Page 83 of A Scottish Highland Surprise

Unable to face the prospect of living in Castle Marrian without her beloved “Alf”, Lady Masters insisted that the property be put up for sale.

From June 1899 to April 1900, it was rumoured that another family briefly occupied this splendid estate, but such was their unpopularity amongst not only the locals but also their staff at the time, they failed to settle in Briar Glen.

Castle Marrian found herself placed on the market once again, but was eventually purchased by the respected Dayell family in January 1901.

Ophelia straightened up. “That must be the Grays they are referring to. Who else could it be?” I could practically see Ophelia’s mind going into overdrive. “So, Jonathan Gray’s parents occupied Castle Marrian until April 1900 and then the three of them did a runner.”

I raised one eyebrow. “A bit of a coincidence, don’t you think? They sell the property and move on, just as Briar Forsyth’s pregnancy will have started to show?

She digested what I was saying. “But would they just up and leave like that, over a dismissed maid? The Gray family sound a rather brazen bunch to me. I’m wondering if something else took place that cemented their decision to leave the area?”

Ophelia was charged with intent as she left the shop, promising to go home, have lunch and see if she could unearth anything else.

I thanked her for all her help and she brushed it aside. “It is making me feel like I’m carrying on Annabel’s work. I’m also every much enjoying it.”

I waved her off and began shutting down my laptop. Behind me, the shop doorbell let out its sparkling tinkle. I wondered if it might be Ophelia having forgotten something but, when I turned around, I was confronted by a stony-faced Saffy Clements. Her feline green eyes flickered over me.

Before I had even managed to gather myself and say hello, she crossed her arms across her black leather jacket. “I think we should have a chat.”

Chapter Forty

Saffy drifted past the shelves, her gaze sweeping from the white ceiling to the lilac walls.

Her fingers ran over the array of Royal Worcester and Spode, with its recognisable blue and white willow pattern. The spotlights in The Cup That Cheers gave the shop a cosier feel, as the rain continued to splatter against the windows. They also highlighted the shots of burgundy in Saffy’s cloud of curly dark hair.

She swivelled on her wedged heels, which she had teamed with cropped denim trousers a belted, scarlet raincoat and a candy-striped shirt. “Look. I’m going to come straight to the point here, Sophie. What the hell are you doing with Jake Caldwell?”

I wasn’t sure what I’d expected Saffy to say. I was too taken aback by her sudden and unexpected arrival in the shop to have thought that far ahead.

I gathered myself. “Why? I mean, why do you ask? I don’t mean to sound rude, but I don’t think who I go out with is any of your business.” Images of Jake’s behaviour and me stalking out of the restaurant shimmered in front of my eyes. I had no intention of having anything more to do with him, but I failed to see why I should explain this to Saffy.

She flicked back her halo of curls. “Well, it is my business when it comes to Xander.” She eyed me. “So, you are going out with Jake?”

“No. Well, I was going to. I mean, I thought we were going out for dinner.”

Good grief. I was even beginning to confuse myself, so Lord knew what Saffy was making of my bumbling, incoherent explanation. “Look, I can understand why Xander would want to get one over Jake after what happened with his girlfriend, but I’m not interested in getting caught up in their games.” I let my hands rise and fall in a helpless gesture. “I know there are always two sides to every story, Saffy, and I realise Xander must have been so hurt over Nadia, but I don’t think trying to ruin someone’s career is the way to go about it.”

Saffy stared at me for a couple of seconds and then let out a bark of dry laughter. “What are you talking about? What did Jake tell you exactly?”

Without being asked, she sank down on one of the two stools behind the counter and dropped her shoulder bag to the floor. She looked like a moody French model sitting there, appraising me.

I remained standing. Her loaded expression was making me feel uneasy. “Jake told me Xander has never got over Nadia dumping him for Jake and has had it in for him ever since.”

Saffy threw her head back and laughed, displaying small white teeth. “Dear me. You would have thought by now Caldwell could have come up with something more original.”

My cheeks flared as trepidation nibbled at me. “What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

Saffy gestured for me to sit down, so I took up the stool opposite her.

She clasped her ringed fingers together in her lap. “Two years ago, Xander was with Nadia Gates, a fashion journalist.” As she said it, her pretty, freckled features clouded over. “He was crazy about her. At the time, he was also involved in researching a series of painting frauds for the paper he writes his art review column for.”

She pinned me with her intense eyes, her lashes casting little shadows on the tops of her cheeks. “It turned out that Jake Caldwell was copying the work of another artist, long since gone, and was passing these so-called ‘originals’ off as his own work and charging innocent punters extortionate amounts.”

I stiffened as I sat there, processing what Saffy was saying. I felt my throat dry with embarrassment. “Seriously? Jake was copying someone else’s paintings?”

Saffy hitched up one brow. “Except he wasn’t going under his real name at the time. He signed himself as James Deighton.”

“What happened? Was Jake held accountable for it?”