Stuart wasn’t taking no for an answer. ‘I’ve been away this afternoon, yous sent me to pick up a roll of tweed fer the mill, but Donald just rang to say he saw lights doon by the river.’
‘Now?’
‘Maybe as much as an hour ago.’
‘Who was it?’
‘No idea. When he headed doon the drive he only just caught the tail lights of a car taking off.’
‘How odd.’ Zoe raised her hand to her chin. ‘We have had people coming and going so it must have been one of them.’
‘But Donald’s certain someone was at the riverbank. Said he could see the torch fer his window.’
‘Well, well, I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. We can discuss it further tomorrow, not now.’ Zoe, lady of the manor, had the upper hand.
‘Hmmm. Well. Right ye are then, I’ll drop in first thing. Make sure youse lock your doors tonight.’
‘As we always do, Stuart. I’ll come to you in the morning. First thing after breakfast.’
That was that. The man turned to leave and Zoe, without any further ado, burst into the sitting room. ‘Everyone,’ she announced as the door shut behind us, ‘this is Susie Mahl.’
Eight faces were staring at me from comfy sofas and chairs. The fire crackled, my legs wobbled, and all of a sudden I felt slightly sick.
‘Sweetheart,’ beckoned Zoe, although there was no need, as the Earl of Muchton had dropped his end of the conversation and crossed the room.
‘Susie, welcome, I’m Fergus.’ His firm handshake made up in strength what his overall appearance lacked. I think Zoe must wear the trousers in this house.
‘Thank you for having me.’
‘It’s wonderful to have you all here.’ Fergus’s gaze cast across the room and rested on his wife with a look of satisfied congratulation: at first glance it seemed they’d certainly assembled a remarkably diverse group.
Zoe, full of beans, touched my arm and whispered in my ear, ‘I’m terribly glad to see you’re in a polo neck. Some of these lot look distinctly unprepared.’
‘Right,’ said our hostess. ‘From left to right, let’s see if I can remember…This is Jane Atkinson…’
‘Silent “t”,’ said Jane, a hoity-toity woman with I’m-happy-post-menopause-letting-myself-go-a-bit written all over her ample figure. ‘You pronounce it A… kinson. I always think it’s better to put people straight from the beginning.’
‘Yes, of course, I am sorry.’ Zoe moved on. ‘Felicity Jennings, that’s right, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, hello, Susie,’ said Felicity, and Jane turned to give her a smile. I think these two come as a pair.
‘Hello, Miss Mahl,’ said a man getting up and marching across the room in a pair of red trousers so sharp on the eye they’d clearly been bought for the occasion. ‘I’m Rupert Higbert.’ His brash hand shook mine, after which he retired to stand next to Fergus.
‘Susie,’ said Zoe. ‘We must congratulate Lianne Madaki and Shane Taylor, two A-level students from London who won sponsored places on this week.’
‘Hiya, Susie,’ said Lianne, showing no signs of a chill despite her scantily clad figure.
‘All right, Miss Mahl.’ Shane gave me a cocky wink.
‘That’s great. Well done, you two. So clever.’
Zoe continued to the end of the group. ‘Araminta Froglan-Home-Mybridge and Giles Chesterton, another set of A-level students.’
I did well not to smirk at the name of the skinny girl with a dimple in her chin.
‘It’s lovely to meet you all,’ I said as the door behind me opened.
‘And…’ Zoe turned, ‘here he is, Louis Bouchon.’
Oooh – it’s a turn-up for the books to have male company of about my age.
Zoe smiled as if introducing an old friend. I wonder if Louis is here as a visitor, a student or both?
‘Hello, I’m Susie.’
‘Hello, Susie.’ This Frenchman’s handsome head gave a nonchalant nod as he passed by and settled in the one free armchair.
Fergus began, ‘As I have you all gathered, I’d like to run through a few things. Do take a seat, Susie. Here.’ He pulled a very unsteady-looking bamboo chair slightly out from the wall. I sat down, it collapsed, everyone laughed.
My goodness my bottom was sore.
‘I’m so sorry,’ I said, getting up.
Fergus offered his hand a fraction too late.
‘Don’t be,’ giggled Zoe, ‘it’s absolutely not your fault.’ She stretched out her foot and pushed the broken pieces into the skirting board.
‘Here.’ Louis tapped the arm of his chair and I crossed the room to perch my poor bottom next to him.
‘To continue,’ said Fergus, ‘I hope you’ve all brought the timetables we sent you. If not, Zoe can muster up a couple of spares.’
‘What’s muster, Mr?’ said Shane as Giles let out a snort.
‘I meant Zoe will get you another one. But that’s by the bye.’ Shane still looked confused. ‘What I want to say is, firstly, Zoe and I would like to welcome you all into our house and we do hope you will get a lot out of the forthcoming week. It goes without saying, we’re very lucky to have Susie Mahl here as our tutor.’ Fergus paused, I blushed, he then cleared his throat and continued. ‘This is a residency for all abilities and Susie is on hand to help you throughout. In a moment Zoe will take you round the layout of the house and show you all to your respective rooms. Following this you’re free to do as you wish until dinner; it’ll be in the dining room at eight.’
Fergus’s delivery was military to a T, literally – he must have had a spell in the armed forces. Quite a wise career move, between graduating and inheriting, if a non-negotiable future awaits. Why bother building a career if when Daddy dies you’ll have to chuck it in? Passing the time learning the skill of organising people and forming a solid group of front-line friends, all within an institution that represses independent thinking – what an advantage.
‘Do any of you have any questions?’ said Zoe, softening her husband’s tone.
No one said a thing and before you could catch a rabbit we were being whisked round the
