried to look sympathetic. ‘It can’t support itself any longer.’

I could feel Dexter studying me. To my surprise, he said, ‘There must be some other alternative, surely, to destroying an area like that?’

Fran’s anxious expression travelled from me to Dexter and then her son. ‘It’s not going to be a popular decision, dear.’

Joshua indulged his mother with a shark-like smile. ‘Tough decisions never are, Mum.’

Oh, for pity’s sake!

I managed to thank Fran for all her help before barging past Joshua Boyd. The thought of staying any longer in the company of that smug snake made my stomach heave.

So, the rumours were true after all. The nature reserve would be flattened to make way for some glass-riddled five-star monstrosities to attract weekenders with more money than social conscience.

Dexter emerged from Fran’s cottage and eyed me from across the top of his car roof.