There was no point thinking about that yet. He had other problems to deal with first. Stratton had asked him to come up and organize some shooting for his visitors. Greg suspected it was more likely that he was to be grilled on what was happening in the garden.

He braced himself as he banged the stag’s head knocker on the front door.

Above, on the balcony, he heard the laughter and chatter cease momentarily before Aidan’s disembodied voice shouted at him to come on up and meet the gang.

Steeling himself, Greg entered to a rush of memories from the last time he’d been in this house. Then, it had been in the evening and the entrance hall had been filled with shadows. Today it was bright with sunlight from all sides, which caught the silver bark of the banisters.

It was, he thought, gazing upwards, just like climbing into a treehouse. When he reached the first floor, the woody smell he loved was almost smothered by expensive female scent and male cologne.

He stood for a moment, taking in the expensive decor, which had been much altered from that of Ard Choille’s creator. Seeing the change again made him feel sad. He braced himself before stepping through the open glass doors and onto the balcony.

Silence fell as, champagne glasses in hand, they all turned to examine him. No kilt on this occasion, but the looks still suggested he might be some exotic creature they’d just come upon in a foreign environment.

He decided to study them just as intently.

The four women were all beautiful in a polished manner. Smooth and sleek, bodies toned and curvaceous, just as Marion’s had been.

Aidan stepped forward. ‘Ladies, this is Greg, who’s our head ghillie here at Ard Choille. A man to be trusted with your secrets.’ He cast a knowing smile in Greg’s direction. ‘And this is . . .’ He pointed to each of the women in turn as the names Poppy, Jessica, Naomi and Viola fluttered past Greg, accompanied by interested smiles, especially from Naomi.

The women, he decided, seemed friendly enough. The men, on the other hand, were observing him as one might a handyman who is required, but whose presence is not really welcome.

The two strangers were introduced first. Greg gave each a brief nod.

‘And, of course, you remember Brian Chalmers.’ Aidan’s smile reminded him yet again that all three of them had been here the last time, and therefore complicit in the breaking of lockdown.

Introductions over, Aidan got down to the real reason Greg had been called up here.

‘So, what exactly have they found in my garden? Surely more than some damage to the hot tub?’

‘Do tell us if it’s a body,’ the one called Viola trilled.