Page 7 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

‘In a minute, dear. Let’s have a chat first. Take a seat.’

Tara sat on one of the two sofas.

‘Tea?’ the old lady asked. ‘I’m having a cup.’

‘I’d love one, thanks.’

Miss Gray pressed a buzzer and Avril reappeared. ‘Could you ask Cook if she would mind making a pot of tea?’

Miss Gray had acook? Tara wondered how many more staff the castle housed. Quite a few probably, because she knew from trawling through the website that it was also a hotel. But ‘Cook’ sounded veryDownton Abbey-ish.

‘Tara… May I call you Tara?’

‘Please do.’

Miss Gray beamed at her. ‘And you can call me Mhairi. How old are you, Tara?’

‘Thirty-two.’

‘Married?’

‘No.’ Tara backtracked. ‘I mean, I am, but not for much longer. The decree nisi should be winging its way towards me as we speak.’

‘I’m so sorry, dear.’

Tara sighed. ‘I’m not. It’s been over for a while.’ More than a while, if she was honest. Her marriage had been on the rocks for the past three years and had totally sunk by the time Dougie announced that he wanted a divorce.

‘Children?’

‘No.’

Mhairi nodded thoughtfully, her bright blue eyes fixed on Tara. The questioning was interrupted by Avril’s arrival with a tray, but it resumed as soon as she left. ‘Milk and sugar?’

‘Just milk, please.’

‘Have you always lived in Edinburgh?’

‘No, I’m from Glasgow originally.’

Mhairi handed Tara a cup and saucer and Tara took it carefully, trying to hold the saucer steady so it didn’t rattle. It was china, the porcelain so fine it was almost translucent.

‘How long have you been making doll’s houses?’

A smile crept across Tara’s face. ‘About ten years.’

‘You’ve had plenty of time to hone your craft,’ Mhairi said, with a dip of her head. ‘I must say, I was impressed with your photos. And your website. Tell me, could you recreate Coorie Castle?’

Tara took her time answering before she said, ‘Icould, but it wouldn’t be easy.’

‘Nothing worthwhile ever is. Biscuit?’

‘No, thank you.’ Tara hadn’t felt this nervous in a long time. It was like being grilled by a head teacher after being sent to stand outside their office for misbehaving.

Mhairi was relentless. ‘Why Coorie Castle?’

‘Aside from the vacant studio, the location is gorgeous, you’ve got a fair number of visitors for a Tuesday morning, and the range of crafts is excellent.’

‘So this is purely a business decision for you?’

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