Page 98 of Journey to the Scottish Highlands

‘What’s going on here?’

Evan came striding into the study. His gaze flickered over me.

I hoped I looked nonplussed at his arrival. ‘I spoke to Cayla, and she’s agreed to play Florence for The Ramblings tour.’

‘Isn’t that great?’ glowed Alison, clapping her hands together.

‘Daisy tells us she wasn’t overly keen, but she persuaded her.’

‘Oh, I’m sure Daisy can be very persuasive.’ His glittery, brown eyes teased me.

Was he flirting again? Or was he simply just being a smart arse and trying to make me feel awkward? Yes, that was more like it.

I pinned all my attention back on his parents. ’Just let me know how else I can help.’

‘You’re doing so much already,’ said Alison with emotion. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse us, Bennett and I are going to speak to a couple of friends of ours who are involved in the Forrest Bank Theatrical Society. We have a few ideas about who could play his great-grandparents.’

‘Yes,’ mumbled Bennet with a hint of amusement. ‘How about Eva Braun and Stalin?’

Alison laughed. ‘Come on.’

And off they vanished.

Evan and I were left alone. The air prickled.

At that moment, there was a faint knock on the study door, and Grandpa popped his silver head around it. ‘Hello, you two. Daisy, do you fancy a wander around the gardens? It’s turning into a gorgeous day out there.’

Thank goodness. Bursting with gratitude, I reached for Grandpa’s arm and linked it through mine. ‘Good idea. Come on then.’

Evan and Grandpa exchanged smiles and nods.

I headed past Evan and got the distinct cloud of his bergamot aftershave. It was heavenly – drat him.

Evan dropped his voice as Grandpa was waxing lyrical about the explosions of heather and cherry blossom in the garden. ‘We need to make sure we have publicity and marketing in place. I’ll come looking for you around two o’clock this afternoon.’

A shiver of something raced down my back, but I just fired a terse look at him and hurried away to join Grandpa.

* * *

After we took in the kaleidoscope of colours, shapes and textures of the stunning gardens, together with the fountain of a small boy clutching a bucket, Louise made lunch for me, Evan and Grandpa.

Alison and Bennett were still out, and there was no sign of Dane, who Louise said was probably still in bed after another wild night of carousing.

Louise had made a delicious prawn salad. There were fat, glistening tomatoes, cucumber and slices of seeded bread.

Evan finished his and rose from the table. ‘You can catch me in my room when you’re finished,’ he said as he edged past.

Colour flooded my neck.

I faffed around with my cutlery while Grandpa pointed his knife towards the dining room windows. ‘It’s just like Glasgow Botanic Gardens out there. Your grandma would’ve loved this.’

Once we’d finished our lunch, I helped Louise clear the table while Grandpa shuffled off back to the drawing room for a post-lunch snooze. He was living his best life here and loving it!

Then I slipped upstairs and into my room. I found myself reapplying fresh lipstick and giving my hair a tousle.

I stopped. Why the hell was I doing this? Who was I trying to impress?

I decided not to dwell on the answers to those particular questions and fluffed the hem of my sundress. I headed out into the hall and closed my bedroom door behind me. My stomach swam.