Kidnapped in Dunvegan

2

The car that picked me up was surprisingly not a taxi. No, I was able to travel in style in a Mercedes Benz with all the mod cons. There was chilled juice and champagne in the minibar and there was a DVD player too. I felt insecure in my discreet clothing compared to that of the chauffeur and also felt out of place in the car, but all this luxury – and two glasses of delicious champagne – meant that I soon forgot about this feeling of unease.

I didn't really have many possessions in my two suitcases. Just a few pieces of clothing that I had deemed acceptable. The remaining space was taken up by my working utensils. The driver and I spent the journey in mutual silence. This gave me the opportunity to take in the wonderful rural areas which Skye had to offer. The woods were replaced by pastures on which the sheep were dosing. There were small, quiet fantasy towns and villages up in the hills and mountains. We traveled along the coast and to numerous lochs; Loch na Cairidh, Loch Ainort, Loch Sligachan and Loch Harport to name only a few of the major ones. The sky was just as grey here as it was in London, but the weather didn't really matter to me. I would be spending most of my time in the house working anyway. Ultimately, I wasn't here to relax, but to gain the experience I had often sought after.

Dunvegan was the sort of small town that I had always imagined when I thought about the Highlands. "The town had been an important port for such a long time, but it's now more of a tourist attraction. Almost all the tourists come here to visit Dunvegan Castle," my driver explained to me. "You should also take a look at the castle while you're here. There's not much else to see. A couple of nice restaurants, a few souvenir shops and hotels. Oh, and perhaps you could go on a boat tour to one of the seal islands."

Dunvegan is by and large a romantic town that is like a fantasy. There were older houses, but most of them appeared to me to be under a hundred years old. A normal small town without anything special to offer. I was almost a little disappointed, as I had actually expected many more historical buildings. Life was definitely to be found elsewhere. After just five minutes and a bakers, a butchers and a pub, we had passed through Dunvegan and were back on the open road. There were just single houses dotted around here and there.

We went along a really beautiful street which prompted some motorbike riders to overtake us. After a few minutes, our car turned off onto an unsurfaced road, which meandered up a really steep hill on top of which there was a huge estate surrounded by green hedges. This meant it was only possible to see the dark green roof and two towers reinforced with square battlements that rose on both sides of the building. All I could see was the actual house, a large, rectangular box with high windows, countless bays and an entrance surrounded by pillars, after we had passed through the high cast-iron gate. We drove up a long driveway past an old spring fountain overgrown with moss at the center of which there was a scantily-clad hero slaying a dragon.

The estate and the house left a good impression on me, but I didn't expect anything else from Professor MacLeod. The car stopped in front of the house and I was excited about who and what awaited me in Glenoak Hall.

The driver opened the trunk and took out my bags. With a nod, he indicated for me to follow him, which I did. We hadn't quite reached the three steps which led to the entrance that was magnificently decorated with carvings when an older man in a tuxedo and wearing round nickel glasses opened the door.

After giving us a brief look, he offered a friendly smile and this time I got the impression that this smile was sincere. "Ms. Sands, it is very nice to meet you." His eyes sparkled slightly in a way that reminded me of sexual admiration if I hadn't of known better. I was obviously mistaken because, as soon as I blinked and looked at the man with squinting eyes, I realized that he was just being distant.

"My name is Alfred and I am the house butler. Please come in." He took the suitcases from the driver, quickly thanked him and sent him back to London.