A Rose Petal Summer

by Katie Fforde

  ‘No, we need you.’ He looked longingly at the brandy. ‘Better not. We have to leave here at four.’

  ‘The hire car is in my name,’ said Caro, ‘and I’ll drive. But how will we get it back?’

  ‘We will do that,’ said Pascal. ‘It will not be a problem. Leave your car here. I will drive you to meet Laure’s father tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Pascal!’ Caro protested. ‘We can’t let you do that!’

  Pascal put his hand on Caro’s. ‘Caro, I insist. Please. Let me do this for you and Alec.’

  Caro looked at Alec. ‘That is extremely kind,’ he said. ‘If you really don’t mind.’

  ‘It will give me a good, early start to my day,’ Pascal said firmly, putting an end to further argument.

  ‘So, Alec,’ said Amalie. ‘Have some brandy after all. You probably need it.’

  Alec smiled in gratitude and took the proffered glass. ‘I rang Lennie,’ Alec said to Caro. ‘Murdo’s in hospital, unconscious. But Lennie is in an awful state. Not sure why. It’s so unlike her. She’s usually so pragmatic and calm.’

  ‘It’s normal, no?’ said Laure. ‘Her beloved papa is ill. I would be devastated.’

  Alec nodded. ‘My father is very old. He was old when he became a father. My sister is prepared for him to die, we both are. There is something else.’

  Caro woke every hour until it was time to get up, conscious of Alec sleeping next door, wishing they could have been together, knowing they’d have been completely distracted by Murdo’s situation if they had been.

  They met at the top of the staircase so early it felt like the middle of the night. He took her overnight bag from her and they went downstairs.

  Pascal was in the kitchen. ‘Coffee,’ he said.

  Caro put several spoonfuls of sugar in hers, so she could cope with the fuel-oil strength of it. But she felt brighter afterwards. Five minutes later they were in the car, speeding towards the private airfield where Laure’s father kept his plane.

  Caro could have done with the flight from Paris to Birmingham being a bit longer. She’d only just got to sleep when it started to land. She appreciated having Alec with her though so she could just follow him to the departure gate and not have to work out where to go when they finally arrived at Glasgow.

  Lennie was waiting for them at arrivals. She wasn’t exactly distraught any more, but she fell into her brother’s arms and let Alec hug her. She didn’t seem able to stop talking once she’d started. ‘Caro! Thank God you’re here! You’ll be so useful! Apart from Dad, Skye’s kicking off. It’s been hell! There’s lots I have to tell you, Alec, but we’ll go to the hospital first.’

  ‘Just put me out of my misery,’ said Alec from the passenger seat when they were all in the car and on the way to the hospital. ‘Is Murdo actually dying?’

  ‘Not necessarily but, frankly, he’s not the reason I’m so worried. I’ve had these really strange phone calls.’ She sighed deeply and shook her head as if trying to make sense of things.

  This was not the confident, in-control woman Caro had met in London.

  ‘So, who’s been calling?’ said Alec. ‘Was it one person calling more than once, or more than one person?’

  ‘Two people.’ Lennie stopped speaking as she negotiated the traffic. ‘Actually, can we have this conversation when we get to the hospital?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Alec.

  ‘I know how worried you must have been,’ said Lennie, sending her brother a sympathetic glance. ‘And I wouldn’t have dragged you back from France, but I didn’t know what else to do.’

  ‘You did right to get us back,’ he said. ‘You shouldn’t have to cope with this on your own.’

  At last they found a space in the hospital car park and parked. Lennie breathed deeply, trying to get herself together. ‘OK, the phone calls. Well, the first one was from the man we sold the lochan land to.’

  Alec nodded. ‘Richard Percy. What did he say?’

  ‘He left a message. It said, “I hope there aren’t going to be the same problems with this lot of land you’re selling that there were with the last lot.”’

  ‘But we’re not selling any land,’ said Alec.

  ‘It seems we are because someone else called about it. I spoke to them directly and this man – I’ve got his name written down at home – said he didn’t want to ring the mobile number the agent gave because he wanted to check the land was actually ours.’

  ‘I can’t believe this! So how did you deal with that?’ asked Alec.

  Lennie shrugged. ‘I was non-committal and said my brother was dealing with any land sales.’ She paused and made a face. ‘I think I managed to stall him but we really need to sort this out.’

  ‘Of course, and we will,’ said Alec. ‘But what about Dad?’

  ‘I really don’t know much. As I said, to begin with it was him I was worried about but now I’m more worried about this land business, although when I let myself think about it I get in a panic about him, too. I think he’s been targeted, scammed in some way by some sort of fraudster. I think it’s because it’s now known that he’s not in charge.’

  ‘He’s been retired for a while though, surely?’ said Caro.

  ‘Yes, but he’s always kept a firm hand on the tiller, as he’d say,’ Lennie said. ‘His was the ultimate word that made things happen – or more often stopped things happening.’ She paused. ‘But not now.’

  There was a long silence before Alec said, ‘I need to sort this land thing.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Lennie. ‘But don’t you want to see Dad first?’

  ‘If he’s lying there unconscious, I think I should stop our land being sold without us being aware it’s for sale. It’s the best thing I can do for him.’

  Lennie began to protest against her brother’s practical approach.

  ‘I tell you what I suggest,’ said Caro before brother and sister could start to argue. ‘Why don’t I go and sit with Murdo and make sure no one can get at him, while you sort out the land issue? It shouldn’t take you long, after all. All you need to say is that the land isn’t for sale; there’s been some mistake. Then you can shoot back in here to be with Murdo.’

  ‘We also need to find out who’s put it up for sale,’ said Lennie, ‘and why they think they can.’

  ‘It’s something to do with Frazer,’ said Alec.

  Lennie frowned. ‘Really? He always seemed so fond of Dad.’

  ‘You know how I always felt about him,’ said Alec grimly.

  ‘So, shall I go and sit with Murdo then?’ said Caro brightly, interrupting, trying not to sound as if she’d been up since 4 a.m. and hadn’t really slept before then.

  ‘That would be amazing,’ said Lennie. ‘If you hold the fort until we get back to hospital I won’t need to worry about the old reprobate.’ She sounded suddenly tearful.

  ‘You need a bit of rest,’ said Caro. ‘I’ll go and find Murdo so you can relax. Alec will sort out what’s going on with the land.’

  Although as she walked across the car park to the hospital she was aware that nothing was ever that simple.

  By telling the nurse that she was related to Murdo, a process aided by Lennie having phoned from the car and saying something similar, Caro was directed to Murdo’s room. He was in a side ward on his own. He had tubes attached to him but he looked very peaceful.

  Caro sat down in the chair, wishing she’d brought a book with her. Then she closed her eyes and the next thing she knew, she was being wakened from sleep by a noise.

  There was a man at the foot of Murdo’s bed. He was reading Murdo’s chart but Caro instantly knew he wasn’t medical. She decided not to move or say anything. She kept her eyes very nearly closed so she could watch him.

  The man read the chart and then put it back. Then he turned to Caro. ‘I know you’re awake but who are you? And before you try to prevaricate, I know you’re not really family.’

  She had to think quickly. ‘I could ask you the same thing.’


  She knew it was the Frazer Neal they’d been talking about but she needed him to tell her that.

  ‘I asked first,’ he said, not admitting anything.

  ‘I work for the family sometimes,’ she said. She was gratified to notice that he seemed to relax a little on hearing this.

  ‘Me too. Rum lot, aren’t they? Murdo could have started the stereotype about Scotsmen being mean.’

  Caro suppressed her instinct to stick up for Murdo and just nodded. Frazer wasn’t going to reveal anything if he thought she was on the family’s side. ‘So, who are you? You didn’t say.’

  ‘I used to work for them too. Got on really well with the old man’ – he indicated Murdo, lying motionless in the bed – ‘in spite of his tight-fistedness. It was all going swimmingly until the son came back from wherever he was and I had to leave. The son was jealous. I got on well with Murdo and he didn’t.’

  Caro nodded as if in agreement. ‘So you came back here because you heard Murdo was ill?’

  Frazer nodded. ‘We were very close, as I said.’

  ‘You wanted to say goodbye? Before he died?’

  He almost laughed as if this was a ridiculous idea. ‘We weren’t that close!’

  ‘So why did you come back? And did you tell me what your name was? I’m Caro, by the way.’ She knew Alec had gone to find Frazer and ask him to visit, but she’d never asked if he’d been successful. But Murdo obviously felt that they were very close. It made Caro angry to think about it but she was careful to keep her expression bland.

  He studied her, making her aware of her travel-stained jeans, her make-up that had been applied in the pre-dawn, skimpily at that, and she added this to the list of reasons to dislike and distrust him. ‘I’m Frazer Neal.’ He held out his hand, which forced Caro to get up and shake it. ‘You know, it looks like we’ve got a few things in common. Do you fancy a drink when you’ve got some time off?’

  She didn’t fancy a drink and was fairly sure he didn’t fancy her, but possibly he needed her, which was more interesting.

  She nodded. ‘It would be nice to spend time with someone who isn’t part of the McLean clan, but I’m not sure when I’ll be free.’

  He pulled out a business card. Caro got the impression he was the sort of man who’d have a handy business card concealed in his Speedos, while waterskiing, just in case. ‘Give me a call.’

  She put the card in her jeans pocket. ‘I will.’ She managed a smile but it was an effort. Then she looked at her watch. ‘I’m not sure when I’ll be relieved – I’m just here to let the family know as soon as Murdo wakes up.’

  ‘Are they expecting him to wake up?’

  ‘Oh yes,’ said Caro, hoping what she said was true. ‘They just don’t want him to be alone when he does.’

  ‘So you’re not here guarding him?’ Frazer tried to look quizzical but didn’t quite pull it off.

  It was Caro’s turn to make derisive noises. ‘No! Why on earth would he need guarding? He’s not a drugs tsar or a spy. What bad thing could happen to him? He’s in a hospital!’

  Frazer nodded slowly. ‘I’ll be off then.’ He walked to the door and then turned back. ‘Don’t forget to call me.’

  The moment she was certain Frazer was well out of earshot, she called Alec. When she had finished telling him about her encounter with Frazer, he pondered for a moment and said, ‘Could you bear to have a drink with him? Much as I hate the thought. He might tell you what he’s up to which would be really useful.’ He sighed. ‘I wouldn’t ask you if there was any other way of finding out what we need to know.’

  ‘Of course. It’s only an hour or two out of my life after all.’ It seemed little enough when the family was in such difficulties. ‘Is everything else OK at home?’

  ‘Not really. Skye is kicking off. Rowan wants to stay in London so they’ve been screaming down the phone at each other. And you must want to have a shower and change your clothes.’ He paused. ‘I’ll come in with Lennie and she can drive you home, then you can rest a bit.’

  They disconnected but after a few moments’ thought, Caro realised that the logistics of Alec’s plan wouldn’t work. It was too far for her to return to Glen Liddell and then go all the way back into Glasgow. If she was going to have a drink with Frazer tonight, it would be far better for her to stay in town.

  She rang Lennie and told her about the plan. Lennie was horrified. ‘Caro! You can’t have a drink with that awful man!’

  ‘I don’t desperately want to, but I might be able to find out a lot of useful information. So I wonder if you could bear to lend me some clean jeans and a top? I think we’re more or less the same size.’

  ‘I do see it would be easier than you going backwards and forwards,’ Lennie agreed. ‘I’ll see if I can find something.’

  The same size they might have been but not the same sartorial style. But as long as she felt reasonably clean, Caro didn’t really care. At least she had all her make-up with her.

  Caro made the call to Frazer while she was waiting for Lennie. Frazer was very happy to be contacted and even happier when Caro suggested meeting up later that evening. ‘I don’t know when else I might be free,’ Caro had explained.

  ‘I’m glad you’re keen to work with me. You could be just the person I need right now,’ he said, having told her the name of a bar.

  Caro hadn’t realised she was ‘keen to work with him’ but supposed it must look like that from his point of view.

  Lennie arrived looking a lot better. ‘Alec sends his apologies. He wanted to come but was too tied up with sorting all this land-sale business. He’s upset about you having to have a drink with Frazer, too, but we agreed if you could bring yourself to, it was for the best.’

  ‘Did you manage to find me a pair of jeans to borrow?’ asked Caro tentatively. She wasn’t surprised when she saw Lennie suddenly look stricken.

  ‘I did,’ said Lennie, ‘but I left them behind. I’m so sorry!’

  ‘It’s OK,’ said Caro. ‘It’s not as if I care what he thinks of me.’

  Lennie brightened up. ‘I’ve found a lovely little B and B for you. It’s run by a friend of a friend and is top notch! I’ll take you there the moment I’ve had a word with the nurses about Murdo …’

  It was a lovely little B and B, as Lennie had promised, and the kindly landlady lent Caro an iron so she could wear the dress she took to France. It would be OK if she put a cardigan with it.

  As she ironed it, she couldn’t help thinking back to how she’d been feeling when she last put it on, about twenty-four hours earlier. Then she’d felt full of hope, of satisfaction for having done a good day’s work with Alec creating a beautiful perfume for a beautiful young woman. She had been in a beautiful chateau in a beautiful part of France. All she’d had to worry about was when Alec was going to take her by the hand and lead her off to bed.

  Now she was preparing to go out with a man who made her feel uncomfortable for so many reasons, and she couldn’t be rude to him either. She had to find out what was going on with the Glen Liddell Estate and why someone – probably Frazer – thought they were in a position to sell off chunks of it.

  The fact that Frazer was waiting for her at the bar felt like a good sign. He was more eager to meet her than she was to meet him, which gave her the upper hand and confirmed he needed her. What exactly he needed her for, though, remained to be seen.

  ‘Caro,’ said Frazer, getting up from his seat and kissing her cheek. ‘So glad you could make it.’

  ‘I suggested it, so here I am.’ Caro felt she should probably be flirtatious, pretend this was a date, but she couldn’t bring herself to. This was business.

  ‘Drink?’

  Caro rapidly calculated how long she might need to get the information she wanted. ‘A white wine spritzer, please.’ She thought having fizzy water on its own might look hostile. It was a sort of date after all.

  He ordered a whisky and they sat in silence until their drinks arrived. Caro wasn’t going to say anyt
hing she didn’t really need to say. She was going to give him every chance to show his hand.

  After they’d clinked glasses in a way Caro considered completely unnecessary, she looked at him over her glass.

  ‘Well, Caro!’ said Frazer, possibly a bit put out by her refusal to make small talk. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Having a drink with you?’

  ‘I don’t mean that, and you know it. Why did I find you by the bedside of Murdo McLean?’

  ‘Look,’ she said, dropping her frostiness in favour of something more confiding, hoping he’d confide too. ‘I’m employed to sit with Murdo while they wait for him to wake up. I need the work.’

  ‘And they’re expecting him to do that? To wake up?’

  Caro shrugged. ‘I should imagine so. They just don’t want him waking up and finding himself alone. I worked for him for a bit earlier in the year so he knows me. The family have put me in a bed and breakfast so I can be handy for the hospital.’

  ‘So you don’t know what’s going on at the estate?’

  Something about his manner gave the impression that he wanted her to know what was going on so she prevaricated. ‘Well, I am in their confidence up to a point. Are you still involved in some way?’

  ‘Yes and no,’ he said. ‘Let me get you another spritzer and I’ll explain. Or would you rather have some white wine on its own?’

  ‘A spritzer is fine, thank you.’ Let him drink whisky; she’d keep her own alcohol consumption to a minimum.

  ‘So, can you tell me what’s going on back at the house?’ he asked when he’d come back with the drinks.

  ‘Sorry, Frazer, but why should I?’ Caro tried to sound reasonable, as if she was willing to trade secrets. ‘If I give you information, what can you give me in return?’

  He seemed to assess her for a long time and not as a woman he might or might not fancy but as a man who was deciding whether or not to do business with the person in front of him.

  Caro kept her expression bland. She had no idea how someone who was willing to behave in an underhand way would look. Besides, she’d had a long day and this acting lark was quite exhausting.