* * *
‘But this isn’t the frilly-leafed one like you said,’ Tamsin objected.
‘It isn’t? Are you sure?’
Tamsin stood on one foot and leaned far forward to peer at the orchid in its pot hanging from the glass roof of the conservatory. Poised there, she looked like a ballet dancer on long thin legs.
‘Mind you don’t fall,’ Shona warned.
Tamsin spun round, both feet on the ground now. ‘You’ve got it wrong.’
Shona looking, reached forward and extracted the label from the pot. ‘Pleione formosana,’ she read in bewilderment. ‘This wasn’t in this position the other day.’ She replaced the label and ran her finger down the list until she came to the name. ‘Direct light. Water freely,’ she read out.
‘I’ll fill the small can,’ said Tamsin.
‘Not so fast,’ said Shona. ‘They don’t all need watering. Give me a chance to check.’
Tamsin was peering at the labels of the orchids on the windowsills now, exclaiming at the beauty of an orange one in full flower. ‘This one’s pretty,’ she said. ‘What a shame they’re not all in bloom.’
Shona frowned as she picked up the green demister can from a shelf near the doorway. ‘I know that one of them has to be misted with this thing every morning but where is it?’
‘What’s it like?’
Shona remembered the Latin name suddenly, the only one she could remember because both words began with the letter C and Jack had made a joke about it. ‘It’s a pretty white one . . . I’ve found it on the list. Coelogne cristata. Likes full sunlight, it says here. Soak the roots in water every other day. But that’s not what Jack said.’
‘So someone’s got it wrong?’
‘Not Jack,’ said Shona. ‘He showed it to me when it was hanging up. It’s one he likes best. He told me its common name, a pretty one. I can’t remember what it is at the moment.’
‘So whose fault is it then?’ Tamsin said, looking at her expectantly.
‘I’ll have to check this,’ said Shona.
‘So where’s that woman, the secretary?’
‘Ingrid. You don’t think . . ?’
‘Who else?’ said Tamsin, her eyes alight with interest. ‘You said she left the list for you.’
‘Stay here,’ said Shona. ‘I’ll find her.’
‘I’m not going to miss this,’ said Tamsin.
The office was empty. Shona checked the other rooms and then pushed open the kitchen door to ask Mags if she had seen her.
‘Gone to the post office,’ came Mags’ voice from the walk-in larder. She emerged with a string bag of carrots which she dumped on the draining board. ‘There’s a job here for you, young Tamsin, if you want one,’ she said.
Tamsin grinned at her. ‘No way. We’ve a mystery to solve. More interesting than carrots.’
‘Be off with you then,’ said Mags, no way put out.
‘Come on,’ said Tamsin, darting out of the kitchen and making for the office. ‘We’ve got to do something quick. Which computer’s hers?’
‘Oh no, you can’t . . .’
‘Just watch me,’ said Tamsin, sounding jubilant.
‘What are you doing?’ said Shona in alarm as Tamsin strode over to Ingrid’s laptop.
‘Investigating, of course,’ said Tamsin, peering forward as Google came up on the screen and she typed in the words she wanted. ‘Tell me the spelling of the one we want. Coe something.’
Shona did so, her throat dry with her dread of Ingrid’s untimely return.
‘We’ll print this out now,’ said Tamsin. ‘I’ve got all the info we need for this little chap. The right info of course.’
The printer came to life and Shona marvelled of the girl’s knowledge and self-possession. Sitting there with her slim hands on the keys of a strange laptop she seemed perfectly in command of it all and much older than her fifteen years.
‘Now we need a print-out of that list she gave you,’ said Tamsin. ‘Wait a minute and I’ll find it.’
A few moments later they had two of them, a copy of the instruction list in the folder and another, the correct one, as well.
‘OK?’ said Tamsin as she handed them to Shona. ‘We’ve got all we need. Got a spare memory stick? I’d better back it all up.’ Shona passed her one.
‘Thanks. Now we’d better get out of here before the dragon returns.’
Back in the conservatory again Shona let out a huge breath of relief. Tamsin took the three sheets of paper and handed back the one with the information from the internet. She sat down on the stool and with her tawny head bent, compared the two lists of instructions.
‘Ingrid’s sure got it in for you too,’ she said.
For a moment Shona failed to pick up on the implication. Then it sank in. ‘You mean she doesn’t like you, either?’ she said.
‘Like I care,’ said Tamsin.
‘But why not?’
‘I’m not talking about it. I want to get to the bottom of this. Here, take the lists. You know more about orchids than I do.’
Shona sat down on the stool to study them. ‘Look what she’s done,’ she said. ‘She’s moved the instructions for the orchids one place down. Now it makes sense.’
‘So that’s her trick. They’ve all got the wrong information so you’ll water the wrong ones and leave the wrong ones dry. But we’ve got the proof we need to get her. She can’t argue with this. Show this to Jack and she’s finished.’
Shona got up slowly. ‘Not so fast. The orchids come first.’
‘Then Ingrid.’
‘I’m so grateful to you,’ said Shona, still feeling weak at the knees at the thought of what she might have done to Jack’s precious orchids. His reaction would have been horrendous.
Tamsin looked determined. ‘You’ve got to get Ingrid for this,’ Tamsin said. ‘It’s not fair. If you don’t get her I will.’
* * *
‘And did you?’ asked Liz with interest. Shona shook her head. They were seated side by side on the swing seat on the grassy mound at the back of Ferniehope Castle on Saturday evening. Rex and his group had left for home soon after breakfast and she had spent the intervening time supervising the cleaners as they prepared the rooms for the next influx arriving on Monday. Now she could relax in Liz’s company.
‘I haven’t seen Ingrid since,’ she said.
‘Lying low?’
‘Seems like it. Thanks for coming, Liz. I needed to talk.’
‘It was a perfect evening for a walk.’ As Liz leaned back in a reclining chair, a waft of flowery perfume floated in the calm air.
Shona gazed across the shadow-rippled grass to the bed of early tulips near the wall, highlighting the rough stone. ‘Jack would have blown his top if I’d killed off any of his precious orchids. Tamsin saved my life.’
‘Tamsin’s a good child with a head on her shoulders,’ said Liz, rocking gently.
‘I’d do anything for that girl at the moment. Mind you, I had to leave the place unattended while I drove her home. I had my heart in my mouth, I can tell you, in case a crisis occurred while I was away.’
‘What did Felix say when you showed up?’
Shona frowned. ‘Nothing. He wasn’t there. I just left her and got back. She said she’s used to it.’
Liz laughed, smoothing down her pink fluffy cardigan over her ruffled blouse. ‘I feel sorry for her with that father of hers always off on some mission or other.’
‘Felix has been helpful to me too,’ said Shona. ‘He suggested a good trip out for the clients yesterday, sightseeing and shopping. It took a load off my mind. And now they’ve gone.’
‘And Jack’s not back yet?’
‘Home tomorrow.’
‘And will you tell him what happened with the orchids?’
‘I’ll confront Ingrid first.’
‘Good luck.’
Shona gave a little shiver though the evening air was mild. ‘Tamsin made me promise to hide the brown folder away so Ingrid can
’t replace the instruction list with the right one.’
‘Her father’s made a good job of bringing Tamsin up for all his erratic ways. He used to work here, you know. Ran a ceramics workshop, but of course it didn’t last what with him being so resentful of Jack.’
‘He was? But why?’
‘You know Felix’s aunt once owned the castle?’
Shona leaned forward. ‘She did?’
‘Her will was complicated and Felix was left only part owner of Ferniehope and so it had to be sold. Jack could see the potential of the place even though it was in a dilapidated state when Miss Agnes Langholme died and needed thousands spent on it.’
‘Aunt Aggie!’ said Shona in amazement.
‘You knew her?’
‘Felix used to talk about her when we were young. So Rich Aunt Aggie really existed?’ Shona leaned back in her chair. Just wait till she told Jodie when she phoned her this evening!
‘They were close, Felix and his aunt,’ said Liz, shifting a little in her seat. ‘It’s hard for him knowing that the castle is no longer in the family. He grew up here, you know.’
Shona looked thoughtfully at the castle building, in shadow now as the sun sank behind the trees.
‘He must have loved it so,’ she said, a lump in her throat. ‘What must Felix have felt like watching Jack Cullen pour money into the place to change it from a family home to a smart conference centre for strangers?’
Liz gave a deep sigh. ‘Och well, that’s the way things go. Always change and moving on. And so must I. It’s getting late.’ She struggled out of her chair, buttoning her cardigan to the neck. ‘It’s been a grand evening for a talk, Shona, and I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow and your fight with Ingrid.’
‘Fight’s a good word,’ said Shona, laughing. ‘And Ingrid’s not going to win this one.’
‘TELL ANYONE AND YOU’RE DEAD.’
Shona took a quick look at the orchids before breakfast next day to check that all was in order and then joined Mags in the kitchen.
The rich scent of roasting meat made her nose twitch. ‘What is it today, Mags?’ she asked, slipping into a seat at the breakfast table.
Mags, peeling potatoes at the sink smiled broadly. ‘Roast pork,’ she said. ‘Jack’ll want lunch early, I expect. He always does when he comes home on a Sunday morning. Scrambled eggs and mushrooms on toast do you?’
‘My favourite,’ said Shona.
She began to eat, her mind filled with the imminent confrontation with Ingrid. Yesterday her anger had made it seem easy, but in the light of day she was dreading it.
The hall door slammed. Ingrid? Putting down her knife and fork, Shona leapt up. Now for it! Heart thudding, she walked out of the kitchen, her head held high.
* * *
Jack Cullen backed his car into his usual parking space, got out and stretched. Being back at Ferniehope Castle felt as good as always and he took a deep breath of air that seemed to have the elixir of life in it. A few months ago leaving his clients would have been unthought-of, but now with Shona in attendance he had no worries. A great girl, Shona. Harley de Los had thought the world of her abilities. His luck was in when Harley left for the States and Shona needed other employment.
He smiled as he clicked the car doors shut, anticipating Mags’ huge smile of welcome when she saw he was home safe and sound. He’d had a good trip away at the orchid fair even though he’d spent more than he intended. But how could he help that when there was so much on offer?
Leaving his kit in the car to be unloaded later, he crossed the gravel to the back door and entered the kitchen on a breath of breezy air.
‘Hi there, Mags, how’s it going?’ He sniffed in appreciation. ‘Something smells good.’
She turned away from the sink and looked him up and down, smiling broadly. ‘No need to ask how you got on at that flower place. You look blooming.’
He laughed at the unintended pun. ‘It was great. A lot of exotic beauties new to me and I’m afraid I couldn’t resist. I’m expecting a delivery in the next day or two.’
Mags tut-tutted her disapproval. ‘Wasting good money when you’ve got so many of them already. What’s the sense in that?’
‘I’ve got no sense obviously, Mags.’
‘You’ll regret it one of these days.’
He laughed again. ‘I’d better go and inspect my lovelies before I do anything else.’
‘Shall I make coffee?’ Mags dried her hands and reached for the kettle.
‘Why not? Bring it into the conservatory, will you? Shona and I have some catching up to do.’
As he went into the hall he heard raised voices. He didn’t at first register that they were coming from his office. Then he paused in surprise, and before opening the door in time to see Shona, red-faced, staring at Ingrid whose words seemed to tumble over each other in her hurry to get them out of a mouth contorted with fury.
* * *
When Shona had reached the open office door five minutes earlier, Ingrid was hanging her dark jacket over the back of her computer chair. Was it imagination or did her shoulders have a triumphant look about them?
‘One moment, Ingrid,’ Shona said, her heart thudding.
Ingrid swung round, smiling. ‘You want me? Has something happened?’
‘Such as what?’ Shona said, her voice rising at Ingrid’s look of expectancy. ‘Orchids dying because of wrong treatment and me to blame? What sort of mean trick is that?’
Ingrid opened her eyes wide. ‘I can’t think what you’re talking about.’
‘Believe me, you can.’ With a flourish Shona opened the folder she had brought in with her and extracted the sheet of false instructions that Ingrid had typed out for her. ‘How do you explain this?’
The expression in Ingrid’s eyes was triumphant. ‘Tried it out, did you?’
Shona felt herself flush. ‘Luckily, I’m not that stupid. You transposed the information for each orchid down one line.’
‘Don’t you dare to accuse me of anything?’
‘There’s no way you could have done this by mistake. This was a deliberate nasty trick to get me into trouble.’
‘Says who?’ Ingrid’s laugh was harsh as she snatched the paper and tore it into shreds. ‘So where’s your proof now?’ She dropped the pieces into the waste paper basket and then opened the lid of the laptop.
‘It’s no good wiping off the evidence now,’ cried Shona. ‘I’ve got more copies. And what’s more it’s all saved on memory stick.’
Ingrid glared at her. ‘You have, have you?’
‘I’ve got proof, Ingrid. Remember that, and if you think it’s a threat, you’re absolutely right.’
‘Tell anyone and you’re dead,’ Ingrid hissed.
‘So you admit it?’
‘No way,’ she cried as she lunged forward. ‘Now get out.’
Alarmed, Shona took a step back.
The office door opened.
* * *
‘Drink this,’ Jack said, handing Shona a mug of steaming coffee. He had taken one look at the two furious girls, caught hold of Shona and propelled her towards the conservatory. She had shown no resistance as he half-pushed her on to a low stool in the shade. ‘Stay there,’ he ordered, not even glancing at his orchids.
Ingrid had seen fit to disappear, for a cooling off session he hoped.
Shona looked stunned, he thought as he returned with the tray, as well she might after that fracas.
She put out a shaking hand to take the mug from him.
‘No,’ he said sharply. ‘I’ll do it. I need to know what’s been going on.’
He placed her mug of coffee on the floor near where she was seated. ‘Don’t kick it over.’
‘I . . . I’m sorry about all that,’ she whispered.
He poured coffee for himself from the tray on the central bench. Holding both hands round the mug, he leaned against the door frame and looked at Shona closely. ‘So Ingrid’s temper got the better of her again?’ he said. ‘I sh
ould have warned you. She’s good at her job and you have to learn to deal with it sooner rather than later.’
She gave a little gasp. ‘But Ingrid went too far . . .’
He frowned. ‘For your own good take on board what I’ve just said. I mean it, Shona. What’s between the two of you must stay that way. I insist on it.’
He knew he was being harsh but there was no other way. Ingrid’s bursts of temper were just that, sudden and soon over. He must give Shona credit for realising that now and standing well clear.
He sighed. ‘I didn’t expect this sort of welcome home after a fabulous few days at the orchid fair.’ His euphoria had vanished now and the sight of Shona drooping on her stool filled him with concern so deep he was at a loss as how to handle it.
‘Tell me about the last days of the rambling group,’ he said. ‘You coped with them?’
She raised her head. ‘I needed help with that too,’ she said. ‘I planned a day’s walking in the forest park. There should have been no trouble, but they got lost. I phoned someone and he helped out. He was in the area. He found them.’
Jack gave a scornful laugh. ‘Their leader was totally inept. A black mark against his name in the book, please, for future reference. We won’t have him here again. And the rest of their time?’
‘Felix helped me there too. He came here prepared to take them over. He did a great job.’
‘Felix Langholme!’ Jack slammed his mug down so hard on the tray that coffee flew in all directions. ‘I don’t have that man at Ferniehope Castle, d’you understand? Surely I’d made that clear already?’
Shona stared at him, white-faced. ‘I don’t believe this,’ she said. ‘There was a crisis. I care about those people. I liked arranging their day so they were happy. I couldn’t just leave them there, worried probably about getting back. I had to do something.’
‘But not that.’
Jack picked up his cup and took a gulp of coffee.
Furious, Shona lashed out at him. ‘What was I supposed to do . . . alert the emergency services and make Ferniehope Castle a laughing stock when the media got hold of the story?’
‘You had no right to involve Felix Langholme.’
‘I had a choice about asking for his assistance and I made it,’ said Shona. ‘He came at once when I asked.’
Where the Heart Belongs Page 8