Chapter 9: Saturday 29 June
The golden stillness of the fading day was shattered by a sharp 'Damn!' that ended abruptly in a splash and thrashing. This was followed shortly by a fusillade of 'Damn, damn, Damn!' over the accompanying barking of dogs.
I was out for my evening walk in the deepening twilight along the tree line that clung to the banks of the Maig River as it ran through the horse paddock beyond the stables. I paused to listen to the “damns” and barking for a second or two to locate their source. They were coming from ahead, so I took off trotting towards the thin line of dark trees where the Maig met the Lonon some thirty meters ahead.
As I reached the juncture of the rivers where the bank sloped steeply down to the Lonon I saw Willie and Watt splashing in the shallows of the river around the semi-submerged figure of Lady Nesta, sitting chest deep in the river several metres from shore.
She'd apparently slipped and gone entirely under, since her hair was wet and her hat was slowly drifting in the eddies down river. The dogs may have been (very ineffectually) trying to pull her to safety, but I rather suspected that they were just splashing about on a lark, following Lady Nesta's unintentional lead.
'Get away you bloody hounds! Oh, damn! Now you've knocked off my glasses. Damn, damn, bloody damn!' she cursed as she tried to push the dogs away with one hand while holding her fishing rod up with the other.
Since she appeared to be in no immediate danger and with her back towards me, I could pause for a moment to weigh my options. I'd have preferred not turning up, yet again, in a situation like this. I'm sure my appearance would be bitterly resented. Still, as an English scholar and a gentleman, I felt that I needed to brave her anger and help the soggy damsel out of the drink – whether she'd appreciate it or not. So I carefully made my way down the rocky slope to the water's edge.
'Can I help you, Lady Nesta?' I called out.
She twisted around to see me over the bounding dogs, and squinting a bit, welcomed me with a scowl, 'Damn, it's you...'
'Again,' I added, finishing what I hoped was her thought. 'Sorry. I was walking the Maig tonight just to avoid you, so you can't blame me.'
'I will if I want,' she shot back.
True enough.
'What can I do to help?' I said, bravely carrying on, ignoring her ill temper, which, I suppose, was, understandable in someone sitting in a river.
'You can start by dragging these bloody hounds away from me,' she snapped.
'Willie, Watt! Come here lads!' I called several times, but they were having too much fun. Still holding off the frolicking beasts, she shot me an exasperated look that left me no choice. I gingerly waded into the cool waters. The water poured over the top of my wellies before I was able to reach out to grab the dogs' collars.
'Come along lads,' I said pulling them to shore. Once on dry land I sternly ordered them to 'Stay'. To my surprise they did.
'Can I take your fishing rod?' I asked carefully stepping back into the river.
'Careful where you trod! Don't step on my glasses! Damn it. They must be right around me somewhere,' she said as she groped about her with her free hand. 'Here, take the bloody rod,' she added, swinging the rod back around so that I could grab it without getting too close.
'Got it,' I said, carefully lifting it out of her hands and sloshed back to shore to set it against a bolder on the bank. 'Let me see if I can locate your glasses. The water should clear now that the dogs aren't thrashing about and I'll have a better angle from up here,' I added as I stepped back into the stream and carefully made my way back towards the submerged wreck of the Lady Nesta.
The water was clearing, but in the gloom, it was growing hard to see much below the surface, so I pushed up my sleeves and began to search the river amongst the small rocks of the bed with my hand, carefully moving towards her. Luckily I found them before my foot did. 'Here they are,' I exclaimed pulling them out of the water. I stepped closer and handed them down to her.
She snatched them out of my hand with a squinty glare. Like Willie and Watt, I found the situation rather amusing, though I, at least, attempted to conceal it. Largely unsuccessfully, I'm afraid. I did, however, understand her impatient temper and didn't let it bother me.
'Need help getting up?' I asked after she had her glasses in place.
She tried pulling her legs up and to get her feet under her without my help and then said, 'The damn hip boots have filled with water. They weigh a tonne. I'll need to get them off,' she added reaching down into the water to unlatch them from their belt.
'I'll help,' I said, moving around to get in front of her.
As I did so, I found a large angled mossy rock – likely the one that sent Lady Nesta into the river – and slipped half in myself, saving a complete dunking by one knee and a hand on the river bed.
'Watch it!' she snapped, slightly too late as I struggled to keep my balance. 'You're splashing me!'
'Sorry,' I said when I managed to find firmer ground and get my feet under me again. 'Slippery rock.'
'Yes. I know,' she replied tartly. 'I found it first.'
I sloshed around to position myself and reaching down into the water, grabbed the heel of her boot, and said, 'Any time you're ready.'
'It's unbuckled. Just hold it while I get my foot out.'
She lifted a leg and grasping the heel I gently pulled it up and off, staggering back a bit, but retaining my footing. Her pale slim leg slipped out of the boot in a rush of water and was free. I tucked it under my arm and bent over to grasp the second boot and repeated the performance, which was accomplished without commentary on her part.
As she drew her legs up to rise, I stepped forward and braced myself, offering my free hand to her. 'Give me your hand,' I said.
She gave me a glare and then reluctantly, her hand, and I drew forth this angry tweedy Venus from the depths of the Lonon, and we cautiously made our way to shore over the gravel and rocks.
She stood soaking wet, water stream off of her to form a pool at her bare feet and looking somehow angry, forlorn and lost, all at the same time.
'I'll fetch your hat,' I said, placing the waders on the shore and moving down stream just to give her a few minutes alone to compose herself. “safety first” being my motto.
I stopped a bit down the shore to empty my boots before continuing downstream. Her hat hadn't drifted too far, but I had to wade out again and snag it with a handy branch. When I had emptied my boots again, I returned to find her sitting on a rock, guarded by Willie and Watt.
She'd taken off her waterlogged jacket and was wringing out her long hair. Her wet blouse clung close, revealing her understated curves and after a second, or three, I realized I'd better find something else to look at before she glanced my way.
She sighed and said, 'Damn,' softly.
I wrung out the hat and said, 'Here you go. Managed to snag it before it floated out of reach.'
'Put it with the jacket,' she said, absently and then standing up shook out her hair and blouse. 'I'd best be going.'
'Let me grab some of your things,' I said hastily, picking up the fishing rod and waders.
We started up the bank, she gingerly making her way over the stones for only a few steps, before she stopped and asked me to hand over the waders. 'They're not any wetter than I am, and I don't think I care to cross the pasture barefooted. Can't look any more wretched than I am already.'
She was still waterlogged but since she'd not bothered with the wet jacket or hat, she was, in my brief acquaintance with her, at her best, slim, bedraggled, and though angry at the world, was not especially angry at me. At the moment.
'How is it that you're on this stretch of the river? I thought the spot where I happened upon you yesterday was your usual beat,' I asked as she pulled on the boots.
'I was hiding out. Skipped out of the big party. If father happened to notice that I was missing he'd send Renny or Flora out to fetch me, and they'd know right where to find me,' she admitted, pulling on the sec
ond wader. 'I was too clever, I guess.'
'It could've been far worse, fishing alone like that,' I suggested.
'I only fish knee deep and I know every rock in my usual beat. I was in no danger. It would've taken me a minute or two to get my waders off. Even less without the damn dogs. I'd not want you to give anyone the impression that you somehow saved me. That's the last thing I need right now. It's enough of a disaster as it is,' and as she stood up again, added softly, 'Damn, damn, damn.'
She might've twisted an ankle or something and had a lot harder time getting to shore, but I decided best not point that out.
'Well, it's not that bad. You're a little damp. And while you may have provided a little amusement for the lads and I, we'll say no more about it,' I said as we climbed the bank to the paddock.
She gave me a frosty sidelong glance and said in a low voice, 'Not if you value your life.'
Still, I found her to be a lot less formidable as a bedraggled wreck, and I was, I must admit, enjoying myself. There wasn't much she could do or say to dampen my spirits.
'Still, it's not you I'm worried about,' she continued after a moment. 'It's father. He'd have been furious with me if he discovered I'd sneaked out of his wretched party to go fishing. Heaven only knows how he'll react when I come back trailing a stream of river water looking like...' she paused searching for an appropriate analogy.
'Like the Loch Nesta Monster,' I suggested with a laugh.
'That's neither witty or clever,' she snapped, but with only half of her usual vigour. 'It's lame. In any event, I'll look like his idiot daughter turning up like this... He won't be happy.'
Not that he ever is, these days, I thought, but said instead, 'I beg to differ. I think it's damn clever. The Loch Nesta....' Another sharp icy glare, so I jumped ahead, 'But as for looking like an idiot, well, why can't you slip into the house unobserved just as easily as you slipped out?'
'Look at the house,' she said with a nod across the paddocks and a thin line of trees lining a ditch towards Hidden Garden, a glittering gem against the dark shadows of the trees. 'Just look at all the people milling about the lawn. It's our largest gathering of the summer. All father's business associates and largest customers are here. He invites so many people that he engages half of one hotel in Inverness to accommodate everyone. Can you imagine what he'll do or say when his daughter shows up looking like...' she glanced at me, just daring me to say it again.
I passed, this time, with a smile and a shrug.
'Like some sort of clumsy dim witted girl trailing half the Lonon behind her through the house,' she supplied. 'And even if he doesn't see me, I'll not be able to avoid all his guests so he'll certainly hear of it...' she finished.
I thought for a moment. 'Is there anyone you can trust to bring you dry clothes? A maid or something?'
'Why?'
'I'm thinking that we could stop by my cottage where you can call and arrange to have dry clothes delivered. I can slip up the lane and meet her somewhere. That way you can change into something dry before returning and none of the guests would be any wiser. It may not save you from your father's wrath should he discover that you'd been away, but it'll save you from being a spectacle, if that's your major concern.'
She considered that. 'Do I have a choice?' she asked quietly, presumably to herself.
'Is there someone you can call?'
'Oh, Flora will do it. She'll scold me, but she'll not want me to make a scene any more than father...'
'Great. The Groom's Cottage is this way, milady,' I said bowing lightly and extending my arm in the direction of the stables and my humble cottage. She shrugged and we veered towards the looming stables and my cottage beyond.
Lady Nesta fell silent after that, and since I didn't think she was in the mood for small talk, I said nothing as well, content to cross the paddock in the gathering gloom with our own thoughts.
As we approached the stables and came within Wi-Fi range she took her watson out of the jacket's pocket, shook the water out and called Lady Flora. It took a while for Flora to answer, and when she did, it was a sharp, 'Where are you Nessie?' which even I could hear.
'Has father missed me yet?' asked Nesta.
I didn't catch Lady Flora's response.
'Damn,' Nesta said after a bit, 'Listen Flora. I had to get away for a while, so I went fishing and ended up slipping on a mossy rock in the river. Now I'm sopping wet. You need to gather a change of clothes for me so that I can slip back into the party...'
I could hear Lady Flora hiss sharply 'Nessie you didn't!' and see Nesta scowl.
'Fine, I'll come marching in trailing a stream of water like some...'
'Loch Nesta monster,' I said under my breath with a chuckle that earned me a now classic Lady Nesta glare.
Lady Flora said something I didn't catch.
'Right, you know this Say fellow. He can slip up to the house and pick them up. All I need for you to do is collect some things from my room and bring them out to the lane.'
Once again, I didn't catch Lady Flora's response, but Nesta didn't like it.
'Listen Flora. He just happened by and found me sitting in the river... I don't have time for this, Flora. What I need are dry clothes, and fast... I can change in his cottage. I don't think either of us wants this to turn into a major explosion around the house.... Well hurry, sister dear. My life may depend on it.'
By that time, we'd reached the stable gate and slipped through it, the dogs were there, patiently waiting for us. We crossed the drive and my little lawn. I set the fishing rod next to the door and Nesta slipped off the hip boots and set them on the bench outside the door, after which I managed to get us inside while keeping the wet dogs out. After I turned on the cottage's two lamps, I noticed Lady Nesta was shivering and looking quite miserable. I was wet from the waist down, so I could imagine how she felt entirely soaked.
'You need to get out of those wet clothes. And take a hot shower to warm up as well. You'll catch your death of cold otherwise. Leave your watson on the table and I'll answer it when Lady Flora calls...'
Even shivering she protested, 'I'm fine. Flora will be here soon enough.'
'Please Lady Nesta. You don't want to risk hypothermia or some such thing. Don't make things worse than they are. Here,' I said, stepping over to the club chair with my basket of fresh laundry. I grabbed my pyjamas out of the pile and handed it to her. 'They've just been washed by Mrs Cullen. You can put these on if Flora hasn't called before you're done with your shower. I'll make us a pot of tea in the meanwhile.'
She stood considering the proffered clothes for several seconds, and was racked again by the chill, before grabbing them and heading for the bathroom without a word.
'It takes a while for the water to warm up, but it will eventually,' I called out after she'd closed the door behind her.
The shower was going, the tea kettle was heating on the hob and tea measured into the large brown betty tea kettle and I was just taking a few moments to savour the situation when the dogs started barking.
Lady Flora hadn't wasted any time, I thought as I stepped over to the door to greet her.
I found Lord Learmonte standing in the dim light streaming out of the screen door, the dogs frisking about him. I'm afraid I just stood and gaped at him.
'Are you just going to stand there, Say?' he asked impatiently.
That, indeed, would have been my first choice, but I didn't think “Yes” was an option. I was sorry for Lady Nesta, but I didn't see a way out of this without making it worse.
'No, of course not. Come it. Just surprised to find you here at this time of the night with the big party going on at the big house,' I said, stepping back to let Learmonte, and unfortunately, the wet dogs in as well.
'As you see, I've been busy all evening. Couldn't slip out until now,' he said adding, in character, 'I've only time for a brief report before I must return. You've made some progress, haven't you?'
'Oh yes, of course,' I said, wondering just how
quickly I could get this interview over with – without arousing suspicions. If he could (somehow) not notice the shower running, I was certain Lady Nesta would hear him talking once she turned off the water and would stay safely locked in the bathroom. But I could hear the water running, and so presumably, could Learmonte. He just wasn't paying attention to it at the moment.
'I've photographed the notebooks and photographed and started on the transcriptions of the printed pages. Yesterday and today I've been working on transferring the handwritten sheets to the clear sleeves, but that's slow going...' I could hear the kettle on the hob whistling and glanced back.
Learmonte glanced over my shoulder and said, 'Get the kettle and then bring down the computer. I'll just download your work and review it later.'
'Right,' I said and stepped over to the hob to pour the water into the big brown tea pot. 'Can I offer you a cup of tea?' I asked more to distract him than anything else, since the shower shut off as I poured the water, and between lack of running water and whistling tea kettle, the silence was suddenly quiet loud.
It took him a second to put the shower and tea together. 'You're not alone.' That wasn't a question. 'Who's in the shower?' was.
Perhaps I'd appear to be a little more noble if I was able to say that I hesitated before throwing her off the sleigh to the wolves but, truth be told, I answered promptly, 'Ah, that would be Lady Nesta.' The bold front seemed my best policy since I'd nothing to be ashamed off. Lady Nesta would just have to take her medicine.
I could've added an explanation, I suppose, and pointed out that we'd at least spared him the embarrassment of having his daughter turn up as his party like, well, something dragged out of loch. And yet... I added nothing more. Revenge is sweet. Not very noble, but sweet. I just let him stare at me looking for a moment like his whole world was collapsing around him.
'Nesta's in your shower?' he managed to say.
'Ah, yes,' I said, but deciding that I'd had my fun, and not wanting to actually risk my life, I continued, 'You see, I was out for an evening walk beyond the stables and came upon Lady Nesta and the dogs splashing about in the river. It seems Lady Nesta had slipped on a mossy rock. She was in no danger of drowning, the water was only knee deep, I didn't save her or anything, I just helped her get ashore. We're both a bit damp,' I pointed out my wet trousers adding authenticity to my tale.
'She was very concerned about making a scene at the party and wanted to spare you any embarrassment, so I offered the use of my cottage to effect a change into dry clothing before she returned to the party. Lady Flora should be calling shortly and I'll slip out and fetch Lady Nesta's change of outfits. As for the shower, since she was very damp and shivering, I suggested that she get out of her wet things and take a hot shower to warm up. And that, I think, brings you up to date.'
He just stared at, or perhaps through, me.
'I'll run up and fetch the computer,' I said and slipping past him, made my escape. I grabbed the lantern off the desk, clambered up the ladder to the attic and took several minutes to get through the elaborate procedure of unlocking the safe before bringing the computer down. Lord Learmonte hadn't moved. I started up the computer and synced it to the screen on the desk.
'Here you go, sir,' I said after I'd called up the documents. 'I've all the printed pages, without the handwritten alterations done. I've started working, mounting the hand written pages. Once I'm done with that, I'll get to work deciphering your grandfather's handwriting.' I'd been debating whether or not to tell him the true nature of the printed pages now or at some later date – since it would involve telling him how I had to copy passages to do the searches at the Bonny Prince in Ordmoor – but there was no debate now, this was not the time.
He walked over to the desk, drew out a small drive and connected it to the machine.
Lady Nesta's watson on the kitchen table rang, I stepped over to pick it up. It was Lady Flora. I answered the call, 'Hello, everything set to go?'
'Who's this? Say, is that you?'
'Lady Nesta is in the shower,' I said. 'I'll be right up to get her stuff.'
'Be careful. Father's out and about.'
'Here,' I said, glancing at Learmonte. He was entering his password to download the transcribed pages and photos on the computer, and paying no attention to me.
'Father's there with you, and Nessie in the shower!' Flora exclaimed.
'Yes.'
'I'll be right over,' she chirped.
'But I can...' but she'd hung up. She wasn't going to miss this. Can't say I blame her.
Lord Learmonte was finishing downloading the documents when the bathroom door squeaked open and Lady Nesta stepped out into the tiny entryway into the cottage in my rolled up and tightly clinched pyjamas, her still damp hair hanging down her back.
'Was that Flora?' she asked as she stepped into the cottage proper and saw we weren't alone. Learmonte had turned and was half sitting on the desk, watching her. She took in the situation in a moment and said with remarkable composure, 'Evening, Father. I see you decided to slip out too. It is rather trying to be a host for so many people, isn't it?' she said as she walked across to the table like she belonged. 'Is that my tea?'
He just glared at her. The dogs, however, hurried over to greet her, tails wagging.
'Yes, and Flora said she'd be right over,' I said.
Lady Nesta smiled slightly. 'Nice of her to save you the trip.'
'I suppose,' I said, tentatively. 'Do you take milk or sugar?'
'Milk, please,' she said lightly, ignoring the presence of her father.
Learmonte watched her, his face dark with emotion, but he held his tongue. I, on the other hand, was holding my breath as I poured two cups of tea. I could imagine a drunk walking into a powder room with a lighted cigar would have had the same effect as Lady Nesta in my pyjamas. You were free to hope things would work out without going “boom!” but somehow that seemed very unlikely.
'Your father stopped by to see how our project was progressing. I told him about your mishap in the river and your desire not to embarrass him. I know he appreciates your concern,' I said as I snagged the bottle of milk out of the refrigerator. That last bit was merely wishful thinking.
'We'll talk about it later,' Learmonte said with a very visible effort to control his temper. Still there was a chance that he would accept the suggestion he found Lady Nesta here only because she had his best interests in mind. I'd not put money on it, but it was a chance.
Lady Nesta warily sipped her tea standing by the table. I took out a packet of biscuits and put it on the table while the dogs wandered around at my feet, no doubt hoping for something, anything, edible to fall off the counter for them.
'There's some tea left,' I said, but he just shook his head 'no' and waited in silence by the desk for Flora to arrive.
I must admit I was a total failure as a host. I couldn't think of any possible topic of conversation, save the weather, and decided best to say nothing. Lady Nesta had taken a seat at the table and was sipping her tea and feeding the dogs biscuits.
'If you're done with the computer, I'll put it away,' I said, shamelessly trying to save myself if – or rather when – things went boom. Learmonte grunted and moved away from the desk, so I stepped over, grabbed the computer and made my escape to the loft. I took my time locking it away.
They may have had a quiet exchange of views while I was gone, but you wouldn't have known it by looking at them as I clambered down. I think they may have just exchanged dark looks. This was not something to be hashed out in front of staff...
I had just slipped by Lord Learmonte, still parked by the desk when Flora bounded brightly in from the night swinging a bag. 'Why Nessie, you look quite domestic! Hello Father, Mr Say,' she said, turning to each of us. 'I wish someone had told me the party is shifting to the Groom's Cottage. And oh, by the way, I believe Sir Edward was trying to track you down Father. And no doubt once they realize we've all slipped out, they'll be stealing our silverware right
and left.'
Lady Nesta put down her mug and reaching for the bag said, 'Thank you Flora.'
'I could have picked these up...' I said. 'And saved you the trip, and your silverware.'
'No problem Say, wouldn't want you to be rude and abandon your guests,' Flora said dismissing me with a smile. 'You really must be more careful in the future, Nessie. Mr Say won't be around forever to save you...'
I might be around for only a few more hours...
'I will certainly be more careful in the future,' replied Lady Nesta in a neutral tone open to various interpretations. She took the bag of clothes from her sister and started for the bathroom. She had just reached the back entryway when there was a knocking on the screen door. The dogs barked and hurried to the door, tails wagging.
'I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you may have seen Lady Nesta?' said a familiar voice of Renny Lonsdale from beyond the screen door. 'I saw Flora just scoot in and I was wondering... It's getting late and I didn't see Nessie down by the river. I'm getting rather worried.'
Flora, hidden from view beyond the closet by the door had a startled look and then shook her head with an emphatic 'No'.
However, I saw no reason to lie. 'Come in. She's here,' I called out.
He stepped into the dimly lit cottage, illuminated only by the lamp on the desk behind Learmonte and the lamp on the kitchen table. Discovering Learmonte at the desk and Lady Flora in the kitchen he glanced about in surprise finding the family gathered at the Groom's Cottage.
'Lady Nesta slipped on a mossy rock and ended up in the drink,' I said by way of explanation. 'Lady Flora just brought down some dry clothes for her to put on so she wouldn't have to appear at the party like the Loch Nesta Monster...' Lady Flora and Lord Learmonte both glared at me, Lonsdale smiled politely. I still think it's a clever line. 'Lord Learmonte called to discuss some business,' I concluded.
'Are you alright, Nessie?' he asked, spying her in the shadows of the far corner
'I'm perfectly fine, just wet. It was nothing, really,' she said impatiently.
Lonsdale slipped around the sofa to her.
'You had me worried Nessie,' he exclaimed. He gently grasped her shoulders. 'It was getting quite dark and you weren't at your usual spot on the river. I was almost ready to call out the search parties...'
'Sorry to have alarmed you. I simply needed to get away from all the people and all the talk. I didn't think an hour is too much to ask.'
'Yes, of course, my dear. You know I'd have gladly come with you if you'd asked...'
'I know, but I just wanted an hour alone...' she said.
He drew her close and gave her a hug. 'Well, as long as you're all right...'
'I'm fine, but I'd like to get dressed, it's getting quite late,' she said slipping from his hug and off to the bathroom.
Lonsdale watched her go, and then turning back, noticed me for the first time.
A look of recognition crossed his face. 'Why it's you, Say,' he exclaimed, striding over to me. 'What in the blazes are you doing here? Have you been here all week? This is really bizarre.'
'Hello Lonsdale,' I said, taking his extended hand, surprised by the warmth of his greeting.
'Would you believe, I was just talking to Penny Lee earlier this week and of course your name came up. What are you doing up here?'
I glanced at Learmonte behind him and said, 'My post doc lab time got pushed back to fall, so Professor Blake and Lord Learmonte found something for me to do up here. But perhaps I'd best let Lord Learmonte explain that,' with a nod towards Learmonte.
Learmonte's face was a closed book, but I figured with Lonsdale being his future son in law, this was not the greatest of disasters.
'He's working on a small project for me. I needed a grad student and Blake sent along Say here. It's rather confidential...' he said shortly, though what he didn't say weighed more heavily than his reply.
'Ah, yes,' said Lonsdale glancing between Learmonte and I, clearly knowing enough not to ask any more questions, at least not now.
'Flora!' exclaimed Lady Nesta from beyond the bathroom door.
'I think I'd best get back to the party before all our silverware has gone missing,' laughed Lady Flora, heading for the door. 'Coming, Father?'
He grunted and pushed himself off the desk. 'We'll talk tomorrow, Say,' he said as he followed Lady Flora out the door. He made it sound like a threat.
'Flora! Where's Flora?' asked Lady Nesta, a shadow against the light of the bathroom flowing through a narrow opening.
'She left,' said Lonsdale, giving we a wan smile as an aside.
'Damn!' she said and slammed the door.
'You were talking to Penny this week?' I asked hoping to lead us to safer ground.
'Yes indeed. The rotten weather kept us cooped up and I used some of that time to catch up on back burner projects. I know that her post doc has still half a year to run, but I wanted to touch base with her and tell her that I, and good old Advanced Nano-Electronics are very interested in hiring her when she's free. We had a nice long chat. Assured her she doesn't need my help to land a job with the old firm, but I'd do everything I could to land her for the old family firm. You see, I'm looking to add some young blood to the organization – we've a lot of very talented people, but I think it's wise to gather young talent and new ideas to keep up with the times. She's my top pick. I told her to check out the other firms and then see us with their offers in hand, I doubt that she'd be disappointed. And we also got to talking about you, too. She told me you have a year's post doc lined up, but afterwards, I'd like to have you on board as well, I've heard wonderful stories about what an amazing team you and Penny were at the Cavendish... That is if Uncle Ian hasn't already claimed you,' he added.
'Oh, I think he'd be willing to limp on without me,' I said with a smile. 'And if you can lure Penny, I'd love to follow. We do work together quite well, but all that's a year off yet.'
'Well be sure and keep old AN-E in mind, when the time comes, Say. As I said, we're looking for young and brilliant people,' he said. 'New ideas, new products, keeping up with the times. Pop's just happy I'm having so much fun in the business – had him worried for a while – so he's giving me a lot of rope to hang myself. We'll see...'
We went on to talk about mutual friends (not many) and college acquaintances until Lady Nesta emerged. She was wearing a small, elegant black dress which showed off her long pale legs and a great deal of her shoulders and back. It was something that could be only worn when the sun's down. Her dark auburn hair was pinned in a tight bun. She held the bag of her wet clothes in one hand and a pair of high heeled shoes in the other. She was not happy.
'My, you look dashing!' exclaimed Lonsdale enthusiastically ignoring her scowl.
I confined myself to a modest, 'Indeed.'
'This is Flora's idea of a joke,' she hissed. 'I look like a vamp, or a vampire.'
Lonsdale grinned. 'You look like a beautiful woman, Nessie. Flora just kicked the bushel basket off your light.'
She gave him an arch look. 'You're full of it, Lonsdale, and always have been. More to the point, how am I to make my way up the lane in these shoes?'
'Oh, I'll help you, my dear. I'll carry you if I must,' he laughed as he took the bag from her hands.
She stopped and put on the shoes and with a quick nod in my direction snapped, 'Thanks.' She took Lonsdale's arm and teetered out into the night, followed by Willie and Watt.
Lonsdale over her shoulder said with a broad smile, 'Thanks for looking after Nessie, we both actually do appreciate everything you did,' he added with a wink.
The screen door banged after them and I was alone.
I grabbed my mug and stepped out of the cottage to settle on the bench beside the door and sat beside Lady Nesta's hip boots and fishing rod. The night had almost completely settled in, the sky across the river to the north, still glowed faintly beyond the dark hills. The music from the party drifted in and out of the soft silence of the nig
ht. The smell of pines, moist earth and the stables drifted in and out of it as well.
I took a sip of tea and smiled. Well that was fun, I thought. No doubt the hammer will fall tomorrow, but all in all, in the peace of the evening, it seemed rather worth it.