Page 97 of A Scottish Country Escape

Elsa’s scepticism was evident. ‘According to Shelley, Nadia would benefit from a more rural education when she starts school. She also told Dexter that neither of them was happy where they were living.’ She let out a grunt. ‘How she couldn’t be happy in that gorgeous townhouse in Chelsea – which Dexter bought her – is beyond me.’

Elsa sighed and carried on. ‘Shelley has been ringing and video-calling Dexter, telling him how much Nadia was missing him. So he caved in and told Shelley to pack their things and come to Scotland.’

I glanced out of the open door to the shop, which only a couple of hours before had been bustling with customers.

I was trying to slot all this together, piece by piece. So Dexter made sure he was involved in Nadia’s life and was giving her all the love, security, and attention she needed – what she should have been receiving from her proper dad. He had made sure he was there for Nadia when her own father, his younger brother, had refused to. ‘Where’s Jay?’

‘Now there’s a question. The last we heard, he was auditioning for bit parts in a couple of US soaps. When he isn’t doing that, he’s bumming around on the beaches in California with his surfboard. He isn’t remotely interested that he has a lovely little daughter.’

Elsa carried an air of disbelief. ‘It’s so strange how two brothers can be so different.’

She ran one finger over the top of the table. ‘When I joined Mr Grayling’s employment seven years ago, I had to sign a confidentiality agreement.’ She paled as the realisation of what she had just divulged to me became apparent. ‘He can’t know I’ve told you,’ she pleaded, sparks of panic rearing suddenly in her alarmed eyes. ‘I could lose my job and I love it so much.’

I patted her hand. ‘You have my word I won’t tell anyone, Elsa. You’ve trusted me and I won’t betray that.’

As the light faded more outside the shop windows, the kitchen grew cosier. ‘And I take it the press don’t know about Nadia?’

‘Absolutely not. He didn’t want her put in the spotlight, especially after his books became so successful. He thought that if word got out he was taking responsibility for his niece after Jay took off, Nadia could become a curiosity piece, thrust into the limelight.’

I nodded as I began to realise that there was a side to Dexter I hadn’t even glimpsed. ‘I can understand that.’

‘I think, in a way, Dexter does think of Nadia as his, despite everything.’ Elsa’s expression softened. ‘He’s been more of a father to her than that brother of his ever has.’

A wave of emotion for Dexter took me by surprise. She was such a gorgeous and sweet little thing. She was lucky to have him. All the bravado, the wild parties, the swaggering arrogance, designer clothes, and glitzy book launches… behind it all, he had been doing this.

Elsa spoke again, her voice now wistful. She dragged my attention back. ‘I could never have children and when my Kenny passed away… well, I felt like a huge part of me had died with him.’

She flashed me a glance. ‘I can’t imagine working for anyone else, other than Dexter.’

‘Did you have any idea that the advertised vacancy was with him when you applied?’

‘No. The advert was a large one, but it was very discreetly worded and the contact details were for a PO Box number.’ A trace of a wistful smile passed across her face. ‘Mr Grayling interviewed me. I thought what a handsome, intelligent young man he was but there was something else about his demeanour. He was guarded.’ She gave a casual shrug. ‘I know this might sound soft, but I suppose, over time, the more I got to know him, the more I started to look on him more like a son.’

My heart contracted for her. ‘That’s lovely, and it seems to me as though he looks upon you as one of the family too.’

Her jowly cheeks pinged with a tinge of colour. ‘I thought he did.’

‘What do you mean?’

She held my gaze. ‘Dexter used to confide in me. He told me all about Nadia not being his and he admitted he was supporting the little one and that Shelley woman.’

The way she spat out Shelley’s name, made me blink hard. ‘But?’

Elsa regarded me out of pale, inquisitive eyes. ‘Dexter talks about you a lot.’

My chest heaved. For something to do, I began twisting my ring around and around on my right hand. I knew Elsa was waiting for a reaction. All I could manage was an unimpressive, ‘Does he?’

Her pale-pink lips twitched. ‘Very much so.’ Her mouth lifted at the corners. ‘I get the impression that our Mr Grayling hasn’t met a young woman like you before.’

‘What? A mouthy Scottish woman, obsessed with local nature and stationery?’

Elsa hitched a cynical eyebrow. ‘No. A woman who knows her own mind and who doesn’t want to be with him solely because of who he is and what he has.’

I took a gulp of air. ‘Who said I wanted to be with him?’

‘Your eyes do. Every time you see him.’

Her words stung me in the chest.