Where the Heart Belongs (3 page)

Smiling at the idea, Shona ate her porridge and then, making an effort, decided on scrambled egg and mushrooms.

‘Why not have some smoked salmon as well?' her landlady suggested with such a kind smile that Shona agreed and then was glad that she had because the locally smoked salmon was mouth-watering.

Ashamed of her earlier feelings, she poured more coffee and thought about where she would go today. It hadn't occurred to her yesterday to ask when Jack Cullen was expected home. This must be her first priority so that she could plan her time sensibly until it was possible to contact him. When she left here she would drive into town and buy provisions for a picnic lunch as she had done yesterday and then telephone Ferniehope Castle to enquire.

She paid the bill and left. Her mobile rang as she drove through the entrance and she pulled in to the side of the road to answer it.

‘Miss Shona Renison?' The voice was deep and strangely familiar.

‘Yes, that's me.'

‘I
understand you phoned about the job? I apologise for not being at Ferniehope to meet you yesterday.'

‘Jack Cullen!' she gasped.

‘The same.' He sounded amused.

She took a deep breath, struggling to hide her surprise that they had already met. Now what had she done showing herself up as an inquisitive moron? The wonder was that he had bothered to contact her now. ‘I believe Harley de Los has spoken to you about me?'

‘He did that. I got home too late last night to contact you. My timing was bad, I'm afraid. My apologies.'

He sounded as if he thought he was to blame and she hastened to reassure him. ‘I should have telephoned first before calling at the castle, Mr Cullen. I'm sorry.'

He brushed her protestations aside. ‘He sang your praises to the sky, did Harley. So . . . when can you start?'

‘Oh,' she said in surprise. ‘I thought you might want to interview me first.'

He gave a deep-throated laugh. ‘I'll take Harley's word that you'll do, no question. I'm satisfied, if you are. Shall we say this morning at eleven sharp? Don't be late.'

And that was that. For a few moments after he rang off Shona gazed at her mobile in wonder and then glanced at the toby jug in his place on the passenger seat beside her, gazing impassively ahead. ‘You don't care, do you?'
she
said. ‘You could at least show a bit of interest.'

She took another deep breath, marvelling at how quickly things changed. One minute she was thinking of the road ahead leading her into the unknown and now she knew exactly where she was going, back to Ferniehope Castle. There it seemed she would start her new life as personal assistant to Jack Cullen, owner of the conference centre.

Suddenly invigorated, she put the car into gear and started off again, hoping she was doing the right thing. Jack Cullen hadn't suggested coming for a trial period so they could both work out whether this was a good idea. He must trust Harley de Los implicitly. Suppose she didn't suit after all? Or didn't like the job? Well, she would soon discover that.

She drove straight there, bypassing Newton Stewart and reaching the main road before she knew it. Sunshine silvered the water of the estuary to her right and to her left the mountains were hazy against the pale sky. Nearly there . . . but, wait a minute, it was much too early. Keen she might be, but turning up an hour and-a-half before the appointed time wouldn't look at all good. Needy and pathetic, in fact. She imagined Jack Cullen's contempt and her own feeling of disadvantage.

She needed somewhere to spend the intervening time. Bessie's Kitchen, of course.

*   *   *

To her surprise a coach was parked in the yard at the side and a roar of laughter and chatter greeted her as she pushed open the door. A smiling Liz pouring coffee and cutting slices of carrot cake, waved to Shona. ‘Be with you in a minute,' she mouthed.

Shona smiled as she seated herself at the table in the far corner. She had plenty of time to sit here watching all the people bustling about. Too much really. A stir of apprehension rippled through her because the time was getting nearer when she would meet the man she knew now was her future buss.

Gradually the noise subsided as everyone sat down and placed the remaining orders. Liz, looking a little harassed in spite of her outwardly calm manner, came to her. She was wearing blue today and her perfume was the same light fragrant one.

‘I wasn't expecting an onslaught this early,' she said, smiling.

‘Don't worry about me,' Shona said. ‘You're busy and I don't need anything, just to kill a bit of time until I have to be at Ferniehope Castle. I've been offered the job there I told you about.'

‘You have?' said Liz, looking surprised.

There it was again, Shona thought, that strange air of disquiet.

‘Can
I just sit here out of the way?'

‘You're welcome, Shona. We'll talk some other time. Sorry it's so busy.'

‘Good for business,' Shona murmured as Liz edged away. She had planned to ask her about Jack Cullen to find out what kind of a man he was apart from being good with a rake. He was obviously someone prepared to take a friend's recommendation on board and act on it quickly.

Running a conference centre held responsibilities so he must have a lot of experience gained over many years. She had already seen for herself that he was a confident man, completely sure of himself and his ability to cope with everything that such a position threw up.

She got up at last, checked she had her bag with her and then left. Liz, busy at the till, didn't see her go.

*   *   *

Turning into the drive to Ferniehope Castle today felt like coming home this time and that was a good sign surely? The sunny front of the building looked welcoming and she parked her car to one side and crunched across the gravel and up the short flight of stone steps.

Jack Cullen opened the door himself. She was expecting this but it was still a shock to see him dressed in a white shirt that looked as if it
had
been freshly ironed and his black brogues highly polished. He seemed older today, late thirties probably.

‘Miss Renison, I do believe?' He took her hand in his and pressed it. ‘Come in, come in. A good journey from whence you came this fine morning?'

Shona smiled. ‘I enjoyed the drive.'

‘That's good.'

He pressed a button on the desk in the large hall. ‘Coffee for two, please, Ingrid, in the conservatory,' he ordered when a door at the far end opened.

Shona glanced about her, liking the comfortable feeling of dark furniture and velvet curtains. There was even an ample stone fireplace filled with fir cones with a tapestry screen to one side. The faint scent of roses lingered in the air. A new-scented furniture polish or had someone been spraying in here?

Jack Cullen turned to her. ‘Shona . . . may I? And I'm Jack to everyone. Coffee first and then a guided tour. I'll fill you in on a few things while we drink it. OK with you?'

‘Very much so,' she said.

He led the way to the conservatory that overlooked the sunny back lawn. Donald had done a good job with the mowing, she thought, but there was no sign of him today.

‘Take a seat, Shona. Coffee won't be long.'

He waited until she seated herself in a creaking basket chair and then sat down
opposite
her. She glanced around her. The plants here in this shady conservatory looked well tended. She exclaimed in pleasure at the display of orchids on low tables out of the direct sunlight and at the white jasmine climbing against the glass walls. The sweet scent from it mingled with another richer one and was almost overpowering.

Jack looked at the orchids with pride. ‘I've been collecting these for a while now,' he said. ‘When I started out I didn't realise there were so many varieties.'

She smiled. ‘I can see that someone loves them.'

‘I've got some beauties like that Miltoniopsis over there, Red Knight.' His face shone with enthusiasm and for a moment she saw a softer side to him than the rather hard man who had first greeted her. He got up and smoothed the dark shiny leaves of the flamboyant orchid on the windowsill near her. ‘This fellow likes a west facing position and what a scent he's got.'

‘It's lovely,' said Shona.

‘You like them too?' He leaned forward eagerly. ‘I'm a bit of a fanatic on the quiet, but Ingrid keeps me in check.'

‘Ingrid?'

‘My secretary, Donald's daughter. Her mother, Mags, does the cooking and oversees the cleaning. They live in the cottage near the back gate. We employ other staff too as you'll
see.
But so far no one to act as hostess to the guests and that's why you're here.' He sounded as if he was pleased with himself for employing her. She hoped he wouldn't regret it.

There was a clatter of china and an exclamation of annoyance from the open doorway.

‘Ah, here's Ingrid now.'

He took the laden tray from the sandy-haired girl who stood stolidly staring at them. ‘Ingrid, this is Shona.'

Ingrid sniffed. ‘Good morning,' she said in the same rasping tone as yesterday.

Jack placed the tray on one of the small bamboo tables and then sat down again. ‘Thank you, Ingrid. That's great. You won't need to hang around much longer, but I'll need you to show Shona to her room before you head off.'

Ingrid threw Shona a look of dislike before she retreated.

‘You'll welcome the conference delegates on arrival, Shona,' Jack said. ‘See to their comfort in all matters and generally be at hand all the time they are here to deal with any problems that arise. How do you like your coffee?'

‘White please, no sugar.'

She watched him pour and then took the mug from him, noticing the design of yellow orchids decorating it. As she put it down on the small bamboo table at her side she saw a
crack
above the handle that he obviously hadn't noticed. His own, with a pink orchid appeared undamaged. Surely Ingrid hadn't made up her mind to dislike her before they had even met and was showing her in this small way that she was unwelcome here?

Jack proffered a plate of shortbread and then took one himself. He downed his coffee swiftly and she had the impression that her mini interview was over and that he had more important things on his mind now. Her mouth burning from the hot liquid, she drank as quickly as she could. He stood up as she replaced her empty mug on the tray.

*   *   *

Shona was expecting a small room to be allocated to her somewhere at the top of the building but the apartment Ingrid showed her on the first floor almost took her breath away.

‘It's perfect,' she gasped, gazing in awe as Ingrid threw open the door to reveal a comfortably furnished sitting room in subtle shades of blue and green. Ingrid stumped across the pale green carpet to open the door into the bedroom.

Shona, following her, saw a patchwork quilt in various shades of pink edged with cream lace that matched the colour of the carpet. Deep rose velvet curtains framed the long window that, like the sitting room, looked out
over
the front lawn.

‘It'll do,' said Ingrid grudgingly.

Shona turned to her, smiling, but Ingrid's frosty expression didn't change. She edged towards the door. ‘You'll need to find your own way down,' she said.

‘No problem,' Shona said as Ingrid left her to explore the apartment on her own. She discovered pink towels in the ensuite and a selection of bath oil, shampoo and liquid soap on the glass shelf. Someone wanted her to feel welcome at Ferniehope Castle, but definitely not Ingrid.

‘WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HER?'

‘Where are you now, Shona? Somewhere exotic . . . dining in style at Culzean Castle with Felix? Tell him from me to make the most of the present moment even though you've a lot of catching up to do.'

Shona laughed at her cousin's nonsense, glad that Jodie sounded happy and relaxed on the other end of the phone.

‘I'm not too far from our old haunts,' she said, glancing out of the dining room window at the reddening sky behind the belt of trees to her right.

‘So have you met Felix yet?'

‘Of course not, Jodie. Be realistic.'

‘You
will, given time. I hope you're not thinking of moving on already?'

Shona smiled. ‘No way. I'm enjoying myself too much.' And so she was, learning from Jack all that was expected of her. Not much today, of course, as the Roddon Rambling Club wasn't arriving until tomorrow and everything was in hand. It was just a question of familiarising herself with the layout of the castle and getting to know the rest of the staff. She had met Mags, Ingrid's mother, after lunch when she was investigating the rooms at the back of the house on the ground floor.

She had discovered her on her hands and knees wiping down the skirting board of the laundry room. Mags had struggled to her feet and held out her hand in welcome, a warm smile on her face. ‘Pleased to meet you, lass. A fine place to work, Ferniehope Castle. Come and visit us in the cottage when you've settled in. We'd like that fine.'

No chilly reception here, Shona thought as she thanked her. But she would make quite sure that Ingrid was busy elsewhere before she took her up on her kind invitation.

‘Are you still there?' said Jodie. ‘Or just dreaming of your first meeting with you-know-who?'

Shona laughed and for the rest of the call concentrated on Jodie and her family. She was still smiling as she clicked off her mobile and slid it into the pocket of her long flowery skirt
she
had changed into for her first evening meal at Ferniehope Castle.

Jack had told her that there were to be guests and she walked nimbly down the wide staircase in anticipation of a pleasant evening in their company. So far so good and tomorrow she might tell Jodie about this fabulous place and her job of personal assistant that she seemed to have found so easily.