CHAPTER FIVE
Innis and Ean joined Finlay in the castle’s function room as the dinner dance came to a close. They sat at their private table discussing the night’s events.
‘I thought we could start planning the ball in the morning,’ Finlay suggested. ‘Merrilees let me see the rough editorial she’s writing for the advertising feature in the newspaper. I trust her to write something great. It’s ideal because it doesn’t go into details of the buffet menu or anything like that. It just highlights that we’re holding a ball at the castle on Christmas Eve.’
‘That’s what we need at the moment,’ Ean agreed.
‘Once we have details of the menu and other aspects, we can add those as news to our website,’ said Finlay.
They all agreed.
‘We were impressed with Brodrick’s range of ice cream tonight,’ said Innis. ‘I think we should include more ice cream on our menus.’
‘Brodrick says it sells well in the winter,’ Ean confirmed.
Finlay nodded. ‘Yes, we should.’
Innis stood up. ‘I told Brodrick I’d give him some chocolate samples to try out new flavours for his ice cream,’ Innis told Finlay. ‘I’m going through to the kitchen to wrap them up. I’ll mention to Nairne about adding ice cream to the menus.’
‘Do that,’ said Finlay. ‘And tell him we’ll have a meeting tomorrow after breakfast to discuss the buffet for the ball.’
‘I’ll tell him,’ Innis confirmed.
Nairne was finishing up in the kitchen when Innis walked in.
The castle kitchen was so large that it easily accommodated Innis’ chocolatier set up. Shelves were stacked with boxes ready to be filled with chocolates. Cupboards stored all the products he used to create everything from chocolate truffles to fondant fancies in dark, milk and white chocolate.
The facility had a butler sink, ovens, and worktop where Innis could mix his specialist confectionary.
The back door opened out on to the patio where Innis and his brothers liked to have breakfast most mornings unless it was lashing rain.
Everything in the chocolatier part of the kitchen gleamed under the lights, and the aroma of chocolate wafted through the air as Innis started packing the samples to give to Brodrick.
‘We’re thinking of adding ice cream to the castle menus,’ Innis said to Nairne.
‘Great. Whenever there’s ice cream on the pudding menu, it’s always the first thing to go.’
‘What flavours are popular?’
Nairne reached for one of the recipe books on the shelf where he’d tucked in lists that he used when preparing ideas for the menus. ‘According to my notes, vanilla and chocolate, then mint and strawberry. Obviously, we added our own touches but the traditional flavours are the most popular, but I’d like to include others like the butterscotch that Brodrick sells in his cafe bar.’
‘Ean had that tonight, in a cone. I tried the chocolate Christmas ice cream. It was delicious.’ He gestured to the samples he was packing up and putting into a large cake box. ‘I’m giving Brodrick samples of the chocolate I brought back recently to let him try new recipes.’
‘Are we going to include ice cream on the buffet menu for the ball? We’ve got the chilled counter that we use during the summer for the sorbet and ice cream.’
‘Yes, I think we should. Finlay is planning a meeting to discuss this with you tomorrow.’
‘We could buy the ice cream from Brodrick, offer a selection of the flavours he’s got, including the chocolate Christmas one and butterscotch.’
Innis nodded firmly. ‘I’ll talk to Brodrick about this in the morning when I give him the chocolate samples.’
Nairne smiled. ‘Great. And you should talk to Lyle too. He has catered for big fancy balls when he was training as a patisserie chef. He has a lot of experience.’
Innis frowned. ‘Lyle?’
‘Yes, don’t underestimate his skills. He’s made a success of his tea shop due to the delicious cakes and bakery items he makes. Many of them are his own recipes.’
Innis thought about how Lyle had opened the tea shop after training as a patisserie chef on the mainland. And now he’d recently expanded the premises to the upstairs level, creating a modern vintage style of tea shop.
‘I’ll pop in to the tea shop and have a word with Lyle too.’
‘Lyle could provide us with extra cakes for the ball,’ Nairne suggested.
Innis agreed.
Leaving Innis to get on with his packing, Nairne left to go home.
‘I’ll see you in the morning,’ Nairne said, giving a cheery wave.
Innis continued packing and then worked on until late, trying out a new recipe he had in mind for his chocolates. He liked mixing flavours and textures.
The night wore on and he tidied up and switched the lights off.
The night porter at the reception desk bid him goodnight as Innis headed upstairs to get some sleep.
But sleep didn’t come easy as his mind replayed dancing with Skye, feeling her in his arms, her softness, her beauty...
Punching his pillows into comfy submission, he forced himself to settle down before the dawn when he’d be up early to start another busy day.
Skye had snuggled down to sleep, but her dreams were filled with Innis. She blamed the moments of closeness they’d shared at the cafe bar. The way he held her when they danced. Those intense amber eyes gazing down at her. Tempting her? She wasn’t sure. Maybe the attraction she felt for him was causing her imagination to fill in the gaps of all the things he didn’t say. At least not verbally. Though the unspoken strength of his feelings for her were keeping her dreams lively and intriguing...and hopeful.
The latter bothered her. She’d long given up hope that Innis was the man for her. Hadn’t she?
Come on, she urged herself. Think of the fairytale ball, the pink ball gown she had her eye on. The shoes she’d wear with it to dance the night away at the castle.
Somewhere in the midst of chiffon and tulle, sparkles and grandeur, Skye fell asleep...
The wind whipped through the canopy shielding the table where Innis, Finlay and Ean were sitting outside on the patio having breakfast. A hardiness had been built into them to eat breakfast on the patio in the fresh air if it wasn’t raining or snowing.
Finlay gazed at the light grey sky and the wind blowing through the trees that bordered the garden where it blended with the forest. The garden was winter bare but still beautiful even when not blooming with flowers. A few hardy plants, like winter jasmine and plucky little pansies provided floral notes to the flower borders. The lawns were well cut and stretched all the way to the edges of the trees. Soon, the green would be totally white. Extra soon if Innis’ prediction that snow was imminent was correct.
‘No hint of snow yet,’ Finlay commented, inclined to go by Innis’ gauge on the weather than the forecast.
There was no sign of snow in the pale grey sky, but the light from it bore an extra glow.
Innis ate his cooked breakfast, tucking into the eggs, grilled tomatoes and mushroom and toast. He showed no signs of being tired, having had a few hours of snatched slumber.
Breathing in the air, Innis gazed at the sky as clouds breezed past at a quickening rate. ‘There’s a definite sense of snow in the air.’
Ean couldn’t sense or see it, but nodded. ‘Bring it on. I love the snow.’
Innis put his cutlery down and stood up. ‘I’m heading to see Brodrick before I start the day at the cake shop. And having a word with Lyle about catering for a ball.’
‘Lyle has experience of catering for a ball?’ Finlay sounded surprised.
‘I didn’t know that,’ Ean added.’
‘According to Nairne, Lyle did this when he was training as a patisserie chef,’ Innis told them.
‘That could be handy,’ said Finlay.
‘I’ll talk to him and let you know what he says.’ Innis then left them to finish their breakfast while he drove down to the main street.
Innis parked outside his cake shop, lifted the two cake boxes filled with the chocolate samples, and went into Brodrick’s cafe bar. A light glowing from inside the shop indicated that he was in there preparing for the day ahead. As was Lyle. A quick glance at the vintage style tea shop showed that the lights were on. Lyle was another one invariably up early to bake cakes and other items in time for opening to customers.
‘Brodrick!’ Innis called through from the bar.
‘I’m in the kitchen. Come on through.’
Innis walked in carrying the boxes and placed them down on a work surface. ‘These are the samples.’
Brodrick came over and lifted the lids. ‘That’s a lot more than I anticipated. Are you sure you can spare this?’
Innis nodded firmly. ‘I brought back far more than I needed, mainly so I could try out all the different types from the various suppliers. I’ve plenty.’
‘Thanks very much.’ Brodrick was sincere. ‘White chocolate? That looks wonderful.’
‘It is. And so is the milk and variations of the dark blends.’
‘I’ll be experimenting with all of these.’ The enthusiasm sounded in Brodrick’s voice.
‘There was something I wanted to talk to you about. We’re planning to have ice cream as part of the buffet menu for the ball. Would you be able to supply us with it?’
Brodrick brightened at the thought of such an order. ‘I could. How much to you estimate you’ll need? And what flavours do you want?’
‘We’ve still to meet and chat with Nairne about this. But if you’re interested, we’ll be able to tell you by the end of the day. What I do know is...we want all the flavours.’
Brodrick smiled. ‘I can do that. Would that include the Christmas flavour?’
‘Especially that one. It tasted delicious and it’s ideal for our Christmas Eve theme.’
‘Okay. I’ll put my mind to it.’
‘Right, I’m popping in to talk to Lyle now.’
‘He’s catered for prestigious balls at fancy events in the past.’
‘So I’ve heard. I know his bakery products are popular with customers, but I’d no idea he was such an experienced patisserie chef.’
Brodrick lowered his tone. ‘I think we underestimate him because...well, Lyle is Lyle.’
Innis smiled and nodded, then headed out and along to the nearby tea shop.
Lyle was cooking in the kitchen, but he’d already stacked up cakes in the display cabinets, everything filled ready for the customers coming for their daily baking orders.
Innis followed the tasty aroma through to the kitchen. Something savoury was cooking along with the scent of cakes and scones baking. ‘Morning.’
Lyle jolted and then smiled. ‘Oh, it’s yourself.’ Innis’ casual manner indicated that nothing was awry, but Lyle was surprised to see him.
‘I can see you’re busy baking, but can I talk to you while you work?’
‘Yes, come on in. There’s a fresh pot of tea. Help yourself to a cuppa. And there’s sausage rolls warm from the oven if you want one.’ Lyle wore his chef’s whites and was mixing a bowl of buttercream.
‘I’ve had breakfast...but they do smell tasty.’
‘Ach, take one. It’ll put strength in your stride for the busy day ahead.’
Innis didn’t need to be offered this twice. He helped himself to a cup of tea and a sausage roll. Biting into the light puff pastry and savoury filling, he nodded and gave Lyle the thumbs up.
Lyle laughed. ‘Don’t fuss about the crumbs and flakes. Tuck in.’ He added vanilla to the buttercream and kept working. ‘So...can I guess why you’re here?’
Innis nodded and continued to eat the sausage roll.
‘Do you need extra cakes for the ball? Do you want me to bake some?’
Innis sipped his tea and then explained. ‘Yes and something else.’
Lyle frowned while he whipped the buttercream for the cupcakes and Victoria sponges.
‘Advice,’ Innis told him. ‘Nairne says you’ve catered for balls like the one we’re having.’
‘That’s true. It was part of my training. What is it you need to know?’
‘We’re having a buffet as that’s always what works when we have a large dinner dance. With couples up dancing at the ball, we want to clear the main floor area so they can waltz around, so a buffet along the far side wall works well.’
‘The balls I worked on did the same. I think there’s a main difference between a dinner dance and a ball. The first often has people that attend for the dinner, but say they’re not there for the dancing. But if you go to a ball, you go there to dance. You dress to impress and to enjoy dancing, and that’s the core of what a ball is. Anything else is just a fancy dinner dance.’
Innis nodded, taking in this advice. ‘That’s a very relevant point.’
‘And one to highlight when you’re advertising your fairytale ball. It’ll raise the bar on the whole event.’
‘We’ll do that.’
Lyle reached up to a shelf of books and selected one. ‘Take this with you. There are recipes for large buffets, for weddings and such, other recipes I used are tucked inside, and scribbled notes I made. It’ll give you and the others ideas for the buffet menu.’
‘Thanks, Lyle. I appreciate it. I’ll bring it back to you soon. And thanks for the tea and sausage roll.’
A timer pinged on one of the ovens and Lyle lifted out a batch of scones. These were popular served plain to customers or split and filled with whipped cream and strawberry or raspberry jam.
Smiling, Lyle waved him off.
Walking through to the front of the tea shop on his way out, Innis viewed the cakes and bakery items on display in the glass cabinets with a fresh eye. The selection was impressive. All the cakes were beautifully made, from the traditional Victoria sponges filled with buttercream and jam and sprinkled with icing sugar or white icing and a cherry, to the festive fruit cakes bursting with sultanas and raisins and decorated with almonds and a shiny sugar glaze. Some had a dash of whisky. He could see the expertise, the talent that Lyle had. The scones were light and fluffy with a hint of golden brown. Often the hardest things to bake were the basics. But Lyle did it all to perfection. No wonder his tea shop was so successful.
Innis didn’t grudge Lyle his success. Their shops were different and complemented each other, as did Brodrick’s cafe bar, all catering to various tastes.
The fire was lit and the tea shop had retained the old–fashioned tiled fireplace where two tables were situated. Other tables were placed around the shop and seating was now available upstairs too. But customers could come in a buy what they wanted from Lyle as if it was a bakery shop.
On his way out, the morning breeze blew in from the sea, and there was that scent of snow again. Maybe the first fall would be later tonight. He planned to take a walk up the hills after closing for the day before going home to the castle.
And then he saw Skye and Holly drive up carrying armfuls of parcels they’d collected from the early delivery at the post office.
Skye glanced round, sensing she was being watched, or sensing Innis... She smiled at him.
He smiled back at her, his heart reacting to seeing her again. There were decisions to make regarding romance as well as business. But this morning, business took the lead. Unlocking his door, he went into the cake shop and started to get the day organised, beginning with heating the ovens, washing his hands, putting on his chef’s clean clothing, and making a start on the cakes.
He put Lyle’s recipe book safely away in a cupboard, intending to read it later, but he called Finlay to update him on the things he’d discussed with Brodrick and Lyle.
‘Murdo’s down at the post office collecting the mail and the daily papers for the guests. I’ll ask him to pop in and get the book from you. Ean and I can use it to show Nairne when we’re planning the buffet menu later this morning.’
‘I’ll have it ready for him. But thankfully, they’re both up for helping with the ball. We’ll discuss payment with them of course later.’
‘Yes,’ said Finlay.
They ended the call on a busy note, planning to keep in touch as they whittled down the buffet menu selection while Innis worked in his cake shop.
Innis put the book in a paper bag so that none of the notes were lost, ready for Murdo to pick up.
He went through to check the cakes on display and put the main lights on ready for Rosabel and Primrose arriving to help with the shop. From the window he saw Skye and Holly unloading delivery boxes from their car. Filled with dresses probably...
‘I’m so excited.’ Skye carried the last of the boxes into their vintage dress shop. She put it down with the others, several large boxes. ‘I love when we get a job lot delivery of dresses. It’s like opening presents on Christmas morning.’
Skye started to tear open the top of one of them.
‘Did you even check roughly what you were buying when you ordered them?’ Holly kept her fingers crossed that the dresses were as lovely as the tea dresses they’d bought the previous week.
‘No. The message came through from them asking if we’d like to buy a job lot of vintage evening dresses. It was a real bargain. I clicked the order button and here we are. They’re a regular supplier and they’ve never done us wrong.’
Holly nodded. ‘Okay. What pressie are we opening first?’
‘This one.’ Skye pried it open, seeing a hint of pale blue satin peeking out. Opening it further, she lifted out a sky blue satin evening dress with shoestring straps decorated with matching sequins. ‘This is lovely.’ She draped it on a hanger and hung it up on a rail.
Holly pulled out the next dress, a confection of chiffon in cream shot through with gold thread. ‘This is a contender for the ball gown collection.’ She added it to the rail.
‘Oh look at this.’ Skye opened another box and pulled out a dress with an emerald velvet bodice that flowed down to a full–length tulle skirt that was a few shades lighter than the emerald.
Holly took charge of the dress. ‘I do like this one.’
Dress after dress they unpacked each design, estimating the eras ranging from decades past.
Once the dresses were hanging on the rail and the boxes tidied away, they started to examine each dress for wear and tear. Every dress they sold was carefully cleaned, mended when necessary, embellished if it enhanced the design, and then sold in the shop and from their online store. Online sales dominated, but with the party season upon them, more local customers were coming in to browse and buy.
They expected an influx of customers wanting a ball gown and these were due to arrive within the next two days. But Skye had been tempted by the bargain offer of a job lot of evening dresses from a supplier on the mainland, and the contents of the boxes had not disappointed.
‘Every one of these dresses is a winner,’ said Holly. ‘You were right to order the job lot.’
Skye smiled. ‘These look like they’ve been worn once, maybe to a party or dance, and then hung in the wardrobe never to be worn again.’
‘Classy designs. From about the forties and fifties I’d say by the looks of the stitching and finish.’
Skye agreed with Holly. ‘I’ll add new sequins to the blue dress. A few are missing from the straps. And I’ll probably add a scattering of them on the bodice to highlight the design.’
Skye and Holly were both experienced in dressmaking, mending and upgrading dresses from bygone times. Skye’s pink sewing machine was permanently set up behind the counter, and repairs were part of the fun of their work. They loved vintage fashion, especially dresses like these where the luxury of silks, satins, chiffons, tulle and velvet combined to create exquisite pieces that their customers clambered for.
In a corner of the shop was a bargain rail filled with summer dresses in light cotton and linen fabrics. Customers often picked up a bargain from out of season dresses. But Skye and Holly had gained a reputation for selling authentic vintage dresses, real bargains, throughout the year.
They’d acquired an extensive list of suppliers on the mainland, many in the cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh and London, from their mother. Over the years she’d owned the shop, she’d build up a reliable list of suppliers and they were happy to now deal with Skye and Holly. With the ferry making daily deliveries to the island, orders could be sent easily back and forth. Since taking over their mother’s shop, they’d increased sales substantially through their hard work, fashion work experience and love of all things in vintage clothing.
Holly pulled down a roll of light blue chiffon from the selection of fabrics they kept in their shop. She held it beside the blue silk dress. ‘It’s a fair match. We could add a full chiffon skirt to create a ball gown.’
‘That would look wonderful.’ Skye then lifted other chiffon, tulle and organza fabric from the shelves and held them up against the various dresses. The chiffon was soft and flowing and had a beautiful drape to it, while the organza had a more structured quality to it. ‘Most of these dresses could be transformed into designs fit for the ball. And there’s time to order other fabric. I saw some lovely chiffon, organza and georgette fabric that had lots of sparkle in it.’
‘Let’s do it,’ Holly agreed, feeling the excitement build.
After sorting everything, Skye picked up her purse. ‘I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.’ They’d both skipped breakfast to make an early start. ‘Would you like something from Lyle’s tea shop?’
‘Yes, anything delicious.’
‘That doesn’t exactly narrow it down. You know what Lyle’s shop’s like. Everything is delicious.’
‘That should make it extra easy.’
Skye smiled and was about to leave when Ailsa came bursting in.
‘What do you think?’ Ailsa wore a glittering tiara–style hair band and turned her head back and forth to show how it sparkled under the lights.
‘Very sparkly. Very you,’ said Holly.
‘Did you make it?’ Skye admired the band on her friend’s dark, silky hair.
Ailsa owned the craft shop nearby. She sold items that she made, and some she didn’t. Her artistic skills were well known especially when it came to jewellery making and accessories.
‘Yes, months ago,’ said Ailsa. ‘I was sorting through my stock and found it where I’d stashed it along with another four.’
‘You have more than one?’ Skye’s interest perked up.
‘Uh–huh!’ She took the band off and handed it to Skye. ‘Try it on. The others are all variations of sparkle from crystal to silver and gold — and pink.’ Ailsa smiled knowingly as she emphasised the latter.
‘Pink?’ Skye paused from trying on the band.
‘You mentioned last night that you had your eye on a pale pink ball gown. The pink hair band would look lovely with your dress.’
Skye put the band on and admired it in the shop’s dressing room mirror. ‘It looks like a tiara.’
‘Without actually being a tiara,’ said Ailsa. ‘It’s not like the ball is a fancy dress party. But these are just hair bands that happen to look like tiaras. Not too ostentatious.’
‘No, not at all,’ Skye agreed, reluctant to take it off.
‘Let me try it on,’ said Holly, eager to see if she’d suit it.
‘The colour of the gold sparkles really enhances your auburn hair,’ Ailsa told Holly.
‘It does,’ Skye confirmed. ‘Obviously it would depend on your ball gown, but the gold would go with most dress colours.’
‘I’ll buy it,’ Holly said firmly.
‘Don’t be silly. I made these for buttons and for fun. Keep it. And you can have the pink one.’ She’d brought it with her in her bag.
Skye laughed. ‘You know me too well.’
‘That’s what friends are for. Now did I hear you say that you were popping to the tea shop?’ said Ailsa. ‘I’m going there for something tasty for my morning tea.’
‘I’ll go with you.’
Leaving Holly in the shop, still wearing the tiara hair band, they walked to the tea shop.
Lyle saw them through the window. They often turned up to buy scones and cakes, but this morning they paused outside and seemed to be whispering and giggling in a conspiratorial way. They were up to something.
‘Morning, Lyle,’ Skye chirped as they walked up to the main counter.
‘What can I get for you ladies today?’ He gestured to the fruit scones and fairy cakes, knowing their tastes.
‘I’d like a roll with Scottish cheddar and salad,’ said Ailsa, in the mood for something savoury rather than sweet.
‘That sounds tasty. Make that three. Holly and I have a delivery of gorgeous dresses to sort so this will combine as breakfast and lunch.’
Lyle made up their orders.
‘And I’ll have two fruit scones with strawberry jam,’ Skye added.
As they paid for their orders, Skye spoke up. ‘Does Rory take bookings for parties?’ she said to Lyle.
Lyle frowned, unsure what she meant.
‘And does he dance?’ Ailsa wanted to know.
Lyle was flummoxed. ‘Dance?’
‘You know, sexy dancing,’ Ailsa told him.
This confused Lyle even more. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘There’s a picture of Rory pinned up on the notice board in the post office,’ Skye explained. ‘People can add their names if they want to hire him for parties.’
‘Parties? What do you mean?’ Lyle sounded anxious.
‘You know how Rory stripped his shirt off last night at the knitting bee, showing us his lean muscles,’ said Skye. ‘Well, people are looking to hire him and want to know if he does any extras, like dancing or singing while he takes his clothes off.’
The tone of Skye’s voice and Ailsa’s innocent expression threw Lyle for a loop. ‘Look after the tea shop for me. I’ll be back in a few minutes.’ He rushed towards the front door when Skye called after him.
‘We were just joking.’
Lyle came to a sudden halt, turned and faced them, trying and failing not to laugh. ‘You wee minxes! You had me fooled there. I knew the pair of you were up to something when I saw you whispering outside the shop.’
‘Sorry, Lyle,’ Ailsa apologised. ‘We couldn’t resist.’
Lyle walked back to the counter, shaking his head at them.
Holding up her bag of rolls and scones, Skye giggled and waved, leaving Lyle to point a warning finger at them.
‘There will be payback for your mischief,’ he said.
‘No, don’t ration our scones and cakes.’ Skye feigned distress.
Lyle laughed, feeling lighter having had the two troublemakers in his tea shop.