September

when you got home.' Her eyes were bright as sapphires, unblinking. 'She wanted me to meet you.' She was splendidly direct, with no beating about the bush. He decided to meet her challenge head-on.

'I imagine that she's explained the situation to you.'

'Yes, she has. I am entirely in the picture.'

'I'm glad. It will make things much easier for all of us.'

'Have they been difficult?'

'Not at all. But I think her conscience was troubling her.'

'Her conscience has always troubled her.'

'She's been a little worried about her family.'

'Her family means a lot to her. She's had a strange upbringing. It's left her in some ways quite mature, and in others still childlike.'

Noel wondered at her saying this. She must realize, surely, that he had already found that out for himself. He said, 'She didn't want anybody hurt.'

'She's asked me to tell her father.'

'I think that's a splendid idea. I have been urging her to do so.' He smiled. 'Do you imagine that he will appear at our door with a horsewhip?'

'I shouldn't think so.' Virginia reached for her handbag, took a cigarette and lit it with a gold lighter. 'He's not a man who gives way to his emotions. But I think that, as soon as possible, you should make his acquaintance.'

'It was never I who balked at the idea.'

She eyed him through the drifting smoke of her cigarette. 'I think it would be best if you were to come to Balnaid. Then we would all be around you, and Alexa would have a little moral support.'

He realized that he was being invited to stay. In that solid old Edwardian house with the dogs and the conservatory and the country all around. Alexa had spoken to him, with great enthusiasm and at some length, of the joys of Balnaid. The garden, the picnics, the small brother, the grandmother, the old Nanny. He had shown polite interest but not much more. It did not sound like a place where amusing things might happen, and Noel's greatest horror was to be trapped, a guest in another person's house, and bored.

But now, faced by Virginia Aird, he found his preconceptions of Balnaid doing a swift about turn. For this elegant and sophisticated woman, with her mesmerizing eyes and her charming suggestion of a transatlantic drawl, could never be dull. Perceptive enough to leave you alone with The Times, if that was what you wanted, but still the sort of hostess who could, on the spur of the moment, think up some new and amusing ploy or ask a party of entertaining friends around for an impromptu drink. His imagination moved on to other delights. There would probably be some fishing. And shooting, too. Although that wouldn't be much use to Noel because he had never shot. Nevertheless…

He said, 'How very kind of you to invite me.'

'It would be best if we kept it very casual… as though, for some reason, you were coming anyway.' She thought about this, and then her face lit up with bright inspiration. 'Of course. The Steyn-tons' dance. What could be more natural than that? I know Alexa is in two minds about coming, but…'

'She said she wouldn't go without me and of course I haven't had an invitation.'

'That's no problem. I'll have a word with Verena Steynton. There are never enough men at these affairs. She'll be delighted.'

'You may have to persuade Alexa.'

As he said this, Alexa came back into the room, bearing a pink-and-white jug in which she had loosely arranged Noel's offering. 'Are you talking about me behind my back?' She put the jug on the table behind the sofa. 'Don't those look lovely? You are kind, Noel. It makes me feel special, being brought flowers.' She fiddled with a stray carnation, and then abandoned the arrangement and returned to her seat in the corner of the sofa. 'Persuade Alexa to do what?'

'Come to the Steyntons' dance,' said Virginia, 'and bring Noel with you. I'll fix an invitation for him. And stay with us at Balnaid.'

'But perhaps Noel doesn't want to go.'

'I never said I didn't want to go.'

'You did so!' Alexa was indignant. 'The morning the invitation came you said tribal dances were scarcely your scene. I thought that was the end of the matter.'

'We never really discussed it.'

'You mean you would come?'

'If you want me to, of course.'

Alexa shook her head in disbelief. 'But Noel, it will be tribal dances. Reels and things. Could you bear that? It's no fun if you can't do them.'

'I'm not totally inexperienced. That year I fished in Sutherland, there was a hooley in the hotel one evening and we all leaped around like savages, and as far as I remember, I leaped with the best of them. A couple of whiskies are all I need to lose my inhibitions.'

Virginia laughed. 'Well, if it all becomes too much for the poor man, I'm sure there'll be a night-club or a disco, so he can go and smooch in there.' She stubbed out her cigarette. 'What do you say, Alexa?'

'There doesn't seem to be much for me to say. Between the two of you, you've fixed the whole thing up.'

'In that case, that's our little dilemma solved.'

'What little dilemma?'

'Noel casually meeting Edmund.'

'Oh. I see.'

'Don't look so miserable. It's the perfect plan.' She glanced at the clock, laid down her glass. 'I must go.'

Noel got to his feet. 'Can I drive you somewhere?'

'No. You're sweet, but if you could find me a taxi, that would be great…'

While he was gone on this errand, Virginia put her shoes back on, checked on her beautiful hairdo, reached for her scarlet jacket. Fastening the buttons, she caught Alexa's anxious gaze and smiled encouragingly.

'Don't worry about a thing. I'll make it okay for you before you've even set foot in the house.'

'But you and Fa. You won't still be having a row, will you? I couldn't bear it if there was a hateful atmosphere with the two of you being angry with each other.'

'No, of course not. Forget that. I shouldn't have told you in the first place. We'll have a great time. And your being there will cheer me up after poor Henry's gone to school.'

'Poor little boy. I can't bear to think about it.'

'Like I said, neither can I. However, there doesn't seem to be much either of us can do about it.' They kissed. 'Thank you for the drink.'

'Thank you for coming. And for being so marvellous. You… you do like him, don't you, Virginia?'

'I think he's dishy. You'll answer the invitation now?'

'Of course.'

'And, Alexa, buy yourself a peachy new dress.'

5

Thursday the Twenty-fifth

Edmund Aird drove his BMW into the car-park of Edinburgh Airport just as the seven-o'clock shuttle from London drifted down out of the clouds and lined up for landing. Unhurriedly, he found a slot for himself, got out of the car and locked the door, watching, as he did so, the approach of the plane. He had timed things exactly, and this gave him much satisfaction… Standing around and waiting, for any thing or anybody, filled him with impatience. Every moment of time was precious, and to fill in so much as five minutes kicking his heels and doing nothing caused him considerable frustration and anguish.

He walked through the car-park, crossed the road, entered the terminal. The aircraft, with Virginia on board, had landed. A number of people stood around, come to meet friends or relations. They were a mixed bunch and appeared to be either in a state of wild excitement or total unconcern. A young mother with three small children