Where the Heart Belongs (9 page)

The golden crust was crisp and sweetly-scented steam rose as Shona cut into it, making her eyes water.

‘This looks good,' said Jack, taking his serving from her. She handed him the jug of
cream.

He was good company when he was relaxed. She wondered if she was wise to raise the subject of not being here on duty the other evening or whether it was better to say nothing. She hated this feeling that she was in the wrong and longed to have things straight between them.

He raised his glass to his lips. ‘Something troubling you, Shona?'

She shook her head. ‘Not really. A bit of a responsibility looking after the orchids, that's all.'

‘You'll cope.' He sounded so full of confidence in her that she felt a warm flush in her cheeks. She would do everything in her power to make sure his trust was well founded in spite of Ingrid's attempts to undermine her.

A sudden thought struck her. ‘You said there were two orchids that needed frequent watering, Jack. Which are they?'

He looked amused as he wiped his lips with his napkin. ‘There's my new baby in its own hanging basket in the east window of the conservatory. Do you know the one I mean? It's labelled, of course, as they all are.
Coelogyne cristata
would you believe, a long name for such a pretty little white frilly one.
String Of Pearls
to you and me. She needs to be watered liberally at the moment, but don't let her sit in water as that could rot her tender shoots.'

‘And
the other?'

‘Dendrobuim
or
Sailor Boy.
The same goes for him. Water from the top and allow to drain thoroughly. Anyway, good luck.' He got up, preparing to leave.

She smiled as she stood up too. ‘With all your written instructions I should be all right.'

His eyes lit up as he smiled. ‘Good girl. I'm going off this afternoon, by the way.'

SHONA SEES MORE OF FELIX

‘We're lost,' said Rex, a hopeless tone in his voice that sent shivers down Shona's spine as she stood among the orchids in the conservatory.

‘How can you be lost?' she cried. ‘Why weren't you following the route we planned?'

‘It's all trees round here and we can't see anything,' he wailed. ‘Someone went off ahead. When we caught up with him the path ran out and we can't find the way back.'

This was ridiculous. ‘You've still got your leaflet of the walk with you?' she asked. ‘Can't you see where you are on that?'

‘You'll have to get someone out to find us,' he gasped out.

Shona felt a moment's panic as she visualised the extent of the area. ‘Listen, Rex. How far had you walked when you left the
route?'

He hesitated and she heard the rustle of paper. ‘Three miles, I think.'

‘Did you head off left or right?'

‘My battery's running out.'

Too late. Rex had gone. Incredible to think that a party of adults couldn't suss out where they were between them. Now what was she to do?

For a moment she stood motionless, aware of the sweet smell from the special orchid nearby and the rustle of foliage against the glass roof from the movement of air from the open door. She had thought looking after the two special plants might be a problem. But that was nothing to this.

Half closing her eyes in an effort to concentrate fully on the problem she remembered that the spare leaflets of the route were in a pile on the hall table.

The route was set out so clearly that even Rex shouldn't have had any trouble, she thought, gazing down at the open leaflet on the hall table before her. At the latest the group would have set off from the starting point before noon and it was now three o'clock. They had covered three miles, Rex said. But he might be wrong about that. She ran her finger along the route until she reached the three-mile point.

What was Rex doing letting one of the group wander off from the rest? A spurt of
anger
made her shiver. He was trouble enough when he was here at Ferniehope Castle, but even worse when let alone off into the unknown. Surely someone among the group had a phone with money on it?

She longed to jump in her car and go after them but leaving her post here with Jack away was definitely out of the question. And how likely was she to locate them on her own anyway? They could be anywhere in that vast expanse of trees and moor land.

An icy chill ran through her. The trouble for Jack would be huge once the Press got hold of the story. She could see the headlines now . . . GROUP FROM FERNIEHOPE CASTLE LOST IN FOREST. Or worse.

But what to do for the best? She was on her own in this and she had to cope. Jack had given Ingrid the afternoon off and Mags had gone off home to her cottage for a rest before starting the evening meal. Feeling helpless, Shona wandered into the office to see if by any chance there were instructions anywhere about what to do in any emergency like this. She found nothing.

She opened the brown folder in search of inspiration. The orchid instruction list was on top and other things Jack kept here such as the accommodation lists she had already seen and the one of suitable tutors to be called on when needed. She looked at the contents in despair and then noticed something that had
escaped
her attention before. Under
Pottery and Ceramics
was Felix's name and mobile number.

She stared at it in surprise. Then on impulse she pulled out her phone and dialled.

He answered at once, his voice sounding so reassuringly close that tears sprang to her eyes on hearing his friendly voice.

He listened in silence as she poured out her worry and concern and then gave a grunt. As if he were deep in thought. ‘Presumably they're the group I met when they first arrived at the castle?' he said. ‘The leader's a short chap with a high opinion of himself?'

‘Rex didn't sound as jaunty as usual a moment or two ago,' she said.

He laughed. ‘Never fear. You're in luck. Your knight in shining armour will leap into action. We're near where they started out at this very moment, can you believe? Just stopped the car at the side of the road at the ringing tone. Rex and his merry crew will be on that minibus and no harm done.'

She had to believe him although she couldn't think how he could be as confident as he sounded. The planned route was among trees, obscuring distant vision. The only hope was that the group was moving slowly with long stops to examine their leaflets. Felix could cover the ground with speed, calling as he went. He would ask people, too, who would tell him if they had seen a bewildered group
seeking
help.

*   *   *

The relief was enormous when at last she heard the crunch of gravel beneath tyres.

She opened the door and rushed to greet them.

They poured out of the minibus, laughing and talking, one or two staggering with pretended exhaustion when they saw her. ‘Did you have a good day?' she asked.

‘Brilliant,' the youngest member of the party said, grinning. ‘Ask Rex.'

‘I'll do just that,' she said with feeling. He had it coming to him for the worry he had caused.

He was the last out, waving to her as to a long-lost friend. ‘No problem after all,' he called cheerfully.

She stared at him, unable to speak for a long shaking moment.

The rest of the group dispersed and the minibus drove off. She was reminded suddenly of the day she had first visited Ferniehope Castle and her confrontation with Jack. Then she had felt humiliatingly in the wrong. She wished Jack were here now to deal with the situation and prevent her venting her anger on the infuriating man in front of her.

‘How did Felix find you?' she managed to get out as she struggled with her composure.

‘We
weren't lost,' Rex said. ‘It was all a mistake.'

‘Mistake?'

He looked at her curiously. ‘The chap we met was quite useful to us, I will admit.'

‘Good.' She clenched and unclenched her hands.

‘He wanted the girl to come back in the minibus with us but she wasn't keen. She looked as if she wanted to be with him alone in that old van. I don't blame her, a good-looking chap like that. Anyone would.' He looked downcast for a moment, but then brightened. ‘Anyway all's well that ends well.'

Shona knew suddenly that ranting at him would do no good at all since Rex was totally unable to see any point of view but his own. At least they were back safe and sound and hard as it was, she must leave it at that. She took a deep calming breath.

‘Thanks for arranging the day out,' Rex said gently, taking her by surprise. ‘You did well.'

She managed to smile at what seemed like an apology. ‘I'm glad it went well for you, Rex.'

Her irony was lost on him, of course, but it felt good to say it. Only two more days of his visit was left, thank goodness. One thing was certain. She would make quite sure that tomorrow's programme for the group was so simple that even a five-year-old child could cope.

*   *   *

She owed Felix her heart-felt thanks and as soon as dinner was over she phoned him. ‘When are you coming to inspect my studio?' he said when she had finished saying how grateful she was for his help.

‘I'm on duty here for the next day or two.' She sighed with disappointment.

‘Can't you just sneak away when he's not looking?'

‘Sorry, Felix. You know I'd love to come.'

‘Then I'll come to Ferniehope Castle to see you instead.'

‘You will?' her heart lifted.

‘Complete with daughter. A good excuse to get my foot back in the door. You know Tamsin's school's got a measle epidemic. So expect us in the morning sometime after breakfast.'

‘That'll be great,' she said warmth flooding through her. ‘I'll look forward to that.'

‘Oh and Shona, d'you want some help with that ineffectual chap and his group? I'll come prepared with an idea or two to put before you, if you want. Just say the word.'

*   *   *

‘Here we are at last,' said Felix, unfolding himself from the battered blue van he had parked at the bottom of the steps leading up to
the
main door. Shona, glad that Jack wasn't here to see, ran lightly down to greet him as Tamsin emerged from the passenger seat. Her light skirt was so skimpy it almost wasn't there and she looked cold as she rubbed her bare arms as she stood looking about her. The girl made no attempt to follow them inside and as Felix didn't seem to mind Shona left her to her own devices.

‘I've been stalling with the plans for today until you came,' she told him as they went into the hall. ‘Everyone's in the lounge examining all the brochures and leaflets we have and trying to convince Rex that someone else should make the decision for them all.'

‘That's me,' said Felix, grinning at her.

She liked the way he seemed totally at home here as if nothing could faze him. ‘You seem confident that Rex will be willing for you to take the lead,' she said.

‘Trust me.'

She smiled. ‘It's good to have you here,' she said.

He seemed taller today in his dark sweatshirt with his rucksack slung over one shoulder. He was wearing shorts, long knee socks and bulky walking boots he made no move to take off.

‘They're clean enough,' he said as he saw her looking at them. ‘I wish you'd come with us today, Shona. Even Jack Cullen's not that much of a taskmaster, is he? Come on, live
dangerously
for once.'

‘And lose my job?'

There was a movement behind her and she saw that Ingrid had come to join them. Her dark hair was pulled severely back from her face in a new style for her and she had on a loosely-fitting dress in garish colours Shona hadn't seen her wear before.

Surprised, she moved to one side. ‘Was there something?' she asked.

‘Why should there be?' said Ingrid in her hoarse voice, smiling at Felix.

He looked back at her for a moment, a stillness in his manner. Then, ignoring her, he pulled an Ordnance Survey map from his pocket and opened it.

‘Shona, I'm surprised you haven't offered our guest hot chocolate,' said Ingrid in a teasing tone so unlike her normal one that Shona felt embarrassed.

‘Not now, Ingrid,' Felix said impatiently.

Ingrid's smile faded and glancing from one to the other she returned to the office, her back rigid.

Shona hesitated, half-inclined to go after her. But what could she say? Ingrid's reaction hinted of trouble to come and she was sorry. She imagined her in the kitchen now pouring out her hurt to her mother. But how likely was that? Ingrid would be far more likely in the office pounding the computer keys.

Felix, seeming unaware of any
unpleasantness,
was still studying the map. He looked round for somewhere to spread it and then chose the floor. He knelt down to examine it with his long hair falling forward. The soles of his boots looked worn and well scrubbed.

‘So, what are your suggestions?' Shona asked, leaning over to look at the map too.

‘Just one,' he said, pointing. ‘Donald to drop us here at Leckie Shore. Can you see? There's a pleasant flat walk round the estuary and they can't go wrong with me to lead them. What do you say to that? There's plenty of interest to see there with the wildlife and so on and no one will get lost. Packed lunches?'

‘All done,' she said.

He pointed to another spot on the map. ‘Afterward we'll continue here to Marpethowe and Donald can pick the group up there in the minibus at an arranged time. What do you think?'

‘Brilliant,' she said. ‘What's at Marpethowe?'

‘My studio.' He got to his feet and folded the map.

‘And you'd show them that?'

‘Why not? And my showroom too. Tamsin's been helping me get it ready for the coming season. There's plenty to look at and to buy if they feel inclined.'