A Trick of the Light by Ali Carter (surface ebook reader txt) 📕

English. There you go, lassie.’ Mike lowered my car off the jack. ‘All done fer yous.’

‘Thank you very much.’

‘On yous go and take it back round the front. I’ll meet yous at reception.’

If I was going to get a puncture anywhere, here was the place to get it. A new tyre in Scotland was half the price of down south, and with a grateful ‘Thank yous’ from Mike for my payment I was back at Auchen Laggan Tosh in time to catch the last hour of class.

‘Hi Minty, where’s Louis?’

‘I don’t know, he was taking photographs earlier but he’s actually been gone a while.’

Drat, I’d left him in charge. I bet he’s gone to see Ewen. Say goodbye before he leaves.

‘Oh well.’ I walked up to her easel. ‘Your picture’s really lovely.’

‘Do you like it?’ She stood back.

‘It’s very accomplished. Have you ever tried glazing in oils?’

‘The old-fashioned method?’

‘Yes, the one where you build up a tonal scene and then wash very thin paint over it.’

‘No, but I’d love to try. Maybe you could give us a lesson tomorrow?’

‘What a good idea. I’ll see what I can do.’

‘Susie,’ said Zoe as I emerged from the basement. I’d been down dropping my outdoor kit in the drying room.

‘May I have a word?’ Her finger curled as she called me into the sitting room. ‘Shut the door,’ she said, gaining the upper hand.

Oh crumbs, is she holding the art valuer’s visit against me?

The fire was crackling, the curtains had been drawn and Zoe motioned for me to sit down. Yikes, she isn’t going to confront me about Louis, is she?

‘Would you like a drink, Susie? I’m not going to have one but I’m sure you could do with one to warm you up.’

‘You’re right. Yes please, a little bit of whisky would go down well.’ I was grateful for something to settle my nerves.

‘Here you go then.’ She handed me a glass. ‘Now, I really wanted to ask you…’ She paused, took in a huge breath and the words ‘How do you think the week is going?’ rushed out of her.

‘Really well.’

‘Honestly?’

‘Yes. Well, at least I think so.’

‘That’s exactly it.’ Zoe lowered herself onto the sofa. ‘It’s unlike anything we’ve done here before. I, we’ve, never had a house full for this length of time, at least not one like this.’

‘Like this?’

‘Paying guests. Strangers. People one can’t relate to.’ Zoe took in another deep breath and I wondered where her parochial attitude had suddenly come from.

‘Shooting parties and day courses work well, one knows the type. No one stays the night and the house becomes ours again at the end of the day. The problem I’m finding this week is keeping a balance between us and them.’

Zoe, much like Jane, seemed to be fed up of having people around her. But, if the Muchtons see Auchen Laggan Tosh as something to share, she’s going to have to get used to life like this.

‘Do you mean you’re struggling to make everyone feel at home without becoming overfamiliar?’

Zoe had been so friendly to me on day one: as I’d said to Mhàiri, ‘Zoe couldn’t be more welcoming.’ And she’d said, ‘All right for some.’ But as the week progressed Zoe’s character had grown cold.

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I thought it was going so well, until today. But I’ve obviously been too much Madame and not enough Mum.’

‘What’s happened?’

‘Jane’s trying to leave.’

‘I know.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Zoe’s face looked almost comical with a frown.

‘I’ve only just heard. I would have told you. Honestly.’

She seemed to believe me, and we moved on. ‘It upsets me desperately,’ she said as her shoulders fell. ‘I feel I’m wholly responsible for her having to share a room.’

‘Don’t worry about it. I promise you this week is going really well.’ Then realising how unintentionally conceited this sounded I added, ‘You’ve organised and put on a brilliant course.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes,’ I smiled.

‘Why is she leaving then?’

Hmmm, I had to answer carefully. I didn’t want to suggest Jane was missing her personal space as I didn’t want Zoe to blame herself.

‘Some people like to do exactly what suits them. Jane I’m sure has enjoyed her time here, but having decided she’s had enough, she now wants to leave.’

‘Should we let her?’

‘I think you have to.’

Zoe smiled at her mistake. ‘Yes, of course you’re right, it’s not like I can keep her here.’

Her frown deepened. ‘Will she expect to be reimbursed?’

‘No, I shouldn’t think so.’

Immense relief swept across Zoe’s face and the mood in the room lifted just like that.

‘How are you getting on with your picture of Haggis? Don’t worry if you haven’t found the time.’

‘I should have mentioned it. I will definitely have a drawing for you but I’d like to complete it at home, if that’s okay. I’ve got a sketch and some photographs to work from.’

‘Oh goodie. He is such an adorable little boy, my Haggis.’

‘Yes, he is a sweet dog.’

Zoe stood up. ‘There are drop scones in the dining room for tea if you’d like?’

‘How delicious.’

‘Come on then.’ She flung the sitting room door open.

Louis was sitting at the bottom of the stairs.

‘Hello there,’ she said, ‘do you have some photographs for me?’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘Wonderful. Let’s all have a look then?’

‘I’d rather sort through them first.’

‘You artists are so closeted with your work.’ Zoe looked at me and then back at Louis. ‘Fair enough if you must, but do please come and have some tea.’

We were paraded into the dining room.

‘Have a pancake, Susie,’ shouted Lianne, shunting a plate my way.

‘Thanks.’ I took one and passed them on.

‘They’re called drop scones north of the border,’ said Rupert.

‘Squished scone would be better,’ said Shane, and Felicity laughed.

‘Rupert,’ he said, ‘if you’re so good at Scottish, tell us some more.’

‘Well, firstly you say scotch and if you look out of that window you’ll see spiky green bushes with yellow buds.’

‘Yes.’

‘Tell me what you’d call them.’

‘Never seen one in my life.’

‘Gorse,’ said Giles. ‘That’s a gorse bush.’

‘Course?’ said Shane.

‘No, g-orse.’

‘In