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

on his fork and we all watched as he pushed it between his reluctant-to-open lips.

‘Maybe it’s not so bad.’ He gave a massive smile.

‘Well, if you like it that much,’ said Minty, ‘you can have a bit of mine.’

‘No thanks.’

‘You don’t have to eat it all,’ said Fergus. ‘Just leave what you don’t want, and we’ll feed it to the namesake.’

‘He won’t get any from me,’ said Rupert.

‘Me neither,’ said Felicity.

‘Or Louis,’ I teased. ‘The French love offal.’

‘Too true.’ He beamed at me across the table and I wondered if we’d have another kiss tonight.

I quite like eating haggis once every five years and it’s amusing that Zoe and Fergus are feeding it to us tonight. They’re trying their best to give a Scottish experience and, as naff as it is, it adds to the occasion.

I looked across at Jane sitting on Fergus’s right and when I overheard her say, ‘You are fortunate to have help spanning two generations,’ I leant in to hear more.

‘Aren’t we just,’ he agreed. ‘My parents taught Mhàiri and Donald the ropes and now Zoe and I are reaping the benefits.’

‘It is marvellous they’re not ambitious,’ said Jane. ‘My mother always maintained education’s dangerous. It makes the likes of country folk want to move on, get up in the world. It’s a real bonus for you if the schools are bad round here. It’ll keep your staff loyal, you know.’

‘I’ve never looked at it like that. But I do worry for our children before they’re old enough to board.’

‘You mustn’t,’ said Jane. ‘The sophistication of life here combined with a little bit of,’ she lowered her voice, ‘nepotism,’ and raised it again, ‘will see them sail through Common Entrance.’

‘I do hope so.’

I’m rather surprised by Jane’s sudden will to engage. It’s not like she’s made much of an effort to chat to the Muchtons before. But here, now, although I completely disagree with what she’s saying, it’s made me happy to see her in a good mood. It’s almost as if a huge weight has lifted off her mind. Most likely she’s managed to rearrange her flight and is in better spirits knowing this is her last night.

She complimented Fergus on his library and tucked into her food.

‘Do you like reading, Susie?’ Fergus asked.

‘Yes, very much.’

‘I try, but it tends to send me to sleep.’

‘Very helpful in the right circumstances.’

‘Indeed.’ He looked at my empty plate. ‘Would you like some more?’

‘Angel,’ called Zoe with an eye on his actions. ‘I’m afraid we’ve started to clear. We mustn’t let dinner drag on.’

‘No, of course not. Here, let me help.’

The main course plates were stacked and steam pudding arrived to the delight of all. The whisky cream to drizzle on top looked particularly delicious, and if I were Mhàiri I would have made an extra portion to guzzle in the kitchen.

Felicity licked her lips. ‘Mmm, mmm, such rich food you have here.’

‘Like how much?’ said Shane.

‘Rich as in creamy. Duh,’ said Lianne.

The swing door opened and in rushed Mhàiri. She whispered something in Fergus’s ear.

‘Susie,’ he said. ‘That’ll probably be your friend.’

My heart jumped. Friend, yeah right. We both got up and left the room.

In the hall, filling more than his fair share of it, was a pot-bellied man with a bright red face.

‘Davy?’ said Fergus.

‘Aye. Nice to meet you, Sir.’ He shoved out his right hand. ‘And you, Madam,’ Davy nodded; he hadn’t mistaken me for Zoe.

‘Welcome,’ said Fergus.

‘I hoped to be here a bit earlier but we got caught up on your drive with a van. Had to reverse back, never an easy thing to do in the dark.’

‘On our drive?’ said Fergus, a little surprised.

‘Aye.’

‘How strange. Did you come up the front or the back?’

‘It had a cottage a wee way up it.’

‘Ah yes, the back. It must have been my brother. Now, Susie, would you mind showing Davy to the music room and I’ll go and let Zoe know the band’s arrived.’

‘Of course.’ I looked at Davy. ‘Would you like me to carry anything?’

‘No. I’ve got my accordion in here, and let me just give the others a wee shoot. They’re a bit timid of a big hoose like this.’

Davy stuck his head outside and back with it came a girl tripping through the front door, violin case in one hand and a battery pack in the other.

‘This is me daughter, Rosie.’

‘Hi, I’m Susie, nice to meet you. Here, let me carry something.’ She handed me the battery. ‘We’ll put this all in the music room, follow me.’

‘It’s humungous,’ said Davy as we entered.

‘It gets bigger,’ I said. ‘Would you mind helping me pull back the folding door?’

‘That yun down there?’

‘Yes.’

‘A few of you here then?’

‘Twelve in total.’

‘You ken the reels?’

‘I’ve done a bit before but not sure I remember them. We’re all from the south so you’ll have to talk us through it.’

‘Aye, I thought so from your accent but you canee be too sure in a hoose like this.’

‘Dad,’ said Rosie, ‘shall I go get the speakers? I think Jimmy needs a hand.’

‘Aye, Rosie, go fetch him.’

Davy spun three hundred and sixty degrees on the heel of his buckled shoe. ‘Quite a place they’ve got here. Friends of the Muchtons, are you?’

‘Not officially; there’s a group of us on an art residency for the week. I’m the tutor.’

‘Having fun, are you?’

‘Yes, it’s been great.’

Zoe came into the room and shook Davy’s hand. ‘Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Zoe. Is there anything you need?’

‘No, you’re fine. My wains will be here in a moment. They’ve got the rest of the kit. Give us ten minutes or so and we’ll be ready for you.’

Zoe left and I hovered around to ‘help’.

‘So,’ I said with a carefree breath, ‘what was this van like you saw?’

‘It was a silver Transit, you ken. Wasn’t expecting that. Must have been lost.’

It sounded very like the one I’d seen in Mike’s yard.

‘Were there people in it?’

‘Aye, just one and we were only late because I didn’t want