Page 8 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

‘Not entirely. It has to feel right.’

‘And does it?’ Mhairi peered over her spectacles.

‘Yes.’

‘Good. You can show me what’s in that box now.’

Tara had chosen one of the smaller doll’s houses to bring with her. It was a commercial piece, not a bespoke one, but she’d given it the same attention to detail as she did to her commissioned ones. This wasn’t a toy for a child, this was a doll’s house for an adult who had been bitten by the doll’s house bug but was just starting out. Tara referred to it as a ‘starter home’ in her head.

She’d also brought with her a selection of some of her finest, more intricate pieces of bedroom furniture to go in it. Keen to show them off, Tara carefully removed the house from the box, conscious of Mhairi peering over her shoulder.

‘How delightful!’ the old lady cried. ‘This takes me back to my girlhood. I did love playing with my little house.’

‘I think that’s part of the allure,’ Tara replied, unwrapping each model and putting it next to the house. ‘Even if you didn’t have one as a child, you probably wanted one.’

As Tara had hoped, Mhairi couldn’t resist picking up a tiny bed and placing it in one of the upstairs rooms. This house was very typical and rather basic in design, with a central doorway, windows on either side, and a front opening. It also had two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen and a living room.

Untypically, Tara hadn’t brought enough furniture for the whole house. She’d brought four different styles of beds, several wardrobes, a selection of rugs, some nightstands, and a few pairs of curtains.

She wanted Mhairi to see how much fun could be had by changing the look of just one room. Tara’s bread and butter was designing and creating the interior pieces. Her jam was her ability to recreate someone’s beloved flat, house, bungalow or garden shed in exquisite detail.

Her most recent project had been an old mill. The new owners were converting it into living accommodation but had wanted a 3D reminder of it in its original state.

Tara had thoroughly enjoyed the challenge, even down to the millstones and empty bags of flour. Her clients had been delighted.

Mhairi was engrossed in rearranging and replacing the furniture, exclaiming over how changing just one rug could alter the look of the room. She was having so much fun that Tara didn’t want to interrupt, so she moved aside and examined the old lady without being observed.

Coiffured white hair framed a lean wrinkled face, and high cheekbones and piercing blue eyes hinted at the beauty she might have possessed in her youth. Taller than Tara’s five foot one by at least six inches, Mhairi was slim and held herself erect. She was dressed immaculately in a lavender-coloured twin set and a navy plaid skirt. She wore court shoes on her feet, a gold locket around her neck, and a diamond ring on her right hand.

Finally Mhairi grew tired of playing with the doll’s house and turned to face her. ‘I think you’ll fit in very well,’ she said. ‘Very well, indeed. Shall we talk business?’ She indicated a return to the sofa, and Tara resumed her seat.

Folding her hands in her lap to stop them from shaking, Tara tried hard to contain her delight.

‘I shall ask Avril to prepare a rental contract,’ Mhairi said, reaching for the phone. ‘Shall we say from next Monday? Or from the first of next month?’

‘I don’t mind. Whatever suits you.’ Tara was wincing inside at having to pay rent on a studio she mightn’t be able to use for a couple of months, but if that meant securing it, she would simply have to bite the bullet. ‘I won’t be moving in for a while though, as I’ve got to sell my house in Edinburgh first before I can buy a place on Skye.’

Mhairi’s eyes widened, before her expression fell. ‘But that could take months.’

‘I know, but don’t worry, I can afford to pay the rent until I’m ready to move.’

‘Paying the rent isn’t my concern. Having a studio empty for more than a couple of weeks, is.’

‘I see.’ Tara frantically considered her options and concluded that the only viable one was to move into rented accommodation on the island until the Edinburgh house was sold and she received her half. Money would be tight for a while, but she had some savings to fall back on. ‘No problem,’ she declared cheerfully. ‘I’ll find a place to rent nearby.’

Mhairi pursed her lips. ‘I think you’ll find there’s a distinct lack of properties to rent on the island, unless one is a tourist and only looking for a holiday let. However, I do have a solution. There’s an empty cottage on the estate I intend to rent out to visiting artists and crafters who want more of a self-catering experience instead of staying in the castle itself. The renovations are almost complete – it used to be a boathouse – but it should be ready to move into in a week or so. Would that suit you?’

Wouldn’t it just!

‘That would be brilliant, thank you.’

‘Would you like to see it?’ Mhairi began to get up.

‘No, it’s fine.’ Tara had no doubt that the standard of the cottage would be as good as the rest of the castle and she was eager to return to Edinburgh and begin packing. There was so much to do, and she couldn’t wait to get started.

The sooner all the loose ends in Edinburgh were tied up, the sooner she could embrace her new life in Coorie Castle.

Chapter 3

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