Katie Fforde: Eine Liebe in den Highlands (2010)

Jennifer Porter, a young New Yorker, is on her way to the Dalmains, whose wool mill she is supposed to assess. The Dalmains run a long-established business in the picturesque Hudson Highlands, providing jobs for local people. Just before reaching her destination, she stops at a snack stand for a coffee and to enjoy the spectacular view. The owner, a young woman named Meggie Nettleton, asks Jenny to fill in for her briefly while she goes to fetch something. The two women take to each other immediately and become friends. Meggie has only just left when Robert Grant-Emerson pulls up in his car, asks for a sandwich, and brusquely cuts Jenny off just as she is about to ask whether he can wait a moment. Jenny has no idea that her client is standing right in front of her, intending to take an undercover look at the business and his new employee. He thinks Jenny is the snack stand’s waitress. The Dalmain family receive Jenny in very different ways. The managing director, Philipp Dalmain, is outwardly friendly but seems to have plans of his own. Gwendolyn, the family’s likeable daughter, approaches Jenny openly and warmly from the start. Ruth Dalmain, the mother of the two, is rather distant toward Jenny and seems either unaware of the problems burdening the family business or unwilling to know about them. When Jenny tours the factory the next day, Kirsty McIntyre, the managing director’s right-hand woman, is also extremely cold toward her. But Abel Frazer, Meggie’s grandfather, who is now just as discarded as the old looms he shows Jenny, is very helpful and has interesting things to tell her. Later, as the young woman rides her bicycle to the Dalmains’ home, she meets Robert Grant-Emerson again, and he persuades her to ride with him in his car. The two clash again. Robert now knows who Jenny is and that she works for him. Jenny is still completely unaware. At his quarters, Grant-Emerson receives emails from Jenny with her assessment of the company. When Kirsty McIntyre asks Jenny whether she has thought about what will happen to the people if the factory closes, since there are hardly any ways to earn money in the area, Jenny finally becomes fully aware of the responsibility she carries. In a conversation with Gwendolyn, who studied design and creates fabrics but did not finish her studies, Jenny encourages her to have more confidence in herself, because her work is excellent. Jenny has noticed that Gwen’s mother treats her almost like a servant. This displeases the self-assured New Yorker. Later, while on the phone with her fiancé, Henry, Jenny gets an idea that might save the business and make it profitable. Henry has told her that he bought himself a suit made of alpaca wool. It was very expensive, but worth every penny: wonderfully soft and fabulously light. Jenny thinks back to her visit with Meggie and her husband, Mike. Mike raises alpacas. They could produce alpaca-wool fabric on a large scale using the old looms, and Gwen could design fabrics to sell on the market. When Jenny discusses her idea with Kirsty McIntyre, Kirsty is initially quite skeptical, but then catches Jenny’s enthusiasm and is delighted to realize that Jenny really does want to do everything she can to save the factory. Distrusting Philipp Dalmain, Jenny tries to find out what he is planning and climbs through the window into his office, where she finds documents showing that he intends to sell company assets without the co-owner’s knowledge. Unfortunately, Philipp arrives just then, so she has to sneak out—and in doing so literally falls at Robert’s feet. He has taken up quarters on the grounds. She asks him to help her, which he gladly does. He also gets a look at the papers Jenny has taken. The next day, Philipp is arrested by the police because Grant-Emerson has reported him. Alerted by a call from Kristy that Emerson is at the factory, Jennifer can hardly believe her eyes when she realizes that the man who introduced himself only as Robert is her client, Robert Grant-Emerson. Jenny is furious and tells him that she is quitting. Gwendolyn, Kristy, and Abel Frazer convince Jenny that she has to stay so they can put her idea into action together. First, Jenny must convince Gwendolyn that she is indispensable as a designer if the plan is to succeed. And Gwendolyn does indeed stand up to her mother, who initially wants nothing to do with Gwen’s plans. Now they need to win over an exclusive fashion designer who will order the expensive fabrics. Jenny has known Andrew Holland since her student days; Holland has since made a name for himself and is one of the most sought-after people in the industry. Gwen completely convinces Holland, and he gives her a large order. Jenny has a heated argument with her fiancé Henry, who has since arrived, because he used confidential information behind her back. He has already found a potential buyer for the land where the factory stands—a buyer who wants to build a golf hotel there, which would earn Henry a handsome commission. Jenny is beside herself over this breach of trust and storms off into the Highlands. As she tries to rescue a sheep, she slips and gets trapped. Once again, Robert is there to “rescue” her and the sheep. A storm is brewing, and they seek shelter as quickly as they can. It is pouring rain, and they reach the shelter completely drenched. Robert quickly lights a fire in the open fireplace, and they both take off their wet clothes. As was bound to happen, they spend their first night together. When they return the next day, they run into Henry, who immediately lets Robert know that Jenny is his fiancée and that they will soon be married. Robert does not really show what he is feeling. A short time later, Jenny breaks up with Henry. The woven fabrics turn out entirely to the designer’s satisfaction, and he asks Gwen whether she can imagine designing her own collection for his company. She happily agrees. Naturally, this great success has to be celebrated. Ruth Dalmain throws a party for everyone and, in a short speech, praises Jenny’s commitment. She also says she is glad that her son Philipp can now turn to the work that has always interested him: running his own bookshop, which he will now manage together with his girlfriend, Linda. She proudly emphasizes how happy she is about her daughter Gwendolyn’s great talent. A cheerful celebration begins. Only Jenny stands sadly apart, watching the dancers. Not only Henry but Robert, too, has left without a word after their encounter. Then she suddenly hears a familiar voice ask, “May I have this dance?” She turns to Robert, delighted. Robert wants Jenny to become the new managing director of the Dalmain works. Then he adds that he has found a very nice house nearby and asks whether Jenny would like to move in with him. Of course she would!