Page 45 of The Cottage in the Highlands

“Shit!” I snarled to anyone that would listen, panic and resentment swilling around inside of me. “How dare they! I gave Lily my word.” I whirled back to Ebony. “Do you know how they got in?”

But I didn’t give Ebony time to answer. I was already picking up speed, trampling over the grass in wider strides. What would Lily think if she found out? I had made a solemn promise to her. She had trusted me.

White-hot fury burned brighter in my chest. What the hell did they think they were doing?

As I grew closer, I began to realise.

I reached the back door of Merry Wood, furious breath scalding the back of my throat. I had been so preoccupied with locating the pair of them, I failed to notice as I’d passed by the back door a few minutes ago that it had been prized open.

A cacophony of dismay, embarrassment, and guilt erupted inside of me. This was my fault.

What the hell was I going to say to Lily?

I eased myself through the gap in the half-open back door. The house was quiet, cold, and expectant. I moved through the retro-style kitchen, where Esther and Dante had been a few minutes ago. I shoved aside the dangling, multi-coloured beads at the kitchen entrance. They clattered and swung in my wake.

It was so strange being inside Merry Wood, rather than looking in through her giant, sleepy windows. It was like I had been gazing at a snow globe and now found myself inside. I just wished it was under different circumstances.

I drew up in the chintz-carpeted hall. It smelled of mothballs and emptiness. There was the faint rhythmical tick of a clock from somewhere.

A torrent of giggles and male laughter erupted from somewhere. It made me pull up. I could feel my teeth grinding harder with temper.

Where the hell were they and what were they doing?

I followed the direction of the voices. I tried not to imagine the expression on Lily’s face if she could see what was happening. I had to get these two selfish idiots out of the house and fast.

There was a closed door to my left, which I guessed was the sitting room. I planted my ear against the heavy oak door. More laugher travelled out.

My jaw tightened. They were both in there.

How rude and inconsiderate! Bad enough they had got inside, but the fact that they had forced their way in fuelled my embarrassment and rage.

I reached for the handle and grasped it, my knuckles flaring white, and yanked it open. I was met with a heavy square stone fireplace, dark furniture, and the sight of Esther Drew and Dante pulling at each other’s clothes as they writhed against the far wall.

Esther’s half-closed eyes shot open at the sight of me standing there. She let out a shriek and buried her face in Dante’s shoulder.

I realised my mouth was opening and closing. I struggled to speak. “What the hell is going on here? What do you think you’re doing?”

Dante let go of Esther and began to button up his flapping shirt. “I don’t mean to be rude, but what do you think it looks like?”

I folded my arms, my throat dry with boiling tempter. “You know you aren’t allowed access to the inside of the house. That was made clear in the brief weeks ago.”

Dante flapped one tanned hand. “Chill out, will you? It was just a bit of fun.”

“Fun?” I choked. “I was given permission to use the gardens here, based on trust. You all signed that contract. You read the brief. Thank goodness Mrs Cruickshank isn’t here.”

My heart stilled as Esther’s false lashes went rigid. She was staring at something – or someone – past my shoulder. Her cheeks sizzled.

“I am here,” ground out a familiar, throaty voice. “And I want an explanation, Leonie. Right now.”

Chapter Fifteen

Please just let the ground open up and swallow me whole.

I spun round, my heart galloping. “Mrs Cruickshank, I’m so sorry. Please let me explain…”

But she wasn’t listening. She was too preoccupied by the sight of Esther Drew and Dante, all shiny cheekbones and dishevelled clothes.

She snapped her head back to me. The disappointed pain-filled flecks in her eyes punched me in the stomach. “I thought I could trust you, Leonie. I told you no one was allowed in the house. You promised.”