Highland Fling (31 page)

Evelyn then swept into the room leaving Lizzie feeling a mixture of pleasure and anger.

She stormed downstairs and shoved the kitchen door open almost hitting Annie in the face.

‘Sorry Annie,’ she said, as she stomped over to the table and plopped on to the chair she was sitting on prior to the Drakes arrival. ‘You’ll never believe it, his mum just said that Jack had told her how lovely I was! I could cheerfully wring that man’s neck.’

Annie pulled a face. ‘Shall I make you some tea?’ she asked, glancing towards Jane who so far, had said nothing.

‘I’ll do it,’ Lizzie said. ‘I need to keep myself occupied or I may just break something.’ She jumped up from her chair and went to put the kettle on.

Annie got the cups.

‘Thanks Annie.’ Lizzie glanced at Jane who seemed to be intent on reading the paper. ‘You haven’t said anything since they arrived. Cat got your tongue?’

‘No, but you might. Doesn’t really seem any point in saying anything. You’ve been like a bear with a sore head ever since he called and you won’t listen to anyone when you’re like this. You were the same when you discovered Max’s affair.’

‘What? That’s not true. I listen to you all the time and ... oh, okay, you’re right. I have just been snapping at you all haven’t I? Sorry.’

‘That’s okay. I would be furious too, if he’d done that to me, but you can’t let it fester like this. I mean, when you said you’d stay out of his parents way all weekend and leave them to Annie and me, that really was the limit.’

‘But you wouldn’t let me! And I didn’t appreciate being dragged to the front door.’

‘If you behave like a child, I’ll treat you like one,’ Jane said, her grin belying her comment.

‘God. You’ve really jumped into the step mother role haven’t you?’

‘Yes. And I feel I’m rather good at it.’

They both laughed as Jane arrogantly flicked her hair behind her shoulder.

‘Okay mum,’ Lizzie said, ‘tell me next time I do it and I’ll try to stop but please come in the sitting room with me when they come down. I can’t face them on my own and the other guests may not be back by then.’

‘We’ll both come in with you so don’t panic. Strength in numbers. Now make the tea will you. I’m gasping. Being a mother is hard work.’

Half an hour later, as Annie was taking the tea service into the sitting room, she popped her head back into the kitchen. ‘They’re coming down,’ she said, ‘and four of the other guests are walking up the drive.’

Lizzie and Jane got to their feet. Lizzie made tea and Jane made coffee. They put the pots, milk jugs and sugar bowls on trays, and Annie and Jane ferried them into the sitting room. Although Lizzie’s foot had healed, she still couldn’t walk without a slight limp so carrying trays was out of the question.

Lizzie performed all the introductions between the various guests and then they all settled down to tea, coffee and cakes.

‘There are brochures and leaflets on the hall table,’ Lizzie said to the Drakes and the other four guests, ‘giving details of all the nearby attractions, including restaurants, pubs and the like. Aviemore is about fifteen minutes away by car and there’s quite a lot to do there. Inverness, just over half an hour or so in the other direction. There are lots of villages in both directions and there are walking trails, cycling and riding paths, whisky distillery tours, fishing, canoeing, climbing, you name it, you can do it within a few miles of here. If there’s anything you’re particularly interested in that you can’t find details of, just ask one of us. We’ll be around and about so just yell.’

‘It is really lovely here. We’ve just been for a walk to the village and everyone is so friendly, especially in the local pub, The Drovers Rest is it?’ Mrs. Bartlett from Surrey said.

‘Yes, it is but we just call it Dougall’s. He’s the owner, I expect he introduced himself.’

‘Yes he did. Lovely man.’

‘Good food too. Not Gastro pub but good hearty meals, mainly from fresh, local ingredients. His wife Isabel does all the cooking. And her puddings are to die for. Anyway, breakfast is from seven till nine thirty and if you want we can arrange a picnic basket for you, just let us know the night before. I think that’s everything but feel free to ask, as I said, one of us will always be around here somewhere.’

Jack senior caught Lizzie’s eye. ‘My son tells me you’ve got a dog Lizzie, Alastair is it?’

Lizzie was surprised. ‘Yes. He’s in the kitchen. He’s very friendly. Is ... is that a problem? Do you not like dogs?’

‘Oh! Quite the opposite. I love dogs. We all do. Ours passed away six months ago and we haven’t been able to bring ourselves to get another yet, have we dear?’

Evelyn shook her head. ‘No. Jack gave us JJ as an anniversary present fifteen years ago. He was a rescue puppy. Something awful had happened to him. Jack wouldn’t tell me but he told his father. He was absolutely adorable. That’s why I called him JJ. I think I told you I used to call Jack that, my son, but he didn’t really like it. It seemed so appropriate to call the puppy JJ as he was a gift from Jack – and Jack is adorable too.’

‘Very appropriate,’ Lizzie said, thinking it should have been a snake not a puppy, ‘excuse me I can see some of the other guests coming back. I’ll just go and make some more tea.’

‘Could we be really cheeky and come and meet Alastair?’ Evelyn asked.

‘Um. Yes, of course. I’ll bring him into the hall. He’s due for a walk now anyway.’

Jane followed Lizzie into the kitchen. ‘Don’t you think it’s odd that they haven’t mentioned their adorable son has just got married?’

Lizzie switched on the kettle to make more tea then grabbed Alastair’s lead from the coat rack. ‘I suppose so. I’m glad they haven’t though, I really don’t want to hear details of that.’

‘No but it’s odd. Most parents would be full of it, especially as they are going to be grandparents.’

‘Thanks for reminding me.’

‘Sorry but I can’t help wondering whether something’s wrong. Maybe they don’t like Kim or maybe they’re embarrassed because she was pregnant before the wedding. No. I can’t see that bothering anyone these days so I just don’t get it. I’m going to ask.’

‘Don’t you dare!’

‘Why not? He had his stag do here so it’s not as if we didn’t know there was going to be a wedding and why shouldn’t we ask how it all went? We don’t have to say we know about the baby or anything.’

‘No Jane. Please don’t. I ... I get the strangest feeling that Jack has said something to them – about me I mean. Obviously he wouldn’t have told them what happened but, well, they keep looking at me, as if they know something I don’t, or like they’re summing me up or something, especially his mum.’

‘Well she did say Jack had talked about you and how lovely you are, so maybe she thinks something did happen and wanted to get a look at you for herself. I mean, it is curious that they suddenly phone to make a booking the same week as their son gets married and that they want to come up a few days later. No. The more I think about it the more odd it seems.’

Lizzie made the tea and considered Jane’s words. ‘It is odd, I agree but quite frankly Jane everything to do with that stag weekend and Jack has been bloody odd, so nothing would surprise me anymore.’

‘That’s true. When you think of everything that’s happened in just over one month, you’re getting divorced and I’m married with a grown up son!’

Lizzie giggled. ‘Will you take this tea in whilst I get Alastair ready for inspection?’

Jane took the tea through to the sitting room and found the Drakes waiting in the hall with their outdoor jackets on. Realising that they might be planning to join Lizzie and Alastair on the walk, she got Annie’s attention away from the guests who had just come in.

‘Annie would you do Lizzie and me a huge favour and take Alastair for his walk. I think the Drakes are thinking of joining her and we both know she couldn’t face that.’

‘Oh, yes of course.’ She dashed past the Drakes and into the kitchen just as Lizzie was about to come out. ‘Lizzie! The Drakes are in the hall and Jane thinks they might want to join you and Alastair. Would you rather I take him? Jane said you would.’

Lizzie’s mouth fell open. ‘Good God! Yes please, if you don’t mind.’

‘Not a problem.’

Annie, Lizzie and Alastair strode into the hall.

‘Here he is,’ Lizzie said and Alastair wagged his tail and barked hello.

‘Oh he is gorgeous!’ Evelyn stroked Alastair behind the ears. ‘Yes you are aren’t you?’

‘I’m taking him for his walk,’ Annie said smiling warmly at Evelyn. ‘Are you going out? Would you like to join us?’

Evelyn’s eyes darted to Lizzie who was smiling innocently. ‘Yes, if you don’t mind, that would be lovely,’ Evelyn said just as her mobile phone rang.  She pulled it from its pocket in her handbag and answered it. ‘Hello.’ Her eyes shot back to Lizzie. ‘Yes dear. ... Oh! That’s nice. ... No, not yet, haven’t had a chance. ... Are you sure? ... But you’re right darling; it is a very heavy door. ...Okay, see you soon. ... Safe journey.’  She hung up and beamed at Lizzie then smiled at Annie. ‘Well then, shall we go?’

Lizzie got the feeling something very strange was going on as she watched Annie, Alastair and the Drakes head off in the direction of the village.

‘That was a close shave,’ Jane said, coming into the hall from the sitting room.

‘Evelyn just had the strangest phone call,’ Lizzie said still watching the Drakes from the doorway.

‘Strange? In what way?’

‘I’m not sure. Couldn’t really make sense of it but it sounds as if they’re meeting someone about a door.’

‘A door? How odd. Oh well. All the guests in the sitting room are going to the village tonight. Dougall and Isabel are having their Good Friday Hot Cross Bunnies night. I’d totally forgotten about it. D’you fancy going? I expect Iain will want to.’

‘Oh yes of course. I forgot it too what with everything that’s been happening. I remember seeing the poster in the pub at your wedding reception though. They do realise the main dish is rabbit stew don’t they?’

‘No idea and I don’t plan to tell them, it might put some of them off. Isabel always has other things on the menu if they don’t like rabbit so it’s really not an issue. You coming? It’ll do you good to have some fun.’ Jane headed into the kitchen.

Lizzie closed the front door and followed Jane. ‘I remember the last time you said that on Jack’s stag weekend and look where that got me.’

Lizzie told the Drakes about Dougall and Isabel’s Hot Cross Bunnies night soon after they returned from their walk, and said that Iain would be picking her and Jane up at seven thirty.

Evelyn checked her watch and seemed to be calculating something. ‘Oh that should work out perfectly.’

‘There’s room in the Land Rover if –’   

A crash from the kitchen cut Lizzie short and she dashed off to see what had happened.

Alastair was sprawled across the floor, his tongue hanging out, his fur soaking wet, surrounded by a smashed teapot, other crockery and scones.

‘Alastair!’ Lizzie screamed and ran to him, dropping down on her knees beside him. His eyes were closed and he wasn’t moving. Her eyes shot to his rib cage and she could see it was rising and falling so at least he was breathing.

Jane and Annie, who had been in the sitting room with the other guests, came rushing in followed by the Drakes, who stayed by the door until they saw the dog on the floor, then Mr. Drake rushed forward. He dropped to the floor beside Lizzie and took a quick look at Alastair.

‘Jane!’ Lizzie shrieked, ‘call Hamish. Ask if he’ll come right away.’

Jane was already dialling.

Lizzie turned her attention back to Alastair and gently stroked his head. There was lumpy, sticky blood on her hand and she let out a strangled scream. ‘He’s bleeding!’

‘Hamish says he’ll be here in five minutes. He’s at Heatherdown with Iain,’ Jane said, trying to sound calm after hanging up the phone.

Jack senior dabbed at the blood and his brows knit together. He put a finger in it and put his finger to his lips then he let out a sigh. ‘It’s raspberry jam.’ His eyes met Lizzie’s and he smiled. ‘I think he was after the cream and jam scones, and the tray must have tipped up. He’s probably just stunned. Looks like the teapot might have hit him on the head.’

Alastair opened his eyes, lifted his head an inch off the floor, whimpered and dropped it back down again.

‘I think you’re right,’ Lizzie said, tenderly stroking Alastair’s side.

 ‘It was my fault Lizzie. I left the tray on the table instead of putting it on the worktop. I’m so sorry.’ Jane came and knelt down beside Lizzie.

Lizzie shook her head. ‘Don’t worry Jane. I think he’ll be okay. Mr. Drake’s right I’m sure.’ She cast tearful eyes to Jane and forced a weak smile. ‘He does love cream and jam scones doesn’t he?’

Jane nodded. ‘We’ll let him have one as a treat when he’s recovered.’

She got up and put the kettle on to make some tea and shortly after, Hamish arrived with Iain.

‘Where’s the patient?’ Hamish asked stepping between the broken crockery.

‘We think a teapot hit him,’ Lizzie said, moving aside to let Hamish examine Alastair.

‘Well that wasn’t a very nice thing for a teapot to do was it?’ He rubbed the red icky goo with his thumb and licked it just as Mr. Drake had done. ‘Raspberry,’ he said. He pulled up Alastair’s eyelids and shone a light in his eyes, then he lifted Alastair’s head and flexed it. He ran his hands all over Alastair’s body and the dog’s tail started wagging, albeit limply.

‘Is he okay?’ Lizzie asked.

‘Aye, he’s fine, just a bit dazed. Nothing’s broken – other than the crockery – but he’ll have a headache and a lump if I’m not mistaken. Just keep an eye on him for the next twenty four hours and call me if he seems worse but I think he’ll perk up in the next hour or so.’ He stroked Alastair behind the ears.

‘Thanks Hamish,’ Lizzie said. ‘And for getting here so quickly.’

‘Auch, no problem Lizzie. Now you take care young man,’ he said to Alastair.

‘I’m just making tea Hamish, would you like a cup?’

‘Aye, I would please. I’ll just clean this jam off the laddie and get him in his basket.’