The Skylark's Secret, стр. 12

the twin counts of being a year younger and a girl. She remembered how he’d included her in the boys’ games, how he’d run over to back her up when she’d confronted Willie McTaggart over his bullying of Bridie, and how he’d picked her to be on his team for sports day. He and Ruaridh had been best friends during those carefree years, before Alec was sent away to prep school when he turned ten. And although their educational circumstances had separated them during term-time from that point on, the laird’s son and the keeper’s son had remained firm friends in the school holidays until the time came when Alec went off to university and spent his time at the family home in London or visiting friends in England in the breaks. Even though they’d drifted apart, the years seemed to fall away now that he was back.

‘Where are you headed?’ Alec asked.

‘Back to the jetty at Aultbea,’ replied Ruaridh. ‘I just managed to grab an hour ashore to come and see Dad and Flora. We sail tonight as escort to the Nelson.’

‘Well, that’s reassuring to know.’ Alec grinned. ‘I’ll be on board. You’re on one of the destroyers, are you? Fantastic. Hop in, we’ll give you a lift. Unless you’d rather walk, of course.’ He shot a look at Flora. ‘And you’re welcome to come, too, if you want. I know how precious time with family is.’

‘All right, and then I’ll stretch my legs on the walk back,’ she answered.

The Gordons climbed into the back of the car, which smelled of new leather.

‘I’m just running Diana back to Achnasheen to catch the train,’ Alec said.

‘Where is home for you, Miss Kingsley-Scott?’ Ruaridh asked politely.

‘Kensington,’ she replied. The flatness of her tone didn’t invite further questions.

There was a moment’s awkward silence and then Alec said, ‘Diana’s thinking of getting a job in the diplomatic service. Doing her bit for the war effort.’

‘Flora’s been knitting all afternoon, doing her bit, too,’ Ruaridh said.

Flora blushed with shame. It sounded very tame in comparison with ‘getting a job in the diplomatic service’.

As Alec drove she sat in silence, listening as the two men compared their experiences in the navy so far. They’d missed each other in Dartmouth, where Ruaridh had recently completed his signalman’s training soon after Alec had passed out from the Naval College as a sub-lieutenant assigned to the Home Fleet; and they must have overlapped at Portsmouth just last month, although their paths hadn’t crossed there among the melee of gathering ships.

On the headland before Aultbea, Alec pulled off the road and cut the engine, rolling down the window to let the sea air fill the car. In the sudden stillness, the four of them sat in silence, listening to the sound of the water’s quiet surge and the cries of the seabirds. For a few moments no one spoke. Diana tapped a manicured fingernail impatiently against the crocodile-skin handbag cradled on her lap.

Flora glanced across at her brother’s profile. The breadth of his shoulders was emphasised by the wide collar of his naval tunic and beneath his cap his sandy hair was cut short, making a stranger of him as he sat watching the distant bustle of activity in the loch.

She switched her gaze to Alec’s back. His shoulders were equally broad, but his cap lay on the back seat beside her and his straight black hair was ruffled by the breeze. The thought of them boarding their ships and facing the dangers out there on the cruel, unforgiving sea filled her with fear. She swallowed to try to relieve the tightness of her throat as she pictured them leaving the safe embrace of the hills surrounding Loch Ewe and heading northwards into the swell of the open sea. Blinking to clear the tears, she caught sight of the reflection of Alec’s smile in the car’s rear-view mirror. He was watching her watching them, his eyes still those of the childhood friend who had always been her champion and protector.

He turned to face her, resting his arm along the back of the driving seat. ‘How’s your father?’ he asked.

In the early years of his youth, Alec had spent more time with the keeper of the estate than he had with his own father. Sir Charles was only ever interested in shooting and fishing with the friends he invited up from London when he came north, and was very often absent from Ardtuath on business in England, leaving Lady Helen and his son to their own devices.

‘He’s well.’ Flora smiled back at him, suddenly conscious of the bagginess of the woollen gansey and the unruly, wind-blown strands of hair that had escaped from her braid. She tucked a wayward lock behind her ear. ‘Busy, now he’s doing the factor’s work, too, but he enjoys having charge of the estate, I think.’

When Sir Charles’s manager had left to join up a few weeks ago, Ruaridh and Flora’s father had quietly stepped in to keep everything running smoothly for Lady Helen in her husband’s absence.

Alec nodded. ‘Ma said he’s doing a great job. My father will be up again soon. Ma’s trying to persuade him to spend more time at Ardtuath. She worries for his safety down in London.’

A blast from a ship’s horn across the water made him turn to face straight ahead again.

‘Time we got going, I think,’ Diana said, pointing at the slim gold watch encircling her wrist.

With a nod, Alec turned the key in the ignition and reversed the car. They drove the final stretch to the jetty in silence and then Alec drew up alongside a pile of creels to let the Gordons out. He shook hands again with Ruaridh. ‘Be seeing you at the other end, then. It’ll be good knowing you’re not far off.’ At the same time, he turned and reached his left hand back towards Flora, mooring the three of them together for a moment. He gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze. ‘Keep