Page 128 of Journey to the Scottish Highlands

‘I know. I know. But just please hear me out.’ He lowered his voice as Louise drifted past on her way to the kitchen. ‘I can be patient. I’m prepared to wait. For you, I mean. If there’s any chance in the future that you could look at me like you did at Evan, then you just whistle, and I’ll be there.’

I bit back more tears. ‘Dane, please stop. I’m going to be crying all over you in a minute. You’re a talented and very attractive guy.’

‘But I’m not him,’ concluded Dane with a ghost of a smile.

I gave my head the briefest shake.

‘It’s ok. I get it. You can’t help who you fall for.’

I reached for Dane’s ringed hand and took it in mine. Everybody had drifted off now in different directions, and it was just us alone in the hall. ‘I’m sorry. I think the best thing for me right now is to try and lay low for a while until this whole Fox thing calms down. Spend time with Grandpa before heading back to London.’

‘No, don’t be sorry. You’re being honest. That’s what matters.’

I gave his hand a playful waggle. ‘You’ll meet some stunning rock chick.’

He returned the friendly squeeze of my hand. ‘Nah. Not interested. I need to get over you first.’

I managed to laugh, but then a single tear slithered down my face.

‘Oh, please don’t cry. I’m useless when girls get upset. I always say the wrong thing.’

‘You haven’t this time.’

Dane stroked the tear from my cheek. ‘You really are so special, Daisy. Evan’s a dick.’

‘Maybe I’m the dick for not letting him explain. I just saw red when I found out he was Fox. I thought I couldn’t trust him. It reminded me so much of my ex, and I knew I couldn’t – and wouldn’t – go through all that again.’

I gathered my fists and rubbed my eyes. ‘Anyway, I’m going to get out of this governess gown and pack, and then Grandpa and I will be off.

I rubbed his hand with affection and then made for the staircase. My boots clicked up the first couple of steps before I turned around. Dane began to walk off.

‘Dane?’

He spun round. ‘Yep?’

‘Thank you.’

‘For what?’

‘For everything,’ I choked. ‘For what you said just now. For being kind.’

‘I was being truthful.’

I gulped. ‘Well, thank you.’

I gazed up at the soaring hallway. ‘I’m really going to miss this place.’

‘It’ll miss you.’

I clattered up a couple more steps of the staircase and looked around again at Dane standing below. I added, ‘At least Evan knows who he is now, and everything is out in the open.’

And as I swished up the remaining steps to my room, closed the door, peeled off the dress and unlaced my ankle boots, all I wanted to do was escape from The Ramblings with Grandpa and head home to Strath Ross.

Yes, I’d miss this house, but without Evan here, knowing that he’d gone and taken a piece of my heart with him, it was no longer the house I remembered.

* * *

Alison suggested Grandpa and I stay for dinner before we set off for Strath Ross, but I politely declined; much to the irritation of Grandpa, who’d fallen in love with Louise’s cooking. The fact that she was serving Scottish venison tonight, with her homemade mashed potatoes and vegetable medley, fresh from The Ramblings gardens, didn’t make Grandpa’s mood any better.