Bridge watched the boys playing. ‘He’s lovely manners, your wee man; Auriol will lap him up.’

‘I hope he likes it.’

‘They all like it there.’

‘How’s the job going?’

‘Orgasmic,’ Bridge thrilled. ‘It’s better than sex, and I’ve not even officially start—’

‘There you are!’ A sharp Scottish descant rang out behind them, making Pax’s blood fast-flow dizzily. ‘Where’s my wee soldier? Kes!’

The Elnessed white helmet of her mother-in-law emerged through the darkness, stooping to greet Kes as he hurtled in from the left and slammed himself into his grandmother’s arms.

‘Nanaforce! Have you come to watch the weaselling?’

‘No, wee man. Go play a minute while I talk to your mammy.’ Mairi straightened up, propelling Kes away before turning to address Pax in a hushed hiss, ‘Is it wise to bring the child to see blood sports? I thought they were all illegal these days. Are there dogs?’ She looked nervous.

‘Weasel hounds!’ Bridge laughed, then saw Pax’s face and coughed, stepping away.

‘What an unexpected surprise, Mairi.’ Pax forced herself to stay calm.

‘Indeed.’ Mairi waved her arm and a tall shadow materialised, Muir Forsyth joining his wife, stone sentries in padded gaberdine.

‘Tishy…’ He nodded politely.

‘Call me Pax.’

They looked at her blankly. Pax had been repeatedly saying it for the past fortnight, but she might as well have asked them to call her Derek.

‘You know why we’re here.’

‘Er, no.’

Bridge was still hovering nearby, tactfully pretending to admire some of the tattered bunting.

‘We went up to the house but there was nobody there.’ Mairi’s hiss grew more accusatory.

‘You should have called. Is everything okay?’

‘We’re here to pick Kes up, my dear.’ Muir was playing good cop, all condescending smiles and rigid manners.

‘Don’t want to go!’ Kes wriggled away from Mairi and velcroed himself to Pax whose arms flew around him.

‘There must be some mistake.’

‘It’s Mack’s midweek access night if you’ve forgotten.’ Muir tilted his head, scrutinising his daughter-in-law’s face like a kindly psychiatrist with a sectioned patient.

‘You’ve got the wrong week, I’m afraid.’ Pax clenched her jaw so hard it almost cracked her teeth, aware of Kes shrinking tighter against her legs. ‘Alternate Wednesdays. It was agreed last Friday.’

‘Indeed so, Tish dear. Starting this week.’

‘Next week,’ Pax corrected, longing to see them wither away like garlic-pelted vampires.

‘Don’t want to go!’ Kes bleated again, gripping onto his mother’s legs.

Pax hugged him closer. ‘You don’t have to, Kes. Next week you’re spending your fun Wednesday night with Daddy, Nanaforce and Grandforce as well as having a lovely weekend with them to look forward to before that.’ Damn her throat tightening, that giveaway wobble. ‘I’m sorry you’ve had a wasted journey. We’re all so muddled at the changes, it’s an easy mistake, but of course Kes is with me tonight; he’s spending the day at the village school tomorrow. With his new friend Ellis.’ She played it as lightly as she could manage, aware that Ellis and his feather duster were standing nearby, waiting and watching with extraordinary silver eyes.