‘I shall have to clean up in the sea,’ Sholto said, inspecting his shirt for oil stains and running his hands through his hair, his fingers coming back sticky.

‘Or we’ll arrange for your clothes to be washed, sir. I’m sure Miss Gillies won’t mind, seeing as she’ll be cleaning her own too,’ Mr Mathieson said.

Sholto gave almost a howl of disbelief. ‘Mathieson, we’re your guests, aren’t we?’

The factor gawped.

‘Heavens, man, I wouldn’t dream of asking a friend to do my laundry.’

Mathieson didn’t reply, but his colour was high with swallowed fury. Every punch was thrown with a velvet glove.

Packed up again, they began to walk back towards the ridge where they had all met only an hour or so before. The day had fully dawned now and they could see the villagers up and about along the Street, in the plots and by the burns, smoke puffing from chimneys. The night clouds had slunk away but a thick haze lent a heaviness to the sky. The storm was building, slowly but surely, promising to take Sholto from her.

‘We shall leave you here, then, Miss Gillies, and bid you well,’ the factor said as they reached the part of the plateau where the path divided, reaching on one side to Village Bay and on the other to Glen Bay.

‘Oh, no, Miss Gillies is coming with us,’ Sholto said lightly, not missing a step.

‘But the sheep . . .’ the factor spluttered, hastening after him.

‘The sheep? What do they matter? She can’t possibly go over in this state. Look at her – she’s covered in the oil, just like me! Her clothes are ruined! She’ll need to dip in the sea just to get it out of her hair.’

‘Is it in her hair?’

‘Oh yes,’ Sholto said firmly. ‘Unless of course you can use the beach in Glen Bay?’ he asked her directly.

‘There isn’t a beach that side,’ she said. ‘Boats can land in some conditions but it’s generally too difficult.’

‘Far too dangerous for a non-swimmer, then. No, I’m afraid you’ll have to come back with us and get sorted before you can do anything else. It wouldn’t be proper to let you go off in that state.’

The factor and Effie walked behind him in silence. Effie saw the spring in Sholto’s step as he walked. He was a man on top of the world.

‘Tell you what, I could give you another swimming lesson if you’d like,’ he said jovially, turning around.

‘Oh, that’s not necessary,’ she replied quickly.

‘Nonsense. One good turn deserves another. You did, after all, just save my life.’

Effie bit her lip, wanting to laugh at his games. She’d done nothing of the sort and the factor would know it, too – but he couldn’t contradict his superior.