Page 24 of The Scottish Island Inn

‘Sessions district of Portree, County of Skye,’ Tam read.

Complainant, Dougal Balhennie, Laird

Defendant, Miss Emma Gordon

Whereas a complaint has been made to me that: On the day of 7th March, 1883, Miss Emma Gordon of Balham, London SW, is charged with fraud and embezzlement in the amount of a hundred pounds. She is also charged with evading capture and escaping from Scotland, with the intention of emigrating to Australia.

It is noted that Miss Gordon is also accused of stealing a valuable ceremonial dagger from Balhennie Castle, though the dagger in question has not been recovered or found on Miss Gordon’s person.

Miss Emma Gordon

This is to command you to appear as a defendant on 28th June, 1883, at Portree Court, before such Justices as shall be there.

Signed, J. W. Harris, Justice of said County, dated 1st June, 1883.

‘Oh, my…’ Sorrel’s hand flew to her mouth.

‘Well, we knew she was a criminal, right? A con artist, of a kind.’ Tam frowned. ‘Stealing, fraud and embezzlement.’

‘I know. But we don’t know her story. I want to know it. Don’t you? This is kind of intriguing.’

‘It is. You’re right.’ Tam looked at the paper in his hand again. ‘I mean, it doesn’t say anything about whether she was charged. This is just a summons. And remember, the newspaper article said she was hiding up in Duntulm Castle, so I don’t know if she managed to escape on the boat or not.’

Tam gazed at her. ‘You know, this is nice.’

‘What? Finding ancient daggers?’ Sorrel quipped. It was certainly distracting her from her real-life problems, which were breaking her heart.

‘Yeah. That. But also, I missed hanging out with you. Talking. The usual stuff.’

‘Oh.’ She looked away, unsure of how to respond.

I missed you too. Terribly, was what she wanted to say.

‘It’s been a long time,’ she said, instead, her voice soft.

‘I’m surprised your partner’s not here with you. Did he have to stay in London? Look after the business, I suppose.’ Tam blushed a little. ‘Sorry. It sounds like I’ve been stalking you or something. I haven’t; Bluebell told me you had someone. That’s all.’

Sorrel wondered if that was Tam’s way of testing the water. Maybe he felt bad about saying he missed Sorrel, knowing that she had a partner. Though it was a totally reasonable thing to say to someone you hadn’t seen for ten years, because of who they had been to each other, she could see the reason he might feel cautious.

‘Hm.’ She didn’t want to talk about Simon, now, anyway. Not to Tam. ‘He’s… busy.’

‘Oh.’ Tam nodded. She could see the question in his face, but he didn’t voice it.

‘So, you’re doing well, busy with work? Apart from this, obviously.’

‘I’m doing okay, aye. Built the work up over the years. People seem to be happy with what I do. I enjoy it.’

‘It’s funny that we both ended up in sort of the same area of expertise,’ she said.

‘Ha. Yeah. You’re a bit more successful than me, though.’ Tam raised an eyebrow. ‘Ms Fancy Property Developer.’

Sorrel shrugged. ‘I did okay. I had a talent for it.’

‘Had? You’re not continuing?’

‘I don’t know what I’m doing right now, if I’m honest.’ Sorrel gave Tam a bright smile that didn’t reflect her feelings.

‘You’ll work it out. You always do,’ Tam said, carefully.