Page 16 of A Scottish Country Escape

‘But this isn’t that.’

I watched him throw his hands up in the air and let them fall back down by his sides. ‘I know it sounds ridiculous, but this feels unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before and it started just after we had that… er… altercation a few days ago.’

‘What exactly did Mrs Carlucci do? Can you explain?’ interrupted Gran, lacing and unlacing her suddenly anxious hands.

I swung my head to look at my grandmother so fast I almost gave myself whiplash. What?! Why was she asking him that? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she almost believed him! She had been so tired and was still grieving just like I was. That must account for her rather odd behaviour.

I continued to stare at her in disbelief. Surely this conceited writer with the rock star swagger wasn’t charming her? It wasn’t like her to be taken in by appearances.

A flicker of relief crossed Dexter Grayling’s chiselled face, that someone was prepared to listen to him.

My grandmother remained silent as he described his lack of creativity, inspiration, and motivation. ‘I don’t have any compunction to write and that isn’t like me at all.’ He rubbed furiously at his forehead. ‘I’m waking up every morning with just this feeling of emptiness. I feel like I’m not me anymore, as though I’m some sort of imposter. And it’s been happening ever since I met her.’

‘You didn’t meet her,’ I corrected. ‘You almost ran her over. There’s a difference.’ I glanced again at my gran. ‘Perhaps you’re feeling a bit run-down, Mr Grayling?’

His gaze flashed at me. ‘If that’s your attempt at a joke, I’m not finding it very funny.’

This was ridiculous! I was supposed to be pressing on with preparations for Paper Roses, not talking magic spells with a man who no doubt winked at his own reflection every morning before leaving the house.

What was even more frustrating was that my grandmother seemed to believe him!

Turning his attention back to my gran, Dexter said, ‘I felt fine until that woman touched me on the arm.’

I gave my head a mild shake. Was this man for real? First he criticises Fir Haven and its lack of modern amenities, and then he’s accusing someone of using the dark arts on him! And he only moved into the area five minutes ago.

Dexter’s voice broke through my thoughts as he emphasised again, ‘I was fine before I arrived here.’ He cleared his throat. ‘As soon as she spoke to me like that and touched my arm, I didn’t feel right at all.’

‘You did almost put the poor woman in hospital,’ I pointed out.

Cue more scowls from beneath his arched black brows. ‘I did apologise.’

‘Excuse me! You most certainly did not. If you think what you said was an apology, you’re sadly mistaken…’

It was at that point that my grandmother raised her voice. ‘Elle. Please! Let him speak. Mr Grayling, do carry on.’

Dexter Grayling looked grateful. ‘Please call me Dexter.’

My mouth flopped open. She believed him. She was actually taking what he was saying seriously!

Oh, good grief. He was a piece of work.

My grandmother acknowledged him. ‘I’m Clara.’

What is this? Some sort of love-in?

Ignoring the waves of disbelief I was emanating, Dexter Grayling continued to tell Gran that after returning to his sprawling pile, he had been overcome with strange, almost flu-like symptoms. ‘And then things just got worse from there.’

His eyes bore a desperate glint. ‘I’m supposed to be well into the first draft of my next novel by now.’

‘Well, there you are then,’ I pointed out. ‘You’ve likely had some sort of virus and it’ll take a few days for you to throw it off.’

Dexter growled something under his breath. He flicked me an undiscernible look. ‘She muttered something too,’ he went on, addressing Gran again. ‘I couldn’t make out much of it and didn’t give it too much thought at the time, but over the last day or two it’s been playing on my mind.’

‘What did she say?’ asked my grandmother, paling.

Dexter crinkled up his eyes in concentration. He hesitated. ‘Some of it was in Italian and then she said something about Fir Haven, but I couldn’t make out the rest of it.’

Oh, this was crazy!