Coveted (Completed) - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

We had left the meeting at the base with only one thought running through our mids - her, Maisie.
"Stop in the village, by the florist" Hector told Jamison, who grinned at us but kept his mouth shut.
"Dinner?" I asked and Hector nodded, earning a muffled snort from Jamison.
The florists was tiny but well stocked and I stood beside my brother scanning the flowers on offer, they were all too... too flowery, she needed something special, different. My gaze went past the roses and out the window to the small wild garden to the side of the shop.
"Can I help you?" a woman asked and I turned to face her, my hand coming up to point out the window.
"Is the garden yours?"
"Yes?" she replies looking between us and I grin.
"I would like something special, I will pay whatever you want but I want those flowers" I point out the window again at her garden.
"Are you sure, they are wildflowers, and mainly weeds" she questions but I can see Hectors nod.
"I know, do you have a card my brother can fill in while I show you the ones I want"
"Of course" she lifts a box holding a variety of cars up to the counter top, and Hector starts looking through them as I guide the bemused florist out the door and towards her garden.
20 minutes later we have a large wild bouquet and she is creating a wrapping around it. Hector passes her the card and I pull out my card to pay.
"Are you taking this with you or would you like it delivered, there is a small cost for delivery" she asks and we both smile at her.
"Delivered please, to Lady Greystone" Hector replies as I watch the expressions chase over her face, curiosity being the prominent one.
"How soon can you deliver these?"
"I can take them up to the house now, That'll be £25 including delivery"
"That doesn't sound very much, given I have robbed your garden, please take more" I pass her my card and she smiles back at me.
"You have restored my faith today and shown me an untapped resource from my garden, its plenty, but thank you for the offer."
"Do you think she'll like them?" I asked Hector as we headed back to where Jamison was waiting for us.
"It was a good call, they suit her, lets just hope she says yes to dinner, then we can ask her" he laughs.
An hour later both our phones indicate a message from an unknown number... Maisie 'Thank you for the flowers, they are beautiful and yes to dinner. Maisie'
I grinned at Hector and we both typed a message out before saving her number to our phones 'We will pick you up at seven x'
By the time the evening came round, we had been busy, having booked a table at a local restaurant, we had settled down to work, catching up with our emails and getting an update from Crest and his team. Emily had confirmed she had moved the money to a safe account and that Strait was still abroad, with no indication of coming back anytime soon. We had had HR try to contact her but nothing back so far.
Jamison had made contact with the local police to see if they could help at all with Duncan's whereabouts and we knew he was going to do some digging whist we were out this evening.
At 6.45 we were approaching the house, which had been simply marked at the bottom of the long driveway as Greystone, and it was exactly that a huge grey stone keep, sitting beautifully into the countryside around it, the mullioned windows reflecting the fast setting sun. The loch in view off to one side as we approached. It was forbidding but also strangely homely.
As we parked the door opened and an old woman watched us approach, looking us up and down... assessing us. Who was she?
"Good evening" Hector greeted as he reached her a step ahead of me.
"You send them flowers" she asked bluntly and we both nodded.
"Yes ma'am"
She cackled, and I exchanged a quick look with Hector, who was this woman? "Come away in, Maisie isn't quite ready yet, and I want to see yer in the light" she spun on her heal and marched back inside, leaving us to follow her. Moving surprisingly fast for an old lady, we watched her disappear through a door opposite where we had entered "Come along" she called and we followed, moving into a warm room that overlooked the loch.
The view drew your eye to the window but it was the huge cat that resemble a mini black lion that held it there.
"Pluto?" Hector said from beside me and I saw what he meant, it did really resemble the cuddly toy and books we had got Per for the twins at Christmas.
The woman laughed again "My name is Mary and yes that is Pluto" she tells us, studying us, as I look at the cat again, did she say?
"You named the cat after the books?" I asked bemused but she laughed again.
"No, the books were named after that cat"
"You're the author?" Hector queries "Our niece and nephew love the book and the toy cat"
"Sorry boys, the cat is mine but the books are not" she tells us, just as we hear a shout.
"Mary"
"In here" she calls back and we turn to the door as she rushes in, not seeing us.
"Mary, is it too late to cancel, I don't think I can do this!" she moans, her back to us as she fidgets in front of a smiling Mary.
"Rubbish, don't be such a wuss, what the worse that can happen" she challenges the woman we are both fixated on.
"They will realise just how unsociable I am, come on Mary, can you call them and let them know I am sick...Please"
Hector and I are both grinning, she is adorable and nervous, and I know that makes me more not less interested, I just want to scoop her up against me and protect her from everything... well everything except me and my brother.
"Its a bit late for that dear" she tells her, pointing at us over her shoulder.
She spins and gasps "Oh Shit!" before glaring back at Mary, "You should have told me they were here!" she mutters before turning back to us.
"Good evening Maisie" I say stepping forward and lifting her hand to my lips, before letting Hector do the same, our eyes on her as she blushes.
"I'm sorry, that was rude of me" she whispers out before raising her eyes to ours "I'm not good with people and am a little nervous" she explains and I smile again, as she shows her strength by explaining to us her nerves.
"We won't bite, we promise" I tell her reclaiming her hand as Hector mumbles "unless you want us too" next to me. I can tell by her blush she heard him but she doesn't pull away.
"Shall we go?" I ask and she nods, nervously biting her lip. I can feel Hector's groan as if it was my own.
Mary points at a wool coat draped over a chair and Maisie clucks at her, "No thank you Mary" but the crazy old lady just laughs, pointing at Hector "Her coat, don't let her get cold and look after her, yer hear" she smiles and glares between us, a sight I didn't think was possible but the message was clear.
"Be good" she tells us before leaving the room ahead of us.
Maisie groans and with a small grin looks at us "Sorry, Mary forgets I am a grown up, sometimes"
"Don't worry, its nice she cares and we promise, best behaviour"
Maisie laughs and I can feel some of her tension ease, "Are you ready?" I ask and she grins and nods, Hector picking up her coat and holding it out to her. She huffs but I release her hand so she can slide her arms into the coat. Hector crooking his arm and escorting her out to the car and I swear I can hear a laugh behind us as I follow them out.
"We booked at The Huntsman's Arms, I hope that is okay?" I ask as I settle into the seat behind Hector, I can see her face in profile and grin as she bites her lip again before nodding.
"Its lovely there, they only use local produce so its not a big menu but it's all fresh" she rushes out and we grin at her. "Thank you for the flowers, they were very unusual and very beautiful" she adds, looking between us.
"You are very welcome"
It's not a long ride to the restaurant and despite the nervous tension in the car its not uncomfortable, just as if we are balanced on a edge at the moment. I beat Hector to her side as we park and I help her out of the car, taking her hand in mine, her delicate fingers threaded through mine. I was conscious she could pull away if she didn't want me holding her hand, she didn't.
I mentally cursed her coat as we entered the warm building and she moved to remove it, my low growl raising a grin from her as I handed her coat to the waiter to hang up. They had seated us at a table overlooking the valley, the candlelight highlighting the red tones in her hair, and we watched her as much as we looked at the view as we settled in. The waiter returning with menus and a smile.
"Lady Greystone, it is a pleasure to see you again" he offered and looked shocked at Hectors growl.
Maisie glared at Hector before looking at the poor young man, now waiting nervously by the table "Thank you Ewan, I hope the family is well?"
"Yes your ladyship, they are very well" his gaze nervously scans us again. "And Katelyn asked me to pass on her thanks when I saw you"
Maisie nodded and looked back down at the menu, Hector cleared his throat "My apologies, I don't know what came over me" I watched her raise her eyes to his and nod, her head tilting towards the waiter, I hid my grin as Hector looked at him "I"m sorry" he repeated.
The boy smiled "Can I get you any drinks?" and like that everything moved on.