Hotel By The Loch

by Iris Danbury

  Jamie shrugged. ‘No. Somewhere about, I expect.’

  But Miriam was apparently not in the hotel at all, for Fenella made a quick search of both downstairs and upstairs rooms. When she returned to the kitchen Jamie handed her a note. ‘Mother must have left this on top of the fridge, but it blew away on to the floor,’ he explained.

  She read the hastily scrawled words:

  ‘Fenella, could you give Jamie a snack lunch and prepare something for yourself? Back later.

  Miriam.’

  Perhaps she had gone down to the village to see about recruiting local staff, thought Fenella.

  ‘I’ve a better idea,’ she suggested to Jamie. ‘I’ll take you to lunch at the biggest hotel in Fort William and you can have anything you like. Then you can come with me to the hospital to see my father. How about that?’

  Jamie frowned. ‘Och, I’d better not go near the hospital. The nurses will blather at me for writing on the plaster. Maybe they’ll crack it off and put another lot on. Then I’ll lose all my names and drawings.’

  She saw his point, although she though it unlikely that the plaster would be broken until the fractured bone was properly set. ‘All right. You can wait in the car and I won’t stay long. We’ll bring some books.’

  At the hotel Jamie chose the food he fancied, roast pork and chips, followed by ice cream and a plate of bread and butter with jam. The waiter maintained a straight face. No doubt he was used to the wild menus demanded by small boys.

  Mr. Sutherland was in a cheerful mood and Fenella was on the point of disclosing that she intended to stay at the Gairmorlie all the summer, but she decided it was more prudent to wait until Mr. Ramsay definitely agreed on her position.

  In the circumstances that was just as well, for when she arrived back at the hotel, Miriam gasped with relief.

  ‘Oh, there you are! I’ve been so worried about Jamie!’

  ‘Why?’ asked Fenella, mystified.

  ‘Well, I had no idea where he was. It didn’t occur to me that you’d taken him off somewhere.’

  ‘But, Miriam, you knew I’d be going to the hospital this afternoon as usual. What else could I do but take Jamie out to lunch and then let him sit in the car until I was ready to leave?’

  ‘You could at least have left a note,’ complained Miriam ‘It isn’t often that I go out anywhere and when Mr. Ramsay asked if I’d like to go out walking with him, I took the chance. I know we were rather later coming back than we’d intended, but that was because of the rain. We had to take shelter and that delayed us.’

  ‘Yes, it rained on the way back from Fort William and I had to drive slowly,’ said Fenella.

  ‘But I was worried out of my wits about where Jamie could have gone, especially in the rain.’

  Fenella stared at the other girl. It was unlike Miriam to be so querulous and out of humour. Was this the effect of a few hours out with Mr. Ramsay?

  ‘I’m sorry, Miriam,’ Fenella said, although she thought there was little to apologize for, apart from not leaving a scrawled note.

  ‘No need to fash, mother,’ commented Jamie.

  ‘Jamie, I wish you wouldn’t use these Scottish dialect words,’ Miriam said sharply to her son.

  ‘All the boys at school say them,’ he replied mutinously.

  ‘Then that’s all the more reason why you shouldn’t,’ she snapped. ‘I want you to grow up speaking good English.’

  ‘Fenella gave me a super lunch,’ he continued, as though he knew when the conversation ought to be changed.

  Fenella considered the moment had come to escape from Miriam’s reproaches. She found Mr. Ramsay in the reception office.

  ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t see you this morning,’ she began.

  ‘No doubt you needed your sleep.’

  She ignored that gentle jibe. ‘I’ve been thinking over your offer—’

  ‘What offer was that, Miss Sutherland?’

  She stared at him. ‘Why, to work in the hotel during the summer. Surely you remember—’

  ‘I remember no such thing,’ he snapped. ‘The offer was made by you in the first place. I merely agreed to find you a post if your offer was really genuine.’

  Her mouth moved rebelliously, then set in a straight line. ‘My offer was entirely genuine, but if you don’t require my services no doubt I can use them elsewhere.’

  ‘Of course. Making dresses that appear to be two pieces of material clapped together. Perhaps that might be nearer your capabilities.’

  ‘Mr. Ramsay!’ she said loudly, ‘I didn’t come here now to be insulted. I’m perfectly capable of earning a living in one way or another. If you don’t want me here, say so!’

  He leaned back in his chair and gazed at her, his hazel eyes apparently measuring her mood, his mouth beginning to curve in a smile.

  ‘I have my own methods of determining just how much people want to come and work for me,’ he said at last.

  ‘Rough methods,’ she commented. ‘I wonder you manage to get anyone, let alone keep your staff, if that’s the way you go about it.’

  Now he smiled fully. ‘Never generalize on the strength of a single incident. Naturally I vary my methods according to the individual.’

  ‘Thank you!’ she answered sarcastically. ‘And I deserve the harsher kind?’

  ‘Not at all. I fear you haven’t yet seen me in action at my worst. Now let’s both sit down and discuss the subject without shouting at each other.’

  They had both been standing facing each other like a pair of fighting cocks. Fenella sat down and Mr. Ramsay pulled a chair opposite her.

  ‘Now. You must forgive me if I assume that you know really nothing of hotel management except by living here as little more than a guest.’

  She let that pass.

  ‘Therefore at the present time you might be more hindrance than help in the kitchen,’ he continued in his smooth, insulting way. ‘Besides, it would be a pity to hide you there, so I might put you here in the reception office.’

  ‘That’s what I said. I could help Miriam.’

  ‘At first, yes,’ he agreed. ‘But I’m promoting Miriam to the post of housekeeper. She deserves more responsibility.’

  ‘Is that really promotion?’ she queried. ‘Mrs. Macgregor used to do that in the summer.’

  His expression hardened. ‘This proves my point, that you know absolutely nothing at all about hotel staff. You don’t realize that a hotel housekeeper has entire charge of all bedroom floors and service and a responsibility to see that all her staff have good working conditions. She’s the most important link between her part of the house and the management.’

  ‘I see,’ said Fenella slowly.

  ‘I shall engage a competent chef and he takes charge of everything concerning food,’ Mr. Ramsay continued.

  ‘And where does reception come in?’ she asked.

  ‘Under me for the present,’ he replied with a disarming grin. ‘Later, there will be a control accountant who will supervise the financial side.’

  She saw that he was determined to make her knuckle under to him personally, but she could not withdraw her offer. She had to balance the advantages against the inconveniences; she would almost certainly lose the job in the London fashion house and have to apply for another, but she would be here in her own home, even if it were an hotel, she would be in close touch with her father and also enjoy the companionship of Alex and his family.

  As though he read her thoughts, Mr. Ramsay said mildly, ‘I certainly don’t want to pry into your personal affairs, but is it perhaps a possibility that you think taking a post here would fill in the time until you marry McNicol?’

  Fenella was startled, even disconcerted. ‘You’re racing too far ahead, Mr. Ramsay,’ she said sharply. ‘Alex and I have been friends since we were children, but as you said yourself, one shouldn’t generalize on the strength of a single incident. Don’t marry me off quite so soon, please.’

  He inclined his head, acknowledging the rebuke. �
�I like to know where I stand, that’s all.’

  ‘I suppose you catechize all the rest of your employees about their boy-friends?’

  He regarded her with that infuriatingly calm gaze and his eyes twinkled. ‘Miss Sutherland, if you’re going to be a successful receptionist, you must learn to control that excessively fiery temper of yours. Now, if you could remain calm for a few minutes, we might discuss your terms of employment, salary and so on. I think your duties could be arranged so that you have ample time to visit your father most days. If any difficulty arises, then consult Miriam.’

  After fifteen minutes of concentrated discussion and instructions, Fenella’s head was in a whirl. No doubt the complicated reservation and book-keeping systems would make sense when she actually began to do the job.

  Miriam seemed utterly surprised when Fenella explained her decision to stay for the summer.

  ‘But you can’t mean it! Throwing away your job in London! What’s made you do such a crazy thing?’

  Fenella’s eyebrows rose a little. ‘Crazy, is it? You may be right, but it seemed a good idea last night.’

  ‘Oh, last night!’ Miriam’s tone was contemptuous. ‘No one expects to keep promises made coming home from a dance. Was it your idea? Or did Cameron ask you to stay?’

  ‘Mine, I suppose, in a vague way,’ Fenella admitted.

  ‘What work are you going to do?’

  ‘I’m to be a minor assistant-receptionist,’ the other replied. ‘It all sounds so complicated that I wish I’d offered to be a chambermaid. That would have been a lot simpler.’

  Miriam frowned. ‘You can still have the chance to try a stint of that some time. In the height of the season you’d be glad to flop on your bed for twenty minutes, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.’

  Fenella sighed. ‘I expect I shall make mistakes at first, but I know I can rely on you to help me, Miriam.’

  ‘Of course!’ Miriam spoke crisply. ‘But you may find you’ve bitten off rather more than you can chew, especially as Cameron has some go-ahead ideas for improving the hotel.’

  It occurred to Fenella that Miriam and Mr. Ramsay were now apparently on Christian name terms. Was this the result of Mr. Ramsay’s decision to promote Miriam?

  Fenella hardly knew whether to congratulate Miriam on her new status or leave the subject alone for the present. For something to say she said idly, ‘Mr. Ramsay seems to have the idea that I’m just using the job to fill in time until I marry Alex.’

  Miriam, who had half turned away to pick up her mending basket and a pair of Jamie’s socks, now swung round sharply.

  ‘Marry Alex? And is that your intention?’

  Fenella shrugged. ‘I haven’t really thought about it. We get on well together, but then we’ve known each other a long time.’

  ‘Too long, perhaps,’ suggested Miriam, her face down-bent as she carefully examined the enormous holes in Jamie’s socks.

  Fenella let out a gigantic sigh. ‘Well, at nineteen I’ve plenty of time before me. I’m not going to be bulldozed into marrying Alex or anyone else before I’m ready.’

  ‘That’s right, Fenella,’ murmured Miriam. ‘Take your time.’

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Fenella soon discovered that Mr. Ramsay intended to lose no time in setting her to work. On the following morning, Monday, he demanded her presence in the reception office almost before she had finished her breakfast.

  ‘There’s a lot to be done before the mail arrives,’ he told her. The post-van usually came about midday. Fenella had always counted this an advantage in living so far from a larger town. No rude shocks could be delivered by breakfast time. Letters had to wait until halfway through the day, when one was more prepared.

  She listened carefully to Mr. Ramsay’s instructions as he showed her how to plot on a chart the letting of rooms and how they could be switched, if necessary, before visitors arrived.

  ‘Unless, of course, we have promised a front room with a lochside view,’ he added. ‘Or a particular floor.’

  ‘My father never did that,’ she commented in a foolishly unguarded moment. ‘Switch rooms, I mean.’

  ‘But his daughter will learn differently,’ he snapped.

  Their heads were bent again to the chart. ‘I can see how it goes,’ she said confidently. ‘Just like booking seats at the theatre.’

  He stared at her for a moment with first anger in his eyes, then a hint of amusement.

  ‘I’m glad you think it’s such child’s play,’ he said with such smugness that she knew that even the smallest error would give him cause for triumph.

  When he had gone out to attend to the new wing being built, she examined the chart, but now she saw the pitfalls. Nearly all the bedrooms had been re-numbered and now she had no idea which were front, back or side view. She realized that it would be no use asking for Mr. Ramsay’s help, but Miriam would no doubt sort out the numbers.

  ‘Perfectly simple,’ Miriam said when Fenella approached her. ‘Every room beginning with a “One” means it’s on the first floor. Those with “Two” on the second.’

  ‘Yes, I know that,’ agreed Fenella, ‘but they’ve all been re-numbered. 36, the big room on the corner, doesn’t seem to be here on my chart. But it’s already got bookings.’

  ‘Look, Fenella,’ Miriam said patiently, ‘d’you think you could go round and make a list of the rooms yourself? I’m terribly busy this morning. I have endless checking of linen and scores of things to do.’

  Fenella nodded and went down to the office. She could not really understand the recent change in Miriam’s attitude. Hitherto, they had both agreed so well whenever Fenella was home for holidays. Could it be that Miriam disliked the prospect of Fenella’s presence at the hotel for a longer period? Or was it the fact that Fenella was committed to working there, even though on little more than a temporary basis? It was all very puzzling, especially as in no sense could Miss Sutherland, the former owner’s daughter, be considered a rival or stand in the way of Miriam’s promotion. Miriam already had a greater degree of security for herself and Jamie. Perhaps her brusque attitude was no more than the result of nerves and pressure because of the earlier opening date.

  Almost as soon as Fenella had reached her office, a telephone call came from Alex.

  After his enquiries as to her safe arrival home after the dance on Saturday, he said, ‘I’m going to Fort William in about an hour’s time. I could call for you, we could have lunch there and then you can go on to see your father. I’ll pick you up in time for dinner. I have several people to see there.

  Any other time. Fenella would have been pleased to spend most of a day with Alex, but time had already marched on.

  ‘Oh, what a pity!’ she said. ‘I’m afraid I can’t come. I’m a working girl now and I—’

  ‘A what?’ he yelled, nearly blasting her ear.

  ‘I’m an assistant-receptionist here at the hotel.’

  ‘Good heavens! Are you joking?’

  ‘Far from it,’ she assured him. ‘Although I see on the calendar in front of me that today’s date is April the first. But I mean it. It’s true. I’ve agreed to stay here for the summer.’ There was a long silence and Fenella wondered if the news had stunned him or whether the telephone had been cut off. ‘Are you there, Alex?’ she queried.

  ‘Yes. I’m only trying to take in what you said. But what about your other job in London? Hotel receptionist won’t help you with that, will it?’

  ‘No, it won’t,’ she replied. ‘But since I intend to stay a while here I might as well do something useful instead of being a hindrance to Mr. Ramsay and his staff.’

  ‘What does Miriam think of the idea?’ asked Alex.

  Fenella thought it a strange question. She paused a few moments before answering. ‘I suppose she’ll put up with me. She’ll probably have more important work to do soon.’

  ‘How are you going to see your father every day if you’re working?’ he queried.

  ‘Oh, that’s a
rranged,’ she told him. ‘I’m to have most afternoons off from two till five and I’ll make up the time in the evenings.’

  ‘It all sounds crazy to me,’ grumbled Alex. ‘I thought that if you were going to stay here we’d be able to go out and about a bit, but tied to the hotel—well, that’s not much good.’

  ‘Oh, I daresay I shall find ways and means of having a little free time now and then,’ she said airily.

  ‘H’m. Today I’m not much use to you. I have several appointments and I should bring you back far too late for your new boss if he wants you there by five.’

  ‘Never mind, Alex. Ring me up another time when you’re going and I’ll probably be able to come. ’Bye.’

  As she turned away from the telephone she became aware that Mr. Ramsay was standing just outside the reception window.

  ‘I suppose that wasn’t a call from Edinburgh?’ he asked.

  ‘No, from Alex McNicol,’ she answered. As if he didn’t know!

  ‘I’m expecting one from the contractors there about the delivery of the pavilion.’

  ‘Pavilion?’ she echoed.

  ‘Yes. If I’m not available when they ring, take a message about delivery and tell them that they must hurry. I must have a definite date.’

  ‘Yes, Mr. Ramsay. I’ll make a note of it.’

  Pavilion, she thought, when he had disappeared. What was he up to now?

  She was forced to wait until the evening for enlightenment.

  ‘It’s for a conference,’ Miriam explained.

  Fenella’s eyes widened. ‘How on earth can he hope to have a conference here? Or are all the members of whatever it is going to stay somewhere else?’

  Miriam smiled. ‘You haven’t really studied the booking charts or you’d see the letter “C” written against the room numbers.’

  ‘Oh, I’ve seen that. I thought it meant “Closed” until the hotel opened.’

  Miriam laughed. ‘How simple can you get? Don’t you realize yet that we’re opening specially for this conference?’