Page 105 of The Secret Castle in the Highlands

Katie observed my father’s disappearing figure across the screen with an odd frown, whereas I just about concealed my disappointment in his lacklustre reaction with a faded smile.

Chapter Forty-Five

The remainder of the morning vanished in a whirlwind of enquiries and last-minute organisation for our ‘big reveal’. Mason and Caleb turned up much earlier than expected and insisted on doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

Luckily, Jenny was on good terms with the resident quizmaster at the Harbour’s Rest pub and he lent us his microphone and PA system to address the anticipated crowd.

The plan was for Mason and me to speak to everyone at the foot of the town clock. The weather was due to be dry, although a bit on the grey side, so at least that was a blessing.

As Mason angled past me, he whispered, ‘I can’t stop thinking about you, Rapunzel,’ which made me wear a silly grin for the next half-hour and made Katie threaten to throw up in the public toilets, which she ended up doing.

I turned into a greater emotional wreck when Mason went home to change out of his rock T-shirt and shabby combats, arriving back in a dashing charcoal three-piece suit. The waistcoat emphasised his broad chest and he’d matched it with a metal-grey shirt and ash-coloured silk tie.

‘Hi,’ I said with a smile.

‘Hi back.’ He appraised the belted floral-pink dress and cream ankle boots that I’d changed into for the event. ‘You look gorgeous.’

‘Thanks.’

Once he got closer, he dropped his voice and whispered into my ear. ‘I hope you realise I’m struggling to control myself whenever I’m around you.’

‘Ah. So, this is only lust, then?’ I teased.

‘You know I’m enchanted by your brains as well as your beauty.’

‘Do I?’

Mason raised an eyebrow. ‘Okay. Tell you what. Come out to dinner with me this evening and we’ll discuss all things arty.’

‘That sounds great.’

‘Then I’ll take you back to my place and we can carry on from where we left off last night.’

Mason’s scorching gaze made my chest rise and fall. ‘You’re incorrigible.’

He flashed me a smoky look. ‘I do my best.’

Our flirting was interrupted by Katie. She had someone with her; a young, brown-haired guy sporting a short beard and wearing a sharp blue suit.

Mason and Katie exchanged smiles and polite small talk for a moment. Then Katie indicated the expectant-looking, floppy-haired man at her side. ‘Poppy, I’d like you to meet David Telfer from Historic Heritage.’

‘You’re David. The gentleman I spoke to about all this. Er … hi. Nice to meet you.’ I cocked my head. ‘Apologies, but I don’t understand what’s going on. I thought you couldn’t make it, Mr Telfer.’

‘Please, it’s David,’ interjected the man, glancing at his surroundings. ‘It turns out that your father knows my boss at Historic Heritage and managed to persuade him to allow me an escape from my in-tray for the day to come here.’

I couldn’t conceal my surprise. ‘My dad used his contacts to get you along here?’

‘Yes, he did.’

A flush of pride washed over me. Dad really was impressed with my achievements with the cottages.

As people began to stroll down the cobbles towards us, idling outside the bevelled windows of the shops and speculating amongst themselves as to what was going on, Mason had one final rehearsal of the notes he’d brought with him.

There was a thrum of inquisitiveness from the growing crowd, who made up a broad cross-section of our seaside community. Elderly people, their expressions brimming with curiosity, stood beside tall, bony teenagers; intrigued families had young children cradled in their arms or hoisted onto their fathers’ shoulders for a clearer view.

Standing with his arm draped around Katie’s shoulders was Caleb. Even Mrs Compton and Ryan were there. Ryan gave me a small nod, while a few feet away from him, Eliza Compton stared up nervously. There was even a handful of intrigued tourists amidst the crowd.

My eyes searched for the waxen face of Alex Lapley, but I couldn’t see him. Apprehension stabbed at me, though I tried to ignore it. That man was capable of anything, and I found it difficult to believe he wouldn’t be lurking amongst the crowd somewhere.