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“The toilet in the honeymoon suite is blocked again, Lotts,” came a voice from the other end of the hallway.

Lottie sighed and pulled a stray hair from her face. She logged out of her computer and took off her reading glasses. “Who knew brides did such mammoth poos?” she said.

Anne-Marie walked into the cramped office, placed her hands on her hips and grimaced. She had a notebook in one hand and a pencil behind her ear. Her short curly hair was messy and windswept, as it always was at this time of the year. You couldn’t work in a castle in Scotland in December and retain tidy hair.

“I think it was that tiny groom. Did you see him?” Anne-Marie’s Highlands accent was gentle. Her skin was weathered and wrinkled. “Nothing more than a streak of piss.” She scoffed.

“Well, if it was him, sounds to me like he was in fact more than a streak of piss.” Lottie raised an eyebrow. “I’ll get Danny onto it. He’s coming over later to sort out the windows in Room 9; they keep flying open in the wind. We’ve a guest arriving later who won’t thank us for that.”

“Ooh,” said Anne-Marie. “Maybe it’s a wee ghosty.” She cackled.

Lottie laughed. “I think it’s more likely to be a symptom of antique windows in a listed bloody building.” She pushed her chair out from behind the desk. “I’ll go and see if housekeeping are done with the room turnover. We’ve got a few early arrivals today. I’d like to be able to give them access to their rooms when they arrive.”

“You’re too good to your guests, you know,” said Anne-Marie.

“They’re your guests really, Annie.” Lottie stood up and patted her boss’s arm. “You own this place, after all.”

“Maybe, but it’s you that keeps it all going, through all that Covid fuss and now this cost-of-living thing. No idea how we’d keep the lights on without you, love.” Anne-Marie gave Lottie a quick smile. “Anyway, I’ve got to head over to the cottage for a bit and see what my good-for-nothing husband is up to. He’s supposed to be sorting out the garage, but I have my doubts.”

“Oh, how is Alistair? I haven’t seen him this week.” Lottie loved Anne-Marie’s husband. He was a quiet, steady presence on the castle estate, and he always had a kind word and a twinkle in his eye. She was pretty certain Anne-Marie was calmer when he was around than when he wasn’t. Lottie thought perhaps the same was true of herself.

“He’s grand,” said Anne-Marie. “Just a little slower than he’d like.”

“Still no news on the hip replacement?”

“Not a dickie-bird,” sighed Anne-Marie. “Right, I’ll love you and leave you,” she added, and strode from the office with intent.

Lottie put on a thick cardigan to begin ‘her rounds’, as she called them. Some of the castle corridors were draughty, especially those accessible only to staff, so her navy cardigan was an essential piece of her work equipment.

Most of the rooms were ready now, which pleased her. The majority of the guests at McLennon Castle would have travelled a long way, and she always wanted them to have a warm welcome. Just a few days out from Christmas, that welcome had to be even warmer than usual.

The main reception area gave way to a large open stone floor hall that was decorated beautifully with fresh green foliage from the grounds, tartan ribbons and warm white fairy lights. The centre piece was the giant fireplace, which she would make sure held a lit fire once new guests began to arrive, and beside it was the biggest Christmas tree she had ever seen.

Alistair was responsible for the Christmas tree, and this year he’d paid Anne-Marie’s warning not to overdo it even less heed than usual, and got one that was far too big. Lottie smiled and shook her head. Danny had moaned about being sent out for more decorations. They hadn’t had enough to cover it fully.

Her phone rang. Think of the devil. She put her mobile to her ear. “Hiya, Danny, how are you doing? I’ve got a few bits for you to do when you get here.”

“About that, boss, I’m sorry but I can’t make it today. The ice is even worse this morning than it was yesterday and my van just isn’t making it out of the drive.” She could hear the wind blowing, and pictured him standing on his drive, looking at his ancient van. It was no surprise the old banger couldn’t cope with the Highlands weather.

“You’re going to need a new van sometime soon, Danny,” said Lottie. “And please remember, I’m not your boss, Anne-Marie is.”

“Yeah, I know, but perhaps you could tell her? She’ll not thank me for this, and you’re far better with her than I am.” The wheedling note in his voice failed to hide his nervousness around the older woman. A local lad in his twenties, Danny was doing his best to make his ends meet as a handyman to local businesses.

“Oh, Danny, not to worry, she’ll understand. She’s not as scary as you think she is, you know.” Lottie perched on the arm of a chaise longue.

“You’ve never been chased off her land while she wields a fork, Lotts.” His Scottish lilt added an element of charm to the story.

“Yes, but how old were you when she did that?” Lottie cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder and folded her arms.

“Thirteen. But still.” Danny laughed.

“OK, Danny, you sit tight there and I’ll unblock the bloody toilet. Hopefully see you tomorrow.”

Lottie sighed as she searched through the cupboard in which all the cleaning equipment and tools were kept. The plunger had to be in there somewhere. It wasn’t all glamour working in a castle. In fact, it was almost never glamour.

Arriving in the bridal suite, she caught sight of herself in the full-length mirror that hung on the wall. She stopped for a moment. Her chino trousers, white shirt and cardigan combo was now accessorised with elbow-length rubber gloves, industrial cleaning liquid and a massive plunger.

She thought back twenty years, to her graduation from university with a first-class honours degree in law. She remembered that day like a series of still photographs. Her parents and sister clapping her as she walked across the grand stage in her gown and mortarboard, the prize she’d been awarded by the dean of the law school, the meal she’d shared with her family as they talked excitedly about her glittering legal future.