Page 41 of The Scottish Island Wedding

‘Egg works fine. Thanks.’ Annie took the roll and bit into it. ‘Damn, that’s good.’ She sighed. ‘This is so nice, you know. I mean, I love boats anyway. But it’s great to be out in the wild, seeing nature, with the Balhennies. I just wanted to say, you’re all really cool. I, for one, am very glad Matty found someone awesome and… real… to marry. Thank goodness. I don’t think I could take another fashion robot.’

‘Hey. I work in beauty.’ Violet nudged Annie playfully. ‘Do I qualify?’

‘Absolutely not. You have a job, for one thing. And you’re cool, for another.’ Annie took another bite of the roll.

‘I don’t think you should be so mean to Clara and Estella,’ Heather said, seriously. ‘They’re nice. And it’s not their fault if your mum’s… a big character.’ Heather searched for a nice way to say it.

‘Hm. I think you’re the nice one, but that’s lovely,’ Annie said, kindly. ‘Oh, look! Is that a dolphin?’ She leaned out of the side of the boat a little and pointed.

‘Wow. Yes! Look, a pod of dolphins, swimming along with us!’ Violet exclaimed. ‘Look, everyone!’

Nearly all the women came to one side of the boat and looked over. However, Elizabeth stayed on the other side, holding up her phone in the air.

‘I can’t get any reception out here!’ she complained. Heather turned her head back to see Elizabeth stalking up and down the wet middle of the boat; she, like Clara, was wearing distinctly inappropriate heeled boots. ‘I’m expecting an important call!’

‘Lady Campbell! Come and see the dolphins!’ Heather called out, trying her best to be inclusive and kind, but Elizabeth scowled in their direction and climbed up on one of the seats on the other side of the boat. She held her phone above her head again as she stood precariously on the shiny plastic seat. Heather could hear her complaining about the lack of signal.

‘Miss… you need to get down. That’s not safe,’ Gloria shouted; she’d joined everyone else in looking at the dolphins.

‘I’m fine!’ Elizabeth snapped – just as the boat crested a sudden, large wave, and she was jolted off her feet and over the side of the boat into the freezing black water of the Sound of Raasay.

NINETEEN

‘Lady Campbell!’ Catriona shouted and lunged, trying to grip onto any part of Elizabeth, but nobody could get to her in time.

There was a loud splash as Elizabeth hit the water.

‘Stop the engine, Dad!’ Gloria yelled, and Sandy waved back at them: the boat stilled. ‘Dear goodness. I cannot believe it!’ she muttered, grabbing a long pole and lowering it into the water next to Elizabeth, who was thrashing around.

‘Oh, my…’ Violet swore and ran to the other side of the boat, joining Catriona. Heather stood with them, watching incredulously as Gloria yelled at Elizabeth to hold onto the pole.

‘She’s going to freeze to death!’ Estella cried in alarm. ‘Can’t you freeze to death in cold water in, like, a minute or something?’

‘We’ll get her out, don’t you worry, Miss,’ Gloria said, determinedly. ‘That’s it, Miss. Hold the pole and I’ll pull you to the side of the boat. That’s the way.’ She looked up to Primrose. ‘Right. When she gets to the back of the boat, you and one of the other girls lean over and haul her in. Reckon you can do that?’

‘We can do that.’ Primrose nodded to Blossom, who accompanied her to the end of the boat where they both crouched, ready. Heather watched in disbelief as they leaned forward, grunting with the effort, and pulled Elizabeth on board. She slid onto the deck in a wet heap like a newborn seal.

‘Quick. Strip off those cold things and wrap her in these.’ Gloria handed Clara a pile of blankets. ‘It’s vital we get her body temperature back up to normal. She could get hypothermia.’ Gloria knelt down next to Elizabeth, who was blue-white with cold and lay dazed on the deck. ‘What’s her name?’

‘Lady Campbell,’ Clara answered automatically. Gloria gave her a brief, confused look. ‘I mean, Elizabeth. Her name is Elizabeth.’

‘Okay. Elizabeth, dear. Are you with us? We’ve got to get you warm, very quick, okay? This lady’s going to help you off with your wet things and we’ll get you all wrapped up and cosy, and then you’re going to have a big drink of whisky and some hot chocolate, and if that doesn’t work, I’m going to massage your limbs.’ Gloria crouched down next to Elizabeth, whose teeth were chattering. ‘Lovey, can you get into the food box and get a mug of chocolate ready, and the whisky bottle?’ she added, looking at Bluebell.

‘Oh. Yes. Sure.’ Bluebell jumped into action.

‘I’m not sure… it seems a bit strange for me to take her clothes off,’ Clara prevaricated, looking uncomfortable. ‘I mean, it’s very public. And we’re not technically family.’

‘Clara, she needs help! I’ll do it, then.’ Annie pushed Clara to one side and knelt down next to her mother. ‘Heather, can you give me a hand?’

‘Of course.’ Heather didn’t hesitate. Quickly, she and Annie took off Elizabeth’s soaked jacket, boots, her tailored trousers and the designer roll-neck sweater she’d been wearing. They left her underwear on, and covered her quickly with blankets. Violet handed Heather a towel, and, as they sat Elizabeth up, Heather carefully rubbed her hair with it.

‘Try and get her to have the hot drink. And have her sit near the engine. Here.’ Gloria helped Heather and Annie guide Elizabeth to a seat near where Sandy sat, which was sheltered and out of the wind.

‘Come on, Elizabeth. Have some of this lovely drink.’ Bluebell handed Heather a cup full of hot chocolate; Heather raised the cup to Elizabeth’s lips. Elizabeth looked confused; her teeth were still chattering and she looked blue, but she was at least conscious, which Heather thought had to be a good thing.

‘No,’ she whispered.

‘Elizabeth, you have to warm up. This is necessary,’ Heather said, as kindly as she could. She tipped the cup forward, expecting Elizabeth to open her mouth, but she turned her head away, and the hot chocolate spilled down her throat and onto the blankets.