<em>~ Nicci, entering the great hall, just before 8pm, meeting Angus ~</em><br/><br/><br/>Nicci made her way down the stairs and orientating herself for a moment a the bottom before walking to the great hall for the meet and greet drinks before dinner.  Opening the door she thought at first she was the first one there, but as she walked towards the huge fireplace at the other end with its cheery blaze she realised there was a man standing to one side opening a bottle of champagne.<br/><br/>The butterflies turned into full blown squirming puppies in her tummy as she walked over to him, but she smiled simply as he raised his head and made eye contact with her.<br/><br/>“Hi, I'm Angus,” he said, putting the bottle down for a moment and holding out his hand for her to shake, “I am the estate manager and I'm here to welcome you all and help you in any way before I leave you to enjoy your dinner..”<br/><br/>Nicci's smiled deepened and she relaxed a little, the guy's voice was kind and had the wonderful Island burr of the other people she had met on her way here and had been introduced to earlier.  “Nice to meet you Angus, I'm, Nicci, I have to say I am already in love with this wonderful Island, I can't wait to explore the beaches and the mountains.”<br/><br/>“I'm biased,” he chuckled, “I love the Islands and was born and bred here,” he opened the champagne, containing the soft pop in his hands easily, before pouring out two glasses as he continued, “But I must warn you Nicci, do not go onto the mountains without one of us to guide you, they are more dangerous than they look.” He eyed the girl, she looked far too pretty and slight to be someone who had enjoy that sort of thing anyway.<br/><br/>Nikki noticed his expression and laughed, “I have to warn you,” she said flirting slightly and coming nearer to him, “I love hiking and rock climbing, diving too, I'm not all high heels and pretty dresses you know!”  she stepped back still chuckling, “I'm a terrible tease too, don't mind me, I'll take your advice to heart don't worry, I would always listen to local knowledge about terrain wherever I am.”<br/><br/>She took the glass of champagne from him his outstretched hand and sipped the golden bubbles, savoring the rich complex taste, “What about the tides?  Are there any beaches to be way of?”