Page 104 of A Scottish Highland Hideaway

Ezra grinned. “So, your doppelganger idea wasn’t so crazy after all, Bailey.” He looked from me to Marcus. “Ah. Splendid! So, you took my advice then, young man?”

Marcus blushed. “I did.”

I marvelled at Ezra. “What did you say to him?”

“Let’s just say I reminded your brother how important it is to surround yourself with family. I’ve just spent the most wonderful Christmas with my daughters and I can’t tell you what joy they have brought to my life. I never imagined…”

I could tell he was getting emotional, and I was so glad he was getting to have the experience of fatherhood at last.

“Writing the book felt like a way to confront the ghosts of my past, and I’m so glad I did. But the girls are my future, and I want to go into the new year with them by my side.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Ezra stood halfway up the staircase and addressed his guests, thanking my mother for the party in a way that made her glow and preen. I watched him charm the crowd, ever the entertainer. They laughed and clapped and it was clear he had them in the palm of his hand.

Looking like a suave Bond villain, Ezra raised one hand and indicated towards the drawing room. “Please, ladies and gentlemen, do avail yourselves of the wonderful hospitality and let’s celebrate the start of a new year and the release of my autobiography. Here’s to free speech!”

He winked at me and scooped a fresh glass of champagne from a passing waiter. There was a loud ripple of applause and calls of “Hear, hear!”

Ezra caught my eye and I smiled. I hoped he could read in my expression my gratitude for all he had done and my admiration for how far he had come. I turned my gaze to Caroline and Laura, who were standing discreetly off to one side. I turned back to Ezra, and he seemed to catch the question in my look. Now? it seemed to say. I nodded.

He looked over at his daughters and they both smiled.

“Excuse me, ladies and gents. If I could just have your attention again for a few minutes more, please, before we engage in an evening of debauchery on this wonderful Hogmanay night…”

Lusty cheers and laughter rose up from the assembled throng.

“I would like to introduce to everyone here two very beautiful and special young women.”

Caroline and Laura exchanged a glance, and I could see that they now held hands; supportive sisters who would never be alone so long as they had each other. Family indeed.

Ezra beckoned to Laura and Caroline to stand in front of him on our spiralling, grand staircase. The partygoers gazed back up at them, bemused. “I would like to introduce Caroline and Laura … my daughters.”

There was an excited hum that swept through the assembled guests.

“Yes, you all thought this handsome old goat never had any children. Well, it transpires that I did, but I only discovered that recently.” Ezra’s expression was shyly proud. “I must give full credit for these two wonderful young women to their mothers.” Ezra broke off and gestured towards the back of the crowd. “Toni? Jules? Where are you both?”

Stunned heads, including mine, turned to see the two elegant women clutching champagne flutes. Toni was glamorous in a long, flared, silver dress and Jules looked classy in a pale pink, long-sleeved number. “Ah. There they are. The beautiful mothers of my two beautiful daughters.”

Caroline and Laura gawped at one another and then at their mothers. If their shocked expressions were any indication, they had not been aware that their mothers would be here tonight.

“They’ve made me realise what’s important in life. It hasn’t been an easy few months for me, as some of you might know. My reputation was called into disrepute.”

There were tuts and murmurs of agreement. “But though I’ve missed out on my daughters’ formative years, I want them both to know that I won’t miss a single second of the rest of their lives and intend to make a bloody nuisance of myself from now on!”

Ezra hugged the girls and they all exchanged teary smiles as there were enthusiastic shouts and applause.

“So, let’s raise our glasses to the only thing that really matters. Here’s to family!”

Glasses clinked, there were more exclamations and shouts of “Hear, hear” and a round of applause, before the guests milled past us, eager to sample the generous spread of Scottish fayre that my mother had organised. The swirl of bagpipes started up again and there was a thump of joyous, tapping feet along to the music.

Mum and Dad nodded and smiled at the sea of faces.

I watched them gliding through the crowd, Ezra in the middle and proudly linking arms with his two lovely daughters receiving the congratulations and greetings of the guests. Laura beckoned to her partner, Tori, who was looking ravishing in a gorgeous ice-blue frock, and they too linked arms. Ezra gave Tori a dazzling smile. “Have I told you three girls about the time I sailed the Med with Richard Harris?”

I rolled my eyes. Goodness knows if any of these tales were true, but they were certainly entertaining. Then my attention fell on my pale and distracted mother.

As soon as the remainder of Ezra’s guests spread themselves out between the drawing room and the library, Mum moved towards Zach. Her expression was haunted.