“That’s what I’m going to find out in about fifteen minutes.”

“Well, don’t go all soft on them, just because they’ve been missing. They won’t have any idea how much trouble they’ve caused.”

“I wouldn’t think so for a minute.”

“Just lay into them, Dad.”

“I’ll deal with it, Josh.”

“Yeah, well. Listen, I don’t feel like coming home right now. I’m going to give Maria José a call and meet her for a drink.”

“Good idea. Sorry, Josh, about all this. To be quite honest, I have no idea what I’m going to do with them after this escapade.”

“If I were you, I’d put them on the next train back to London. If they want to behave like that, they can damned well stay down there. This has done nothing for our family’s reputation up here, you know.”

Dan found himself grimacing at the formality of the admonishment delivered by his ex-grunge son. “I know, Josh. I do realize that, and I promise you that I’ll make sure that they’re fully aware of that.”

“Bloody idiots,” Josh said with a spit of animosity before ending the call.

Dan left the Trenchards’ house immediately, only giving a brief account of what had taken place. Josh had been right. It was an embarrassment and he was glad to have the excuse to leave, saying that he had to get back to the cottage before the constable arrived with his wretched load.

There was no way that Dan could utter even one word of rebuke to his daughters that evening. He realized that the moment they entered the house, clinging to the arms of the constable as if being guided blindfolded along a precipitous mountain path. Even the dogs skulked off to their bed in front of the stove without giving Dan their usual rapturous welcome.

“If I were you, sir,” said the tall, stern-faced policeman, “I would just get them into their beds and then have a wee word with them in the morning.”

Nina’s eyes tried to focus on her father, then her ashen features turned an impossible shade of green and she started to retch. Dan grabbed her and forcefully lifted her outside where she rid herself of at least some of the contents of her stomach.

As they came back into the cottage, Constable Lamond raised his eyebrows. “Aye, we’ve had a number of forced stops on the way home for that kind of thing, I’m afraid.”