but received approving nods tinged by surprise from the two academics.
‘Shan’t be home this weekend, booked on a red eye to Dallas, short notice – sorry.’
‘Same ol’ same ol’ hey!?’
‘Yes, I’ll call you when I get there – don’t get those ladies drunk so as to take advantage like you did of me.’ Dunbar opened his mouth to protest, only to be cut off. ‘Ciao sweetie, mwaa’ – mwaa ’.’ He laid his phone on the table and eyed them blankly.
‘You must have a strong relationship,’ Holmquist observed.
‘ Orrr’ – she doesn’t really give a shit what I get up to,’ he retorted, then shrugged. ‘Elspeth’s one of those supremely confident types – it wouldn’t have fazed her if I’d said I had Miss World sitting in my lap nibbling my ear lobe.’ His three companions did not seem to know how to react. ‘Sorry, Professor, you were saying?’
‘Oh, yes well – Archie seems determined to reinvent his Reivers as free spirited ne’er-do-wells rather than murderers, mercenaries, turncoats and thieves,’ Shelagh Geary explained, lifting her glass of Merlot. ‘If I were more liberally inclined – and – allowing for the turbulence of the era, I might temper my opinion to that of unconscionable opportunists.’
Allyson Holmquist smirked as she spotted Dunbar raise an eyebrow at Shelagh Geary’s statement. ‘Awash with contradictions,’ the forensic anthropologist cut in, smiling at her partner warmly, ‘that’s our Shelagh – it’s one of the things I love about her.’
‘Awww,’ Tyler responded.
‘Sounds like they should have gone into politics,’ Dunbar offered with a wry smile.
Allyson Holmquist laughed politely as Shelagh Geary nodded her agreement. ‘Some probably did.’ Geary agreed. ‘However, no matter how passionately one believes in a thing, dramatic and absolute theorising is redundant unless supported by immutable facts. Despite his denials, Archie’s vision of the Scottish Lowlands is no less romantic than was Sir Walter Scott’s eulogising of the Scottish Highlands. I choose the classicist’s approach.’
‘I blame religion,’ Dunbar joked.
‘Had its part to play, but religion per se isn’t really to blame, Chief Inspector –’
‘Alec!’
‘Alec,’ she repeated before continuing. ‘It’s what has been done in the name of religion that is so repugnant.’
‘True,’ Holmquist added, ‘and you can deny religion all you like but you cannot deny humankinds’ religious impulses.’
‘So are you believers?’ Dunbar asked.
‘Don’t be absurd,’ Holmquist hooted, squeezing her partner’s hand.
‘So the women bishops and church weddings aren’t an issue with you two?’ Dunbar asked.
Was he being provocative? Tyler wondered. Or was he just jealous? If so. Of what? – Geary? Holmquist was certainly very striking and elegant with that sexily cerebral thing going on. A little older than Dunbar but Tyler could not think of many blokes who would pass up on the chance if they thought they were in with one. Or was it the closeness, the togetherness of the two academics? Elspeth might have only been teasing, but Tyler thought she had sensed a distinct distance between them and not just the obvious physical one.
Professor Geary stiffened and got her hand squeezed again. ‘Of course it’s an issue – from an equality point of view but not at a personal level. Allyson and I do not need our civil partnership blessed or even recognised by a priest, but see no reason why our commitment to each other, should not enjoy the benefits married heterosexual couples enjoy. And for those gays and lesbians of faith it’s a very big issue, and one we are pledged to support.’
‘Hear, hear!’ Tyler responded, as Dunbar raised his glass to them. ‘Of all the Reiver Clans, what set the Morag’s apart from the others?’ Tyler asked changing the subject.
‘Glad you asked, Briony. Archie’s convinced the answer
‘Shan’t be home this weekend, booked on a red eye to Dallas, short notice – sorry.’
‘Same ol’ same ol’ hey!?’
‘Yes, I’ll call you when I get there – don’t get those ladies drunk so as to take advantage like you did of me.’ Dunbar opened his mouth to protest, only to be cut off. ‘Ciao sweetie, mwaa’ – mwaa ’.’ He laid his phone on the table and eyed them blankly.
‘You must have a strong relationship,’ Holmquist observed.
‘ Orrr’ – she doesn’t really give a shit what I get up to,’ he retorted, then shrugged. ‘Elspeth’s one of those supremely confident types – it wouldn’t have fazed her if I’d said I had Miss World sitting in my lap nibbling my ear lobe.’ His three companions did not seem to know how to react. ‘Sorry, Professor, you were saying?’
‘Oh, yes well – Archie seems determined to reinvent his Reivers as free spirited ne’er-do-wells rather than murderers, mercenaries, turncoats and thieves,’ Shelagh Geary explained, lifting her glass of Merlot. ‘If I were more liberally inclined – and – allowing for the turbulence of the era, I might temper my opinion to that of unconscionable opportunists.’
Allyson Holmquist smirked as she spotted Dunbar raise an eyebrow at Shelagh Geary’s statement. ‘Awash with contradictions,’ the forensic anthropologist cut in, smiling at her partner warmly, ‘that’s our Shelagh – it’s one of the things I love about her.’
‘Awww,’ Tyler responded.
‘Sounds like they should have gone into politics,’ Dunbar offered with a wry smile.
Allyson Holmquist laughed politely as Shelagh Geary nodded her agreement. ‘Some probably did.’ Geary agreed. ‘However, no matter how passionately one believes in a thing, dramatic and absolute theorising is redundant unless supported by immutable facts. Despite his denials, Archie’s vision of the Scottish Lowlands is no less romantic than was Sir Walter Scott’s eulogising of the Scottish Highlands. I choose the classicist’s approach.’
‘I blame religion,’ Dunbar joked.
‘Had its part to play, but religion per se isn’t really to blame, Chief Inspector –’
‘Alec!’
‘Alec,’ she repeated before continuing. ‘It’s what has been done in the name of religion that is so repugnant.’
‘True,’ Holmquist added, ‘and you can deny religion all you like but you cannot deny humankinds’ religious impulses.’
‘So are you believers?’ Dunbar asked.
‘Don’t be absurd,’ Holmquist hooted, squeezing her partner’s hand.
‘So the women bishops and church weddings aren’t an issue with you two?’ Dunbar asked.
Was he being provocative? Tyler wondered. Or was he just jealous? If so. Of what? – Geary? Holmquist was certainly very striking and elegant with that sexily cerebral thing going on. A little older than Dunbar but Tyler could not think of many blokes who would pass up on the chance if they thought they were in with one. Or was it the closeness, the togetherness of the two academics? Elspeth might have only been teasing, but Tyler thought she had sensed a distinct distance between them and not just the obvious physical one.
Professor Geary stiffened and got her hand squeezed again. ‘Of course it’s an issue – from an equality point of view but not at a personal level. Allyson and I do not need our civil partnership blessed or even recognised by a priest, but see no reason why our commitment to each other, should not enjoy the benefits married heterosexual couples enjoy. And for those gays and lesbians of faith it’s a very big issue, and one we are pledged to support.’
‘Hear, hear!’ Tyler responded, as Dunbar raised his glass to them. ‘Of all the Reiver Clans, what set the Morag’s apart from the others?’ Tyler asked changing the subject.
‘Glad you asked, Briony. Archie’s convinced the answer
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