“That’s somebody at the door,” Marie said and glanced at Watters, who stepped over to open it.
“What the devil?” Watters said.
“Who is it?” Marie asked and smiled. “Oh, halloa, Ailish, come away in!”
Elspeth MacPhee entered the house with her hooped jet earrings jangling and her skirt rustling around her legs. Watters glanced at her waist, relieved to see she was not carrying a knife.
“Should you be here?” Watters asked.
“Why not?” Mrs MacPhee replied. “Marie is a good friend of mine.” She smiled at Marie and lapsed into Gaelic. “Is that not so, Marie?”
“It is,” Marie said in the same language. “Sit down, Ailish, and I’ll put the kettle on.”
“I’ll make the tea,” Watters said and enjoyed Mrs MacPhee’s reaction to his knowledge of Gaelic. He wondered how he should react to having a ki
