17 July 1952
"Dad?" Minerva poked her head in the study. "Mum wants to see you."
Robert looked up from the heavy stack of papers on his desk. "I'm not in trouble am I?" Minerva grimaced. "That bad is it, eh?" he said. "I better go down quickly."
Minerva opened the door a little wider. "Malcolm and Robert are making a bit of a mess apparently," she explained. "Mum wants them out of the kitchen as soon as possible."
Robert sighed. "Well, I can't say I'm surprised," he admitted, getting up and stretching, "they have been right old pests since they've been back."
He smiled and Minerva did too. "Too much energy, I think," she said. "Maybe a nice walk would do them some good? The McGregor's have a new horse on the farm," she added. "I'm sure Dougal would be more than happy to let them ride her."
"Dougal McGregor?"
Minerva nodded.
"You've been seeing quite a lot of this boy haven't you?" Robert commented, looking at his daughter over his spectacles. He took his glasses off and slipped them into his pocket.
"Not that much," Minerva said, though she failed to meet her father's eyes.
"I heard you are seeing him tonight?" he said, raising his eyebrow.
Minerva began to fiddle with a loose thread on her cardigan. "You heard correctly," she said. "He should be here in a moment."
Robert smiled. "Well, enjoy yourself," he told her, "but don't get back too late."
"I promise I won't," Minerva assured him, following him out of the study.
"Back before nine?"
"No later than ten?" tried Minerva hopefully.
Robert stopped and thought for a moment before smiling. "Fine," he said. "Deal."
They shook on it and as soon as their hands parted, the doorbell rang.
"Have fun lass," Robert said, patting Minerva's shoulder before then giving her a kiss. "Remember to ask him about the horseriding?"
Minerva caught his eye, and a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Of course."