by Katie Fforde
‘Of course it is,’ said Murdo. ‘I’ve missed you, gel! Hope you’re not here to say goodbye?’
‘We’ve got good news, Dad,’ said Alec, pulling up a chair. ‘I told you we’re negotiating to buy back that bit of land – the nature reserve?’
Murdo nodded. Caro could have guessed, even if she hadn’t known, that there’d been rows about this after it had been sold and that neither Alec nor Murdo wanted to go back to the dark place when their relationship had been so difficult.
‘But there was a shortfall – the amount of money—’ Alec broke off, not wanting to remind Murdo of Frazer Neal and how he had nearly contrived to steal a large chunk of the estate, and possibly wouldn’t have stopped with a chunk if he could have got away with it.
Murdo wasn’t so tactful. ‘The amount of money that scoundrel swindled is what you’re not saying, Alexander!’
‘Yes, that,’ Alec went on, more calmly than his father. ‘Well, I’ve got it now.’
‘And how have you acquired this money?’
Murdo’s tone was combative and Caro could see how and why father and son had become estranged.
‘Perfectly honestly, Murdo,’ said Alec, calm but on his guard.
Caro also noticed that Alec called his father by his given name when he was not feeling so warm towards him. She took a breath, trying to think of something to say to calm these two males battling for ascendancy. ‘He was paid for a unique perfume he’s created.’
‘Perfume!’ said Murdo, sounding outraged. ‘In my day we called it scent!’
‘Mine too,’ said Caro, ‘but standards have dropped recently.’
This did make Murdo twitch his lip in what could have been a smile. ‘Well, I suppose it’s good that you can make money out of these things but I’m still not happy about it.’
‘For goodness’ sake, Murdo!’ said Alec. ‘We’re not in a position to be fussy about where the money comes from.’
‘Yes we are,’ said Murdo. ‘I’m not taking your perfume money.’
‘Dad!’
‘I’ll pay for the shortfall myself,’ he announced.
There was a silence that Caro longed to fill but she couldn’t. She knew that there wasn’t the money in the estate without selling something that was profitable, like the smokery. And that would be such a bad thing to do. Heather had told her it was just beginning to do well.
‘There’s not the money, Dad,’ said Alec gently. ‘I thought we’d been through it all.’ He glanced at Caro, looking distressed. She could tell he was wondering if Murdo’s brain was beginning to be affected by old age and illness. She’d wondered the same thing about her own father towards the end and knew how distressing it was.
‘I know what you’ve told me, boy,’ said Murdo. ‘But you don’t know everything. I’m going to sell m’guns.’
Another shocked silence. ‘Your guns?’ Alec said it as if Murdo had suggested selling George.
‘Never wanted to before,’ Murdo went on. ‘Always thought they were a sacred family heirloom that shouldn’t be touched. But you’re never going to shoot, Rowan’s never going to shoot and the land is more precious than they’ll ever be.’
‘But you love those guns,’ said Alec.
‘I did love them, but I love other things now. They’re quite valuable.’ He turned to Caro. ‘They’re a pair of Holland and Holland side by sides. Although I know that won’t mean a thing to you.’
Caro contrived to look impressed. ‘I know Holland and Holland are a very good make,’ she said.
‘Don’t suppose you have the faintest idea how much they’re worth though,’ said Murdo, sounding very slightly smug. ‘Nor you, Alec.’
‘I do know that guns can fetch hundreds of pounds,’ said Caro. She kept this figure low, she didn’t want to pre-empt the old man. She hoped they’d be worth a couple of thousand.
‘I got one of the nurses here to look them up for me on the Internet,’ he said.
‘And?’ said Alec.
‘At the right auction, they could make nearly three hundred thousand pounds.’
‘Three hundred thousand pounds? For a pair of guns?’ sad Alec.
‘Not saying mine would reach that much, but they could.’
Alec was pale with shock, whether because the guns were potentially so valuable or because Murdo was willing to sell them, Caro couldn’t tell. ‘Dad! Your guns are important to you, they always have been, and to Grandpapa before you. Don’t sell them.’
‘My land is important to me and it’s important to you. If you give all the money you’ve earned making scent’ – he managed to make it sound a very dubious occupation – ‘to buying back the land that I was foolish enough to sell, I wouldn’t think it quite fair. And you’ll need that to put into your business.’
There was yet another strained silence. Murdo’s suggestion seemed reasonable to Caro. How would it feel to Alec? Would he suddenly become proud and stuffy about it? But she needn’t have worried.
‘That would be amazing, Dad,’ he said at last. ‘If I didn’t have to use the money David has given me for the perfume I could set up a proper lab here in Glen Liddell. I wouldn’t have to go to France.’
Caro’s heart leapt with joy. He was staying in Scotland. Yet, although she and Alec were a couple, she still didn’t really know where she stood with him. When Scarlet and David’s wedding was over, would they be over too?
‘We should arrange for them to be sold, then,’ said Murdo. ‘Now if you don’t mind, I’m a bit tired, I need a nap.’ The old man settled himself more comfortably and closed his eyes. Then he opened them again. ‘But don’t worry,’ he said, ‘I’ve no intention of dying just yet!’
Chapter Twenty-Two
It was the morning of the wedding, a beautiful, hazy day that promised to become hot later. Glen Liddell had put on its very best weather for its celebrity wedding and Caro was feeling emotional. Scarlet, sitting on the dressing-table stool in front of her, looked wonderful. Caro was adjusting her veil over her dark curls.
‘Most film stars would have a dresser to do this – a professional person,’ said Caro.
Along with the emotion she felt a huge sense of responsibility. Scarlet and David hadn’t gone for too many professionals to handle their wedding, but they had hired a photographer who was famous enough even for people up here to have heard of. If Scarlet didn’t look right in those photographs, Caro felt it would be her fault.
‘I didn’t want a professional person,’ said Scarlet. ‘I had my hair done, didn’t I?’
Caro nodded, glad of a reason to laugh so she wouldn’t cry. ‘I don’t think that hairdresser will ever recover,’ she said. ‘She’s more used to doing perms and shampoo and sets.’
‘I’m not going to even ask you what a shampoo and set is,’ said Scarlet. ‘But when I showed her what to do with my tongs, she was fine.’
‘You seem very calm for a bride. Not that I’ve had much to do with them in real life, but on television they’re very shouty and demanding.’
‘I’m just about to get married to the best man in the whole world in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. I don’t need to be shouty and demanding.’
The twinkle in her eye told Caro that should the need arise, Scarlet could be as good a bridezilla as the rest of them.
Rowan came in, wearing a long, simple dress similar to Scarlet’s only without sleeves. Her rose-gold hair feathered round her face in kiss curls and just for a second, Caro regretted her losing the nearly waist-length hair she’d had when they first met.
‘Oh, Scarlet,’ said Rowan, ‘you look amazing! Have we got time for me to do a few sketches?’
‘I’m pretty much done here, but maybe we’ve time?’ Scarlet looked at Caro for confirmation.
‘If you’re really quick,’ said Caro. ‘I need to do my make-up. Five minutes, tops.’
Caro was wearing Lennie’s vintage Laura Ashley with a little cardigan and a small straw hat. Lennie had turned out to be good a
t hats and had converted something rather over-done and fussy bought in the local town into something stylish and pretty. It sat on top of Caro’s self-coiffed head in a very pleasing way.
While Caro was seeing if yet another coat of mascara would stop her wishing she was wearing false eyelashes, Skye came into the room. She looked as beautiful as her daughter and even more dryad-like. Since Joe had been staying she’d softened a lot and happiness enhanced her natural beauty. Joe was hovering behind her looking very fine in a borrowed kilt. ‘Wow! Look at you all! Don’t you all look lovely? Caro, that hat is perfect. Lennie did such a good job customising it.’
Rowan turned to her. ‘You look amazing too, Mum, and Joe.’ She had blossomed under the effect of having a happy mother who didn’t snip at people all the time.
‘Come in, Joe,’ said Scarlet. ‘We’re all decent.’ She studied Joe, taking in the kilt. ‘Wow, I’m glad I asked David to wear a kilt now. I wasn’t sure but I think he’ll look just heavenly.’
Caro laughed. ‘He’ll certainly look very handsome though possibly not celestial!’ She was looking forward to seeing Alec in a kilt, herself. He was going to escort Scarlet down the aisle and, as part of the official wedding party, was adhering to the dress code.
When Scarlet had asked him if he would take the traditional father’s role, he had asked her why she wanted him to.
‘It’s not a matter of you giving me away, as if you owned me,’ she had explained, ‘it’s just having someone with me as a friend, on a big occasion. I did ask Caro first, but she said no.’
Caro had laughed. ‘I’d much rather stay in the background and I may need to leave early to help Lennie. Far better if Alec does it.’
‘Then I would be honoured,’ he had said with a smile to turn less susceptible heads than Caro’s.
‘Shall we have a quick glass of fizz before we go?’ suggested Skye.
‘Excellent idea,’ said Caro, retrieving a bottle of champagne from a bucket. ‘Joe, would you care to open it for us?’
‘I can open a bottle of champagne,’ said Scarlet.
‘So can I,’ said Caro, ‘but we don’t want to risk it spraying on us. Joe’s tartan will absorb any fizz that goes astray.
Alec appeared in the doorway just in time to be handed a glass.
‘Very excellent timing on my part if I may say so!’ he said. ‘Let’s toast the bride – the first of many more toasts to come.’
When glasses had been raised and hasty, bubbly gulps taken, he put his glass down and turned to Scarlet.
‘Are ye ready, hen?’ he said in a broad Scots accent and a twinkle, to make her smile.
‘I think I am,’ Scarlet said, getting up. ‘Aren’t I?’ She glanced round to check that everyone agreed on this.
‘Good,’ Alec continued, ‘because there’s a wee pony all dressed up like a sore toe ready to take you to the kirk.’
‘I can’t wait!’ said Scarlet. ‘My very own coach to take me to my wedding.’
‘The coach being cunningly disguised as a shooting brake,’ said Alec, holding out his arm. ‘And not a speedy vehicle.’
‘Just what I wanted,’ said Scarlet and put her hand on his arm; together they went down the stairs.
Safely out of the sight of Scarlet and Alec, Caro allowed herself a tear. Skye topped up her glass.
‘You’ve been brilliant,’ she said. ‘You and Lennie. I never thought it was possible to turn this scruffy old house into something fit for a wedding.’
‘Rowan’s gift for painting really helped,’ said Caro. ‘I would never have thought of hiding the particularly dingy areas behind sheets with beautiful paintings on them.’
‘And there’s the marquee, too. There would never have been enough room in the house. Even Scarlet’s cut-down guest list turned out to be quite a lot of people,’ said Skye.
‘It was a good call,’ Caro agreed. ‘Thank God for a bit of level lawn!’
‘Right, I think we should be moving along,’ said Joe. ‘I know it’ll take the pony ages to get to the church but we do need to make sure we’re there first.’
Not so long ago this sort of timing issue would never have occurred to Joe, Caro thought. ‘True,’ she said. ‘And I need to check with Lennie that everything is OK here.’ She smiled at Joe. He too seemed to have benefited from being with Skye. He’d always been a good, kind man with a special sort of energy, but now he seemed more in the world, a little more grown-up.
‘Where’s Aaron?’ said Skye.
‘Helping with the pony,’ said Rowan. ‘He was brought up with horses.’
‘That’s nice,’ said Skye, without a hint of the sarcasm that once tinged all her comments.
‘He’s nice,’ said Caro.
‘Actually, you guys,’ said Skye. ‘While we’re all together, Joe and I have a bit of a favour to ask you, Caro.’
‘Oh?’ Joe and Skye had become such a good couple, she felt. Originally she’d assumed it was just sexual attraction but now she hoped it might be a proper, long-term relationship.
‘So you’re really OK about me going back to stay with Joe in London for a bit?’
‘Oh! Yes, of course.’ Caro heard the words coming out of her mouth even as misgivings flooded in. How long was ‘a bit’? And although she and Skye had been getting on much better recently, could they share the barge?
‘I mean, you’ll probably be here anyway, won’t you?’ Skye went on. ‘You and Alec seem to have coupled up in a very good way.’
Caro cleared her throat. Why was Skye so certain? Not so long ago she’d tried to convince her that Alec would never commit to someone like her.
‘And the thing is,’ Skye went on, ‘if it was all right with you, Rowan could live with us on the barge while she goes to art school next year.’
‘What about your yoga retreats?’
Skye shrugged. ‘I can find a venue in London if I want to do one. But I’m thinking of doing something new. Not sure what,’ she added, as if not wanting Caro to question her.
‘Oh, OK, that sounds like a good idea.’ Caro’s feelings weren’t as convinced as her words were, although it was good news for Rowan.
‘The barge will always be your home though, Caro,’ said Joe. ‘Whatever happens, that won’t change.’
‘Of course,’ agreed Skye. ‘That’s written in stone. Joe made that absolutely clear when he first suggested the idea.’
‘Well, I think that’s a lovely plan,’ said Caro. ‘But now we’ve got a wedding to go to!’
Before they all piled into one of the limousines that David had hired to move guests about from the church and the house, Caro checked with Lennie to make sure she was happy with everything.
‘I think it’s going to be all right,’ said Lennie. ‘And if it’s not, the amount of alcohol that David has ordered will mean no one notices anything bad. All the locals are going to be waiting staff and the house looks its very best!’
Caro laughed and put her hand on Lennie’s arm. ‘Murdo won’t recognise the old place when he comes out of hospital.’
‘Which is tomorrow! So quite a quick turnaround. But it will be good to have him back home. George will be delighted – he peed on Heather’s nephew yesterday, when he was repairing the door to the outside loo.’
‘As long as he spares the guests it’ll be OK.’
‘He’s never been known to pee on anyone in a kilt,’ said Lennie, ‘so that’s half of them safe!’
‘Have you got a spare kilt I could borrow?’ said Caro.
Lennie pushed her gently. ‘You stick to my Laura Ashley – it looks super on you. You look terrific!’
‘All thanks to you, Lennie. Your dress, your skill with hats; without them I’d be wearing my jeans and a beret.’
Lennie laughed, obviously pleased. ‘You’d look very French. And if you don’t go now, Scarlet will be there before you. We gave Becky extra oats this morning so she had the energy to go up the hill to the kirk. Now scoot!’
The car took the back r
oute to the kirk and everyone was out of it and ready just as the bridal party were on the last stretch. The little Highland pony had white ribbons in her mane and the old shooting brake was similarly garlanded. Little posies of flowers were pinned at strategic places and the whole equipage looked enchanting as it came up the hill.
The photographer, a friend of David and Scarlet’s from Hollywood, took what seemed like a million pictures as the cart drew up and Aaron jumped down from behind to hold Becky the pony. There was also a top cameraman doing a video. There was going to be a strictly limited number of photos taken in the church.
Caro slipped into the vestry so she’d be ready to adjust Scarlet’s veil and nearly bumped into someone dressed in vivid turquoise who looked very like Scarlet. She was wearing a hat that proclaimed her the Mother of the Bride and all her clothes were matching, down to her shoes and handbag.
‘I am Scarlet’s mother,’ said this well-preserved, imperious woman. ‘And you must be Caro. I know it was arranged that you would help her, but I’m here to do it now.’ She looked very strained and unsure of her welcome.
Caro decided to make it clear that she was very welcome. ‘Well, I am delighted to meet you, Mrs Lloyd!’ she said, hoping that Lloyd wasn’t a stage name. ‘It’s just fabulous that you’re here. Did we know you were coming?’
‘It was a last-minute decision. Sadly my husband isn’t well enough to travel with us but my two sisters and their daughters are here.’ Mrs Lloyd smiled, just the tiniest amount.
‘Scarlet will be so thrilled to see you,’ said Caro, hoping it was true. ‘And she’ll be here any moment.’
As if on cue, Alec and Scarlet arrived and Caro whisked Scarlet into the vestry. She whisked herself out of it as mother and daughter recognised each other and opened their arms.
Caro slid into the seat next to Skye, who was armed with Rescue Remedy and tissues. ‘We might need to do some repairs to Scarlet’s make-up,’ she whispered. ‘Her mother is here!’
‘So those overdressed women in the front row must be Scarlet’s relatives?’ said Skye.
Caro nodded, a tiny bit pleased that love hadn’t completely suppressed Skye’s inner bitch.