Christmas at the Castle by Jenny Kane

Author:Jenny Kane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Accent Press

Chapter Ten

Monday November 30th

With only twelve days until the first of the festival guests arrived, Kit’s workload seemed to be increasing rather than decreasing.

Thanks to Gwen and her posse from the SWI, who were not only on ticket-selling detail, but were primed to make a fresh batch of festive cupcakes for each event, local interest in the festival had transformed from a trickle to a flood, and suddenly each of the organisers was in demand to do radio interviews, newspaper interviews, and school visits. Not only had the locals become enthused about the event, but due to Gwen having a wide network of SWI friends, tickets had been purchased from as far away as Glasgow and Inverness, making the festival organisers popular with the local hoteliers, who were experiencing unexpected extra overnight bookings.

Every time Kit spotted Alice she was attached to her mobile, talking to agents, or double-checking hotel bookings for their guests, or explaining, with forced patience, to a few of the less accommodating local businesses, that the reason they weren’t featured on the festival posters was because they hadn’t donated any sponsorship.

Peering up from the pile of paperwork as she leant against the back of Cameron’s empty office chair, Alice grumbled, ‘Honestly, Kit, why do so many people think they can get something for nothing?’

Kit shrugged. ‘Got to give them top marks for trying though.’

Alice grimaced. ‘It wouldn’t happen in Edinburgh.’

Having heard that complaint far more than she wanted to, and way more than was diplomatic, Kit snapped, ‘Well, we aren’t in Edinburgh, Alice.’

Seeing the surprise on the younger woman’s face, Kit moderated her tone. ‘Come on, Alice, you know the market, it’s what you’re good at. This is a small town, the rules are different here. You’re going to have no audience for anything if you don’t respect that.’

Wiping a yellow hair that had dared to stray from the confines of its clips, Alice sat on Cameron’s office chair with an unladylike thump. ‘You’re right. Sorry, Kit.’

‘It’s not me that needs apologising to.’

Alice went quiet, making Kit sure she was missing Charlie. Beginning to feel like she was running a crèche and not a literary festival, Kit said, ‘I can see something is wrong, and I can see organising this festival is getting to you. So if you want to talk, then I’m here.’

‘But you’re Charlie’s friend.’

‘I’m also a grown-up, and I don’t take sides,’ Kit found herself snapping again, not sure what it was about this woman that riled her. ‘If this is about missing Charlie, then all you have to do is say sorry for whatever you’ve done and she’ll be back on side.’

‘It’s not that simple.’

‘Actually, it is.’ Kit grabbed her bag, ‘If you’ll excuse me, my taxi will be here soon. I’m off to Torphin’s Primary School to promote your event.’

Standing outside the estate office, Kit closed her eyes and counted to ten. The taxi due to take her to Torphin’s wasn’t due for an hour yet, but if she’d stayed in the office with Alice she’d have said something she’d only regret later.

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