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

Although I love to work people out, there are lines you don’t cross and gossiping is one of them. It makes me feel low, guilty and horrible all at once. I must not expose myself to that again. It’s time to keep a little distance from the kitchen.

‘Susie,’ said Felicity as I reached the top of the staircase. ‘Don’t you want some tartan too?’

‘Yeah,’ said Shane, who was extracting plastic-wrapped bundles from a landing cupboard under Zoe’s instruction.

‘Behind these we’ll get to the clothes, I’m sure,’ she was saying through a musty cloud of unsettled dust.

‘We’d better,’ joked Rupert. ‘It’s the fourth place we’ve tried. Susie?’

‘I’m going to leave you to it. I don’t want to spoil the outfit surprise.’

Down the children’s corridor I went, joining the queue for the bath. Next in line after Lianne, whom I could hear singing, ‘It’s all so beautiful’, through my bedroom wall.

The drawing room was jolly chilly, even with a fire glowing at one end. I was late to the party. Everyone other than Fergus and Shane were here.

‘I thought it a good idea to use this room,’ said Zoe, holding court – an easy thing to do in a puffy ball gown. ‘Gives us space to move around in our dresses.’

She looked lovely and the tartan sash, pinned over one shoulder with a Celtic brooch, was uncharacteristically elegant for Zoe.

‘Susie would fit in anywhere,’ said Louis, admiring my figure-hugging velvet number. I took a huge sip from my glass of wine; his attention was making me nervous.

‘You do look lovely,’ said Lianne and I returned the compliment.

‘I envy your figure,’ said Felicity and looking back at her I tried not to stare. The pleats of her skirt were inevitably falling unevenly over her waist.

‘Where’s Haggis?’

‘He’s safely tucked away in our room,’ smiled Zoe. ‘He’d only trip us up when the dancing begins.’

Shane entered and all the attention turned to him.

Lianne burst into a fit of giggles. ‘Suits you that skirt,’ she just about managed to splutter.

‘Very comfortable too,’ he said, showing off the Muchton tartan.

‘What’s under it?’

‘A gigantic surprise.’

Lianne laughed again and Fergus entered.

‘Oh my, oh my,’ said Zoe at her husband.

‘Three cheers for the host,’ said Rupert, raising his glass.

‘Talk us through your outfit, please, Fergus.’ Felicity wanted to hear it top to bottom.

‘First, though, darling, you’ll never believe what I found.’ Fergus went to whisper in his wife’s ear.

‘Diamonds,’ she exclaimed, unable to keep the words in her mouth.

Jane bolted out of the door. I think she’s suddenly remembered the ones Mhàiri mentioned.

Fergus gave Zoe a look as if to say, ‘Don’t mention any more.’

‘Please talk us through your outfit,’ begged Felicity again.

‘As he pinched my trews,’ Fergus said, looking across the room.

‘They fit perfectly,’ said Rupert, pulling at the waist.

Shane pointed at Fergus’s left calf. ‘What’s that in your sock?’

‘Let him talk us through the whole caboodle,’ interrupted Minty.

Fergus beamed and as his hips swung the pleats of his kilt, he began to explain. ‘This was my great-grandfather’s. Worn ones always look nicer. My black jacket is called a Prince Charlie and is donned for formal occasions.’ Fergus turned around, and pulled at the tails. ‘These are short, which tells you it’s for the evening.’

Zoe stepped forwards and stroked his sporran. ‘Do tell them about this.’

‘Ah,’ said Fergus, flapping the fur bulge at his crotch, ‘Donald made it for me. It’s a squirrel.’

‘Did you shoot it?’ said Giles.

‘Yes. Aged twelve.’

‘Oh no, no, no, no, no,’ said Lianne with her hands over her face.

‘Don’t worry,’ said Fergus. ‘It was grey not red.’

‘Congratulations,’ said Rupert. ‘They’re more like rats than squirrels.’

‘May I touch it?’ said Felicity.

‘Of course.’ Fergus held out his fur for all of us to feel.

Jane bustled her way back into the room. I looked her up and down – she wasn’t wearing any diamonds.

‘I like that dagger in your sock,’ said Giles and Shane’s face lit up.

‘It’s called a sgian-dubh.’

‘Skee-en-DOO,’ said Zoe.

‘Can I have a look?’ said Shane.

‘No, no,’ said Jane, ‘it’s terribly bad luck if he takes it out.’

I wondered how Fergus got it in his sock without taking it out but I suppose she meant the sheath not the blade.

‘Sorry, Shane,’ he said, probably thinking it would be too risky to hand around. ‘Just quickly, two other things worth mentioning are my kilt pin, basically a large nappy pin put here at the bottom corner of the kilt to stop it blowing up in the wind, and my shoes…’

‘They must be Zoe’s,’ said Giles much to everyone’s amusement.

‘Their patent leather and silver buckles are pretty fancy for a man but they are wonderful for dancing in.’

‘No doubt we’ll judge that later,’ said Jane, remarkably enthusiastic for someone who barely hours ago was all set to leave.

‘My shoes are the best,’ said Zoe, stretching a foot out from under her ball gown. ‘They’re officially called ghillies but really they’re just soft black ballet shoes with tight laces tied up my ankle.’

Minty crouched down from the great height of her quivering stilettos. ‘They’re even nicer than the ones my friend has.’

The circle broke up and I turned to Louis. ‘That’s a nice waistcoat.’

‘Soft green velvet, it goes with your dress.’ He stroked my shoulder and I felt my face go hot.

‘Angel,’ said Zoe, ‘I think we should eat.’

‘Yes, come on then. The haggis, neeps and tatties will be waiting. Rupert, will you bring the wine, and Giles, put the guard in front of the fire, will you please?’

Zoe led the way to the dining room; no one hesitated about where to sit. We all plonked ourselves down in order and I ended up perfectly happily between Fergus and Giles. Lianne, Zoe and Rupert served the food and when a plate was put in front of him Shane exclaimed, ‘Yuk.’

‘Oi, don’t be so rude,’ said Giles.

‘But it looks like a nutty turd.’

‘Now you’ve spoilt it for all of us,’ said Lianne.

‘Why don’t you just try it?’ encouraged Zoe. ‘You might be surprised.’

Shane put the tiniest amount