Coming Home to the Highlands, page 8
Kerr forced a sigh. ‘Oh dear, I really thought there would be something permanently in place for you, Olivia. I suppose Dad really was upset that you chose America over your family.’ His smug expression didn’t go unnoticed. ‘Don’t worry, though; I won’t see you out on the street.’ He gave another patronising pat to her arm.
The last thing Olivia wanted was to be beholden to her brother, and she didn’t want handouts from anyone. She hadn’t needed them up to now. Freya clasped her hands in her lap once again. ‘Which brings me to my final wish. Now, this one will be the hardest for you both, I’m sure. I don’t think it’s what either of you wanted to hear. Many businesses have been keen to get their hands on the castle over the years, but I always said to your father that I would rather leave the castle to charity than let some huge corporation take over.’
Kerr suddenly sat bolt upright, his eyes widened, and Olivia watched in her periphery as his Adam’s apple bobbed vigorously in his throat. He was panicking now.
Freya continued. ‘This old place needs someone with vision, a passion for what needs to be done; an eye for detail that the rest of us simply don’t have. There has to be dedication; a willingness to go against the grain enough but not too much. There has to be drive and a desire to ensure that something of your father’s ancestry stays alive here.’ There was a pause and Freya closed her eyes briefly. ‘Charity seems the obvious option…’
‘No! No bloody way!’ Kerr blurted. ‘How could she do this?’ he yelled at no one in particular as he jabbed his hand towards the screen.
But Freya opened her eyes and spoke again. ‘And I know this isn’t your dream, dear. I know it’s not what you hoped for…’ Kerr and Olivia shared worried glances. To whom was she speaking now? ‘But I know your heart and head will make the right decisions. And so… darling Kerr… this may come as a shock but… I am leaving Drumblair Castle to you… Olivia.’
The ringing in Olivia’s ears wouldn’t stop. Her blood sounded like waves crashing against her skull and Kerr’s face was beet red. He looked on the verge of a cardiac arrest as Uncle Innes and Alasdair held him back from lunging at her.
‘You knew! You bitch! You’ve known all along, haven’t you? That’s why you came back here!’ Dougie, the gardener, rushed into the room, followed by Brodie, and they joined in the barricade that the men had formed to stop Kerr getting to Olivia.
Tears streamed down Olivia’s cheeks, and she realised wiping them away was an exercise in futility. She shook her head vehemently. ‘No! I wouldn’t have kept that from you, Kerr. I promise I had no idea.’
‘What the hell do I do now? Hmm? They’ll kill me! And my blood will be on your hands!’
Olivia had no clue what he was talking about. She knew he’d been bailed out of debts many times before today, but his life had never really been in danger, had it?
Kerr yanked himself free from the two men and held his hands up. ‘It’s fine!’ he shouted. ‘I’m not going to bloody attack her, for god’s sake. What kind of man do you think I am? She’s my damned sister!’ Clearly unconvinced, the men hesitated and hung back but didn’t leave.
Olivia dragged her hands through her hair. ‘I don’t understand. This is not how this was supposed to go.’
Kerr swung around and glared at her. ‘You think? How stupid are you?’
‘Hey!’ Brodie stepped forward and placed a grubby hand on Kerr’s chest. ‘Come on now, mate, that’s enough, eh? Have some respect.’
Kerr turned his attention to the man who was taller than him, wearing a scruffy pair of jeans and a dirty T-shirt, and sneered. ‘Mate? Get your filthy hands off me! Who the hell do you think you are? What gives you the right to talk to me like you know me? Why are you even here?’
Brodie clenched his jaw. ‘Because you fired every one of my dad’s team and left him to do everything by himself, so we’re getting up at the crack of dawn to get stuff done.’
Kerr scoffed. ‘I didn’t even bloody employ you! You’re fired. Get out of my house now!’ he bellowed and jabbed an index finger towards the door.
Brodie smiled and shrugged. ‘Technically I’m not employed. And if you didn’t employ me, you can’t fire me.’
Kerr opened and closed his mouth before turning his head towards Olivia. ‘Well?’
A little confused, Olivia shook her head. ‘Well what?’
Her brother jabbed a finger in Brodie’s direction. ‘Aren’t you going to tell him to get out? It’s your damned castle, after all.’ Disdain was evident in both his tone and his curled lipped expression.
Olivia widened her eyes and realised both men were staring at her. ‘Erm… no. No, Kerr, I’m not going to ask him to leave. He’s done nothing wrong. You were behaving in a threatening manner, and he stepped in.’
Kerr shook his head and a sinister grin remained on his contorted, red face. ‘Oh, I see. I get it. Right. Well, I hope you’ll be very happy together. I should have known you were shagging him.’
Before anyone else could respond, Brodie’s fist connected with Kerr’s jaw and Olivia watched as he seemed to crumple to the floor in slow motion. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.
Kerr scrambled to his feet. ‘I’ll sue! You wait and see!’ he yelled before he dashed from the room, slamming the door behind him.
Brodie rubbed his hands over his face and turned to her with pleading eyes. ‘Shit, Olivia, I’m so sorry… I just—’
‘Come on, son,’ Dougie interjected. ‘Let’s leave the lassie alone a while, eh?’
Alasdair McKendrick said, ‘Yes, I think perhaps Lady Olivia needs some time to process everything.’ He led Dougie and Brodie from the room.
Lady Olivia? Oh, my word, that’s me now, isn’t it? A shiver travelled the length of her spine as the realisation of her position began to sink in.
Uncle Innes walked over and enveloped her in his arms. ‘I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I wish I could have forewarned you. I didn’t want things to be this way. I told Freya that, but she clearly overestimated the compassion and acceptance that Kerr is capable of.’
Olivia held onto her uncle. ‘No, it’s not your fault. But I have so many questions.’
He stepped away and held her at arm’s length. ‘There’s another video message just for you. I think perhaps you may get some of the answers you need. Shall I play it and leave you here to watch?’
So many emotions were vying for priority inside of her, but Olivia smiled and nodded. ‘Yes, please.’
6
Olivia once again sat in her father’s office, only this time she was accompanied by Marley, who sat beside her on the Chesterfield sofa where she was now seated as the TV screen illuminated with her mother’s face. Marley rested his head on her lap and her throat tightened and tears stung at her eyes once again.
Freya cleared her throat and gave a brief shake of her head, familiar signs to Olivia that she was trying to put on a brave face. ‘Hello again, my darling girl. I’m sure Kerr has stormed off in a foul mood and for that I’m sincerely sorry. The thing is, I have been protecting him for so many years now, from himself, but nothing I do, no help I give seems to make any difference. He won’t seek help for the gambling, and the alcohol… well, I’m sure you have witnessed that during your time here for my funeral.’
Freya paused for a moment and shivered. ‘Oof, it’s strange talking about that when I’m still here, alive and kicking and conversing with a camera. Anyway… Innes says it’s been a long time coming and he’s probably right, but I think it’s time for Kerr to realise that his actions have consequences, however harsh they may be. You see, I overheard him talking to a friend recently… The conversation was pretty disappointing.’ Hurt flashed in Freya’s eyes and Olivia wanted to reach through the screen and hug her.
‘He said he would sell off Drumblair as soon as it was his. Said he was looking forward to the money and a worry-free life without the lead weight of the castle hanging around his neck. He saw it as some posh hotel and spa with a conference centre. He even stated that he didn’t care if it was demolished so long as he pocketed the funds for the land.’
She covered her heart and shook her head. ‘I think it hit me then how little his ancestry must mean to him. I didn’t recognise the man he was at that moment, Olivia. Doing any of that would mean the MacBain family would be totally removed from the place. Cast into nothing but the annals of history just so he can carry on gambling and drinking. I couldn’t let him do that to your father’s legacy. I hope you can understand that. I couldn’t allow him to wipe the memory of your father’s family from the face of earth, and certainly not your father himself. I know that might sound melodramatic but it’s how I feel about the situation I could be leaving the place in. Your father entrusted Drumblair to me when he died, and I can’t settle until I know that it will be protected when I’m no longer here.’
Olivia had only learned over the past few days of Kerr’s plans but seeing the pain in her mother’s eyes almost broke her again.
Freya continued. ‘Now… it breaks my heart to do this to you, to put so much pressure on your shoulders, but please hear me out. I know that this old place was never what you imagined when you thought of your future. Except for visits maybe. But I know how much vision you have. I’ve seen your clothing designs, so I know how creative you are. I think those skills could be adapted to Drumblair and that’s how I know that you’re the person to bring this place back to life. To give it a new purpose while still keeping it linked to our family history. There’s so much history here. So much wonder. It’s been kept hidden for all these years but perhaps that doesn’t need to be the case any more.’
She shrugged and Olivia noted the glint of excitement in her eyes. ‘You will certainly need to find funding for the works that need to be carried out. And I’m aware there’s such a lot to be done. The roof leaks, some of the windows are rotten, the heating isn’t up to standard and some of the stonework is crumbling. The farmland doesn’t bring in enough of an income to support the repairs that are needed. Your father was always so generous with his tenants, charging them the smallest rents he could, and he wouldn’t change that, but that’s what I loved about him. His generosity of spirit. Anyway, we’ve papered over the cracks for so long now, both literally and figuratively speaking, mainly because we didn’t want to worry you. But I know you, Olivia, and I know that once you set your mind and heart on something, you can achieve amazing things. I have faith in you. And so does Marley, don’t you, boy?’ On hearing his name said by a familiar voice, Marley lifted his head and sniffed the air. Olivia smoothed the fur on the top of his head and smiled. How did she know the dog would be here with her?
Freya continued. ‘So, my darling girl… here is my proposal. Your Uncle Innes will have applied for large estate confirmation by now. That’s the Scottish version of probate but you may already be aware of that. This can take up to six months to be granted. So, during this time, I want you to leave Innes to handle things. He will take Marley too while you’re away. Go back to the USA and continue in your job. Enjoy every minute but use your spare time to concoct some magnificent plan, just like I know you can. Then when everything is handled here, and you are officially the owner, I want you to dedicate two years of your life to the castle. Form a trust and a management team. Look at ways to bring in revenue. Oversee the works that need to be carried out and come up with a way to make the castle sustainable.
‘After the two years, go back to the USA and continue with your life there, if you so wish, leaving the trust to run things. By then, you will have the ability to set up your own fashion house. There is provision set aside to ensure that can happen. It’s all been taken care of. But unfortunately, I need to ask this of you first. To dedicate two years to the place. To ensure your father’s legacy remains intact. I know this is such a lot to ask of you. And if you feel unable to carry it through, Innes has the power to step in and take the work on himself as a guardian or custodian type of thing. I just wanted to give you the opportunity to do this. Because I know you can. You love the place; I know you do. But it hasn’t yet met its full potential, Olivia.
‘My only stipulation is that none of the place is sold off. It has to remain as the MacBain family’s property. Your property. But it’s up to you how you make it work. You are capable of standing on your own two feet and I know you are more than capable of making a success of this. So please consider it all very carefully. I know it’s a huge shock to you right now. It must be. And I know you may be very angry with me.’ Freya’s chin trembled and her eyes welled with tears. ‘But I hope that you find it in your heart to forgive me. This was my only way of ensuring the old place wasn’t left to ruin, or worse, your brother’s crazy ideas for making money. The residents of Drumblair village need a casino on their doorstep as much as they need a rubbish dump.’
She forced a smile and dabbed at her eyes. ‘Please know that I love you and I’m so very proud of you. And so was your father. You were his proudest achievement. I know he would never tell you that for fear of appearing like a bad parent having favourites, but it’s true. He always said you had gumption. You knew what you wanted, and you were determined to get it by yourself, no handouts, and no nepotism. He admired that about you so much. He said you reminded him of himself when he was younger. And this is how I know you can make a change here. You can be the difference between the MacBain name remaining or disappearing into oblivion. But know this… I will still be proud of you no matter what you decide. I love you, my darling Olivia. And know that wherever I am now, I’m missing you so very, very much.’
She blew a final kiss at the screen before it turned black, and Olivia was once again left in silence, tears streaming down her cheeks and an ache in her heart the likes of which she had never experienced before.
Later that day, Olivia sat in the walled garden on the secluded stone bench that stood at the end of one of the winding paths and Marley sat at her feet with his tongue lolling out. The weight of everything she had recently learned was pressing down on her and she needed a little peace and quiet to think, plan and make decisions she had never anticipated having to make. Thankfully the early spring sunshine was warm now and she tilted her head skyward to let the rays heat her skin.
Someone cleared their throat, making her jump and causing Marley to get to his feet. She opened her eyes and looked in their direction and when her eyes settled on the intruder, she smiled. ‘Oh, hi, Brodie.’
He smiled briefly in response. ‘Hey. I just wanted to check you were okay after…’ He gestured towards the castle.
She nodded. ‘That’s very kind of you, thanks. I’m okay. A little bewildered but fine.’
‘I can imagine. I’ve never heard about your brother being an aggressive man. What’s his problem?’
Olivia crumpled her brow. ‘He isn’t usually aggressive. He can be an arse, yes, but that was a whole new side to him for me. And… you don’t know what happened?’
He shook his head. ‘Only that we were in the kitchen getting tea and we heard this shouting and swearing so we headed towards it.’
‘Quite the hero, eh?’ She was aware how sarcastic she sounded and immediately added, ‘I really appreciate it. Thank you.’
His mouth curled up at the corners and his eyes lit up; they were a vivid blue shade that seemed even brighter in the sunshine. ‘No worries.’ He paused and appeared pensive for a moment. ‘I didn’t understand what he meant, though, about it being your castle. He’s the heir, isn’t he?’
She didn’t reply and he widened his eyes. Holding up his hands, he said, ‘Sorry, absolutely none of my business. I apologise.’ Again, she didn’t speak. She wasn’t entirely sure what to say. Thankfully he changed the subject. ‘Look… this may not be the best time to ask but… The other day when we were chatting… you took off and…’ He rubbed at the stubble on his chin. ‘Well, I wasn’t sure why. If I upset you, I’m sorry.’
‘That wasn’t a question,’ she replied with a wry smile.
He crumpled his brow. ‘Eh?’
‘You said this may not be the best time to ask but… then didn’t actually ask me anything.’
His face flushed and he reached up to rub the back of his neck. ‘Oh… aye… I mean… Did I upset you?’
She shook her head. ‘Not really. I walked away before you said anything really cruel.’
He opened and closed his mouth for a few seconds; a crumple of confusion creased his brow. ‘But… I wasnae meaning to be cruel. I was just…’
‘Kidding around?’
‘Aye.’
She nodded. ‘Hmm. Well sometimes, in the past, at least, your kidding around was extremely hurtful.’
His eyes widened and he sat on the bench beside her as Marley nudged his hand for attention, which he dutifully gave. ‘It was?’
‘Yes. I didn’t appreciate being likened to a giraffe back then, and it’s not that nice being reminded of it now either.’
He winced. ‘Shit, I’m sorry, Lady Olivia. I was sincerely only messing.’
Hearing her official title again didn’t sit easily with her and she snapped, ‘Why did you call me that?’
His brow crumpled and he shrugged. ‘I… erm… After all that kerfuffle, Mirren said there’d been changes and we should address you as Lady Olivia now and that solicitor bloke called you it when he saw us out.’ She had forgotten about that. ‘Sorry if that’s not right. I presumed you didn’t like how familiar the staff were being with you, so I didn’t want to rock the boat. And I can assure you that I didn’t mean any harm in my comments the other day. I really was only messing.’
Olivia stood, suddenly thrown off guard. ‘Yes, well, as I said, your idea of messing is others’ idea of bullying.’ And with that final comment, she walked away from him, clicking her fingers so that Marley followed. As she reached the end of the path, her stomach knotted with guilt. He had stepped in to help her and this was how she was repaying him? She turned and made her way back to the bench, but Brodie was nowhere to be seen. He clearly knew a secret way out that she wasn’t aware of. She made a mental note to apologise when she next saw him.
