‘Okay, thanks, Tiggy,’ he said, giving me a tight smile. Then he left.
19
I woke up at dawn the next morning with what felt like a hangover – my heart felt jittery and my chest felt tight as I breathed in. ‘Stress, Tiggy, that’s all,’ I told myself as I dressed to go and see Pegasus.
Ignoring the hide and crouching in the bracken closer to the deer, I closed my eyes and remembered once again Chilly’s words about the power my hands held. Keeping my eyes closed, I reached out into the air in front of me and tried to focus all my power on calling Pegasus to me.
Beginning to feel foolish, I opened my eyes, and wasn’t surprised to see that Pegasus hadn’t magically arrived. Yet as I stood up, I heard a familiar exhale of breath just centimetres from me.
‘Pegasus!’ I whispered, turning round and feeling my lips break into a wide smile. He gave a soft snort in response, then nibbled at the winter bracken for a while, before ambling off to join the rest of the herd.
When I returned to the cottage, I saw Cal in the courtyard talking to a man I didn’t recognise. From the looks of things, it was a heated conversation. I headed into the cottage to put the kettle on.
‘Who was that?’ I asked Cal when he came in.
‘Och, Tig. How word has got out, I’ve no idea,’ he sighed.
‘About what?’
‘Your Pegasus, o’ course. That chappie standing outside is from the local newspaper. He’s heard rumours—’
‘Which you of course denied.’
‘O’ course I did, but I couldn’t order him off the land – he’s got the right tae roam on it, like anyone else in Scotland.’
‘At least he has no idea where to find Pegasus. It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.’
‘True, but it wouldn’t take an expert poacher long to suss out exactly where the stags like to graze. I’d better go up to the house and speak tae Charlie about what tae do. If anyone is going to make an official announcement to the press, it has tae be him. See you later.’
‘Sure.’ I bit into a piece of toast, my head spinning.
*
‘Tiggy? Are you home?’ said a voice through the door an hour later.
‘Just what I need,’ I mumbled under my breath, lamenting the fact that the cottage seemed to have become the main focus of activity at Kinnaird in the last couple of days. ‘Coming,’ I called and got up from the sofa to greet Zed.
‘Good morning, Tiggy,’ he said, flashing me a broad smile. ‘I have not seen you for quite a while.’
‘No, well, I’ve been busy. I’ve had a lot to do on the estate,’ I said as brightly as I could.
‘I see. Well, I came to ask whether you had thought any more about my offer. You said you required time to consider it, and I have given you that,’ he reminded me. ‘I am very eager to move forward with the project as soon as possible, and you know I would like it to be you who takes the helm. If it cannot be, then I must find someone else.’
‘Of course, I understand, Zed. I’m sorry if I’ve taken my time, but I genuinely have been busy. And it’s a very big decision.’
‘Of course.’ Then, most uncharacteristically, he yawned. ‘Do excuse me, I was hardly able to get a wink of sleep last night. The Laird and his wife came up to see me yesterday evening to ask if they and their daughter could have rooms for the night. The two of them had a very protracted . . . disagreement in their bedroom next door. That daughter of theirs also sounded most distressed. I heard her crying. I gather she had run away from school?’
‘Yes, she had, but she’ll be okay and—’
‘So, Tiggy’ – he took a step towards me and I took one back – ‘I appreciate it is a major decision for you, but I am afraid I must have your answer by the end of the week at the latest.’
‘I’m really sorry, Zed, I honestly have been so busy—’
‘I appreciate that, Tiggy, but given what I heard through the walls last night, I would advise you to think about my offer very seriously. From what I heard last night, in my opinion Kinnaird is doomed.’ He nodded at me, gave me a brief smile and left.
Cal arrived back only minutes after Zed’s departure.
‘I spoke to the Laird and he agrees we should keep Pegasus’s presence quiet for as long as we can before making any kind of official statement.’
‘Do we know who spilled the beans?’
‘Lochie said old Arthur in the post office commented on the photos o’ the stag when he was last in there,’ he said grimly. ‘I’m sure nae harm was meant, but it looks like that’s how word got out to that local reporter. Yae can imagine that gossip like this spreads like wildfire round these parts. Anyway, I’m off.’
‘Keep safe, darling,’ I whispered to Pegasus, as I felt a shiver of fear pass through me.
*
‘Bloody hell!’ Cal swore uncharacteristically the next morning, as we heard a number of vehicles pull up in the courtyard. A TV cameramen had already climbed out of one of the cars and was filming the picturesque view of the glen.
‘Are you in charge here?’ one of the men asked Cal as he appeared at the door.
‘No,’ said Cal, ‘but how can I help you?’
‘Tim Winter, Northern Times. Word has reached us that there might be a white stag on the estate.’ The journalist dug into his pocket for a notepad. ‘Can you confirm this?’
‘I cannae say anything as I’m not the boss, but I’d be doubting you’d see anything of that description here on Kinnaird land. I certainly haven’t,’ Cal lied smoothly.
‘My source was pretty confident that one had been spotted. He said there were photos of the stag. He’s emailing them over to me later today.’
‘I’ll look forward to getting a glimpse of those,’ Cal replied, poker-faced. I was impressed with his acting skills, when I knew underneath he must be boiling with anger.
Another reporter stepped forward and introduced himself. ‘Ben O’Driscoll, STV North. Perhaps you could tell us where the stags tend to hang out? Then we can go and look for ourselves.’
‘Aye, I can do that all right.’ Cal nodded affably. ‘They’re just over there, mid-way up the hill at this time of day.’ He indicated the opposite direction to where Pegasus grazed and I stifled a giggle as he gave the journalists a set of complicated instructions.
I watched as they all scurried into their cars and vans and set off.
‘At least that’s bought us some time, Tig,’ Cal breathed as we retreated into the cottage. ‘I’m going to radio Lochie and tell him tae move the Landy away from the copse and pile some more snow on the hide. We don’t want them given any clues, do we?’ Cal said, picking up his radio and pressing the button to get Lochie on the line. ‘Hopefully, if they find nothing they’ll get bored and go and stalk someone else’s dirty underwear. Lochie? Can yae hear me? Good. I need you tae hide the Landy an’. . .’
With a sigh, I left Cal issuing instructions and went into my bedroom to feed Alice.
There was a knock at the cottage door and my stomach turned over as I saw Charlie’s pale face through the pane of glass when I went to open it.
‘Hi,’ I said, as he stepped into the sitting room.
‘Hi.’ Charlie gave me a tense smile in return. He looked terrible – I hadn’t slept all night, and obviously neither had he.
‘How are you this morning?’ he asked, out of sheer good manners.
‘I’m okay. More importantly, how is Zara?’
‘Not so good. It all got very heated last night when we told her she had to go back to school. Zara ended up going to her bedroom and locking herself in. She’s refusing point-blank to come out. Anyway,’ he sighed, ‘Zara isn’t your problem. Tell me about this white stag . . . it seems the news is well and truly out, if the number of cars and vans roaming the estate is anything to go by. Cal says you’ve seen him in the flesh too.’
‘Yes, I have. He’s far more beautiful than in the photos we sent you.’
‘And definitely not a figm
ent of your and Cal’s imagination?’
‘No, Charlie, but now we have to do everything we can to protect him.’
‘Well, I can pull in a few fellows and get some more manpower down there, but, Christ!’ Charlie ran a hand through his hair. ‘What a mess everything is at present.’
He looked so lost, all I wanted to do was to walk over and give him a big hug. And to sit him down with my arms around him and ask him what exactly had happened since I’d last seen him. But I knew I couldn’t – it really wasn’t my place. So instead I offered him the ultimate cure-all – a cup of tea.
‘Thanks but I can’t stay, Tiggy. I need to get back to the Lodge and try to coax Zara out of her bedroom. Any advice you could give me? We’re still not sure what it is that’s happened. She won’t say a word. Is it something to do with a boy?’
‘Er, well, it’s basically a case of hurt pride,’ I said carefully, knowing it wasn’t my secret to tell. ‘Perhaps if you offered her a few days off school to lick her wounds, it might help. I’m sure she’ll get bored hanging around at home with nothing to do. She’ll miss all her mates and want to know what’s going on.’
‘Yes, you’re probably right.’ Charlie looked at me in relief. ‘I’ll try that strategy. It’s just a shame that at such a difficult time in her life, Zara feels she can’t confide in her mother.’
‘Maybe as she grows up, she will,’ I said.
‘Sadly, I doubt it. Look, Tiggy,’ he said after a pause, ‘I’m sorry I haven’t been in contact recently. There’s been a lot going on. Could I ask you to bear with me for a while longer on the work front? I really don’t want to lose you.’
Although I’ve felt that I have lost you . . .
‘Of course you can. I just feel like a fraud, feeding a few cats twice a day and getting paid for it,’ I said with a shrug.
‘Well don’t. Filling in those grant application forms for me saved me so much time, I can’t tell you. And there may be more to come,’ he added lamely.
‘I have a meeting booked with the European elk man, but don’t worry about that for now, Charlie; you do what you have to and we’ll try to keep Pegasus safe up here.’
‘Thank you, Tiggy. You’re wonderful, you really are.’
I watched him take a step towards me, think better of it, then step back.
‘Okay, I’ll be in touch soon,’ he said. ‘Bye now.’
‘Bye, Charlie.’
An hour later, still dreamy from Charlie calling me ‘wonderful’, I saw his battered Range Rover fly past my window, followed closely by Ulrika’s far smarter jeep, both on their way out of the estate.
‘For God’s sake, get a grip!’ I told myself firmly. Still, I watched the Range Rover until it was a mere speck on the horizon.
*
I spent the next two days avoiding Zed yet again as I agonised over his job offer, a task helped by taking my turn in the rota of Pegasus-patrols.
‘Right, Tiggy,’ I said to myself, ‘before you make any decisions, it’s time to call your big sister for advice on Zed Eszu.’ Then, having stoked up the fire for Cal to return home to, I walked across to the Lodge.
Unfortunately, Zed was standing in the kitchen with Beryl, his arms crossed.
‘What’s all this I hear about a white stag being seen at Kinnaird?’ he asked me.
‘I know, crazy, isn’t it?’ I said.
‘Well, there’s never much news in January, is there?’ Beryl added.
‘Normally, there is no smoke without fire, but . . . more importantly I need an answer from you, Tiggy. Perhaps you would join me for lunch here tomorrow and we can discuss it?’
‘I . . . yes.’ I realised I could put him off no longer.
‘Good. Beryl, I have to make a call to New York in fifteen minutes, I will take it on the landline extension and I am not to be disturbed, okay?’
‘Of course, sir.’
When we heard the door to the Great Room shut behind Zed, Beryl let out a sigh. ‘When is that damned man going to leave?’ she muttered.
‘Very soon I hope,’ I whispered under my breath. ‘Beryl, before Zed commandeers the phone, would it be okay if I used the landline to make a quick call to my sister? I really need to speak to her, but she lives in Brazil, so obviously I’ll pay for the cost.’
‘Don’t be silly, Tiggy, I’m sure that with what Zed is paying to stay here, we can grant you a few minutes of a long distance call. Now hurry up, before Zed complains the line is engaged.’
‘Thanks, Beryl. I won’t be long.’
I walked along the corridor to the office, shut the door behind me and picked up the receiver, pondering what to say to Maia.
The line rang and rang – it was the afternoon in Rio, so I hoped that she wasn’t out.
‘Oi,’ said the familiar mellow tones of my eldest sister.
‘Oi, Maia,’ I smiled into the receiver at the sound of her voice. ‘It’s Tiggy here.’
‘Tiggy! How fantastic to hear from you! How are you? Where are you?’
‘Still in the middle of nowhere up in the Scottish Highlands, looking after my animals. You?’
‘Busy with my English teaching in the favela, and Valentina keeps me on my toes too. How Ma managed to control all us sisters when I have a problem with one six-year-old, I don’t know. The child is never tired,’ Maia added but I could hear the warmth in her voice. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m good, yes. It’s just that Ally advised me to contact you. About someone called Zed Eszu.’
There was a long pause on the other end of the line.
‘Right,’ she said eventually.
‘Well,’ I ploughed on, ‘he’s offered me a job. And oh, Maia, it’s a fantastic opportunity.’
I went on to explain the job spec and how much money Zed was offering me to spend on the charity.
‘And that’s even without my pay package and all the perks. So, what do you think?’
‘Of the job offer? Or Zed?’
‘Both, I suppose.’
‘Oh Tiggy . . .’ I heard Maia sigh deeply. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘Whatever it is, Maia, please just say it,’ I urged her.
‘Before I do, I just want to ask you whether you and Zed . . . Well, are you romantically linked? Or is this a completely professional relationship?’
‘It’s professional on my side but on his . . . to be truthful, I’m not sure.’
‘He’s giving you a lot of attention?’
‘Yup.’
‘Writing you letters, bringing you presents and sending you flowers?’
‘Yup.’
‘Turning up at your front door uninvited?’
‘Yup.’
‘In essence, stalking you?’
‘Yes. Cal – my housemate – even calls him my stalker.’
‘Right. So do you think he’s offering you this job because you’re the right person for it? Or is he using it as bait to get you?’
‘That’s the point – I just don’t know. A bit of both, maybe.’
‘Well, Ally might have mentioned that I’m not Zed Eszu’s biggest fan, so I’m not sure I can give you an unbiased answer. All I can say is that everything you’ve just told me that Zed has done, he did to me too. It was as if he’d stop at nothing until he got me – like he was hunting me down. And then when he did get me, when I stupidly surrendered, he lost interest soon afterwards.’
‘Oh Maia, I’m so sorry. This must be really painful for you to talk about.’
‘I’m over it now, but at the time . . . Anyway, it might be different for you. Zed might have changed – matured or something – but actually, now I think back on our early days together, I’m pretty sure he mentioned there could be a translation job for me at his father’s company when I finished uni. As it turned out, he hardly said goodbye when he left the Sorbonne a year before I did.’
‘Oh God,’ I said. ‘Ally said that Zed might have a thing for the D’Aplièse sisters. Maybe it’s true.’
&nb
sp; ‘Well, it’s certainly odd that it was his father’s boat which Ally saw moored next to the Titan in Greece last summer. And then his son appears up in the remote Scottish Highlands, where you just happen to be working.’
‘I’m sure that part is just shitty coincidence, Maia,’ I said. ‘He seemed very surprised when he met me and put two and two together.’
‘Tiggy, do you like Zed? I mean, in that way?’
‘No. Definitely not. I find him –’ I lowered my voice – ‘seriously weird. He comes across as really arrogant, although I can’t help feeling sorry for him. Remember, he lost his father too at about the same time we lost Pa.’
‘And I’m sure he’s used that to bond with you, Tiggy. We all know what a soft heart you have. You’d give the Devil the benefit of the doubt, and I wouldn’t mind betting Zed picked up on that too.’ I heard the edge of bitterness in Maia’s voice. ‘Sorry, Tiggy, ignore me. The job sounds amazing, and I understand why you’d love to take it. And as far as Zed being your boss is concerned, on a professional level, I can’t comment. On a personal level, please watch out. He’ll do anything to get what he wants, and from the sound of things right now, that’s you.’
‘Maia, the bottom line is this: do you think he’s a good person at heart?’
There was an agonising pause before Maia replied.
‘No, Tiggy, I’m afraid I don’t.’
‘Okay. Thanks for being honest and I’m so sorry if this has brought back bad memories.’
‘Oh, it’s fine, Tiggy, really. It was a long time ago. I just . . . don’t want you to get hurt the way that I did. Besides, you’re the one with the intuition, so it must be your decision.’
‘Yes. Anyway, I’d better sign off now as I’m using the boss’s landline and our . . . mutual friend wants to call New York.’
‘Oh, okay. It’s been lovely to speak to you. Keep in touch, won’t you?’
I put the receiver down, hoping I hadn’t upset her. I could tell that Zed was not just someone who had passed briefly through Maia’s life, but someone who had hurt her deeply.
Then, on a whim, and while Zed was elsewhere and the computer free, I went online to look at jobs abroad for zoologists. If I wasn’t taking the job with Zed, it may be – what with the uncertain situation at Kinnaird – that I needed to find something else.
The Moon Sister Page 26