CHAPTER 8 The Arrival of the Swedes

 At the office next morning, Mary got a call to go to the managing director’s office where she was told that her enquiry with the Swedish firm Saab had paid off. Three directors from the company were flying into London in two days’ time to have a meeting with Government officials in Whitehall before flying up to Scotland to view the smelters at Kinlochleven and Fort William.

Mary’s instructions were to meet them at the airport, escort them to London, liaise with them and arrange transport, accommodation and any sight-seeing that was required. Their visit would extend well into next week and no expense was to be spared to secure the contract, especially as the chairman of the company, Mr Petersen, was coming. She would be helped by someone from the Glasgow Office and negotiations would be made by another representative of the firm.

That day and the next were spent on the telephone and sending telex messages back and forth between Glasgow, London and Stockholm.

On the Thursday morning, Mary was waiting in the business lounge at Heathrow Airport when she met the Swedish delegation, three elderly and distinguished-looking men. The welcome given by this good-looking and well-groomed woman appeared to make a good impression on them. Introductions were made and on the drive to London, in Campbell Holding’s chauffeur-driven limousine, Mary gave a brief description of the planned itinerary which met with their full approval.

After they had checked into the Dorchester Hotel, they were driven to Whitehall and given a phone number to call when they were finished with their business there and were ready to return to the hotel.

It was late evening before they called for transport and Mary went with the driver to see them back to their accommodation. Declining an invitation to dine with them, Mary reminded them that their flight to Glasgow was at eight thirty the next morning and transport would be waiting for them at quarter past six.

Mary’s job was made much easier by the Swedes’ perfect English and their impeccable manners.

Next morning, travel arrangements went smoothly and they arrived at Glasgow Airport at quarter past nine. On the flight, Mary enjoyed the conversation with the three men and felt relaxed in their company.

At Glasgow Airport, they were met by Mr McLean, Laura and the driver of a small luxury coach. Introductions made and luggage transferred, they were soon on their way to the Ballachulish Hotel. While Mr McLean gave a running commentary along the route on points of interest, Mary and Laura had a very quiet conversation about what was happening in their lives.

After lunch at the hotel, they all visited the smelters at Ballachulish and Fort William. Mary could see that the visitors were impressed with what they saw and, on their return to the hotel, the respective smelter managers, Mr McLean and the Swedes sat down around the conference table to engage in hard but constructive negotiations. This was out of Mary and Laura’s remit but they listened attentively to the dialogue between Mr Petersen and Mr McLean. It was well into the evening before the meeting concluded.

As well as car wheels, the Swedish party were also interested in aluminium-decked assault boats of various sizes and designs. Nothing was agreed at the meeting but both parties were confident that a deal could be made.

After the evening meal, when the men had retired to the bar, Mary and Laura walked to the village where fond memories were relived. Fern Villa was in new ownership and the shinty pitch was rather forlorn in its winter mode.

Next morning, they set off early as the visitors wanted to see Loch Ness and visit some Speyside distilleries. However, the weather was inclement and they were disappointed with Loch Ness which looked dark and dreary as the wind swept the rain-laden clouds over the steep mountain sides.

An early lunch in Grantown-on-Spey and a visit to Glenlivet and Glenfiddich distilleries had the opposite effect and the amount of whisky consumed really loosened the Swedes’ tongues. They were talking non-stop. During the trip through Speyside, Mary talked knowledgably about the area, naming the mountains and informing the group about the history of Ruthven Barracks.

On the final leg of the journey, Mary had an enjoyable conversation with Mr Petersen while all the other passengers were deep in slumber. After asking Mary about her personal life, he told her about how he had come to be so successful in business and how he hoped to retire next year. He had delayed his retirement because his son was not dedicated enough to take over his position but since his son’s return from holiday, he had been a quite different person. He had stopped drinking alcohol, was exercising and contributing to the company and his marriage, which had been on shaky ground, now appeared to be on solid footing. Mr Petersen also told her about his only grandson nearly drowning in Majorca, how he was saved by a man from Scotland and how he wished he could meet this man to express his gratitude.

Mary said nothing that would reveal her knowledge about the lifesaving incident but she was touched by Mr Petersen’s sincerity and concern for his family.

That evening, when Mary and Laura were having a nightcap together in their room, Mary received another bit of happy news when Laura confided in her that she and Barry were going to get married in March. She wanted Mary to be her Matron of Honour at the wedding. After having another nightcap to celebrate the good news, a wild notion surged through Mary’s head. She decided to break the rule that she and Jock had made and telephoned the guards room at Pirbright Barracks where Jock was stationed.

Mary lied to the guard commander, telling him that it was an emergency and could they ask Lance Sergeant Stewart to phone this number.

About twenty minutes later, Jock was on the phone wondering what was amiss and confused by the area code. Mary explained the circumstances with Mr Petersen and could he meet them at Heathrow Airport in the business departure lounge tomorrow afternoon. With what appeared to be some reluctance, Jock agreed to her wish.

Going down to breakfast next morning, Mary was told that the Swedish delegation and Mr McLean had left very early for a snap uninformed visit to the Kinlochleven smelter. When they returned, they appeared to be satisfied with their visit.

During their journey to Glasgow Airport that morning, Mr McLean and the Swedish trio had an earnest conversation about the final arrangements for the deal. Before the plane left Glasgow Airport there were fond farewells and congratulations to Mary and Laura for the construction and timetabling of the tour.

On the flight to Heathrow, Mary could not get a seat next to Mr Petersen so it was on the way to the departure lounge when she managed to inform him that there was a young man waiting to meet them.

Jock was standing outside the departure lounge, immaculately dressed in his blazer with the Scots Guards pocket badge, grey trousers, highly polished shoes, white shirt and guards tie, his gaberdine raincoat folded neatly over his arm. He was an imposing figure.

Mary introduced the two men.

Mr Petersen spoke with tears in his eyes, “I owe you a debt that can never be repaid young man. Can I offer you money, hospitality, employment …? You name it and I will provide it.”

Jock stroked his chin with his thumb and forefinger and spoke in a steady voice. “Please do not insult me by offering gifts. All I ask is that you give serious consideration to a contract with the smelters at Kinlochleven and Fort William because that is the area where I was born and bred and I have many friends there who rely on them for their livelihoods.”

“I will certainly recommend it as I have been impressed with what I have seen there,” said Mr Petersen.

All three men shook hands with Jock and Mary and thanked her for their visit and for the manner in which she conducted the tour. Farewells were said and the men entered the departure lounge.

Mary thought it strange that Mr Petersen never enquired how she managed to trace the man who had saved his grandson but dismissed it as the prospect of spending the evening and night with Jock became her main concern.

As they entered the block of flats, Mary stopped and produced a bottle of fifteen-year-old Glenlivet whisky for Dusty Miller. He thanked her and said, “You look more beautiful than ever when you come back from Scotland.” Jock and Mary laughed but Mary was quite flattered by the compliment.

When they reached the flat, Mary asked Jock if he would pour a glass of wine while she had a shower before she unpacked. Coming out of the shower with just a bathrobe and a towel around her hair, Jock took her in his arms and they kissed passionately before spending the next two hours in bed talking, drinking wine and making love. They later discussed what eating arrangements were available and decided to visit the nearby Chinese restaurant.

After enjoying their evening meal, they walked along the deserted street arm in arm, both happily in love. Mary had never known such happiness and felt that her life was complete.

Jock was on duty the next morning at nine o’clock but before leaving the flat, he asked Mary if she would like a bit of glamour for their next date. Intrigued, Mary happily agreed.

With Jock gone, she spent some time nursing her cup of coffee, thinking not only about her impending report to the office and the telex she would send to Douglas Campbell, but also about what their next date might entail.