Heir To Glengyle

‘It was Amy’s request. Didn’t you hear her ask me to fix everything else?’ His tone had become bored.

Cathie’s jaw sagged slightly. ‘I didn’t realise she meant—’

‘You weren’t listening,’ he cut in acidly. ‘You were too busy thinking up bitchy remarks to fling at me.’

‘My oath—hark at who’s talking,’ she snapped indignantly.

‘Get in the car. I want to talk to you.’ He picked up her case and carried it through the wide entrance doors.

‘You mean you want to recount more Campbell atrocities?’ she panted, having to run to keep up with his long strides as he made his way towards the car.

‘Nothing of the sort,’ he retorted abruptly.

Slightly puzzled, she sat in silence while they made their way down the hill, then left the town to drive a short distance to where a factory made colourful paperweights. Baird parked the car, then led her into the showroom where she was allowed only a short viewing of the brilliantly coloured balls and shapes before being led back to the vehicle.

‘Amy will be pleased I’ve shown you this display,’ he remarked nonchalantly. ‘And it will account for the extra time we’ll be taking over the discussion I intend to have with you.’

Even more bewildered, she sat in the car staring straight ahead, waiting for him to begin.

He turned in his seat to face her, his brown eyes watching her intently for several moments before he said, ‘With regard to the hotel account—can you be gracious enough to accept it without fuss?’

‘But there’s no need—’

‘What has need to do with it? It is something Amy wanted to do because she wants you to be her guest. Is that too much for you to understand?’

‘I suppose not,’ she conceded reluctantly.

‘Nor is there any need for you to concern yourself about the expense. Financially, Amy is very comfortable. My grandfather saw to that fact by leaving her the interest from the Glengyle Estate. But you probably know that in any case.’

She felt he was watching her closely, so she ignored his last comment by saying, ‘I saw the name “Glengyle” over the door.’

‘He had numerous business interests, and when he died all his assets went into what became known as the Glengyle Estate. He liked the name because the famous—or infamous—Rob Roy MacGregor was born at Glengyle. You’ve heard of Rob Roy, I presume?’

‘Who hasn’t? But I’m amazed to hear you admit to the infamous aspect of him.’

‘We won’t go into that,’ he declared coldly.

‘I’ll bet we won’t,’ she snapped back at him. ‘Is this what you’ve brought me here to talk about?’

‘It is not. I want to talk about Amy. I want your help.’

Surprise caused her eyes to widen as she turned to stare at him. ‘Let’s get this straight. You’re asking a Campbell for help, Mr MacGregor?’

‘Yes, I am.’

‘I don’t believe I’m hearing this.’

His mouth twisted. ‘If you’d rather not hear it we can go home at once.’

‘I didn’t say that. So—how can I help you?’ She was now thoroughly curious.

‘I’d like you to pull your weight in persuading Amy to come to New Zealand for our summer. It would enable her to avoid the Scottish winter, which can be very cold.’

‘Far too cold for one who suffers from arthritis,’ she said with a feeling of sympathy for her great-aunt.

‘I’m glad you can see at least that much daylight,’ he observed, his tone ironic.

‘Thank you—you say the nicest things,’ she retorted sharply. ‘I had no idea I appeared to be somewhat dumb. It must be because I’m a Campbell,’ she added in a chilly tone.

‘No doubt it is,’ he agreed gravely. ‘And there’s something else—we must stop this continual bickering, because it’s starting to upset Amy. Heaven alone knows how it began.’

A bitter laugh escaped her. ‘You dare to ask that?’ she demanded incredulously. ‘How very typical—’

‘I mean I don’t know what the hell got into me. I know I’ve been most unreasonable—and I regret it.’

Cathie recalled Elspeth’s and Amy’s words, but without admitting where her ideas had come from she said, ‘I can guess what got into you. You were beset by ghosts of the past. They rose up out of the pages of your grandfather’s books. They leered at you—stabbing at you with dirks and daggers, and maddening you because you’re unable to do anything about it. They stirred up bitter hatred.’

For the first time he looked at her with real interest as he said, ‘You surprise me. You have more understanding than I’d have thought possible, especially in a woman.’

‘Again, thank you. You’re too kind.’

‘Then it’s agreed? We can be friends?’ he asked lightly.

She thought about it for several moments, but at last she shook her head as she said, ‘I doubt it, Mr MacGregor—I doubt it very much indeed.’

‘You sound quite adamant about it. Why is it so impossible?’

‘Because I know that you would never trust a Campbell. However, we can at least allow Amy to imagine we’re friends,’ she said guardedly.

Baird’s expression hardened. ‘But in the meantime you’ll reject my offer of friendship. Thank you very much.’

She turned to regard him frankly. ‘I can’t believe that friendship is what you really have in mind. To me it sounds more like a truce.’

‘A truce can be a temporary affair. I said friendship, and I meant friendship,’ he said in a tone that had become abrupt.

‘It takes two to be friends,’ she pointed out. ‘Nor am I in the habit of tossing real friendship about quite so lightly.’

‘But at least you’ll show a semblance of friendship for Amy’s sake,’ he persisted.

‘Yes—for Amy’s sake.’

‘Thank you.’

‘There’s no need to thank me. Amy is part of my family.’

‘Then will you accept this as a peace offering?’ he asked, extracting from his pocket a square object wrapped in tissue paper.

She took it from him, then removed the wrapping to reveal an attractive paperweight filled with brilliant colours that glittered and glowed. She had caught her breath over it in the showroom, but it had been too expensive for her to buy.