Graeme Burnet - His Bloody Project

Having pushed our way into the tent and purchased more ale, Archibald took to appraising the girls who stood around the perimeter of the heaving scrum of men, leaning close to each other to whisper in each others’ ears, faces aglow from the excitement of the spectacle. It was at this point that I spotted Flora Broad lingering at the edge of the shinty field. She was in the company of a tall girl I did not know and appeared deep in conversation with two young gentlemen. I noted with displeasure the way in which her face was eagerly thrust upwards towards these suitors. The fingers of her right hand continually toyed with a strand of her hair, which was prettily arranged for the occasion. As I was not anxious to renew our acquaintance, I attempted to draw Archibald further into the crowd, but he had set off towards a group of girls and, as they were in the opposite direction to Flora, I gladly followed at his heels. I had some difficulty placing one foot in front of the other and by the time I caught up, Archibald was presenting himself in charming fashion to the three young women, all of whom were adorned in embroidered white dresses. He then introduced me in most complimentary terms. I removed my cap and made a bow of sorts, managing only to make the girls snigger.

‘And why did you not take part in the match?’ the tallest of the girls asked.

Archibald waved his pipe. ‘We are the sort of chaps who prefer to best our opponents with wit rather than clubs,’ he declared.

He nudged me in the ribs, no doubt wishing me to confirm his statement by way of some clever remark, but I could muster no more than a stupid grin. Archibald was not discouraged, however, and took to informing the girls that I would soon be making a great fortune as a merchant in Glasgow.

‘But is this not the Black Macrae’s boy?’ the tall girl asked, pointing an accusing finger in my direction.

‘It is true, he is of the Black Macraes, but I would put it to you that we are none of us slaves to the reputations our forefathers have earned us,’ said Archibald grandly.

I felt the need to contribute something to the discourse, but only succeeded in waving my fingers in the air and swaying towards the girls, so that Archibald had to catch me by the elbow to prevent me falling among them.

He then asked the girls whether they might care to take a turn around the grounds of the estate with us, since, he said, it was difficult to converse among the great mass of inebriates. The girls demurred and with a brief bow, Archibald led me away by the arm. He did not seem in the least cowed by this rebuff, insisting instead that I only required some more ale to loosen my tongue and counter the effects of the whisky we had drunk. Back in the marquee and with tankards of ale to hand, I told Archibald that I had no interest in these girls as my heart was set on another. Archibald asked who this girl was and I told him something of what had occurred between myself and Flora Broad. When I had finished, Archibald sucked for some moments on his pipe as if giving serious thought to my situation. He then clutched my lapel and drew me close towards him.

‘If I might offer you some advice,’ he began, ‘would it not be better that when you depart for Glasgow, you do so unfettered by any attachments to this place? You will soon forget this girl when you are surrounded by the riches the city has to offer.’

I told him I could not forget her and nor did I wish to.

Archibald nodded slowly. Then as if coming to a sudden decision, he thrust his pipe in the air and declared, ‘In that case you must make your feelings known to her.’

I then told him of our exchange at the point in Aird-Dubh, omitting the most humiliating details.

‘If your feelings are as profound as you suggest,’ said Archibald, his arm now clasped around my shoulder, ‘you must make some declaration to her. At least then you will properly know where you stand. In any case, you should not be so easily discouraged. It is quite customary for a girl to spurn a chap’s advances, but such refusals are not to be taken seriously. Indeed, it should be taken as a measure of her esteem for you that she did not submit at the first opportunity. She is merely testing your resolve. You have seen a cock in the henhouse, I’m sure. He must make a display of his tail feathers. A young woman is just like a chicken, she has to be wooed. You must strut a little for her, Roderick.’

He then imitated a cock, flapping his elbows like wings and throwing his head back to crow. Some of the men around us stopped drinking to stare at him. When he had concluded his display, he wagged a finger at me. ‘Do you wish to be a cock or a cuckold?’ he declared, evidently proud of his maxim.

I then explained that even if my feelings were reciprocated, a great deal of bad blood existed between our families and that her father would never consent to our being together.

‘It seems to me,’ said Archibald, ‘that you have erected so many obstacles in your mind that you have quite defeated yourself before you have even begun.’ He then prodded me roughly on the forehead and told me that I should make less use of what was between my ears and more of what was between my legs. At that precise moment, I saw over Archibald’s shoulder that Flora had abandoned her admirers and was walking arm in arm with her friend around the perimeter of the now deserted shinty field. I made no response to my companion’s advice and he must have noticed the momentary dwam that came over me.

‘I discern from the colour in your cheeks that you have spied the maiden in question,’ he said, pointing the stem of his pipe in the direction of the two figures. ‘Let us resolve this question once and for all.’

I had no desire to resolve any questions and greatly regretted having disclosed my thoughts about Flora in the first place, but Archibald had already set off, his arm clamped firmly around my shoulders. As we approached the two figures, I protested that I did not think that I was in any condition to properly converse.

Archibald waved away my objections. ‘Nonsense,’ he declared. ‘Your situation has arisen precisely because you have failed to express yourself. If your tongue is now loosened by ale, all the better.’

We cut across the centre of the field, so that by the time Flora and her companion rounded the corner of the pitch, it appeared that we were meeting them quite by chance. They were so engrossed in conversation that they did not notice us until we were only a few yards away. It was by that time quite impossible, short of running away, to avert our meeting. Archibald began loudly discoursing about the grandeur of the landscape and our small place within it, and affected great surprise when we almost collided with our prey.

‘Hello, Roddy,’ said Flora.

She did not seem in the least disconcerted by our appearance and I felt all of a sudden that perhaps all was not lost between us, and that seeing me in the company of such a fine fellow as Archibald Ross, she might revise her opinion of me.

Archibald feigned surprise that Flora and I knew each other and prevailed upon me to introduce him. I did so, and Flora then introduced her friend as Ishbel Farquhar. Archibald made the same low bow as he had to my sister and declared that, had he known that such pretty flowers grew in Culduie, he would have long ago taken up residence there. The two girls looked at each other and communicated some secret thought with their eyes. Archibald then asked if we might accompany the girls on their turn around the grounds and they made no objection. Archibald, having explained his position with the ghillie, pointed out some features of the house and described in entertaining terms some aspects of the life that went on there. Flora then volunteered that during the summer months her mother worked in the kitchens and that she had herself been employed there. It irked me that Flora thus connected herself to the life that Archibald led. The two of them fell to discussing various members of the household, and Flora was greatly amused by the descriptions and anecdotes which my friend related. Ishbel and I followed in silence and the more Flora tittered at Archibald’s conversation, the blacker my mood became. As we reached the outermost limit of the field, Archibald broke off from what he was saying and suggested we continue towards the burn, which, he declared, was most picturesque at this time of year. Our companions agreed and we continued past some outhouses towards the woods which grew around the river. Archibald then asked how long Flora and I had known each other. Flora replied that we had been neighbours all our lives, but, as I had always been such a solitary boy, it was only in these last few months that she had come to know me. Archibald replied to the effect that I was quite a character and while many young men were happiest listening to the sound of their own voices, I was an altogether more thoughtful individual. He then expressed the opinion that it was a pity that Flora and I would not have the opportunity to become better acquainted on account of my imminent departure for Glasgow. Flora conveyed some surprise at this remark.