"This is just magnificent," Caroline said, glancing around the room.
She grabbed Duncan's hand and held it beneath the table.
"It's been a perfect day. Thank you for all of this," she added.
"The day isn't over yet. Take a sip of that tea, it will help to warm you."
Caroline had been shivering on and off ever since they got back in the car. He looked to the grand fireplace at the far side of the room.
"We can always sit by the fire for a while, if that would help," he said, pointing with his free hand to the club chairs situated in front of the blaze.
"No, I'll be fine in a minute. It just got a bit breezy during our walk to the car."
Duncan did not want to let go of Caroline's hand, but he gently pulled his free and placed an arm around her, pulling her close and tucking her next to him, so their bodies touched.
"There," he said, "that should help." Then he added in a satisfied tone, "At least it helps me."
He shot her a mischievous smile and she stifled a laugh, nearly sputtering tea all over the table.
"Careful, we don't want a disaster here, in this beautiful hotel," she said, between giggles.
Duncan caressed her arm, occasionally giving her an affectionate squeeze. She still wore her coat and he found something about the soft fur irresistible.
"What's this jacket made of?" he asked.
"Why, do you want one?" Caroline asked, eyebrows raised in mock curiosity.
"I want what's in the coat," he answered before thinking.
Caroline blushed a deep pink and glanced away, saying, "It's mink."
An awkward silence fell between them as Duncan pondered the cost of a blue mink coat. He hoped he hadn't pressed his luck with that last comment. He decided the best thing to do was make conversation, fast.
"Tell me what's new in Taye. Was your drive uneventful today? How are Donald and Skye?"
Relieved to have something neutral to talk about, Caroline launched into an update with gusto.
"Skye is wonderful. She's been staying with me at the castle, so I saw her this morning. They are busy at the Inn with Christmas coming. Many in the village like to come there for dinner on the holiday. Poor Donald's arthritis has been acting up. It's difficult to see him in pain. I think he misses having you about, Duncan."
She paused and risked looking at him. Duncan smiled at Caroline fondly.
"What about your trip in?" he asked.
"Oh, that was fine. I hated to leave the pups this morning, but Julia is taking care of them, and Mrs. Charmicle promised she'd stop by to see them and text me updates. Julia is going to call me and let me speak to them on the phone," she said, looking at him again. "Don't laugh," she added, in response to the amused smile she saw on his face. "They'll want to speak to me!"
"I'm sure they will."
He wanted to give her another squeeze, but decided against it. He didn't want to scare Caroline off, and he was still worried that his earlier comment might have a negative effect on her.
"Oh, I have the most wonderful news! I nearly forgot to mention it."
"Do tell."
"I got a call this morning from a vintage automobile club. One of their members attended the Christmas party at the castle last week, and they want to book Castle Taye for their annual meeting this Spring! Isn't that wonderful? I think I'm on to something with these group events."
Duncan forced a smile. Something about the idea of her making a go of the Castle's business disappointed him. It was not that he did not want her to succeed, but Caroline living and working at Castle Taye was not how he envisioned their future.
"That's brilliant. Congratulations," Duncan said, trying to sound encouraging.
Any negative nuances in his voice were lost on Caroline as she chirped on, chatting about her plans for the car event. They finished their tea and she excused herself to freshen up in the ladies' room while Duncan paid the bill. They agreed to meet back in the lobby. He waited near the door. When he saw Caroline approach, he was still overwhelmed by her beauty. How did I end up with someone like her? Don't blow it, he told himself.
"Would you like to hit up some shops on the Royal Mile?" he asked.
Her face lit with an infectious smile. "I'd love to!"
"Good, let's leave the car here and stroll up the street a bit," he suggested.
They wove in and out of various tony shops amongst the Christmas Eve hordes. Everyone looked for a last minute gift, or clothing and accessories for themselves to impress their loved ones. Most of the people seemed like tourists visiting from the countryside or England. Duncan had already purchased a gift for Caroline, but she wanted to find something to give to his family as a token of her gratitude for including her in their celebrations. With his guidance, she settled on a box of sweets from a famous French chocolatier. He knew his mother admired the chocolates and their beautiful packaging. The shopkeeper placed the box, artwork in itself, into a festive bag tied with a tartan plaid ribbon, ready for gifting.
A little farther on stood Saint Giles Cathedral. Lights on a gigantic Christmas tree, placed in front of the cathedral for the holiday, flickered to life.
"Should we go inside?" she asked.
The crowd on the street seemed to be streaming into the kirk.
"Have you been in Saint Giles before?"
She shook her head No.
"Then you are in for a treat. Prepare to be overwhelmed."
Caroline stopped to admire the architecture before they worked their way on the cobbled path to the cathedral's entrance. The structure was inspiring. Saint Giles was topped by what appeared to be an airy stone crown. Ornate tracery held large, detailed stained glass panels. The lights inside the cathedral revealed magnificent colors present in the windows.
Upon entering, Caroline's breath caught. She had never seen anything so impressive. A golden light bathed the stone walls, contrasting beautifully with the stained glass. Some of the window's colors were so intense, it reminded her of the famous blue stained glass in Chartres. Countless massive stone arches led off to various alcoves. She felt like she was in a pirate's enormous treasure cave. It was several moments before Caroline remembered to breathe. Duncan examined her reaction.
When her breathing returned to normal, he said, "Told you so."
"You weren't kidding. This is just magnificent," she added, more to herself than to him.
Caroline drifted around the high kirk, through the various aisles and chapels, more amazed with each detail she spotted. She commented on the intricate tracery, the incredible stained glass, and the soaring, bright blue vaulted ceiling near the altar. When she spoke, it was always as if she were talking to herself. He enjoyed witnessing the many faces of amazement reflected in her countenance and was content to just watch her reactions to the beautiful cathedral. She pointed out layers of delicately carved stone medallions on an area of the ceiling and incredibly detailed wood carvings in another part of the building.
"It's hard to believe people were capable of creating all this," she said, finally directing a comment at Duncan.
"They began construction in the 1880's and we call it the High Kirk of Edinburgh. Many famous Scotsmen are either buried or memorialized here. Brilliant, doesn't describe it, does it?"
As they strolled from the cathedral, Caroline said, "That was truly breathtaking. I almost feel light headed after seeing your kirk."
She placed her arm through his and smiled, swinging her bag of chocolates like a school girl.
"Ready to meet the family?" Duncan asked, giving her a smile of his own.
Caroline stopped to examine the Christmas tree. It was dark and a crowd surrounded the heavily lit tree. A group of nearby carolers began to sing Of the Father's Heart Begotten. The accomplished singers impressed both of them.
"Do you suppose that's the cathedral's choir?" she asked in a stage whisper so Duncan could hear her above the singing.
"I'm not sure, but they are brilliant," he replied.
"This is one of my favorite carols," she remarked.
Duncan was pleased to stay and listen to the festive music if it made her happy. More applause followed the choir's song.
Caroline glanced up at Duncan and said, "Yes, I'm ready to meet the family!"
A smile spread across Duncan's face that he could not hide or stifle.
She laughed and added, "Did you think I'd back out?"
"One can never be sure," Duncan answered, pulling her close.
He gave her a quick peck on the lips before they strolled back to the Royal Scotsman and retrieved the car.
Chapter 14 - Meet the Family
"Hallo, we're here," Duncan called as he opened the side door of his parents' home.
"In the lounge," came the response from his father.
Duncan led Caroline through the small hall that led from the side entrance to the kitchen. Framed copies of the magazine cover and articles about Duncan lined the passage. She stopped to look, pulling on Duncan's hand.
"What's this?" she whispered, pointing to the pictures and focusing on the titles given him. "Dashing Duncan! A Cute Actuary!"
She watched as he turned seven shades of red, each darker than the previous. She enjoyed his embarrassment. It was a nice distraction from the stress of the imminent meeting with his family.
"Well," Caroline said quietly, "I'd have to agree."
"Duncan, is that you?" His mother's voice came from the kitchen a few steps away.
"Yes, Mum," Duncan said, stepping out from the hall with Caroline in tow. "I'd like you to meet Caroline Menzies."
Margaret forced a smile on her face and said, "So pleased to meet you, Mrs. Menzies."
Her emphasis on the Mrs. horrified Duncan. His mum was not the type to make a faux pas. He did not have the courage to look at Caroline, but cringed inside for her.
"Please, call me Caroline," she said cheerfully. "Shall I call you Margaret or Mrs. Dewar?" she asked before continuing, "I've heard so many wonderful things about you from your son."
Margaret stirred an ingredient into a glass and glanced at the stove. Duncan knew his mum well enough to see she was flustered and realized he did not need to worry about Caroline. She could handle this herself.
"Oh, you must call me Margaret. Let's head into the lounge, shall we?" she said, looking up.
Mrs. Dewar had just finished making drinks when the couple arrived. Now she picked up a large silver tray holding the cocktails, and led the way to the lounge at the front of the house. Duncan followed, pulling Caroline along by the hand.
He was surprised to find his dad and brothers dressed smartly and standing when they entered the room. The lounge was not large, but it was not snug either. There would be plenty of room for them all to sit comfortably. Margaret placed the tray of drinks on a low table while Duncan introduced Caroline. Mr. Dewar stepped forward and took her hand.
"Thank you for making the trip to spend your holiday with us," he said, adding, "may I take your coat?"
"Oh, the pleasure is all mine. Thank you so much for opening your home to me. I haven't had a big family Christmas in so many years. This is such a treat," Caroline replied, removing her coat and handing it to Mr. Dewar.
Her dress matched the coat almost exactly, except it had a boat neckline rimmed with a half inch wide swath of glass bugle beads, all in the same soft shade of icy blue, and tight sleeves that reached just below the elbow. The coat and dress were designed to go together. She wore no jewelry, save for a small platinum watch.
Harold protruded his arm to shake Caroline's hand. He did not bend his elbow and the gesture appeared quite awkward.
She took his hand and with a gentle squeeze, said, "I'm Caroline. So nice to meet you."
Harold said nothing. He just stood there like a moron, smiling wide eyed at their guest.
Finally, Caroline said, "You must be Harold."
Harold shook his head Yes but was tongue tied.
Angus stepped forward and gave her a friendly hug, discreetly bumping Harold out of the way.
"Glad you could come. I'm Angus."
Introductions complete, Duncan led Caroline to the empty sofa. As soon as she took her seat, Harold jumped for the place next to her, his long, pipe cleaner-thin legs springing across the room like a gazelle. Angus, an amused look on his face, kept quiet and plopped in a club chair on one side of the fireplace while Mr. Dewar took the chair opposite. Mrs. Dewar sat in a French occasional chair near her husband.
"Duncan, serve the drinks, will you?" Margaret asked.
He took the tray around the room, proffering libations to the group.
Mr. Dewar, as he took a glass, asked, "What did you throw together, Darling? I'm ready for a drink."
"Nothing fancy, just a Scottish apple soda. Whiskey, apple juice and soda with a dash of lime," Margaret stated.
Duncan returned the empty tray to the table and took his seat on the other side of Caroline. Harold sat close, right next to poor Caroline, an idiotic look on his face. Duncan glanced at Angus, who was getting a kick out of his younger brother's behavior. Angus looked like he was struggling to contain his mirth. He looked at his mum who seemed not to notice anything unusual. He placed a protective arm around Caroline, pressing his forefinger against Harold's arm, hoping his brother would get the message and scoot over a bit. The gesture was lost on Harold, who continued to stare at their guest like a school boy. From time to time, Caroline glanced at Harold and smiled cheerfully.
"Tell us, Caroline, where in the States are you from and do you get back often?" Duncan's father began the conversation.
"I'm from Illinois, right in the middle of the U.S., about an hour outside of Chicago. I haven't been back since I got married, since I came to Scotland about eight years ago," she said.
"We lived in Virginia for a time. I'm afraid it didn't pass muster with Duncan though. He didn't adjust well to the States," Margaret added, as if an afterthought. "But don't you miss your friends, your family back home?" she asked.
"Yes, I do," she said, shifting to face Duncan 's mum. "My parents have come for the occasional visit. They're getting a bit old for much international travel, I'm afraid. I hope to visit them next year. You see, I have a business to run and that makes it difficult to get away for any stretch of time."
"Quite right," Mr. Dewar interjected. "Angus here knows all about running a business and its demands."
"Oh, do you own a business?" Caroline asked Angus, shifting back to direct her gaze at him.
Forced to speak, Angus was afraid he would burst into peals of laughter and summoned all his self control before opening his mouth.
"Yes, I own a couple of garages. Harold here runs them for me," he said, gesturing towards the red headed, freckle faced boy on the sofa next to her.
Duncan shot his brother an angry look for shifting attention to the dumbfounded Herald, as Caroline turned to speak to him.
"How do you like it?" she asked, then seeing Harold was not responding, she added, "running an automotive garage?"
The boy just grinned. For the first time in his life, Duncan wondered if his brother was mentally deficient in some way. He had always been a little dense, but Duncan had assumed he was as intelligent as any family member. Now, he had cause to question that.
"The real question is if he's taking Celtic or Johnstone next weekend," Angus stated, leaning forward. "Well, Harold," he paused for emphasis before continuing, "Is it going to be Celtic or Johnstone?"
"Celtic by one," Harold said, still gazing at Caroline.
"You see," Angus explained, "our boy here is a real genius at predicting football results. He's still figuring out if he likes running a garage or not."
"Oh," Caroline said, glancing at Harold and giving him another smile, "maybe we should all place bets on Celtic then."
"N
o!" Harold practically yelled, startling everyone.
Mrs. Dewar jumped and sloshed her drink, spilling some in her lap. Mr. Dewar looked bewildered. Duncan rolled his eyes at Angus as if to say This is all your fault, and Harold grabbed Caroline's hand fiercely to make sure she understood the gravity of the situation.
"Celtic is favored to win by three. They won't cover the spread. You would lose your money if you placed a bet on Celtic."
That cinches it. He's an idiot savant.
Now, Angus did laugh out loud, unable to contain himself any longer. Caroline's spell on Harold was broken and he looked concerned, worried someone was making him the butt of a joke. Margaret seethed with anger, not exactly sure why, but certain Angus was responsible for the fact that her family was not showing itself to its best advantage. Duncan wanted to get out of the house as soon as possible before Caroline assumed they were all missing a cog. Only Mr. Dewar appeared unflappable, Mr. Dewar and Caroline.
She patted Harold's hand, drawing his attention back to her.
"Thank you for explaining that. I don't know a thing about football. Maybe someday you can explain your methods to me. I bet you could teach me how to make a tidy sum, in my spare time."
Duncan watched as Harold's expression transformed from anxious to proud as Caroline spoke.
"I'd be happy to," Harold replied, his silly grin returning.
"He's never offered to explain his system to me!" Angus exclaimed.
Mrs. Dewar shot Angus a look that made it clear he better keep quiet.
Duncan finally found his voice. "How are your preparations for tomorrow coming, Mum? Everything under control?"
"Yes, I prepped everything today, so tomorrow won't be so difficult." Margaret continued, "I'm an old hand in the kitchen, these holiday dinners are second nature to me now."
"If I haven't mentioned it, Mum's a caterer. She's just now got around to trying to teach me to cook!" Duncan said.
"I run a very small catering business," Margaret corrected her son.
"You must be talented in the kitchen," Caroline said.
Mystery: The Merlon Murders II: A Duncan Dewar Mystery of Murder and Romantic Suspense (Duncan Dewar Mysteries Book 2) Page 14
