Page 49 of A Scottish Country Escape

My stomach performed an impressive forward roll as the woods opened out on my right and the Gothic splendour of Hawk West Hall soared up and above the tops of the trees. Branches heavy with an abundance of shimmering sage-coloured leaves dangled like giant arms.

I raised my chin and tried to concentrate on my driving. What was wrong with me?

The last time I’d been up here, there had been workmen bustling around in fluorescent jackets and hard hats.

I eased up to the wrought-iron gates. The council offices were just a distant memory.

I edged the car closer to a silver intercom system that had been installed. I admired the sharp pointed spires and flying buttresses as I leant out of the driver’s side window and pressed the button marked ‘Visitors’.

I sprang to attention as an older female voice barked at me through the intercom. ‘Yes?’

‘I’m Elle Cassidy. I’m here to see Mr Grayling. He’s expecting me.’

There was a few seconds’ pause.

‘Welcome, Ms Cassidy. The gates will open now. Please drive into the grounds and take the first right. There’s a visitor car park at the rear.’

I settled myself back into my seat and eased my car through the opening gates. My tyres spun on the rosy pink gravel.

There was an area with several parking spaces, three of which were occupied by what looked like tradesperson vehicles. I parked up beside a white transit van and collected my shoulder bag from the passenger side.

I locked the car, wondering where I should go next, when a figure approached. She extended one hand. ‘Ms Cassidy? I’m Elsa Bennett, Mr Grayling’s housekeeper.’ She had a warm London accent and twinkled with friendliness.

I took her hand. ‘I’m Elle. Nice to meet you.’

She indicated for me to follow her through the back door and I tapped up behind her. Her blue-grey expensively cut hair nodded this way and that.

Elsa led me up a coil of granite steps towards a door that opened out into a kitchen that was like something out of a glossy interiors magazine.

It consisted of a striking combination of a panelled blonde wood floor and avocado fixtures and fittings. The breakfast bar, which more closely resembled a Henry VIII banqueting table, ran the length of the kitchen in black and grey marbled swirls.

Sash windows occupied either side of the kitchen and suspended from the slate-grey painted ceiling was a fluted black and gold light fitting. It wouldn’t have looked out of place in a sci-fi TV series.

Mrs Bennett, who insisted I call her Elsa, caught me gawping. ‘Not bad, is it?’ she said with a wry smile.

‘It’s certainly the poshest kitchen I’ve ever been in. It’s gorgeous.’

I watched her reach across the chrome sink and lower the volume of the digital radio.

‘Where did you work before?’

‘I’ve been working as a housekeeper for twelve years now. It was after I lost my husband suddenly that I decided I had to do something different and have a change of scene.’

‘Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.’

Mrs Bennett smiled. ‘Thank you. I still miss Kenny so much, but I enjoy what I do, so that helps. I started off working for an affluent businessman and his family in Chelsea and then for a well-known footballer who lived in Kensington. I was even a housekeeper in New York for Mr & Mrs Turner-Woods for a little while.’

Images of Mum and Dad appeared in front of my eyes. ‘People who you love never really leave you.’ For fear of upsetting her and myself, I moved the conversation back to her work. I couldn’t conceal how impressed how I was. ‘The people you just mentioned in New York. That’s not Jackson and Mila Turner-Woods, the fashion designers, is it?’

‘The very same.’

‘What was that like?’

Elsa gave the briefest curl of her lip. ‘Demanding. I’m much happier working for Mr Grayling.’

She urged me to follow her again. ‘Mr Grayling is in his study waiting for you.’ She cast me a long look over one shoulder. ‘That’s where he likes to sit and write, although he doesn’t seem to have been doing much of that of late.’

I wondered if Dexter had confided in Elsa and then concluded that it sounded like he hadn’t. She seemed a very approachable person though, with her gentle smile and enquiring gaze.