Page 92 of A Scottish Highland Hideaway

“Yes. I was. I mean, I am. But I don’t go by that name any more…”

Amber flicked a disbelieving glance to Rowan and back again. “Are you being serious?”

“Yes.”

Amber folded her arms, making her dozens of gold bracelets rattle. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“My fiancé left me at the altar, and I was publicly humiliated. I wanted to move on, to start over without the burden of my past.”

Rowan blew out an excited whistle. “We’ve been working for the Bollinger Babe and didn’t know! This is unreal.”

I bristled. “Please don’t call me that. I hated it then and hate it even more now, although I guess in a way, I did ask for it.”

“Well, working for royalty then,” jumped in Amber.

“I’m no more royalty than either of you,” I insisted. “I don’t want things to change between the three of us. I’m still just Bailey. End of.”

Rowan coloured up. “I’m sorry if what we just said about her … er… I mean, you⁠—”

“No need to apologise. Everything you said was right. It’s in the past and it’s not who I am anymore.”

Amber raised her finger and jabbed it towards the photo of Bannock House on my laptop and its lush, rolling lawns. “And where Ezra’s having his party, this is yours?”

I shifted from foot to foot. “It’s my parents’ home.”

Rowan’s mouth was popping open with surprise. “I remember reading an interview a while back in one of those glossy magazines about the couple who own the estate. So that’s your parents?”

I nodded, beginning to feel relief that this was over.

“So, your mum and dad are Lord and Lady Something?” asked Rowan, intrigued.

I fidgeted with my hands. “Earl and Countess Tweed Muir.”

Amber scanned my face, still riven in shock. “Why are you telling us now? Is it because of the party?”

I let out an awkward sigh. “Yes and no. I’ve worked hard to start afresh, and to build this business – with your help. For a long time, I was running away from what happened, but now I’m ready to face it, to embrace who I used to be, and to know that I’m not that person anymore. I wanted to do something on my own terms and be successful because I’m good at it and not because of the family I was born into and the privileges that came with that. I wanted to know who I am, and to be better than I used to be. And I think… I think I’ve done that. And that means I’m not afraid of the past anymore. I don’t want to be any kind of celebrity, but I also don’t want to hide.”

They both made sympathetic noises.

Rowan tilted her head to one side. “I wish we’d known.”

“I know and I’m sorry. But it was really important to me to know that I could do this on my own and be good at it. Does that make sense?”

They nodded but I could tell they weren’t convinced.

“Looking back on it, maybe it wasn’t such a big deal, but it felt like a big deal at the time. And maybe it’s only because I’ve done what I set out to do that I’ve been able to gain some perspective.”

“Not a big deal?” repeated Amber, incredulous. “Your house makes Downton Abbey look like a semi-detached.”

Embarrassment flared up inside of me.

“Well, now we know we’re working for a princess…” grinned Amber, earning a playful scowl from me.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re not!” We all laughed.

I closed down my laptop. “As I said, although I want to be honest about who I am, I’d appreciate it if you could keep this to yourselves. It’s not a secret exactly, but⁠—”

“We won’t tell anyone, will we?” Rowan said.