Lizzy and Darcy both agreed to wake up early the next morning to catch up on some lost time.

Darcy's intention, that he slept over at Hamish's to ensure Lizzy's comfort, backfired on him. He couldn't recall what kind of stiff drink Hamish had given him but it knocked him out for six. It was a slow concoction that felt terrible the longer the day wore on. He regretted thanking him for his hospitality.

He promised to himself he was going to be match fit for the rest of the trip.

Lizzy had a bit of a mixed bag. She tossed and turned the first night at Queensferry because she was in an unfamiliar place in unfamiliar surroundings and Darcy had left her in a tux for other pleasures elsewhere - not that she cared that much she said to herself, he was single and he was free to exercise his own free will. Once she fell asleep, she slept soundly.

The second night, she was more conscious of his presence in the house. He was still hangoverish and it seemed missish that she was so concerned about his presence in his own house. She slept eventually.

Darcy's last thought before he fell asleep last night was wanting to kill Hamish the next he saw him - in a butt of whisky if he was being kind, or a butt of Malmsey when he was not.

XXX

After a perfunctory breakfast in the dark, they headed north on the M90 towards Perth (definitely not the sunny "Path" she knew, the capital city of Western Australia) as they bypassed the city and headed east towards the Angus coast to Montrose.

She tried to make conversation with Darcy but he seemed short with her inanity or with Hamish's antics or both - she wasn't too sure.

"Did Hamish wear a kilt?" asked Lizzy.

"Yes, in a Black Watch tartan," he grunted.

"My school uniform had that tartan!" Lizzy said trying to inject some interest.

Darcy snorted.

"Did he have hairy legs?"

Hair of the dog! He muttered to himself.

"It may surprise you Lizzy, but the last thing I want to discuss right now is Hamish's hirsuteness."

"Touché. You're grumpy this morning. Wish you were still hungover", she responded.

XXX

Lizzy's first stop was to see the offshore wind farm near the Montrose coast. Darcy knew people at the local port authority.

They were headed to a helipad that was partly-owned by Darcy's company.

When they arrived, a helicopter was already waiting for them.

"Are you piloting --"she started her query then she saw his sardonic look.

Of course, who else would be willing to fly her to see some offshore wind farm the day after hangover day?

It was just going to be the two of them. Luck was on their side. The North Sea was behaving well and it wasn't so windy.

Darcy started the chopper.

XXX

As they lifted away from terra firma, she noted that Scottish beaches were different in beauty to Australian beaches but Montrose beach was special in this part of the country.

It stretched for several kilometres with the Scurdie Ness lighthouse jetting east. It reminded her just a bit of lighthouses such as Fingal Bay's, Palm Beach's and Norah Head's locally, and those along the Great Ocean Road but they were not as beautiful as this one.

The Stevensons - of Robert Treasure Island fame - were the pre-eminent engineers and their legacy was dotted along the coast line.

As they neared the wind farm she was literally blown away by its expanse. Darcy explained the process of construction and how long it took and the power it was generating.

He tried to get as close as to the farm so Lizzy could take photos, but kept a certain distance in case of any cross wind issues and turbulence.

Once she was satisfied, she mouthed "Thank you" and they headed back to land.

XXX

Lizzy was pleased. She ticked one box down her list, now several to go.

Darcy watched her depart and crouch from the aircraft. She did like her lists. He sighed.

XXX

"So where are we off to next?" She felt productive thanks to Darcy's expertise.

He thought carefully. "How about a bit of shopping?"

"Seriously?" she asked him.

"The next wind farms are near your favourite store." He explained.

She gave him a queried look.

"It's two hours away but I don't think it will be safe to see them this afternoon. Wintry hours and conditions." He added and pointed to the grey clouds gathering in the distance.

She nodded, then teased him "Lead on MacDuff."

He shook his head and drove northwards, bypassed Aberdeen then headed west.

XXX

"How do you know it's my weakness?" she asked him during one of their silences in the car.

"What is?" He asked. What weakness is she talking about? Did she have a weakness?

"My obsession with cashmere." She pointed out.

At that he laughed. So shopping is now a weakness?Sometimes she would segue and give a negative spin on what he'd say.

"Oh that, you've been wearing their products since I first met you and your luggage is a bit empty relative to its size. Charles also mentioned that Jane said you had a shopping budget," she cringed when he said this.

"Ergo, it wasn't hard to put two to two together." Darcy concluded.

Finally, he said "They're expecting us at 2pm."

"The store?"

"The sustainability manager if you like, but I suspect the store is as well if that's your preference."

"Oh."

He assumed a lot, she thought, but he was correct on this point. JoE had a strong sustainability orientation and it'd have been remiss of her not to ask them about their practices whilst in situ.

XXX

They eventually pulled in through Elgin just before 1pm but Darcy had gone to the High Street. Lizzy's stomach grumbled and he smiled when he heard it. They were both hungry.

XXX

After satisfying their stomachs, they headed to JoE on the northern bank of the River Lossie.

Lizzy smiled. She was in cashmere heaven.

They were greeted by the sustainability manager who gave them a tour of the factory from the processing of the raw materials, carding, spinning, weaving, teazling and final production.

She then entered the store. All sorts of styles in different shapes and colours.

"I'll go outside and wait for you in the car. Take your time," Darcy stated diplomatically.

He was happy to leave and not put pressure on Lizzy's me-time. Besides, he had to confirm their accommodation tonight.

XXX

She was underdressed and under-layered for the Scottish weather so she went a bit mad. It was the Fanny side that had come out.

She bought nearly an item of everything and had now found a gift for everyone. Her best purchase was a full length cashmere coat that she was now going to wear from now on.

The shop assistant looked at her curiously but Lizzy figured she'd seen tourists go mad inside other luxury stores - hello DFO! - so this was her moment of madness.

Once she decided that she had had enough - mortgage redraw and all that she thought in the future - she asked the shop assistant "What's the damage?"

"I beg you pardon?" The assistant asked.

"How much altogether?" She explained, thinking she had misunderstood.

"None required, madam. They're all complimentary." She responded.

Lizzy fumed. Darcy!

XXX

He heard the passenger door open abruptly and he saw fire in her eyes.

He sighed.

"What the fuck is this?" she asked.

"I have no idea what you're talking about", he tried to keep amusement out of his response.

She shoved him with all her might so that he shifted a bit but he was solid muscle.

"Will! This is unfair! You cannot..." she looked for the right phrasing, "lavish me with such generosity."

He looked at her. She looked hurt. He had hurt her pride, her conceited independence, her sense of self.

He took a big sigh and backtracked.

"I know the family that owns it, I've given them some pro bono advice, this is...quid pro quo. They'll feel insulted if you reject them all now." He explained slowly.

Silence.

She took a deep breath.

"But how do I repay you back?" She despaired.

And he looked at her intently and said, "By being you...and to try to enjoy my company over the next couple of days. That's all I ask."

Lizzy despaired, "But you don't have to pay for my company! You cannot just expect people to be with you and think that you have to pay them to enjoy your company! That's fucked up. You can't buy my friendship Will, in this manner."

He thought about this and the personal dilemmas he's had whether people were there to be with him for his wealth, connections and other material gains...or whether he had the personality or... maybe it was both. Would he be where he is with Charles had he not been who his family was or is?

So he tried to explain this to her "I'm wealthy and I'm privileged Lizzy. You know that, you resent that. But this is who I am too. And maybe if I had never insulted you that day, we could have continued like ships passing by the night. But we've hit each other like the literal iceberg and we are... where we are."

Lizzy thought about this justification. Wealthy people rationalise their decision making in such fucked-up ways.

"Can you, at least, try to stop impressing me?"

He snorted at this. "Whatever do you mean?"

He was really clueless, she thought. "This! All of this!"

He just stared at her. "I didn't think I was doing anything different."

"Argh!" And she shoved him again. No difference. Still pure muscle.

"Lizzy."

"Don't bloody patronise me."

"Will you tell me whether you prefer a self-contained cabin tonight or a hotel?"

She left him in the car to go for a walk.