Page 118 of Journey to the Scottish Highlands

Chapter Twenty-Five

The next few days in the run-up to The Ramblings tour were a mad blur.

It was tiring, but throwing myself into assisting with final arrangements meant that I could temporarily forget about Evan being Fox.

Whenever my emotions crept up on me, promising to catch me off guard, I’d concentrate on helping Cayla learn her lines and practice mine again, or I’d involve myself in a final publicity push.

But even then, I’d keep thinking about the two of us in bed together, the whole situation and what I thought had been growing between us, which all now felt like a dream. It was as though I’d been duped.

Whenever I could, I found excuses to vanish up to my room or to leave The Ramblings for some solace.

Thankfully, Evan had been much busier with a couple of new feature pitches and wasn’t around anywhere near as much, which was a relief. I wasn’t sure if that was deliberate or not, but it was for the best.

Dane, meanwhile, had made a few more attempts to get me to open up about what had happened between his brother and me, but I’d brushed him off.

‘He’s doing the same to me,’ said Dane. ‘I asked him what the score was between you two, but he told me it was none of my business and to butt out.’

I pinned on a strangulated smile. ‘Don’t waste your time. I’m not.’

The only good news was that sales of the tour tickets had been flying. Not only were intrigued locals snapping them up out of curiosity, but fascinated tourists were, too.

Dane had volunteered to deal with the online ticketing, as well as the social media side of things.

He’d set up impressive looking accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X and Tik-Tok, giving background details of The Ramblings history, including stunning photographs he’d taken of the estate, and then included a post I’d helped him write, giving an outline about Florence and her life.

Alison and Bennett had looked stunned when Dane had shown them what he’d been working on. ‘Well, don’t look so surprised,’ he’d told their shocked expressions. ‘This place is part of my life, too. It shouldn’t just be up to you two to try and improve its future.’

Dane had offered me a conspiratorial smile.

Later that day, I’d been in the study, chatting to Alison about the costumes and arrangements for final fittings ahead of the big day, when Evan had strolled in.

As soon as he saw me standing there, his expression changed.

I muttered to Alison that I’d forgotten to ring the local newspaper about coverage on the day and dashed out. It would be a relief when I could pack up and leave here with Grandpa.

Still, the momentum for the tour was rolling. We’d had a mention on the regional BBC Scottish News, Radio Scotland’s Morning Show and the local radio station were being very supportive.

Not to be outdone, Grandpa had been delivering glossy posters designed by Dane to the local businesses to put in their shop windows, ably assisted by Louise.

The Ramblings was a cacophony of busy chatter, clattering laptop keys and ringing mobiles.

The older couple who were portraying Bennett’s late great-grandparents, Mollie and Aubrey Fisher from the Forrest Bank Players, had been regular visitors, taking their roles very seriously and method acting for all they were worth. They would swan in, reciting their lines with Josie and drifting around the stately home like it had been theirs all along. They were driving Josie demented!

As for The Ramblings, she just remained her usual, glorious, majestic self.

* * *

Another costume fitting was underway in the drawing room, and I stood there while Mindy ensured the pinned waist of my button-up, high-collared gown was fitting properly. It was milk chocolate brown with a cameo brooch at the nape of my neck and fluttered down to the floor. Although it was very officious, it had an air of class about it which I loved.

I drew in a steadying breath and clasped one hand over my tummy.

Mindy looked up at me as she swooped this way and that, examining the dress from all angles. ‘You’ve lost a little bit of weight, young lady. Please don’t lose any more.’

It hadn’t been intentional. It was just that, since finding out about Evan, I’d hardly been able to eat a thing.

‘Still.’ Maddie broke into an appreciative smile and stood back in her cropped jeans and capped sleeve T-shirt. Her sunglasses were still propped on top of her silver bobbed hair. ‘You’re the prettiest piano teacher I’ve ever seen. Most of them at that time were right hatchet-faced madams.’

I started to laugh, smoothing down the linen material of my dress.