‘Don’t be mean, darling,’ said Alicia, nudging her son in the ribs.
Xanthe waved but Izzy frowned as the three people drew up.
The first two were waving at her, huge grins on their faces.
Izzy blinked. It couldn’t be.
‘Hey, Izzy. Surprise!’
‘We thought we’d come and help you.’
‘Fliss! Jason! Oh my God. What are you doing here?’
As Jason launched himself at her, Fliss joined in and they ended up in a giggling group hug.
‘I don’t believe it,’ said Izzy for the third time.
‘The Avengers are here. We’ve come to save Christmas lunch,’ said Jason, beaming at her.
Fliss nudged him. ‘We’ve come to offer our assistance. And we’ve brought sleeping bags, so hopefully you don’t mind putting us up.’
‘A stable will do,’ added Jason cheerfully.
With a roll of her eyes, Fliss groaned. ‘You’re so not funny.’
‘Oh guys, it’s so good to see you.’ Izzy thought she might just burst into tears. Both of them were seriously good cooks. Jason was a bit of a genius in the kitchen and Fliss was no slouch but she was also fantastic at presentation. With the two of them on her side, she might just pull this off.
‘Er, hello.’ A voice intruded and Izzy turned to see the woman in the white coat and everyone else staring at her.
‘Sorry,’ said Izzy.
‘This is Hattie,’ said Fliss. ‘She bagged a lift with us from Edinburgh Airport. Jason’s boss offered us a lift to Edinburgh and then the pilot said he’d bring us on as he was heading this way and Hattie overheard and said she was coming here too. Small world, eh?’
‘Hi, Hattie, I’m Izzy.’ Izzy nodded at the woman who was probably about the same age as her. She had a Snow White complexion, with tendrils of dark hair escaping from her faux fur Russian style hat.
‘Hi, I’m sorry I’ve tagged along but I was told it would be okay to join the family party. I hope that’s not going to be too much of a problem. If it is, I can sleep on a sofa or something.’
‘Oh, you’re one of the Carter-Joneses,’ said Izzy, suddenly twigging.
‘Yes. I’m Harriet. Are they here yet?’
‘No, they haven’t arrived. They are due at some point today.’ Suddenly remembering this was a guest, Izzy realised this wasn’t quite the choreographed welcome she’d planned. ‘Oh I’m so sorry. And don’t be silly, of course, we’ve got a room for you.’ She swallowed, mentally running through the rooms on the second floor trying to work out which one they could spruce up in record time. ‘Come on in. Jim will take your case.’
‘Let me take your coat,’ said Jeanette, stepping forward.
Hattie wriggled out of the full-length, voluminous coat, which was soaked around the hem. ‘Thank you. It’s the most impractical coat known to man,’ she said as she handed it over, ‘but my flatmate insisted I’d need it and now I’m glad. Did you know it’s flipping freezing in a helicopter? Not that I’ve ever been in one before. Scary Mary until you get used to it. Not that I’m complaining. It got me here. Thanks, guys, for the lift. That was a lifesaver. I’d never have got here otherwise.’
Izzy smiled; she liked Hattie Carter-Jones immediately. Something inside her eased a little. Surely if she was this friendly and unassuming the rest of the family must be the same?
‘Come and sit down by the fire. Would you like a glass of whisky to warm you up?’
‘That sounds heavenly. I’d bloody love one. Sorry, language and all that. But it’s been a right old performance getting here. It was all very last minute. I missed my flight to Edinburgh. I should have been here yesterday. I was going to meet the family at the hotel and then drive up here with them but when I heard Fliss and Jason talking to the helicopter guy in the café, I couldn’t believe my luck –especially when everything has been so shitty for the last few days – I asked for a lift.’
Izzy led her over to the big leather sofa beside the fireplace, inviting Fliss and Jason to join them.
Duncan picked up the decanter on the tray and poured three whiskies.
‘Wow, this place is amazing. Is that a real sword up there?’ Hattie asked as she sank into the Chesterfield and gazed up at the Claymore.
