by Anne Douglas
Roz, glancing quickly at her mother, saw that a shadow had crossed her face at Dougal’s words, and she hastily tried to talk of something else. Their day tomorrow, for instance. Chrissie had to go to work, but Flo and Roz were free.
‘What would you like to do?’ Roz asked her brother. ‘Anything special?’
‘Let’s decide tomorrow. I’m easy, anyway.’
‘So, how about a nightcap, then?’
‘By which you mean tea or cocoa?’ Dougal grinned. ‘Not something stronger? No, I’m only joking. Cocoa’s fine.’
He stretched out his legs and gave a satisfied sigh.
‘It’s grand to be home, eh?’
‘Grand to have you,’ Flo said, rising from her chair and putting her hand on his shoulder. ‘Even if only for a weekend.’
‘It’s just begun, Ma! And we’ve the whole day tomorrow.’
‘We’ll make the most of it,’ said Roz.
Twenty-Six
They had a splendid time on Saturday – Flo, Roz and Dougal – not going anywhere out of the ordinary, just sightseeing, almost like tourists, in the famous parts of Edinburgh they hardly ever visited. The Princes Street Gardens, the castle, the Royal Mile – even Logie’s, the rather grand department store, where Dougal treated Flo and Roz to a light lunch surrounded by so many Edinburgh ladies he had to smile.
‘Makes a change from the pub, eh? But it’s time I gave you two a treat. Just wish Chrissie hadn’t had to work today.’
‘Aye, but can you afford to treat us?’ Flo asked anxiously. ‘Army pay for new recruits canna be much.’
‘I’ve saved a bit, Ma, and I wanted to do something for you and Roz. You’ve been grand to me, and that’s a fact.’
‘Think so?’ Flo lowered her eyes. ‘Maybe I took my time understanding what you wanted, but you know how it was?’
‘No need to say any more,’ he told her earnestly. ‘That’s all behind us. But listen, what d’you want to do now? I wouldn’t mind going back to the castle to look at the National War Museum, but maybe you’d like to go home?’
‘I think I will, Dougal. I do feel a bit tired. But you and Roz can go. I’ll have a wee rest.’
When they had seen their mother on to her tram, Roz and Dougal made their way back to the castle, which housed the National War Museum of Scotland as well as regimental collections, the famous old Mons Meg gun and various gun batteries – all too much for Flo to spend time on but of interest to Dougal.
‘And you know, I feel dead ashamed,’ he told Roz as they began to look round at the military exhibits. ‘I’ve lived here all my life, but this is the first time I’ve looked at this stuff. I’m glad I’m seeing it now.’
‘Me too. I suppose it’s the same old story – when you live in a place, you’re the last to visit the sights.’
Roz dropped into a seat and fanned herself with her handkerchief, for the day was hot and the museum crowded. ‘Too many people,’ she murmured, ‘and when the festival begins it’ll be worse than ever.’
‘Canna think why we need a festival,’ said Dougal, also mopping his brow. ‘But I’ll not be here to see it, anyway. How about a cup of tea? There’s a café somewhere or other.’
‘I think we do need a festival,’ Roz remarked, reflecting on the annual Edinburgh International Festival begun in 1947 by Rupert Bing, an opera man. ‘We’re a great city – we should be on the map.’
‘With Culture with a capital C, eh?’ asked Dougal, laughing and pulling her to her feet. ‘Come on, let’s get that tea.’
Over the tea, he fixed her with his clear blue eyes and bent towards her. ‘How about filling me in on your young man?’ he asked lightly. ‘Did I hear Chrissie saying he was your boss?’
‘I don’t think I want to talk about him,’ Roz answered, taking a small cake.
‘Why not? He’s a lawyer, eh? You’ve done well to land him.’
‘Land him?’ she cried, her eyes flashing. ‘I haven’t landed him, Dougal. What a thing to say. We’ve only been out together a couple of times.’
‘But you’re keen, I can tell, and I bet he is, too. I don’t see why you shouldn’t talk about him.’
‘Because it’s not the sort of thing that would be approved of at Tarrel’s – I mean, folk who work together getting, well, friendly.’
‘You mean more than friendly, eh? Bad for their work?’ Dougal shrugged and ate a cake almost in one bite. ‘I expect it happens all the time. That’s why some men fall for their secretaries.’
‘Oh, don’t!’ Roz exclaimed. ‘You make it sound so – underhand. Look, I said I didn’t want to talk about it. Maybe we’d better be getting back now.’
‘Right you are.’ Dougal stood up, ready to pay the bill, but Roz was before him.
‘I’ll get this – you paid for our lunch.’
Outside, in the warmth of the afternoon, she put her summer hat over her dark red hair and turned to give Dougal a long, serious look. ‘Do you think things’ll work out, Dougal? Between Chrissie and this Richard?’
‘Don’t see why not.’
‘It’s just that she’s so sure of him, it worries me. I don’t know why, but I have the feeling that he’s not as keen as she is.’
‘Why, that’s a piece o’ nonsense, Roz. You can’t know that. Have you even seen him?’
‘Sure I have. Chrissie fixed up a meeting at Café Sunshine – after he’d made an excuse not to come to our flat.’
‘One meeting – you can’t know what’s in his mind from that. Ma thinks he’s ideal.’
‘Oh, I know. The perfect gentleman.’
‘Well, how’s she feel about your lawyer, then?’
‘She hasn’t met him yet.’ Roz’s smile was suddenly radiant. ‘If she does, I can tell you, she’ll be bowled over!’
As they began to walk down the steep road from the castle, Dougal grinned. ‘Like someone else I know, not a hundred miles from here.’
At which, Roz knocked his arm and told him to shut up, laughing all the same.
Oh, it was so nice having him back, she thought – if only the weekend weren’t so short! But time moved on, however you might want to hold it back, and after a pleasant, leisurely Sunday morning, when Dougal had his wish and had a long lie in, there was just the family dinner to enjoy before he had to be on his way.
‘Lovely bit o’ beef,’ he told Flo, when he came to kiss her goodbye. ‘Och, it’s been grand, Ma, being back!’
‘It was Roz who sweet-hearted the butcher for the beef,’ Flo told him, ‘and I was lucky to have an egg, eh? For your Yorkshire pudding!’
She’s doing well, her girls thought, watching her give Dougal a last hug, not crying yet, though there were tears in her eyes. Just as long as she didn’t relapse into depression once he’d gone. At least she’d seen how well he was, and enjoying army life, even if he’d been glad to have his weekend at home. Peacetime was not the same as wartime, you had to agree.
When he’d embraced them all a second time and said he’d be back in no time, they had to watch him leave for the station again on his own, waving to him until he was out of sight, then turning back to what seemed a very quiet flat.
‘Don’t worry, Ma,’ said Chrissie, putting her arm round Flo’s shoulders. ‘He’ll be back soon, and look how well he is!’
‘Aye, he’s fine – for now.’ Flo managed a smile. ‘It was good to see him, eh?’
‘Very good,’ the sisters agreed. ‘And you’ll be all right, Ma.’
‘Maybe I will. Think I’ll just have a lie down, though. I feel so tired – don’t know why.’
‘Thank goodness,’ Roz whispered when their mother had left them. ‘I think we needn’t worry this time. What are you going to do now?’
‘I’m meeting Richard. We’re going for a walk. What about you?’
‘Oh, I’ll do my usual – tidying up – ironing – mending …’
And think of Jamie, she thought, smiling to herself. Wonder if he’s bought that car yet?
Twenty-Seven
Jamie was standing at Tarrel’s open door when Roz arrived on Monday morning. He took her hands and held her surprised gaze with laughing eyes. ‘Oh, it’s good to see you! I’ve been waiting here for hours – well, five minutes.’
As she opened her mouth to speak he put his fingers over her lips.
‘Now don’t tell me you’re not late – of course you’re not. There’s no one here yet.’
‘Thank goodness for that,’ said Roz, looking past him to the reception desk. ‘I can just imagine what Norma would say if she could see us now.’
‘Never mind about Norma. Come and see what I’ve bought.’
‘Jamie, you haven’t!’ Roz’s eyes were sparkling.
‘I have. I’ve got the car. Bought it at the Saturday auction and it’s a little beauty. Quick – come and see it – just at the kerb here.’
He rushed her outside on to the pavement where, parked by the kerb as he’d said, was a dark blue car, very well polished, very neat, very smart, looking exactly like what Jamie’d wanted – something owned and loved by one careful owner.
‘Oh, Jamie!’ Roz breathed. ‘It’s lovely! What make is it?’
‘Austin Eight Light Saloon. Very reliable, and practically nothing on the clock. Of course, it’s been up on blocks for the whole of the war and the lady who had it has now given up driving.’
Jamie was taking out keys and opening the door. ‘Like to sit in?’ he asked. ‘Quick, before people start arriving!’
Roz, glancing round and seeing nobody, quickly seated herself in the passenger seat, smiling delightedly as she looked first through the windscreen, then back at Jamie, who was hovering about like a mother hen with a chick.
‘Like it, Roz?’ He rubbed at a tiny spot on the side window.
‘Oh, I do, Jamie! It’s a lovely car. I never thought you’d find one so good.’
‘Cost me more than I’d expected, but I’ve been saving up for years for something like this and it’s worth every penny. Better hop out now and I’ll lock up.’
Just in time, Roz left her seat, for Mr Newman had appeared round the corner, his eyes showing unusual interest as he saw the blue car at the kerb.
‘Well, well, what have we here? Something new for you, Mr Shield?’
‘That’s right. I was just showing it to Miss Rainey.’
‘Looks in good condition.’
‘Best I’ll get at this time, I think.’
‘And it’s an Austin Eight? Now, I’ve got a Wolseley. Does quite well …’
Who’d have thought it? Roz was smiling. Mr Newman had an interest outside work?
‘I’d better go and collect the post,’ she told the two men, now deep in car talk.
Jamie waved his hand. ‘Right you are, Miss Rainey.’
‘Hey, what’s going on?’ asked Norma, arriving at the same time as Miss Calder. ‘Ooh, is that yours, Mr Shield? What a smart car!’
‘Very nice,’ said Miss Calder, ‘but I think I hear the telephone ringing, Miss Ward.’
‘Just going!’ cried Norma, flying into the hall, followed by Miss Calder and, more reluctantly, Mr Newman and Jamie. New acquisition or not, work called, and no one wanted to be still outside on the pavement when Mr Banks arrived. Meanwhile, Roz was already in the property department, waiting for Jamie.
As soon as he came he shut the door and came to take her in his arms and quickly kiss her. ‘Ah, Roz, did you miss me over the weekend?’
‘I did, but I bet you didn’t miss me!’
He stepped back, shaking his head. ‘I did! All the time I was looking at cars, I was thinking of you and which one you’d like. When I got the Austin, I was thinking of our first drive together and where we’d go.’
‘Oh, Jamie,’ she said softly. ‘It’ll be so lovely!’
But as he made to kiss her again, she firmly pushed him away. ‘Didn’t you say that in the office we were going to be beyond reproach?’
‘Oh, God, did I say that? It’s going to be pretty difficult.’
‘It’s the way it has to be, Jamie. Don’t make it even harder.’
He moved to his desk and sat down, sighing. ‘Roz, you’re wonderful. You hold me to what I promised. So, here goes, let’s get to work.’
‘Let’s,’ she agreed. ‘So, there’s the post on your desk and I can tell you that you have a valuation trip this morning and another one this afternoon. Want the details?’
‘Think I know them. But does this mean we’ve no houses to see together?’
‘Not today. I’ve got plenty to do here, while you’re out.’
‘How about this evening, then? Can we go out this evening? I’m talking about our first trip in the car.’
‘Oh, Jamie, so soon?’ Roz’s face was alight. ‘Where shall we go? And when?’
‘How about I pick you up at your home at seven and we’ll take it from there. All right?’
‘All right!’
He gave another long sigh. ‘Now we’ve fixed that I can really concentrate on work. Beyond reproach, that’s me!’
‘Me, too,’ sang Roz, going into her office and taking the cover off her typewriter. It was true, she had plenty to do and, like Jamie, really felt she could settle down to it, now that she knew she would be seeing Jamie after work. And in the car!
Twenty-Eight
He was prompt, but she was waiting for him when he drove up in the warmth of the summer evening and leaped out to take her hand.
‘Roz, you look amazing!’ he cried, his eyes going over the new green dress she’d recently bought in the sales, and she laughed.
‘Almost as good as your car?’
But she knew she was looking her best, the slim-fitting new dress showing off her slenderness, its colour contrasting with her dark red hair.
‘You’re both equally perfect,’ he told her, opening the passenger door. ‘No, I mean it. But hop in, then, and I’ll tell you where we might go. It’s a lovely evening, just right for our first drive.’
‘You’ve already decided where we’re going?’
‘If you agree. Thing is, I’ve bought myself a book on the Forth area and there’s a whole load of interesting places to see, but I thought this one for a start.’
Reaching into the glove pocket, Jamie produced a guide book and, flicking over the pages, found what he was looking for.
‘See, this is it – Blackness. It’s a little village about five miles from South Queensferry, but it has an ancient castle, a fortress that I’d really like to see. Have you been there?’
‘No, but I know about it.’ Roz studied the picture of the castle, an ancient-looking building perched on a promontory over the sea. ‘The castle’s the main place of interest there, I think, but you won’t be able to go round it now.’
‘Oh, I know, but we can look at the outside, walk by the sea, have a drink at the pub. And there is a pub. What do you say?’
‘I say yes, please.’ Roz sat back in her seat, sighing with pleasure, as Jamie switched on the car’s engine. ‘It’s so nice, I just want to drive out anywhere.’
‘With me?’
‘With you.’
Dominated by the massive Forth railway bridge, looking splendid in the evening sunshine, South Queensferry was full of visitors strolling round, or sitting on benches outside the pubs and cafés, almost tempting Jamie to stop.
‘Looks so inviting, eh? But Blackness it is, and I guess it won’t be so crowded.’
‘And less likely to have folk from Tarrel’s visiting,’ Roz remarked. ‘Remember, we don’t want to see them, do we?’
‘You mean we don’t want them to see us. But stop worrying about people from work, Roz. We’re out together, on our own, we’re free! And in our own transport. There’s nothing to worry about.’
‘Sorry, I won’t mention them again.’ Roz gave another contented sigh. ‘You know, I can’t believe I’m really here. Bowling along to Blackness – it’s just so different from what I usually do. I feel I must be dreaming.’
Blackness village turned out to be very small – just a few houses, a harbour, a pub, a boat club, and, some way away from the nearest house, the castle. A long, narrow, brooding edifice, described in Jamie’s guidebook as a ‘ship that never sailed’ because of its shape, it was certainly the dominant feature of the village and as dramatic as he had expected.
‘Wish we could have got to look round it,’ he murmured as they stood as close as they could to its entrance gates. ‘It’s just how you imagine a castle to be, a proper fortress, eh? And there must be wonderful views of the bay from that promontory.’
‘It might have been a fortress, but I seem to remember hearing it was damaged by Oliver Cromwell,’ said Roz. ‘Seemingly, he damaged an awful lot of places when he invaded Scotland.’
‘One of the ruins Cromwell knocked about a bit, eh?’ Jamie laughed. ‘According to my book, it’s been everything – a residence, a prison, an armament store – but it’s been repaired and people can look round it now so I’ll have to come back for another visit. For now, though, let’s walk a bit, shall we?’
It was very pleasant, strolling beside the sea wall, looking out on the wide expanse of the bay where a few sailing boats were moving through the evening calm, and though they were not alone, Roz and Jamie saw no one they knew and walked together naturally, arm in arm.
‘Fancy a drink?’ asked Jamie as they reached the pub. ‘We can sit outside, if you like.’
‘I wouldn’t mind a lemonade.’
‘I’d better have the same, seeing as I’m driving.’ Jamie looked back to where he’d parked the car. ‘Hope it’s all right. I’m already beginning to worry someone might steal it.’
‘Why, you locked it!’
‘Ah, but you don’t know how car thieves operate. They’ve got all sorts of tricks. Come on, let’s have that drink.’
‘And get back to the car?’ asked Roz, amused.
