Page 11 of The Secret Castle in the Highlands

Katie grinned.

‘Well, it’s about time someone took an interest in the highwayman story, if you ask me.’ Then I eyed my sister-in-law. ‘Why do I think there’s an “and” coming?’

‘And…’ faltered Katie, closing her eyes for the briefest moment, ‘I happened to get chatting to him and I told him about your fascination with the Scarlet Highwayman ever since you were in short trousers.’

Horrified heat shot up my neck. ‘Oh, you didn’t. Shit, Katie, the guy is going to think I’m some kind of weirdo.’

She shook her frenzy of corkscrew curls. ‘No! He was delighted when I told him you had so much interest in the story and…’

‘And what? Come on, out with it.’

Katie’s cheeks glowed with colour. ‘I told this Mason Cooper about you and he’s coming up here within the hour to talk to you.’

Chapter Five

‘You did what?’

Katie held up her ringed hands in surrender. ‘I know. I know. I’m so sorry, Popps, but I did feel sorry for the poor guy.’

I shook my head in exasperation. ‘Don’t give me that! I bet if he’d looked like old Archie in the fishmongers, you wouldn’t have been as helpful.’

She reddened again and I let out a grunt. ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake.’

‘He said nobody seems willing to talk about the Scarlet Highwayman,’ said Katie. ‘The folks he’s spoken to have written the poor guy off as a charlatan. You never have.’

I toyed with a crumb of croissant on my plate. ‘But don’t you think I might have enough on at the moment with the cottages?’

My sister-in-law leaned her elbows on the edge of the breakfast bar. ‘I’m sorry, Poppy. I didn’t think. It’s just – you’ve always insisted that the Scarlet Highwayman wasn’t the evil cretin a lot of people round here seem to think.’

Katie’s words rang true as they swam around inside my head.

‘Because some folks like to think the worst of people. All the nasty rumours about him have never been proved to be true.’ I sighed.

‘I think this guy just wants to get some insider knowledge.’ She gave me a shy smile. ‘And let’s face it, you’re somewhat of a local expert on him.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘Enough of the flattery.’

I shifted on my stool and considered what Katie had just told me. ‘No. No, you’re right. If this is an opportunity to find out more about the Scarlet Highwayman – clear his name even – then it can only be a good thing.’ I reached over and patted her hand. ‘I’m sorry I snapped at you. Just ignore me.’ I gestured around with one flailing hand. ‘I’m starting to wonder what the hell I’m doing by taking on these bloody cottages.’

Katie shrugged. ‘If anyone can pull this off, it’s you, and you’re not on your own. Please remember that.’

I drained the last of my coffee. ‘Thanks for breakfast.’

She offered me a cheeky wink. ‘Oh, I’m not going anywhere just yet. I intend to hang around until Handsome Harry arrives.’

The next hour was spent pottering about the annexe, while I told Katie about my initial design thoughts. ‘They have the potential to be cosy and inviting,’ I said, ‘but they just look so dated and weary.’

I pulled up the random notes I’d entered on my mobile and was about to give her a summarised version of my ideas so far, when Katie sprang up from her kitchen stool. ‘I heard a car.’

Moments later, there was a polite knock on the door.

Katie answered and moments later, a tall, dark-haired man with silvery eyes appeared. Beside him trotted a rumpled Old English sheepdog.

‘Sorry about this,’ he rumbled in a deep Australian accent. ‘I’ll tell Darwin to wait outside.’

And I was grateful for the distraction, as I found myself staring at him far longer than I should have. There was just such a confident assurance about him.

‘Not at all,’ I insisted, clearing my throat. ‘I love animals and it’s very chilly to be out there today.’