Fergus reached to hold her hand. ‘In the early days of my parents’ marriage these Keltons – their great friends – fell on hard times. They had to sell their estate and my father bought some of the contents. Actually, rather a lot of the contents.’
‘But how come they fell out?’
‘I assume Jane’s father didn’t like the idea of his friend, my father, buying his things, carpet-bagging the estate they call it. I can understand. It would be difficult if you and me, darling, had to sell Auchen Laggan Tosh and Archie and Hilda bought a proportion of the contents. I don’t think we’d be able to go and stay with them ever again.’
This Archie and Hilda, I remembered they’d written the only letter of support for Fergus’s wind farm application. They are good (biased) friends.
‘No, no, of course not,’ said Zoe, stroking the back of her husband’s hand. ‘They’re pretty much our best friends, they’d never do that to us.’
‘One would hope not.’ Fergus leant back in his chair. ‘But my father did it to Jane’s father, and even worse, he paid very little for what he got.’
‘Did he realise that at the time?’
‘Unfortunately, I’m sure he knew. But Pa couldn’t resist a bargain. I doubt there was anything left for Jane in her father’s will.’
‘That’s awful,’ said Zoe, as if inheritance were all that mattered. ‘It’s hard to imagine being quite so cruel to a friend.’
‘It’s hard to imagine many things my father did in his lifetime.’ Fergus squeezed Zoe’s hand, as if reminding himself of a pact to lead a better life. ‘Susie,’ he said, ‘aristocratic families with histories like this can be hard to understand, but I want you to know Zoe and I are trying our very best to create a home at Auchen Laggan Tosh where our children can retain their innocence for as long as possible and grow up good people.’
I smiled.
He went on, ‘Do you know what…I’m not sure I really want to know what Jane was up to…’
‘But angel,’ said Zoe, ‘that’s awfully forgiving of you.’
He huffed, as if he’d heard this before. Zoe’s subtle way of calling him weak. ‘Jane’s father was treated badly by mine. Digging up Pa’s past is a can of worms. He was a selfish man and I never fully understood him. I don’t want to cause any more problems. We have enough on our plate managing Ewen’s jealousy. Please, darling, can we agree on this?’
‘Agree what? Jane has been up to something behind your back. You deserve to know the truth.’
My heart was beating fast. If they want to know more, it’s time they spoke to Jane. I’ve said enough. I don’t want to go behind her back.
Fergus stroked his wife’s hair. Her shoulders relaxed and she gave him a sympathetic smile. It was evident from her silence she understood her position in it all. Zoe’s married into this family, she has no right to captain her husband on issues from his past.
Fergus turned back and forth between us. ‘If Susie can reassure us no one has been hurt, she hasn’t had something stolen and there will be no repercussions for you and me, I think it’s best, Susie, if you keep the details to yourself. Jane deserves an apology from our family and if you think she has redeemed this then so much the better.’
I nodded. ‘No one has been or will be hurt and I’m pretty sure once Jane’s left you’ll never hear from her again.’
Zoe was nodding too.
Fergus stood up. ‘I’d like the three of us to leave this room, and never mention this again.’ He spoke fairly but firmly and Zoe didn’t attempt to go against him.
I’m mightily relieved. My conscience can rest. I’ll never ever mention it again.
Fergus thanked me and when Zoe stood up he held her hand. ‘Quite something to end my birthday with this.’
She gave him a peck on the cheek and all three of us headed for the door.
‘I’m going to go to bed,’ I said, feeling completely drained.
‘Night then, Susie,’ said Fergus.
‘I hope you sleep well,’ said Zoe.
‘Night, night.’
Oh my goodness, what a weight off my mind.
I grabbed my mobile and turned off the 2.30am alarm. I’ve been absolutely fast asleep. This week has worn me out. But I must get up, put some socks on. A jumper too and a spare one under my arm.
I turned on the torch and crept down the dark corridor – I cannot wake anyone up. I made it to the door of the Landseer wing without a sound and very carefully pushed the frame of the closest painting. The whole thing hinged open. I typed the number I’d seen Zoe put in and the box dropped open. Here was the key. I took it, closed everything back up and unlocked the door. Then I slipped into the room and locked it from inside.
I bent down and stuffed my spare jumper in the crack beneath the door. At a flick of a switch the picture lights came on and I turned my torch off. Alone and alert the stale smell hit me. A lack of air circulation – clearly the Muchtons never open the windows.
I went to touch the drawn curtains, to prove my point. Behind a fold of velvet, the blackout lining was speckled with mould. Already my eye is being drawn to things that don’t fit.
I looked down at my feet as I walked across the room. If there’s something on the floor I want to find it. I then craned my neck back and circled the ceiling. Rings of damp appeared where painted plaster had peeled. This neglected wing could do with a good blast of ventilation. Zoe really needs to read up on caring for an old house. Or let Mhàiri in here once in a while.
The pictures were stunning under the mounted lights. Far sharper than they were in natural light. I went to the
