“Additionally, we did sign the contract,” she said with a little bit of chagrin. “I maintain they should’ve given thought as to how their filming locations would format dates, but seeing as how no one on our staff gave any consideration to where the contract originated, I’m not sure we have a much higher moral stand here, and our family name should stand for something when it appears on a legal document.”

“Indeed.”

She could picture him nodding.

“The contract was entered into in good faith, and intent should be upheld whenever possible. Our name is only as good as the honour behind it, but I suspect you’d already come to that conclusion?”

“Because I’m transparent?”

“No, because you’re thoughtful. I suspect you didn’t need my input here, but I believe that if a mix-up can be attributed to both staffs, then the burden for making amends should fall in the middle as well. What do you propose?”

“What makes you think I’ve formulated a grand plan?”

“You’ve had grand plans since you were old enough to talk.”

Some of the tension in her shoulders loosened at the humour in his voice. “I think I’ll have to stay here and walk the tightrope between keeping the main tourism spaces as open as possible and protecting the sanctity of the family spaces from the invasion.”

“That was our primary concern when you first broached the idea, if I remember correctly. Along with the standards of propriety the family must maintain.”

“I intend to keep my word to you and mother as well,” she said quickly, remembering the initial argument to grant access to the film crew at all. The family never allowed any other business interests into their private sanctuary, and even the formal tours operated under the strictest protocol for complex and varied reasons, ranging from basic safety to her mother’s almost obsessive aversion to anything common enough to excite public perceptions. Her mother placed an exacting emphasis on timelessness, tradition, and transcendence. Vic, for her part, had often fallen short of her expectations in those areas, usually inspiring disappointment more than outright disagreement, but the former had stifled her enough over the last few weeks not to want to bear the brunt of them any further this summer.

“So, where will they film the movie if not in the public spaces or the family spaces?”

“That,” she said emphatically, “is what I’ve got to navigate.”

“Your mother won’t like the vagueness of your new job description.”

“Then perhaps it’s best for her to remain in Scotland. Someone should convince her there’s no need to disrupt her plans only to rush back into a stressful situation.”

“Well thought,” he said. “Then I suppose we both have our assignments. You’re about to get much more involved in the movie business, and I’m to keep the rest of the family far from it.”