Shona asked if the girl’s friends would like a lift back and found that they would. Calling her intention to Mags, she pulled on her jacket and went out to her car. It was the least she could do to collect them herself. Jack would have done the same, she felt sure, had he been here.
She found the two girls outside the main entrance of the hospital, clad in walking gear and looking anxious.
‘Thanks,’ one of them said as they clambered in. ‘It was a shock Deirdre collapsing like that. She’s never done anything like that before in her life.’
‘They’re keeping her in for tests,’ the other one said, clicking on her seat belt.
‘We’ll get a coffee or something on the way back,’ said Shona. ‘You look as if you need something hot and strong.’
‘We sure do. Thanks.’
Shona pulled in to a wayside café and was glad to see the colour returning to their cheeks as soon as they got the hot liquid down them. After that they became more talkative and they were back at Ferniehope Castle in what seemed a very short time.
‘He’s not back yet,’ Mags told her as she went through the kitchen. ‘Mr and Mrs Drew came but a minute or two ago. I put them in the lounge and gave them a cup of tea. The group leader, Mark, is putting them in the picture now.’
Shona felt exhausted by the time she had greeted Deirdre’s parents and shown them to their room. Then she pointed out to them on the map how to reach the hospital and sent them on their way.
‘So that’s done,’ she told Mags, sinking on to a kitchen stool.
It was only when she had drunk the cup of tea that Mags poured for her that she remembered Liz at Bessie’s Kitchen and her promise to be in touch as soon as she could. Whatever would Liz think of her neglecting her like this?
She pulled out her mobile.
* * *
Dinner that evening was a sombre affair. Talk of the day’s events and no one seemed in the mood for the planned entertainment programme afterwards. Mark, the young leader of the group, looking more careworn than usual, decided that they would merely try to relax rather than take part in a quiz.
Mr and Mrs Drew returned later, unable to tell them any more about their daughter than they already knew. Since they had already eaten they retired early to their room.
At a loose end Shona joined Mags in the kitchen and helped with the clearing up so that the older woman could get off early.
‘You’re not still worried about Jack, are you?’ Mags said, as she wiped down the draining board.
‘Jack?’ said Shona, as if she hadn’t noticed that he hadn’t yet returned.
Mags gave her a knowing look. ‘He’ll be ringing up soon to say he’s staying the night wherever he is. There!’ She looked triumphant as the phone in the kitchen came to life.
‘You answer it,’ said Shona.
Mags did so. ‘Yes, of course I will, Jack. We’ll see you tomorrow then.’
‘Where is he?’ said Shona.
‘He didn’t say exactly and I didn’t ask,’ said Mags. ‘Miles away anyway and not choosing to drive back tonight. But don’t you worry yourself, lassie. He’s booked into a hotel. He was checking that all is well here, that’s all, that you’re seeing to everything here and coping with that lot.’
Shona smiled, thankful to know that he was safe.
AN UNDENIABLE PASSION
Shona was up early next morning and had already made herself a coffee when Mags came bustling into the kitchen bringing with her an aura of chilly air.
‘The kettle’s hot,’ Shona said. ‘Tea, Mags, before you get going?’
‘Make one for Donald, too, will you, Shona? He’ll be here in a while.’
‘Donald’s starting work this early?’
‘Just felt he should be around in case he’s needed.’
‘You haven’t heard anything more?’ Shona said in alarm.
‘No, no, lassie. Stay there while I get started on breakfast.’
But Shona couldn’t sit still. ‘I’ll lay the tables.’
She was glad to have something to do. When she had finished she ran up to her room and took Toby from the bottom of her wardrobe where she had hidden him from prying eyes.
‘There’s a much better place for you than hiding away in here,’ she told him, giving him a kiss. Carrying him downstairs she headed for the conservatory. Jack’s toby jugs up on their high shelf would be surprised to have another companion, but that was the right and proper place for Toby to be. He would like it there. Travelling about the countryside had never been his scene.
She reached for the stool and placed it in position so that she could climb on it to reach high enough to place him among his new friends. Then back on the floor again she stood looking up at him.
‘You’ll be happy up there, Toby,’ she said. ‘You can look down on Jack’s beautiful orchids and know you’re in the best place in the world.’
‘Better than Leckie Shore?’ said a young voice behind her.
Shona spun round. ‘Tamsin!’
The girl was in her short skirt again today with her thin legs encased in black tights. Her bright T-shirt accentuated the blue of her eyes. She looked glowing. ‘Pleased to see me, are you?’
Shona was still gaping. ‘But Tamsin, what are you doing here?’
‘I’ve come to stay if you’ll have me.’
‘Did Liz send you?’
‘Not exactly. She wanted to phone you first but I wouldn’t let her. I wanted to give you a surprise so she drove me.’
‘A shock more like,’ said Shona. She felt weak at the knees. Events were spinning out of control. ‘Where’s Liz now?’
‘Talking to Mags in the kitchen.’
‘I’d better go and see her.’
‘And leave me here all alone with Jack’s precious orchids? Oh, look up there, Shona, another toby jug. Isn’t he yours?’
‘Not any longer,’ said Shona firmly. ‘Toby’s where he belongs now.’
‘Like me,’ said Tamsin, her eyes dancing.
Shona sank down on the stool. ‘Oh Tamsin, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what’s happening.’
‘But Jack does.’
Shona’s head shot up. ‘Jack?’
‘He said to fetch you. He needs to talk to you.’
‘He’s back then. Where is he?’
Tamsin shrugged. ‘Somewhere. Come on. We’ll find him.’
Still bemused Shona followed her. Jack was in the dining room looking out of the back window.
He turned as they came in, his face brightening. ‘Here you are, Shona. Let’s find somewhere quiet to talk on our own.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘This place will soon be a madhouse.’
‘I’ll look after things here,’ said Tamsin. ‘I can help Mags serve the breakfasts and everything. You can trust me.’
‘I think I can,’ said Jack.
‘Then go.’
He turned to Shona. ‘Shall we? My car’s at the front.’ Moments later they were driving away.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked as they passed Bessie’s Kitchen.
‘That place Tamsin told me you liked. Leckie Shore?’
Leckie Shore, she thought, opposite the island where the tide used to roll out as far as it would go as it never had for her since she had returned to Galloway.
‘I’d like that,’ she said faintly.
Jack drove in silence until they went bumping along the rough track to the shoreline.
‘The tide’s right out today,’ she said in wonder.
‘And there’s the island,’ said Jack as he parked and they got out.
The breeze felt fresh on Shona’s face.
He looked anxious. ‘Are you cold without a jacket?’
‘Not a bit,’ she said, intent of looking across at the island. The higher ground was silhouetted against the sky, and it seemed like a fairytale place at this time of the morning. ‘Shall we walk across?’ he asked.
The wet sand was soggy in places but Shona remembered from long a
go that there was an almost invisible causeway that linked the island to the mainland that was firm underfoot.
‘I phoned Ingrid’s mobile,’ Jack said as they set out. ‘I was able to put on some pressure to find out exactly where they were and then set off at once. I found them easily enough. We had unfinished business, Felix Langholme and I. Ingrid too.’
‘Where were they?’
‘Not as far away as I expected. A place called Dumthorne. There’s a good hotel there where I spent the night. We had a lot of talking to do and arrangements to make.’
‘I see.’
‘In the end he admitted that the ugly rumours he’s been spreading weren’t true and that his squandering his share of the proceeds of the sale of the castle had nothing to do with me.
‘I’m glad,’ Shona said simply.
They reached the shore of the island and stood looking back the way they had come. The sky over the distant mountains was brightening to azure as the clouds moved away.
‘So how long are they staying at this place, Dumthorne?’
‘For three weeks or so until their wedding.’
‘They’re getting married?’
Jack’s gaze was intent as he turned to look at her. ‘That’s the way it is.’
‘I hope they’ll both be happy,’ she said.
‘You mean that?’
She nodded. ‘But it doesn’t help Tamsin.’
‘And that upsets you more than anything?’
‘More than anything connected with Felix.’
He let out a long breath. ‘That’s why I went after them.’
‘You went for my sake?’ she marvelled.
‘We’ve agreed that in future Tamsin’s home will be at Ferniehope Castle,’ he said. ‘Her father will support her financially, pay her school fees and so on. And every now and again the two of them will go off on their own for some quality time. If you can call it that.’
‘Oh Jack,’ she said faintly.
‘Mags will get a letter from Ingrid very soon, I hope she’ll understand what made her daughter do this. Donald too.’
‘Mags is big-hearted. And she loves Ingrid.’
‘And I love you, Shona,’ Jack said, his voice deep. ‘I can’t do without you, my dearest love.’
She gazed at him in wonder, knowing she couldn’t live without him either. ‘Jack?’
At once she was in his arms. ‘Dearest Shona, I love you for your concern about the girl,’ he whispered, his breath warm on her cheek. ‘Have you enough to spare for me too?’
She felt herself quiver in his arms. ‘How can you doubt it?’ she said, marvelling at the joy flooding through her.
‘I love you, Shona,’ he said, his voice stronger now. ‘Will you marry me and be concerned about me forever?’
She gave a little giggle. ‘And will you be concerned for Tamsin?’
‘Mags will if I’m not,’ he said. ‘She likes someone to spoil. And Liz too down at Bessie’s Kitchen maybe needing her help sometimes, so Tamsin knows she’s needed as well as loved. That girl’s not going to lack for anything.’
‘And I won’t lack for anything either,’ Shona said. ‘I love you truly, Jack.’
He held her so close she could hardly breathe. ‘Shona,’ he murmured, his voice vibrating a little.
His kiss was long and passionate and she felt herself melt into it until she felt she was drowning.
She pulled away at last. ‘The tide’ll soon be on the turn,’ she said breathlessly. ‘The water rolls in fast.’
‘Then come on, my love. Let’s go.’
Together they walked back across the causeway.
‘Shall we put a couple more stones for luck on the cairn of stones, my love?’ he said when they reached the beach.
Shona smiled, knowing that all the good fortune in the world was already hers.
Where the Heart Belongs Page 12