CHAPTER 18

 

The following morning, Anna wakened to the sound of male voices laughing. A glance at her watch made her start: nine o’clock. How could she have slept so long? She and Roddie had talked well beyond midnight, but that would normally make no difference to the time she woke up.

Expecting to find Roddie asleep on the camp bed when she walked into the living room, she was surprised to see no sign of his sleeping arrangements. Instead, the table was set for breakfast and the smell of coffee filled the room. She paused, listening more closely to the chat outside the cottage, and recognised Roddie’s voice. So, he was already making friends with the builders?

Certain she must look a fright; she dashed back into her bedroom to peek out of the window. Yes, Jimmy the builder was there… but so was Finn.

Anna’s heart beat a bit faster as she wondered what Finn was doing outside her cottage at nine o’clock in the morning. Had they made an arrangement which she’d forgotten about? Regardless of his reason for being there, she didn’t want him to see her looking as if she’d rolled out of bed two minutes before.

Cursing her awkwardness with the unfamiliar taps in the bathroom, she quickly showered and fixed her hair, slipped on jeans and a T-shirt, then ventured outside to join the men.

‘Sleeping beauty, good morning,’ Roddie said. ‘This man has done half a day’s work already, and he’s gasping for his coffee.’

‘Morning,’ Anna said. ‘I thought I heard Finn’s voice?’

‘You did,’ Roddie said. ‘He introduced himself to me.’

‘So, where is he?’

‘He only came to see if you were heading back to Iona, but you were still in bed.’

Anna felt her spirits slump. But why? She had no intention of going to Iona today. Nonetheless, the absence of Finn left a vacuum, which simultaneously both disappointed and relieved her. She realised that she wanted to see Finn again, but at the same time any association beyond casual friendship could only complicate her life further. And really, she should be giving all her attention to Roddie, who’d gone to a lot of trouble on her behalf.

Returning to the kitchen, Anna knew that Roddie would waste little time before introducing the subject of Janet Maclean, her biological mother. He was the only person apart from her adoptive parents, Moira and Fred Ballantyne, with whom she could discuss her search.

As if he’d read her mind, Roddie sat down opposite her at the table and immediately raised the subject. ‘Have you done anything at all to try to find out a bit more about her?’ he asked.

Anna stared at her feet for a long moment.

‘No,’ she said at last. ‘I don’t know what to do.’ She shrugged her shoulders and spread her hands, palms upwards; the gesture emphasising her words.

‘But one of the reasons you wanted to come to Mull was to make some sort of contact with Janet Maclean.’

‘Yes, I know, but it wasn’t a logical decision. I had no particular plan in mind. I just felt I wanted to be… to be closer to her.’ Anna twisted the fingers of her hands together, her discomfort growing as Roddie continued his questions.

‘Did you think—?’

She jumped up, rattling the crockery on the breakfast table. Roddie caught his coffee cup before it tipped onto the floor.

‘Roddie, don’t you understand, I didn’t think anything at all. I can’t explain it. I simply… came here.’ Her voice had gone up a few notes as she strutted around the limited space in the room. Her last word, however, was released like a sob, a capitulation.

‘Sit down, Anna, and let’s see if we can sort something out. I’m on your side, you know. I’m just trying to help.’ He stretched out his hand and eased her back to the table.

‘Have you any idea where she lives? Which part of the island, I mean?’ he asked.

Anna shook her head.

‘Okay. Why don’t we start by trying to find out? There must be records somewhere.’

‘I did think about that, Roddie, but we can’t go around asking for information without revealing why we’re looking for it – and I don’t want to do that. I’d hate it if she found out I’d been asking questions about her.’

‘I understand, but you’ll never find her if you refuse to talk about it. I imagine this is the sort of place where secrets are really difficult to keep?’

‘Precisely. From what I’ve heard so far, I would say impossible rather than difficult. I imagine all islands are the same; after all, they’re closed communities where information is passed from one person to another on a regular basis.’

‘I suppose the internet has made that even easier,’ Roddie said, adding to her gloom.

‘Also, there are about 2,800 people living on the island. I couldn’t go around asking if they happened to know a Janet Maclean, could I?’

Roddie smiled. ‘No, you certainly couldn’t do that.’

‘I think I’ll have to forget all about it,’ Anna sighed. ‘Concentrate on my project.’

‘Come on, Anna, it’s not like you to give in as easily as that. There must be something we could do.’

Anna was about to suggest they close the subject, when Roddie spoke again.

‘Why don’t we advertise?’

‘Roddie, that’s a mad idea.’

‘You’re right. It is.’

‘This is leading nowhere,’ Anna said, standing up again. ‘Why don’t we simply go out for the day? There are lots of maps and guide books here – we won’t get lost. I haven’t been to the north of the island yet. Are you okay with that, after your long drive yesterday?’

‘Your wish is my command, madam.’

 

According to the forecasters, the weather was expected to be less benign than the previous day, with wind speed increasing as the day wore on. And Anna had to struggle to hold onto the door of Roddie’s car as she tried to manoeuvre herself into the passenger seat.

‘Here. Let me help you.’ Roddie grasped the handle of the door, which a sudden gust threatened to wrench from his hand.

‘Wow!’ he shouted. ‘It knows how to blow here.’

Once they were ensconced in the car, they could hear the wind whistling around them.

‘Maybe we should think again about driving to the north,’ Anna said. ‘We don’t want to be blown into the sea.’

‘Oh, I’m sure it’s not as bad as that. It’ll be cosy in the car, and we don’t need to get out if we think it’s too windy.’

They sat for a few moments, admiring the view. The majestic Ben Mhor rose above them, its distinctive peaked summit outlined against the blue sky.

‘It says in the guide book that it’s the only Munro on the island,’ Roddie said. ‘That means it’s at least 3,000 feet high, doesn’t it?’

‘Yes, I think so,’ Anna said. ‘I bet the views are wonderful from the top.’

As Roddie started up the engine, Anna’s mobile rang. It was Elsa calling from Lochside.

‘We’re having a few folk in tonight, a wee celebration for a local lad’s birthday,’ she explained. ‘George will be there, and Finn. Maybe Kirsty, but she wasn’t sure if she’d be here or not. Would you and your guest like to come?’

Anna quickly passed on the message to Roddie, who nodded, a broad smile lighting up his face.

‘Yes, thank you, Elsa. We’d love to. What time would you like us?’

‘Is seven o’clock okay? That’ll give me time to prepare an early dinner for the other guests.’

‘Sounds great. See you at seven.’

 

Armed with the guidebooks, they set off with Anna navigating – insofar as any guidance was necessary. There was only one road out of the Ross of Mull if they chose to go to another part of the island, although there were smaller side roads, which could be equally interesting to investigate. So far, Anna had been concentrating on Iona, which left the whole island of Mull to discover.

Once they drove out of Fionnphort, they soon forgot the buffeting of the car, but a glance at the sky allowed them to keep track of the strength of the wind, as it sent clouds billowing in all directions.

‘I can’t believe we’re in the same place as we were yesterday,’ Roddie said. ‘It’s like living in two different climate zones.’

‘According to the islanders, they can experience four seasons in one day.’

‘It’s a bit of a cliché, but I suppose they must hope for the best and prepare for the worst.’

‘That’s about the size of it,’ Anna agreed. ‘But they’re used to it, and it doesn’t seem to worry them. They probably wouldn’t thank you for sending them to a Caribbean island.’

‘Too hot?’

‘Yes. I must say, I actually like the cool air on my face’ Anna said. ‘There’s something refreshing about it. I could cope with the changes of weather, too, provided I had the clothing to deal with them.’

They were silent for a while as Roddie took in the countryside; lush green fields which gave way to a view of the unsettled sea on the coastal part of the road. The waves gave the impression they might have some power left in reserve, but their lively slapping on the rocky shoreline confirmed that the wind had not lost much of its force.

Smiling to herself, Anna realised that the colours on her most recent birthday card reflected those she saw around her: the blues and aquamarines of the ever-changing sea; the greens of the grassy verges; and the browns of the rocks.

Consulting some notes she had made while researching The Lords of the Isles, she told Roddie, ‘It says here that in 1350, Lachlan Lubanach Maclean of Duart married Janet, daughter of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles, and Duart was part of her dowry. I knew it! I was convinced I had read about this. And there’s more…’

‘Why don’t we head for Craignure to find out if we can view Duart Castle today?’

‘That would be great. I’m sure Mel MacDougall would like some photos of the Castle – it was in the kingdom of the Lords until the middle of the 14th century. And, obviously, I have a personal interest in the Maclean family.’

‘Of course you do. So, is it the ancestral home of the Clan Maclean?’

‘Yes. But aren’t there other places you would prefer to visit?’ Anna offered.

‘I’m happy to start there,’ Roddie said. ‘Although we’ll have to be careful. It looks as though it’s situated in an exposed position. I wouldn’t like you to be blown away.’

 

When they arrived at the castle, the wind, in a contrary mood, had died down. The building stood high near the cliff edge, and the sea thrashed against the shoreline, but not in a menacing way.

Roddie parked the car, and they made their way to the tearoom, where traditional island home baking was on offer.

‘Don’t forget we’re going for dinner to Lochside tonight,’ Anna said, as the sweet scent of the cakes met them.

‘I’m sure I’ll manage to sample a few cakes and still have an appetite for dinner,’ Roddie said, his eyes lighting up as he viewed the range of scones and pastries on offer.

They both settled for tea and scones, which were delicious. As they were on the point of leaving, Roddie eyed the other delights on offer and looked thoroughly disappointed when Anna reminded him again of their dinner invitation.

They headed to the kitchen, where a guide was available to give a talk on the history of the building.

‘I usually deliver my talk in the courtyard,’ the tall, sophisticated lady, wearing the green and red Maclean tartan, explained. ‘But it’s starting to rain, so we’ll be more comfortable inside. It’s only a light drizzle, and I think we may see the sun before the end of your visit.’

Anna glanced outside just as a ray of sunshine suddenly broke free of the clouds and formed a miniature rainbow in the curtain of tiny raindrops.

‘Our visit will take you to the Wrecks Room, through the dungeons to the staircase leading to the upper floors,’ the guide told them.

The Wrecks Room offered illustrated information on wrecks of ships which had gone down in the waters surrounding the island, including HMS Swan – the ship sent by Oliver Cromwell to quell the warring Highlanders, which sank in 1653 near Duart Point.

‘The wreck is still down there,’ the guide said, ‘and it is now designated a Marine Historic Protected Area. Divers from the Lochaline Dive Centre near here are permitted to dive under licence. They can observe, but they’re not allowed to disturb the wreck.’

Anna found her thoughts briefly straying to Finn. Had he ever dived at Duart Point? He’d told her that it was his interest in diving that had first brought him to the Dive Centre at Lochaline, and led to his exploration of Mull and Iona.

But it was Roddie, not Finn, who took hold of her hand as they walked through the eerie atmosphere of the dungeons, leading to the stone staircase which gave access to the upper floors.

‘Be careful on these steps,’ Roddie said, following Anna up the spiral stairway. Fortunately, there was support in the form of a thick twisted rope as they mounted the uneven steps.

On the upper floor, they viewed a bedroom and the drawing room, where portraits round the walls displayed the Lairds of Duart.

‘The present Laird, Sir Lachlan Maclean, lives in the private part of the building when he’s in residence with his family, usually during the school holidays,’ the guide explained.

Showcases displaying weapons – daggers and guns – highlighted the history of the wars among the clans through the centuries.

A further staircase led to the top of the keep, where they gasped at the panoramic views of the surrounding land and sea. The rain had stopped, and Anna took advantage of the brighter weather to take a few photographs.

‘On a clear day, you can see up Loch Linnhe and even as far as Ben Nevis,’ the guide told them. As if to prove her words, the sun obliged by appearing for a few moments. Anna clung to Roddie, feeling slightly giddy as she turned to admire the spectacular panorama.

‘I don’t think we should stay here too long,’ Roddie said. ‘You have no head for heights, Anna, and I wouldn’t care to try carrying you down that narrow spiral staircase.’

Reluctant though she was to drag herself away from the splendour of the views, not to mention the photo opportunities, Anna agreed they should start their descent.

‘You’re right,’ she told him with a smile. ‘I certainly wouldn’t like to make an exhibition of myself up here.’

 

Once they were back in the car, they sat for a while, still overawed by their experience.

‘There’s too much to absorb in one visit,’ Roddie said. ‘We’ll have to return to Duart Castle.’

‘You’re right,’ Anna said. ‘I hope my pictures do it justice. It will be a good focus for the part of my project tracing how the Lords extended and protected their kingdom.’

Although she didn’t voice her further thoughts, she found herself wondering how different a return visit would be if it were Finn who accompanied her?