Louis appeared with the soup flasks and some wrapped bread.
‘We’ll grab the wine on the way past. Is there anything else you want, Grace?’
She shook her head. Had she actually agreed to go to Scotland with Finlay? She couldn’t quite remember saying those words. But somehow the dark cloud that had settled over her head for the last day seemed to have moved off to the side. Her stomach was churning with excitement. Finlay seemed invigorated.
A Christmas with real snow? It would only be a day—or two. He was sure to want to get back to work straight away. And the thought of a helicopter ride...
‘Grace, are we ready?’ He had the hamper in one hand and the cool box in the other.
She nodded.
It seemed as though she blinked and the chauffeur-driven car pulled up outside her flat. Her hand hesitated next to the door handle. This part of London was nowhere near as plush as Chelsea. She felt a little embarrassed to show Finlay her humble abode.
But his phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket. She slid out of the car. ‘I’ll be five minutes.’
He nodded as he answered the call and then put his hand over the phone. ‘Grace?’
She leaned back in. ‘What?’
He winked. ‘Bring layers.’
She was like a whirlwind. Throwing things into a small overnight case, grabbing make-up and toiletries and flicking all the switches off in the house. She flung off her clothes and pulled on a pair of jeans, thin T-shirt, jumper and some thick black boots. The pink coat was a must. He’d bought it for her and it was the warmest thing that she owned.
She grabbed her hat, scarf and gloves and picked up the bag.
Then stopped to catch her breath.
She turned around and looked inside at the dark flat. The place she’d lived happily with her grandmother for years. This morning she’d been crying when she left, dreading coming home tonight. Now, the situation had turned around so quickly she didn’t know which way was up.
The air was still in the flat, echoing the emptiness she felt there now. ‘Love you, Gran,’ she whispered into the dark room. ‘Merry Christmas.’
She closed the door behind her. This was about to become the most unusual Christmas ever.
* * *
Grace squealed when she saw the helicopter and took so many steps backwards that he thought she might refuse to fly. He put his arm around her waist. ‘Come on, it’s fine. It’s just noisy.’
Her steps were hesitant, but he knew once she got inside she would be fine. The helicopter took off in the dark night, criss-crossing the bright lights of London and heading up towards Scotland.
Once she’d got over the initial fear of being in the helicopter Grace couldn’t stop talking. ‘How fast does this thing go? Do we need to stop anywhere? How long will it take us to get there?’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘And where is there? My geography isn’t great. Whereabouts in Scotland are we going?’
He laughed at the barrage of questions. ‘We need to fly around three hundred and eighty miles. Yes, we’ll need to stop to refuel somewhere and it’ll take a good few hours. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.’
Grace pressed her nose up next to the window for a minute. But she couldn’t stop talking. It was clear she was too excited. ‘Where are we going to stay? Will your family be there? Can I decorate again, or will they already have all the decorations up?’
Finlay sucked in a breath. His actions in the heat of the moment had consequences he hadn’t even considered. His parents weren’t expecting him until Boxing Day. He hadn’t even called them yet—and now it was after ten at night. Hardly time to call his elderly parents. His sister was staying. He knew there was his old room. But there weren’t two spare rooms. And his parents would probably jump to an assumption he didn’t want them to.
This could be awkward.
He gulped. Not normal behaviour for Finlay. His brain tried to think frantically about the surrounding area. Although he stayed in the country they weren’t too far away from the city. There were some nice hotels there. And, if he remembered rightly, there were some nice hotels in the surrounding countryside area.
He pulled out his phone to try and do a search. ‘I haven’t booked anywhere,’ he said quickly as he started to type. ‘But I’m sure we can find a fabulous hotel to stay in.’
‘A hotel?’ It was the tone of her voice.
‘Yes.’ His fingers were still typing as he met her gaze and froze.
‘We’re going to another hotel?’
It was the way she said it. He stayed part of the year at The Armstrong. The rest of the year he flitted around the globe. He hadn’t set foot in his home—the castle—since Anna died.
Disappointment was written all over Grace’s face. She gestured towards the hamper. ‘Why did we need the food? Won’t the hotel have food?’ Then she gave a little frown. ‘And are you sure you’ll be able to find somewhere at this time on Christmas Eve when you don’t have a reservation?’
There was an edge of panic to her voice. She hadn’t wanted to spend Christmas alone—but she didn’t want to spend it at the side of a road either.
She could be right. Lots of the hotels in the surrounding area would be full of families in Scotland for Christmas. ‘Give me a second,’ he said.
He made a quick call, then leaned forward to confer with the pilot. ‘Snow is too heavy around that area,’ the pilot said quickly. ‘The hotel is too remote. Their helipad is notorious for problems.’ He shook his head. ‘I’d prefer not to, Mr Armstrong.’
Finlay swallowed. He’d used this pilot for years. If he said he’d prefer not to, he was being polite because Grace was here. He glanced at Grace. ‘My parents aren’t expecting me until Boxing Day. I don’t want to appear early without letting them know.’ He pulled a face. ‘The hotel I’d thought we could go to has rooms, but—’ he nodded to their pilot ‘—it’s remote and our pilot doesn’t recommend it.’
Grace’s eyes widened. ‘So, what do we do, then?’
He sucked in a breath. ‘There is somewhere else we could stay.’ As he said the words every bit of moisture left his mouth. Part of his brain was in overdrive. Why had he packed the hamper? Had he always known they would end up here?
‘Where?’ Grace sounded curious.
He hadn’t quite met her gaze. He glanced out at the dark night. He had no idea where they were right now. And he had no idea what lay ahead.
Last time he’d been in the castle...
He couldn’t even go there. But the practicalities of right now were making him nervous. What would they find at the end of this journey?
After a few years when he’d thought he’d never go back to the castle he’d let his staff go. His mother had made a few casual remarks. He knew that she must have been there. But he also knew that his family respected his wishes.
Grace reached over and touched his arm. Her warm fingers wrapped around his wrist. ‘Finlay, where are you taking me? Where will we be staying?’
‘My home,’ he said before he changed his mind. ‘Drumegan Castle.’
Grace pulled her hand back. ‘What?’ She looked from one side to the other as if she expected the castle to appear out of thin air. ‘You own a castle?’ Her mouth was practically hanging open.
It had been a while since he’d spoken about the castle. When they’d first bought it, he’d relished the expression on people’s faces when he’d told them he owned a castle. But the joy and love for his property had vanished after Anna’s diagnosis and then death.
‘You own a castle,’ Grace repeated.
He nodded. He had to give her an idea of what might lie ahead. ‘I haven’t been back there in a while.’
‘Why?’ As soon as she asked the question, realisation dawned on her and she put her hand up to her mouth. ‘Sorry,’ she w
hispered. ‘Oh.’
‘It’s all closed up. I don’t even know what it will be like when we get there. It will be cold. I hope the heating still works.’ He leaned forward and put his head in his hands. ‘Please let the electricity be working.’ Then he looked upwards, ‘Please let the water be working.’ This was beginning to feel like a very bad idea. They might actually be better off at the side of the road than in the castle after five years. ‘What am I doing?’ He was talking to himself but the words came out loud.
Grace’s hand came back. ‘Finlay, we don’t need to go there if you’re not comfortable.’ She bit her bottom lip. ‘But five years is a long time. Maybe it’s time to go back.’ Her gaze was steady. ‘Maybe it’s time to think about whether you want to keep the castle or not.’ She squeezed his hand again. ‘And maybe it won’t be quite as bad if you’re not there by yourself.’
He could see the sincerity in her eyes. She meant every word. She wanted to help him. She didn’t seem worried about the possibility of no water, no electricity or no heating. Just about every other woman in the world that he’d ever known would be freaking out right now. But Grace was calm. The excitement from the helicopter journey had abated now they’d been travelling for a few hours.
Something washed over him. A sense of relief. His stomach had been in knots. A long time ago he’d loved Drumegan Castle. Loved the approach and seeing the grey castle outline against the sky, towering above the landscape on the top of a hill. It used to give him tingles.
Then, for a while, it had given him dread. That had been the point of staying away for so long. He couldn’t imagine coming back here himself. He couldn’t imagine opening the front door and being swept away by the wave of emotions.
But even though those things were circulating around his brain, he didn’t feel the urge at all to break the connection with Grace’s steady brown gaze. There was something about being around her. A calmness. A reassurance he hadn’t felt in...so long. He placed his hand over hers. ‘I think you could be right.’ She was trying so hard to help him, but how much had he done for her?
‘You should have told me about your gran,’ he said quietly.
She shook her head quickly. ‘I couldn’t. Once you’d told me about Anna...I just felt so guilty. My grief can’t compare with yours. They’re two entirely different things.’
She was trying so hard to sound convincing, to stop the tiny waver he could still hear in her voice. Her grief was still raw. His?
He kept holding her hand. ‘It’s not different, Grace. You lost someone that you loved. This is your first Christmas without that person. I get it.’ He gave a rueful smile. ‘Believe me, I do.’
He pulled her closer and she rested her head on his shoulder. Next thing he knew the pilot was giving him a shout. ‘Five minutes.’
He nudged Grace. ‘Wake up, sleepy. We’re just about to land.’
She sat up and frowned, rubbing her eyes and looking around. It was still pitch black outside. ‘Where on earth are we landing?’ she asked.
He smiled. ‘At the helipad. The lights are automated.’ As he said it they switched on, sending a stream of white light all around them. ‘The helipad can be heated to keep it clear. It has its own generator.’
Grace pressed her nose up against the window. ‘Is this near the castle? I can’t see it.’
She turned and planted one hand on her hip. ‘Finlay Armstrong, are you sure you have a castle? It’s a caravan, isn’t it? You’re secretly pranking me and taking me to a forty-year-old caravan with no heating and electricity in the middle of nowhere.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Don’t forget the no water.’
She laughed. ‘I couldn’t possibly forget that.’
He pulled a face. ‘Believe me, once you see the castle, you might prefer a forty-year-old caravan.’
She leaned back with a sigh as they approached the helipad. ‘I bet I won’t. Stop worrying.’
The helicopter landed smoothly and they jumped out into the biting cold air. ‘Whoa!’ Grace gave a start. ‘I thought London was cold.’
He grabbed her bags. ‘I told you to bring layers. Maybe I should have supervised the packing?’ He was only half joking. He was curious about where Grace lived and was annoyed he’d been distracted by a business call. It might not have been the most prestigious part of London but he’d have liked to have seen the home she’d shared with her grandmother and had so many good memories of.
He gave a nod to the pilot and walked off to the side as the helicopter took off again. There was a garage next to the helipad and he pressed a button to open the automated door. There was a squeak. And a creek. And finally it rolled upwards revealing a far too smart four-by-four.
Grace turned to face him. ‘This is yours?’
‘Last time I checked.’ He felt up in the rafters of the garage for the keys, fingers crossed it would start. He knew that his father secretly used the car on occasion to ‘keep it in running order’. He was just praying it hadn’t been too long since he’d last borrowed it.
He put the bags in the boot and Grace climbed in. He waited until he was ready to get in next to her, then flicked another switch—the external lights of the castle.
She let out a gasp. ‘What?’
It was almost as if the castle appeared out of nowhere. The white lights illuminating it instantly around the base, the main entrance, the turrets. At the same time more lights came on, picking out the long driveway between the landing pad and castle.
It might have helped that the whole area was covered in a thick layer of snow, making it look even more magical than normal.
Grace turned to face him, her face astounded. ‘This is your castle?’
‘What did you expect?’
She pressed herself back against the leather seat as he started the engine. She was transfixed. She lifted up one hand. ‘I don’t know. I just didn’t expect...that. Look at the snow,’ she breathed.
He was fighting back the wave of emotions that was threatening to overtake him. The immense sadness was there. But it wasn’t because he was grieving for Anna. It was the sudden realisation that he’d truly been away for too long. As soon as the lights had flashed on he’d been struck by how much he’d missed this sight.
Drumegan Castle had always made him so proud. It was every boy’s dream to own a castle. According to Anna it had been every girl’s dream too. Drumegan might not have been the pink of some Mediterranean castles, or the beige limestone of many English palaces and large houses. Drumegan Castle was built entirely of grey stone, making it look as if it just rose straight up from the green hill on which it was perched. But to him, just the sight of it gave him immense pride. He’d forgotten that.
It seemed he’d forgotten a lot of things.
He started the car and pulled away. ‘What do you think?’ It was the oddest sensation, but he wanted her approval. Why? He couldn’t quite understand. It was important to him that she liked Drumegan Castle as much as he did.
‘How many rooms does it have?’ She sounded a bit spaced out.
‘Rooms or bedrooms?’ His reply was automatic. He’d answered so many questions about his home in the beginning he was practically a walking encyclopaedia on Drumegan Castle.
‘Either.’ She was still just staring at the structure ahead as they moved along the winding driveway.
‘Well, it has wings really. Six bedrooms in each wing. Then two main kitchens. A scullery. A ballroom. Five sitting rooms. Three dining rooms. A few studies. And most bedrooms have separate bathrooms. Some of the top rooms have never been renovated. They’re still the original servants’ quarters.’
‘Ah...so that’s where you’re putting me.’ Grace had sparked back into life. ‘No bed. No bedsheets. No curtains. And probably...’ she pulled her hands around her body ‘...freezing!’ She gave an exaggerated shiver.<
br />
He tapped the wheel. ‘Hold that thought as you pray the heating is still working properly.’
The car moved up the final part of the drive towards the main entrance of the castle. Normally he would sweep around to the back where there were garages. But there didn’t seem much point. He didn’t expect anyone else to appear and they were both tired.
He pulled up directly outside the main steps and huge traditional carved double doors.
Grace stepped automatically from the car—she didn’t need to be told twice. In the bright outside lights she looked pale. And a little nervous. Even though she was wearing the pink winter coat he could see the slight tremor in her body. He walked around to the back of the car and unloaded the cases, the hamper and the cool box. She came over to help and they walked up the flight of steps to the door.
His hand fumbled slightly as he reached for the lock. ‘You’ll need to give me a second to turn the main alarm off when we get inside. It should only take a few seconds.’
She nodded.
The lock creaked, then rattled as he twisted and jiggled the key. Finally the key turned around. He breathed a sigh of relief as he opened the iron door handle then shouldered the door completely open.
There was a whoosh. A weird kind of noise. Then an incessant little beep. The alarm.
He dumped the bags and walked to the right. The alarm panel was inside the cupboard at the side of the door. It only took a few seconds to key in the code. The light from outside was flooding in. He’d forgotten to mention the glass dome in the main entrance way. It had been put in by the previous owner—an architect and design engineer who obviously had been born before his time. Together with the lights reflecting from outside and the silver twinkling stars above filling the black sky it was a spectacular sight.
The hamper fell with a clatter from Grace’s hand as she walked forward under the dome. She held out her hands and spun around as her eyes stayed transfixed above. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it,’ she said as she turned slowly.
He smiled as he walked over next to her, moving close. ‘It’s amazing. It was the first thing I noticed when I came to view the castle.’ He pointed above. ‘At least I know the electricity is working inside as well as out.’
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