The House on the Shore (35 page)

“
Slainte
!
”

“
Slainte mhath
,” she said, taking a sip.
“A couple more of these and you’ll soon get the hang of things.
Want to sit this one out?”

“Yes, and the next, and the next
—
”

Anna laughed.
“Sorry, but I didn’t go to all this trouble to be a wallflower.
If it makes you feel happier, we can wait until the band plays something more sedate for the older generation.”

Luke’s left eyebrow
arched
a fraction.
“I may be a little older than you, but I’ve got loads of stamina.”

“Yes, I know, darling,” giving his ear a playful nip.
“You can keep it up all night.”

“Anna, behave!” he warned, turning round to make
sure no one was within earshot.

“Listen, that’s the opening bar
of the
Gay Gordons.
It’s easy.”

“None of this shit is easy.”

“This one is.”
Anna took his glass from his hand and led him back to the dance floor. “Even you coul
d do this fully anaesthetised.”

“
In that case
,” he sigh
ed. “Bring on the
ether
—
”

From the edge of the dance floor Laird Alistair Grant, resplendent in full Highland dress, watched Anna thread in and out of the couples in her set.
Her white dress swirled about her ankles.
He knew the sound of her laughter
, although
he couldn’t hear it, he felt it.
It singed him.
He didn’t normally go for redheads
;
blondes were more his taste, but even
in
her youth, she ha
d possessed a certain something.
Under different circumstances
,
he
might have found her appealing.

“I see you invited the MacDonal
d woman,” Mac said, with a nod.

“That’s my business.
”
Alistair frowned. “W
hat are you doing in here?
I specifically asked you to super
vise the parking arrangements.”

“I don’t see why I can’t join in the party.
I put on me suit, see?”
He tugged on the oversized lapels.
The outfit was light brown polyester double knit
, p
robably stolen from some thrift shop.
It wouldn’t have been fashionable in the mid-seventies.
Alistair winced.

“You’
re quite dapper,” Alistair said,
“
b
etter than the orange Day Glo thing you wore while parking cars.”

Mac sniffed.
“All the other
estate
employees are here.
Folk would think it odd if your trusted factor was excluded.
Besides, you gave me a shit job to do.
I’ll get you for that.”

“I’m sure you will.
Go easy on the whisky, M
a
cKinnon.
I don’t want you getting drunk tonight, of all nights.”

“Don’t look down your nose at me, your Lairdship.
I’m just as good as this lot, if not better.
You’re planning something.
I can see it in your face.”

“Nothing that concerns you
.
J
ust a charm offensive, that’s all.
Now if you’ll excuse me,” Alistair said, fingering his lace jabot.
“I think it’s time I asked the lovely lady to dance.”

Anna spotted the proud figure of Alistair Grant walking purposely toward her.
She scanned the crowded room for Luke and Morag,
but they were nowhere in sight.

“
B
other,” she mumbled, and pasted on what she hoped was a welcoming smile.

“Anna, my dear,”
Alistair
said
and kissed her cheek.
“You look especially lovely tonight.”

“Thank you.
And thank you for the invitation.”

“You’re welcome.”
A smile tipped the corner of his mouth.
He leaned closer and whispered in her ear.
“I’ll let you into a secret.
I had an ulterior motive in as
king you to come this evening.”

An unwelcome blush crept into her cheeks.
“Oh?
And what might that be?”

“I wanted to spend the whole evening dancing
w
ith you.”

“That’s rather unfair to the other ladies present.”

“Perhaps, but as most of them are middle-aged married women, I daresay they won’t mind.
Besides, none are as pretty as you.
Ah, a waltz.
I think this dance is mine.”
He put his arm around her waist and led her on to the dance floor.

“Now tell me, how are you settling back into village life?”

“I’m getting used to the slower pace.
There are certain things I miss, such as the big grocer
y
stores.
Mrs
.
McCloud does her best, but it’s not like shopping at
Tesco
.”

“I wouldn’t know about that.
I leave such tedious details to my housekeeper.
Surely, y
ou miss the theatre
and restaurants.
My favourite is still that little Italian on Leith Walk, Villa Rugiada, although I’m also rather fond of Etienne’s, the new French Bistro at the side of the Caledonian Hotel.”

“I’ve never been to either,” Anna replied, remembering how little
her
lecturer’s salary affor
ded her after she paid rent.

“No matter.
A beautiful young woman like you should be treated to such luxuries.
You never know
,
I may be the one to take you.”

“I’m perfectly happy with wh
at the hotel serves, Alistair.”

He snorted.
“I wouldn’t exactly call it haute cuisine.
Dog food, perhaps
—
”

“
Alistair, y
ou are such a snob
.
”

“No, my dear, I’m not.
However, I do
like
to be able to wine and dine a beautiful woman in style, rather than in the public bar of a two star hotel.”

“Which happens to be
your
two-star hotel, Alistair
, or h
ave you forgotten?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Then why don’t you upgrade the restaurant to Michelin Star standard?”

“You know, I’
ve
never thought about that.
What a good idea.
I knew I’d made a wise decision in renewing our friendship.
Have you thought any more about
my invitation to have
dinner with me?”

Anna thought about his offer for a stanza.
“Oh, dear, how can I say this without offending you?
It’s very kind o
f you to ask me again, but
no
.”

“I see.
Are you sure I can’t change your mind?”
He bent and kissed the soft skin
between her neck and shoulders.

Anna pulled back.
She forced a superficial smile.
“Alistair, please don’t do that.
It
’s not...it’s not appropriate.”

Aware that Malcolm Fraser and his wife were beginning to take an interest in them, Alistair steered her into the
rhythm of the waltz once more.

“Anna, darling, think carefully before you turn me down.
I’m offering you a life of luxury
, this house
and a villa for the season on the Riviera.
That’s much more than
the
average man in the st
reet
can
give you.”

“Now you’re being conceited, Alistair, and that’s a trait I dislike in any man.
Besides, you’re forgetting the two most important things in any relationship.”

“I assume you’re talking about love and trust.”

“Yes. I am.
Don’t you want that?”

“Perhaps.
But men in my position often have other things to consider when choosing a wife.”

Wif
e?
The word shook her.
“You don’t know me.
I’m not the girl I was twelve years ago.”

“I
realize
that, my dear.
Y
ou’re sufficiently intelligent to see that a relationship such as I’m proposing could work.”

“Look, Alistair, you’re a good catch for the right woman.
I’m not her.
You need someone of your own social standing, someone who moves in the same circles as you
.
N
ot a lowly unemployed university lecturer.”

“I think that’s for me to determine.
And I happen to have determined that I want you.”

Perspiration collected on her forehead.
“Alistair, I’ve said all I’m going to on the subject.
No matter how hard you try to persuade me, the answer is still no.
Listen
,
the music has stopped.
The orchestra is taking a break.
I think it’s a good time for you too, don’t you agree?
Thanks for the dance.
It was nice seeing you again
.
”
She swirled away and left the dance floor.

Alistair caught her by the elbow.

“Now, now, Anna.
Please hear me.
I have real feelings for you.
Deep feelings.
Love and trust.
I’ve waited years to see you again.
Don’t push me aside so easily.”

“I’m not pushing you aside, Alistair.
I woul
d like to stay friends.
Just friends.”

“I can’t be just friends, Anna.
L
et’s talk it over away from all this.
I have a bottle of champagne chilling in my
study
.
No one will notice if we slip away for an hour.”

“Ouch!
You’re hurting my arm.
If you don’t let go of my arm this instant, I’ll…I’ll stamp on your foot! For the last time, Let. Me. Go!
”
She pushed him away from her.

Anna stormed off.
He followed.

Mackenzie MacKinnon leaned against the corner of the bar nursing a large whisky
,
his second of the evening, and watched the interplay between his employer and the redhead.
He could tell from her body language that whatever the Laird had said hadn’t gone do
wn
well.
He swigged down the contents of his glass and sign
alled the barmaid for a refill.

While he waited for his drink,
he scanned
the room for the American.
It took him a moment or two, but eventually he spotted him on the far side of the dance floor talking to some old bi
ddy with a feather in her hair.

There was something about the
guy
that set his teeth on edge.
He couldn’t say what it was, but instinct told him the guy was trouble.
F
or the moment at least, he was safely occupied.

He pulled out his cigarettes and felt in his jacket pocket for his matches.

“I’m sorry, sir, but you can’t smoke in here.
You’ll have to go outside.”
The barmaid
placed
a glass of whisky in front of him.

Mac nodded and put down his glass, then slipped out onto the terrace.
He’d only taken a few drags when Grant and the redhead appeared in the doorway.
He hastily stubbed the cigarette out lest the
telltale
glow from its tip gave his presence away, and quickly took cover behind a large statue.
As he listened to their muted conversation, it didn't take him long to
realize
that prissy Ms MacDonald was none too happy with the Laird’s seduction technique.
Hah!
Bloody hah!
It served the stuck u
p tosser right for thinking she woul
d be
interested in the likes of him.