Christmas at the Castle (8 page)

Checking her watch and seeing that it was almost ten o'clock in the evening already, Kit abruptly stood up. ‘If you'll excuse me, I think I should leave you two alone to discuss this situation.'

‘But we
all
need to sort this out!' Alice was virtually pleading now.

‘Indeed we do, but first you two have to sort yourselves out. Emergency meeting at nine o'clock tomorrow morning in The Gift Shop Café? This is a situation that needs clear heads and coffee.'

Striding out of the café, sounding far more self-assured than she felt, Kit was glad that the women didn't know her well enough to recognise how far out of her comfort zone she'd just stepped.

Kit pulled out her mobile as she headed to a short row of taxis. ‘Phil love, I know it's late, but I need your advice …'

Having sent Alice to the bistro's bathroom to make herself feel more human, Charlie took advantage of having five minutes alone. She knew she should demand a proper explanation from Alice, but she was also aware that, for the first time since she'd known her friend, she had the upper hand. It was a strange feeling, and despite her determination not to go back to being in Alice's shadow, Charlie didn't have the heart to stay angry.

Ordering two more drams of whisky, Charlie moved to an armchair by the roaring fire, watching the flames flicker dangerously near to a set of Santa's legs which had been placed further up the chimney.

When Alice returned she no longer looked as though she had been attacked by a toddler brandishing a mascara wand, but although she appeared as unruffled as ever, her usual aura of confidence was missing.

‘Thank you, Charlie.' Alice sat down in a wing-backed chair and picked up her drink.

Resisting her uncharacteristic urge to make a big deal of the fact Alice had actually thanked her, Charlie said, ‘You're welcome. Now, why has Cameron withdrawn Crathes? It makes no sense when he asked for the event to be held there in the first place. Without the location we will have to cancel, which isn't going to do your reputation much good.'

Charlie paused as a flicker of something that was either regret or fear crossed Alice's face, and realisation dawned. ‘That's what he's threatened you with, isn't it?'

Alice stared into the crackling flames as they licked around the logs in the fireplace. ‘He said that the business was the only thing I cared about. That I'd forgotten how to be a real person and how real people feel.'

There was a moment of silence, and then Alice said, ‘He's right, isn't he?'

‘A little bit.' Charlie leaned forward in her chair so she was closer to Alice. ‘Come on, Alice, what happened?'

Kit wasn't surprised to see lights on in the estate office when the taxi pulled onto the gravel drive. Standing in the serene magnificence of Crathes' grounds, admiring the Christmas lanterns which adorned the gardens, tantalisingly leading the eye towards the woods, Kit had an urge to run into the trees and let Alice sort out her own mess.

Phil had convinced Kit of what she knew anyway. If she didn't sort out whatever muddle her fellow organisers had got themselves into, then there wouldn't be a literary festival, and the romance panel – which she was so scared of doing, but was also, in her usual contradictory fashion, looking forward to – wouldn't happen.

Thinking back to all the muddles she'd sorted out for her friends back at Pickwicks as her feet crunched purposefully over the gravel to the estate office door, Kit took a deep breath and pushed it open without knocking.

Cameron was sat with his feet on his desk next to an open bottle of whisky, a tumbler in his hand. He looked like a disillusioned detective from an American cop show.

‘Kit? What are you doing here so late?'

‘I could ask the same of you.'

‘Ah.' Cameron swung his feet to the floor, ‘Your tone suggests that you have encountered Alice.'

‘She's with Charlie. All I managed to learn was that a new venue for the Christmas at the Castle Literary Festival is required. Which, I'm sure you will agree, is going to be very difficult to arrange so close to Christmas. This is in real danger of becoming an Easter at the Castle Literary Festival.'

‘That's not funny.'

‘I wasn't joking.' Kit pulled up a chair and sat on the other side of the desk. ‘So why do we need a new venue?'

Cameron put his glass down on the desk. ‘It's personal.'

‘I'm sure it is, but this affects the whole town, and as I understand it, your future here rests on this being a success. Why jeopardise that because Alice can be a bit difficult sometimes?'

‘A bit difficult?' Cameron snorted as he refilled his glass, ‘Try totally baffling, try uncaring and emotionless. Try a pain in the bloody arse!'

Alice took another sip of the smooth Glenmorangie. ‘We've been out for a few meals, and drinks. Cameron and me, I mean.'

‘I know.'

‘You do? How?'

‘Oh come on, Alice! Banchory is a small town. I've seen you. Believe it or not, I go out sometimes as well. There aren't that many places to eat here.' Charlie mentally gritted her teeth as she asked, ‘So are you two an item again?'

Alice put her head in her hands. ‘No. I made it clear from the beginning that we're just friends, but I guess Cameron misread the signs.'

‘Let me guess: he assumed that, because you'd been out on more occasions than required to discuss work, and because you'd enjoyed flirting with him, then it would be OK to make a move. Then he got annoyed when you knocked him back. Right?'

Alice stared into her glass and mumbled, ‘Right.'

Kit was beginning to crave a strong drink herself. ‘So, you asked Alice out and she said no. It happens. That's hardly a reason to have a tantrum and cancel everyone else's fun.'

‘It isn't like that!' Cameron dragged a palm through his hair, ‘I can't believe I let her get to me again. I should have known all Alice wanted was another successful event for her precious business. That reputation of hers is all that matters to her.'

‘Prove it isn't like that, Cameron. Prove to me I haven't wandered into a crèche of stamping toddlers rather than a gathering of professionals, because I'm beginning to think I'm the only grown-up here.'

Ashamed, Cameron said, ‘Sorry, Kit, I just have an awful sense of history repeating itself. Dented pride, I guess.'

‘The question is, Cameron, will you swallow that pride for long enough to let us hold the festival here?'

‘I can't see how I can?'

‘Because you love her or because you hate her?'

Cameron stretched his arms over his head. ‘Same thing, isn't it?'

‘Let me get this straight,' Charlie put her glass on the small round table between their armchairs, ‘you left Cameron five years ago, not because you
didn't
love him like you told everyone, but because you
did
love him, but you didn't want anything getting in the way of your career?'

Alice nodded dumbly and took an extra-large gulp of her remaining whisky.

Charlie didn't know whether to laugh or cry. ‘But you even told
me
you were using him back then. You said it all the time.'

‘I know.' Alice's blonde fringe flopped over her face as she stared into the flames. ‘I said it lots.'

Closing her eyes against the orange flames for a second, Charlie said, ‘Let me guess. It wasn't me you were trying to convince back then, it was yourself?'

‘You've got it.'

‘So you do love him, then?'

‘Yes, but it's so …'

‘It's so
what
, Alice?'

‘So damn inconvenient! I'm supposed to be a strong, independent woman.'

Charlie couldn't believe what she was hearing. ‘You are. But you don't have to be a strong, independent, lonely woman.'

Alice spoke so quietly, Charlie had to strain to listen over the fire's crackle. ‘But even if you're right, how can I date someone who acted like my best friend didn't exist? It wasn't only Cameron I treated badly back then. It was you as well, although I didn't see that at the time. I'm sorry, Charlie.'

Kit yawned and stood up. ‘Come on, Cameron, this event has to work, so stop pratting about. Honestly, you remind me of my friend Jack.'

‘Who's Jack?'

‘That's not important now, and anyway, it's a very long story which requires coffee.' Kit stared at her whisky glass accusingly, as if suddenly realising she was drinking the wrong sort of liquid. ‘All I'm saying is, the festival
has
to happen, and it has to happen
here
. All the guests are booked, and people are buying plenty of tickets thanks to Gwen and the SWI. We
are
going to hold the Christmas at the Castle event at Crathes, so get used to it!'

Shocked by Kit's outburst, Cameron felt foolish. ‘I was being childish, you're right. Of course you can hold the event here, Kit. My boss would kill me if I cancelled anyway.' Cameron got up, and pointed to the door. ‘It's late. Let's regroup tomorrow.'

‘We intended to. We'll be at The Gift Shop Café at nine tomorrow morning for a meeting. Will you come and tell them the good news yourself, or shall I?'

Cameron flicked the pages of his diary. ‘I have to help get the Christmas trees into the main castle rooms all day tomorrow. Could you give the team an additional message for me?'

‘Certainly.'

‘You can have the festival here, but
only
if Alice stays away.'

‘But she's the host!' Kit felt her feistiness dissolve and a new wave of panic rise in her throat. ‘If she doesn't do the author intros, I'll have to!'

‘You might, because Alice isn't setting foot up here. She is now an offsite organiser.'

Chapter Twelve

Tuesday December 1
^st

Kit couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so tired, but she did remember why she never drank whisky. As she lay against the soft pillow, her head thumped while her stomach cried out for a cup of Peggy's coffee and a Pickwicks cheese scone.

As soon as Kit had got back to her room the previous evening, she'd called Charlie to tell her that the festival had never been in danger of cancellation, but that Alice was definitely not welcome anywhere near Cameron. In return, Kit had been relieved to hear hostilities between Charlie and Alice had ceased.

Kit hadn't been surprised to hear that Alice was in love with Cameron all along. All that needed to happen now was for Alice to admit how she felt to Cameron, and they could all live happily ever after. ‘You can tell this is pantomime season,' Kit muttered into her sheets, ‘I'm thinking like a bloody fairy godmother.'

The first shafts of a crisp winter morning light were invading the tiny gap at the top of the bedroom curtains. Sitting up with a low moan, Kit grabbed the glass of water next to her bed and went to the window. The view was stunning. The sun was battling with the frost to turn the woodland scene into a silvery paradise as a breeze stirred the few fallen leaves the gardeners had yet to sweep up, making them dance across the granite path.

‘Dancing …'

Clicking the kettle on as she headed to the shower, Kit began to smile.

Mel didn't have to ask what the three women wanted as they came wearily up the stairs of The Gift Shop Café and sat silently at the table by the window.

‘Thanks.' Charlie smiled as the waitress arrived with a jug of coffee and some milk. ‘I don't suppose you've got anything for a headache behind the counter, have you? We had a bit too much of the local special last night.'

‘That's not like you.' Mel noticed the way Charlie's friend from London was knocking back the coffee as though her life depended on it.

‘Trust me, organising a literary festival requires many things, and last night it was whisky.'

Mel inclined her head towards the counter. ‘I have something in my bag.'

Charlie followed Mel, and gratefully popped two tablets from the waitress's personal supply of Ibuprofen. ‘You're a lifesaver.'

‘I'm looking forward to the festival,' Mel enthused. ‘Mum and I are coming to the romance panel. Am I right in thinking there's a bus organised to take people to and from the castle each night?'

More determined than ever not to let the locals down, and mentally adding the transport situation to her, ‘make sure it's sorted' list, Charlie said, ‘We have, but there's only one, so once it's full, folk will have to make their own way back and fore.'

‘I'll make sure I'm first in the queue!'

‘If you bring three of your finest homemade scones and an unhealthy quantity of butter, then I'll make sure you get reserved seats!'

Returning to the table, Charlie knew she couldn't put the moment off any longer, ‘Alice, Kit has news.'

Looking up from where she'd been staring into the abyss of a full-strength black coffee, a beverage she only drank in the most extreme of emergencies, Alice said, ‘Let me guess, the festival is cancelled. Cameron is extracting his revenge. Frankly, I don't blame him.'

Adopting the tone she used when her teenage daughter was being difficult, Kit spoke through the drumbeat of her hangover. ‘If you could stop wallowing in self-pity, Alice, I'll tell you.'

An uneasy silence descended as Kit broke her news. ‘While you were talking to Charlie last night, I went to see Cameron.'

‘You did?'

‘I had to at least try to make him change his mind.'

Alice held her coffee cup close, as if she was determined to extract every ounce of its warmth. ‘Well, thank you for trying, Kit, and for coming all this way to help us out. I'm sorry it was for nothing, and while I'm at it, I'm sorry I haven't thanked you before.'

‘You're welcome, and I appreciate the thanks, Alice.' Kit took courage as the aroma of coffee wafted her way. ‘I have good and bad news. There
will
be a festival, and it will be at Crathes, but I'm afraid Cameron doesn't want you at the castle. You'll have to run it from outside the grounds, Alice. I tried to make him see sense, but as we still have a venue, and therefore an event, I didn't want to push my luck.'