Page 106 of A Scottish Highland Hideaway

That sounds very familiar, I thought to myself. We were much more alike than I’d ever imagined.

She blushed deeper, her bottom lip wobbling. “I didn’t want either of you to go through what I did. There are so many untrustworthy men⁠—”

Dad pretended to gasp in shock. Mum managed to laugh, despite a tear sliding down her cheek. She gave the lapel of his dinner jacket a playful slap. “You’re the exception, Henry.”

“Thank goodness for that!”

Her expression became earnest again. “I know I haven’t handled things well. I should’ve talked to you instead of trying to interfere in your relationships.” Mum gripped her glass of water. “But it felt like the past was repeating itself and I realised what I should have done is teach you how to spot grifters and cheats and liars instead of just paying them to go away.” She flicked us both pleading looks. “Can you forgive me?”

Marcus scooped Mum into his arms. “Yes, Mum. Of course we can.”

They hugged.

Then Mum gestured to me and I hurried over to be gathered into her arms. We held each other for what seemed like the longest time. “I’m not going to interfere anymore,” she croaked into my hair.

“Well let’s not make too many rash promises,” I laughed, planting a kiss on her cheek.

Mum bit back a sob and laughed. “I mean it. In a few hours, it’ll be midnight, so that’s my New Year’s resolution. I’m so proud of both of you.”

I dropped my eyes. “I’m sorry too, Mum.”

“For what?”

“For partying like that and always getting splashed across the tabloids.”

She shrugged. “It’s all in the past, and anyway, there are far worse things.” Her gaze was soft and appealing. “And look what you’ve achieved! Your business is thriving … and you’re so good at it, darling.” She looked over at Zach who was talking to my father. “Something tells me you and that handsome young man are going to be very happy together.”

Suddenly, Ezra’s theatrical burr rang out and interrupted us again. Ezra was standing in the doorway of the drawing room, with his party guests arrayed behind him. “I think we need to see our fabulous hostess on the dance floor. Please give a warm round of applause for the wonderful Countess Tweed Muir.”

Mum protested, going pink. “Oh God! I can’t! Not after all this!” she hissed to the four of us. “I must look an absolute fright.”

I reached over and dashed a bit of stray mascara away from under Mum’s right eye. “Yes, you can. You’re good to go.”

Dad agreed. “Come on, Ness. When have you ever let your audience down?”

Mum looked doubtful, but after more cajoling from me, Marcus, and Dad, she adjusted her dress and strode towards the drawing room.

There were cheers and thunderous applause.

Zach grinned across at me and a smile broke out across my face.

“Ezra was right, you know. The show must go on.” He gave me a mouthwatering smile. “So will Lady Anastasia therefore do me the honour of dancing with me this evening?”

I smiled against his mouth as his lips came down to meet mine. “Bailey will do, thank you very much. And yes, I’d be delighted. Just give me two seconds.” I winced as my toes let out a howl of disapproval. “I just need to take these bloody shoes off!”

Epilogue

12 months later, New Year’s Eve, Bannock House

It does come in very handy, having a talented and tenacious journalist as my husband.

In the court case for Corrie, he helped prove that three high-profile names in the entertainment and fashion industry recruited her to blackmail Ezra, in order to prevent their dubious activities from the past being exposed. These were individuals who Ezra had named and shamed in his autobiography, for failing to provide safe and sanitary working conditions in the fashion business, as well as a sleazy casting couch producer and a predatory film director.

Brad Janson was also proved to have arranged for the movie script to have been “stolen” and Ezra implicated. Brad’s reputation in Hollywood was now in tatters.

As soon as Zach got signed off from the legal department, he published his story about Sir Clifford Bain and then handed over all his evidence to the police, which led to Sir Clifford being arrested, charged, and eventually convicted.

And the phone hacking scandal at Stargazer, which Zach was investigating, hit the headlines six months ago. The magazine faces closure and there will be prosecutions of certain members of staff, as well as management who knew about the unsavoury practices but did nothing to stop it.