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“You knew I was worried.” He sounded different speaking from the echoey old castle, dismal and, as he put it: “Far away, you are so far away. I feel the distance like a physical pain, and it is so cold here.”
Two people went past and into the small toilet.
“I’m getting closer all the time,” I told Aleks.
“Yes, this is how I shall think of it now. I have allocated bedrooms. Yours is the best.”
“That may not have been a good idea. I’m already unpopular.”
“I will make it alphabetical.”
It wasn’t until I disconnected the call that the people going into the toilet cubicle registered properly in my mind. Back in the carriage, it was indeed evident that Justin and the quiet boy were absent. I confided what I’d seen to Will.
“No way.”
“Well, that’s what it looked like. I can’t believe it. He was with his sort-of boyfriend yesterday, and he’s always very devoted and true.”
“Well, desperate times, though, aren’t they? Could be cold and lonely for us all.”
Justin returned. I looked out of the window and sucked in my lips to avoid laughing. It was no good. I had to blurt. “Justin, were you in the toilet with the quiet boy?”
“Ruaridh?” Halleluiah! “Yes,” he said with some sadness.
“Doing what?” I asked, possibly inappropriately.
“Snogging.”
“Wow,” I said. “So, is this a thing now?”
“No. We have agreed. There’s no chemistry. It’s going to be a bloody long haul in frigging freezing Scotland.”
“Will’s thinking the same thing.”
“Oh, yes. Sir William of Shagsalot. How are you going to manage?”
“What d’you mean?” asked Will.
Justin snorted. “We watched you shag your way round college. This is all you’ve got to choose from now.” He gave a wave round our group. “Our girl here is taken, and Sunshine bats for the other side. Simone and my hefty new partner over there are the only available women.”
“I didn’t shag my way round anywhere.”
“Sweet William, we saw. Well, I did. I trained Phi in the art of observation. Their broken-hearted little faces in roll call? You’re a cruel man, Hearst.”
“No,” said Will. “It wasn’t like that. I’ve just never done the relationship thing.”
“Prince of the one-night stands?” asked Justin. No reply was offered. “Watch out, Willyboy. It only takes one girl to steal your heart and tame you. I’ve seen it happen to a king of the one-nighters recently.”
“It’s not going to be just us, though, is it?” I pointed out, wanting to direct the conversation away from Aleks. “There’ll be other people about.”
“Ooh, yes, men in kilts!” Justin was happy again. “Scotland’s crawling with them. Isn’t that right, Ruaridh?”
“Not really,” Ruaridh said. “Best chance of seeing them is at a wedding.”
I liked Ruaridh’s gentle Scottish accent and friendly face, and was sure he was nicer than Edward in every way.
“Well, we’ll just have to arrange a marriage,” declared Justin. “Phi, if your current model won’t step up, remember Hearst has already offered to take you off my hands for a cupcake.” He inspected Will. “We can clean him up a bit. Put him in a kilt, maybe? He should have the legs for it, with all the ballet. Though I’ve always suspected he might be hiding some sort of...” – he lowered his voice to a whisper – “inadequacy, under those trackie bottoms. That could put a dampener on the wedding night.”
“Hey,” complained Will. “I’m equipped.”
