Page 97 of Journey to the Scottish Highlands

Chapter Twenty

Jade made a disbelieving laugh down the line.

I’d just got back to The Ramblings and had parked up.

The trees spiralled around me, and the crenelations could be seen in my rear-view mirror, dusted in golden sunlight. ‘So, you’re telling me that you’re staying there? At Downton Abbey? With Mr Mean and Moody?’

‘Yes. I mean, yes, I’m staying at The Ramblings for the time being to help get this tour off the ground.’

I didn’t address Jade’s mention of Evan. Whenever I thought about him, my whole body rippled like the sea on a windy day, which made me furious with myself, and then I got caught in this spiral of emotion.

‘And Handsome Harry will be there?’

I didn’t rise to the bait. I didn’t answer.

‘That’s what I thought. Don’t kid a kidder, Daisy chain.’ I could hear her smile down the line into my ear.

‘So, enough about me,’ I jumped in. ‘It’s my turn to grill you now. How are things going in Somerset?’

She let out a dreamy sigh. ‘It’s been wonderful. Over all too quickly, if I’m being honest.’ She paused for effect. ‘But Jasper is keen to see me again, and we’ve arranged to meet up when he’s next in London in two weeks’ time.’

I grinned, delighted for her, and shuffled in my driver’s seat. ‘Hey. That’s brilliant! You really like him, don’t you?’

‘Yes,’ she whispered back, as though it were a state secret. ‘I do. A lot. He’s funny and charismatic and very well read. My parents would disapprove of course, which makes him even sexier. His elegies have to be read to be believed.’

I snorted. ‘Nothing like an impressive elegy.’

‘You may mock.’

I grinned out of the car windscreen as I sat there. ‘I am. No may about it.’

‘Yeah, I know!’ Jade rounded off the call. ‘I’d better go. There’s a workshop in half an hour on acrostic poetry.’

‘Ok. Have fun, and I’ll see you soon, ok? I’ll keep you posted, and safe journey back to London.’

‘Thanks, Daisy. Oh, any more luck on the acting front?’

I wound my dress ring around on my right hand. ‘No, nothing on the horizon at the moment. I’m going to take a break; get my head together.’

‘I think that’s a good idea,’ responded Jade with a positive rise in her voice. ‘But you’re so talented. You’ll get there. Wait and see.’

I promised to keep her informed on what was happening, blew a kiss down the line and hung up.

I reached across to the passenger side and fetched my bag.

I got out, locked up Marlene and studied The Ramblings again. Its windows twinkled like stars in the bright light, and the shadows playing off its balconied turrets and twists added to its majestic appearance.

Now to go and tell Alison and Bennett the good news; at least we had our Florence for the tour.

* * *

‘Oh, that’s wonderful, Daisy! Thank you so much!’ Alison pulled me into her arms.

‘That’s alright,’ I blushed. ‘But it’s not me you should be thanking. It was Cayla who agreed to take on the role.’

It was then Bennett’s turn to give me a grateful hug. ‘Please invite her and her parents over for dinner. We’d like to meet her before this tour gets underway.’

‘Of course we should,’ agreed Alison. ‘That’s a given.’