Where the Heart Belongs (7 page)

‘What sort of an answer's that?'

‘Good enough for the time being.'

Shona clenched her hands until they hurt. Ingrid's words sounded like a threat. ‘I can't believe you did that,' she said. ‘I've never done you any harm.'

‘No?' For a moment Ingrid stood motionless staring bleakly at Shona. Then she turned and left, fading away like a bad spirit intent on harm.

Shona
went up to her rooms, regretting her stupidity in taking Ingrid's word for something she could have checked for herself. Jack wasn't the kind of person to change his mind when he had decided on a course of action.

With a heavy heart she got ready for bed. When at last she was beneath the duvet she curled into a ball for comfort and tried not to dwell on what might be ahead of her in the morning.

‘DON'T GET INVOLVED, SHONA.'

Jack greeted Shona with a smile as she went into the office after breakfast. He looked so relaxed in his open-necked shirt, leaning back in his swivel chair, that it seemed that her fears were unfounded and Ingrid hadn't yet told him that she was absent last evening. But she would, oh yes she would. The question was . . . when?

‘You're bright and early this fine morning,' he said indicating the nearest chair.

Shona sat down, smoothing the soft material of her skirt over her knees. ‘Eager to start work, you see,' she said, smiling.

She saw that he had left off his gold watch today. The white skin on his wrist seemed to glimmer in the sunshine that filtered in through the broad open windows. A soft
breeze
stirred the curtains. She seemed to smell the sea on it, salt with a hint of mud. Ridiculous, of course, but there it was.

‘Ingrid's been telling me . . .'

‘What?' Her voice was sharper than she had intended and she swallowed hard in confusion.

He looked at her in concern. ‘Are you all right, Shona?'

She struggled to take a hold on herself. ‘Sorry,' she said faintly. ‘I didn't sleep too well, that's all.'

‘Any particular reason?'

‘I'll get an early night tonight.'

He seemed satisfied. ‘Taking on a new job can be tiring, I know.'

Shona smiled and agreed. What made it extra tiring, of course, was worrying that you might lose your job because someone else had set you up.

‘It seems that the Ruddon Ramblers need some input from us,' Jack said. He picked up a pen, clicked it open and then put it down again. ‘As you know they booked in for accommodation and meals to include packed lunches. And for transport to and from locations each day in the minibus. I understood that they had planned their routes in advance. Maybe they want to change and need advice.'

‘You'd like me to deal with it?'

‘D'you know much about planning suitable walking routes?'

‘Well
no,' she admitted.

He laughed. ‘Nor me. A fine pair, aren't we? The trick is to appear confident as if you have all the knowledge they require at your pretty fingertips. I know I can rely on you, Shona.'

If only, she thought.

‘Make sure you don't send them down dangerous precipices or up impossible heights and you'll be all right. How are your map reading skills?'

‘Adequate, I think,' she said.

‘Good girl.' He leaned forward and picked up a list. ‘I'd like you to look at this. I've jotted down some figures here about arrivals the week after next. See to the arrangements, will you, Shona?'

She took the list he handed to her.

‘Ingrid will have the list of food allergies and requirements,' he added. ‘For a group of open air addicts they seem singularly unhealthy.'

Shona smiled. This morning Jack seemed a different person from the man who had greeted her on her arrival last Saturday. He had been friendly, but she had the feeling that she was being weighed in the balance. Hopefully his relaxed manner now meant he had accepted her. She determined to do all she could to make herself indispensable.

‘I'll see you at lunchtime then, Shona.'

‘I'll look forward to it,' she said. After
Ingrid's
fun and games she would be on tenterhooks not knowing when the blow would strike. She was well aware that when it did she would have to explain to Jack exactly what had occurred even though Ingrid would lie through her teeth. Her word against Ingrid's. No prizes for guessing the outcome.

In the hall Shona paused for a moment to appreciate the delicate scent of invisible roses. Even after so short a time she felt completely at home here in Ferniehope Castle as if she had lived in a place like this all her life. Having to leave Jack's employ now would be shattering not only because Jodie would no longer have peace of mind but also on her own account.

*   *   *

Rex, flushed with importance, knelt down and spread his Ordnance Survey map of the area out on the dining room floor.

‘I thought we'd explore the Galloway Forest Park today,' he said.

Shona smiled. ‘Not all of it surely? D'you have a particular place in mind?'

‘I thought you would tell me that,' he said simply. ‘Isn't that what you're here for?'

‘I'll do my best,' she said, squatting down close enough to examine the map. What luck that she had taken the trouble to read as much about the area as she could and knew a little
about
the various Visitor Centres and where they were situated in the area of nearly three hundred square miles of forest, mountain and loch.

‘I've put some leaflets on the table in the sitting room for you,' she said. ‘How far do you want to walk today?'

Rex sat back on his heels and scratched his head. ‘I'm not too sure about that.'

She looked at him in exasperation. ‘I can get more information from the internet for you,' she said. ‘But it'll take time and Donald has been told to have the minibus ready for you at ten o'clock, I believe. He can't be any later than that because he's due in Newton Stewart this morning.'

Rex folded the map and struggled to his feet. ‘You'll be coming with us of course?'

She hid her surprise. ‘Well no. I have work to do here today, Rex. I can't leave it.'

‘Tomorrow then?'

‘I think Jack will have to decide that. It's not down to me. Why don't you take your group off to somewhere like Culzean Castle today and do some walking in the country park there?'

‘I suppose.'

She pointed to Glen Trool Visitor Centre on the map. ‘That would be a good place to head for tomorrow. Plenty of marked trails and lots of other things too. I'll get all the information I can while you're away and print
it
out for you. You'll have time this evening to plan some good routes and discuss them with the others. It's wonderful walking country.'

For a moment he looked undecided but then his face cleared. ‘That sounds good,' he said. ‘Thank you, my dear. You've been most helpful.'

*   *   *

At lunchtime Shona explained to Jack about Rex's planning problems as they ate their quiche and salad at a table Mags had laid for them in the conservatory. At this time of day the sunshine slanted in through the beech trees at the side of the house and reflected on the copper pots on the shelves at one end.

‘You did well,' Jack said. ‘He's a bit of an awkward customer, is Rex.'

‘He expected me to go with them today.'

‘He did? Would you have liked that?'

She shook her head. ‘I got the feeling I'd be in charge and expected to lead.'

He laughed. ‘Outside the call of duty, I think.'

‘I'll get more pleasure researching the Forest Park on the website for him and doing some print-outs so he can plan his own itinerary.'

‘Much the best way,' Jack agreed, helping himself to more salad. ‘Better yet, how about doing it in person? I'd like a drive out to Glen
Trool
myself. Shall we do that this afternoon?'

He looked at her keenly, the salad servers poised over the bowl. ‘What do you say? What could be better on a glorious day like this?'

She smiled and agreed and for the rest of the meal they discussed the kind of information most useful to Rex. Shona leaned back in her chair, aware of the pleasantness of her surroundings among Jack's lovely orchids. The scented one wasn't so obvious today. In fact she couldn't see it in its place on the shady windowsill. She looked up higher.

‘What's wrong?' said Jack, leaning back too so he could follow her gaze. ‘Oh, you've seen the toby jugs.'

Startled, she looked again and saw several small jugs the same size as Toby tucked well back on their high shelf as if hiding from public gaze.

‘I didn't notice them the other day,' she said. ‘So my Toby has some friends here.'

‘You like toby jugs?'

‘I didn't know I did until I found him in my late father's china cabinet. I brought him with me for company, as a sort of mascot. I've grown fond of him.'

He gave her a quizzical look. ‘We'll have to introduce them one of these days.'

‘He'd like that,' she said with equal seriousness.

‘These are just a small remnant of the collection that was here when I bought the
place.
I had some idea of having one in each bedroom, but it was pointed out to me that they might not be in residence for long.'

‘You mean they'd get pinched?'

He smiled. ‘It happens.'

‘So you named the bedrooms after each toby jug instead?'

‘Bright girl.'

‘I can't imagine anyone with Rex's figure swarming up a ladder to reach one of those,' she said.

He laughed as he pushed his chair back and got up. ‘All set then? Let's go.'

*   *   *

Shona couldn't remember when she had enjoyed an afternoon so much. Jack was a good driver and as they sped towards the hills she felt her worries lifting. She wished they could drive on forever towards the distant mountains outlined against the cerulean sky.

Even when Jack turned off and they were among the shadow of trees she was still aware of the hint of higher ground lurking further off. She could see that there was plenty of scope here for a variety of outdoor activities as well as the walking that Rex and his group wished to do.

‘Excellent bird watching country,' said Jack. ‘Most of Britain's raptors can be seen here.'

She murmured her surprise, not liking to
profess
her ignorance. She'd get herself into the book room when they got back and consult a handy dictionary.

He glanced at her sideways, a smile on his lips. ‘Know what they are?'

She felt herself flush. ‘Birds?'

‘Not bad. You need to be more specific though. Birds of prey. Buzzards are fairly common and if you're very lucky you might spot a golden eagle.'

The car park was half empty and Jack parked his vehicle in the shade. They got out and walked to the Information Centre.

‘You'll have seen we have a group of birdwatchers booked in at Ferniehope in a few weeks' time,' Jack said. ‘They come every year. This year they'll be concentrating on the Galloway Kite Trail.'

‘Kites?' she said in surprise.

‘You know that those superbly graceful birds were saved from extinction by one of the world's longest running protection programmes?'

‘I don't know anything about them at all,' she admitted.

‘They've been successfully re-introduced to Scotland and England now,' he said with satisfaction.

‘That's great,' she said. She felt like asking why they had become extinct in the first place but she had come to the best place to find out if the number of information leaflets on the
subject
was anything to go by.

‘Now that's a group you might like to join on your day off,' he said. ‘They'd be glad to have you, I know. Ingrid's well in with them. Have a word with her.'

‘I'll do that,' she said.

Away from Ferniehope Castle the mention of Ingrid's name cast no shadow on her enjoyment and when Jack suggested they move on to Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre for Shona to see for herself what it had to offer she agreed at once. Laden down with information about the various forest trails in the area as well as the many other activities they returned to the car, well pleased with the afternoon so far.

*   *   *

‘That's that then,' Jack said as they turned into the drive of Ferniehope Castle. ‘Enjoy yourself?'

‘I had no idea that lovely area was so vast,' Shona said. ‘Or so beautiful.'

‘It's a very special place,' said Jack. ‘We must do it again sometime.'

They reached the yard at the rear to park in Jack's usual place. As he got out of the vehicle the lines deepened on his forehead. ‘Ingrid's car's not here,' he said. ‘I hope there's some explanation.' He sounded worried.

Shona, following him inside the building,
was
reminded instantly of how it could be if he discovered that she was absent from her post yesterday evening. But surely Ingrid had no need to worry? She was a long-established employee and daughter of his trusted retainers living with them in a cottage in the grounds. He couldn't run the place without a secretary.

Jack opened the office door and then closed it again, still frowning. ‘I'll check with Mags,' he said.

Shona hesitated. ‘Is there anything I can do?'

He shrugged. ‘Not really. You'll have enough to do sorting through that lot. I'll see you at dinner time.'

She slipped away, clutching her pile of leaflets and brochures, and ran lightly up to her apartment, wanting to retain the euphoria of a wonderful afternoon for a while longer.

*   *   *

Her mobile rang.

‘Shona.' Jack's voice was terse.

‘Is something wrong?'

‘I've just been on to Ingrid. D'you know Bessie's Kitchen?'