Grace

Chapter 17

The garden was an absolute mess. The fence was broken, an apple tree had snapped in half, some of the big pot plants had fallen over, their pots smashed to pieces and scattered everywhere. I was devastated, Master MacLachlan just let out an amused "humh" and walked through it all without a care in the world.

"We'll come over tomorrow and help you clean up," Ben said in a rush. "And fix your fence."

"Yeah, and we'll go over to the garden centre and get some new pots for you," I said.

"Oh don't be ridiculous. I made all those pots. I'll make the new ones too," he waved off. "And there's no point in trying to mend the fence whilst the ground is so wet."

"Then we'll help tidy up and come over when the ground is better for it," Ben said decisively.

"Heh. People today do still know what chivalry is. And will your guard be helping?"

"His name is James. If he desperately wants to, but I'm not going to make him."

James was currently a little way off and just out of earshot, but close enough to take a bullet if he really had to. All the way to our house, Master MacLachlan prattled on about how things had changed here since he was a student and we listened only half attentively as when he wasn't talking about the war he was actually not that good of a story teller. Mostly I focused on not letting a single thing happen to my trumpet and Ben made sure we didn't go through any puddles. At our slow pace it took half an hour to get to our house and when we got there Dame Clarke was waiting for us at the front door.

Ben and I quickly exchanged a look of fear as she did not look happy at all. Her arms were crossed and her eyes were sharp. But the closer we got, the more she melted.

"Come in, Master MacLachlan," she said. "You know the way to our side of the house."

He tooteld off.

"And you two. Fancy running off out into a storm! And not calling to let us know that you're safe! Just go upstairs and shower and change. Dinner will be in forty minutes. We don't normally do these meals on leave. You don't have to wear uniform, but keep yourselves appropriate ok? As it is the only reason you're not set up for a week of chores is because I respect Master MacLachlan so much. Go on, off with you. Be over in half an hour."

"Yes, Ma'am," we both said and hurried to do as we were told.

"You realise," I murmured to him, "that I didn't bring any smart clothes with me?"

"Oh and you think I did?" he asked.

We both sighed to each other as we went over to our separate staircases. In the end I ended up in a pair of black skinny jeans into which I tucked a red check shirt. I wore my school boots, put my hair in a loose bun and hoped that was going to be good enough.

"Well, only one way to find out," I said to my reflection.

I headed downstairs and got to the private side of the house just as Ben was knocking on the door. He was in jeans and a nice, thin knit jumper. I fell in step with him as he went through the door when he was called in.

"Ah, you two dress down well," Dame Clarke said.

"Thank you, Ma'am," we said.

"Dinner's almost on the table, come and sit down."

This side of the house was decorated with homely things like their children's coats and shoes, discarded school things and toys as well as the more adult things like scatter cushions and family photos. The dining room was a large space with a table big enough for ten. There were some plates already eaten from and abandoned at one end.