Page 112 of The Secret Castle in the Highlands

Maisie afforded him a generous grin. ‘Why don’t I give you the Port Starr grand tour?’

‘Sounds very appealing,’ beamed David as they sauntered off together.

I was smiling at their retreating backs when there was a small tap on my shoulder.

It was Mason, his tie sexily askew.

I put on a serious expression. ‘Now that we’ve managed to rescue a man’s reputation, what else is left for us to do?’

Mason’s wicked grin was back. ‘Come with me, innocent Rapunzel, and let the Prince of Darkness show you.’

‘You really are a bit of a bad boy, aren’t you?’

‘It’s your challenge to find out.’

‘Sorry for interrupting,’ said Katie, cuddling up to Caleb. They looked at each other with soppy expressions. ‘But I just wanted to check that Aunty Poppy was okay after all that.’

It took a moment to process her words. ‘Aunty Poppy?’

Then I let out a squeal and hugged and kissed them both. Katie placed a protective hand across the slight curve of her tummy.

‘We’re expecting our own little Super Shark,’ beamed Caleb, who shook Mason’s outstretched hand and thanked him for his good wishes.

‘A new-year baby,’ glowed Katie, ‘and a new beginning for Port Starr, now that the truth’s finally out about the Scarlet Highwayman.’ She placed her hand on my shoulder. ‘Thanks to you two, that poor man’s good name has now been restored.’

Mason looked down at me, a soft expression in his silver eyes. ‘It’s Poppy who should be taking most of the credit. She never gave up on Gideon Kelly; not for one minute.’

I leaned into his solid shoulder and gazed up at the open expanse of sky that was now melting into patches of dappled sunlight. I could finish my portrait of him now – finally; capture the dashing expression in his eyes and complete the sweep of his jaw. Everything finally felt complete. At least both Gideon and Georgina could rest peacefully together, now that everyone knew the truth.

‘Let’s go and get you a sit-down and a cuppa for a few minutes,’ said Caleb to Katie.

I wished them congratulations again and watched them saunter off towards the deli. But then Caleb turned around and shouted, ‘Oh sis, it might come as no surprise to learn that Nanna Eve and Grandpa Oliver have decided to shorten their trip, so they can be home before the baby’s born in January.’

I snuggled into Mason and laughed. ‘That’s no surprise at all.’

As my brother and sister-in-law were swallowed up by other eager locals and tourists, keen for refreshments after the afternoon’s dramatic revelations, a thought sprang into my mind. ‘I wonder whatever happened to them all – Gideon, Georgina and Oscar – and what the future held for them?’

We too were about to wander off when Eliza Compton appeared.

‘Apologies, but I couldn’t help overhearing,’ she said. ‘If you’d like to know what became of them all, I think I might be able to help.’

Mason and I exchanged excited glances and drove her home as she requested.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Eliza lived in one of the fishermen’s cottages, ten minutes’ walk from the centre of town. It was immaculate; another greystone affair with the windowsills painted sunlit yellow. The manicured garden led up to a door in the same glossy colour, which glinted with panels of stained glass.

Eliza ushered us down her narrow hallway and into her sitting room, which contained a cream-and-apricot floral sofa and two matching armchairs. She sat herself down in one of the armchairs and laced her fingers together on her lap. She was perched opposite Mason and me, like she was ready to spring into action at any moment.

‘I should have done something sooner,’ she admitted. ‘I should have said something.’ She pressed her lips together and gazed past us to her sitting-room window and the set of peach satin curtains that hung there. ‘I thought everything was in the past, but when that horrid Alex returned and started causing trouble, I knew I couldn’t sit by, knowing what I did.’

‘You mustn’t feel guilty,’ I assured her, glancing sideways at Mason. ‘I thought you were very brave today.’

‘Me too,’ agreed Mason. ‘It can’t have been easy.’

‘It was a little easier than I thought it would be, thanks to both of you.’ She raised her gaze to the white-washed ceiling, from which hung a triangular lightshade. ‘I allowed that family to manipulate me for years. I kept quiet about those letters and didn’t say anything about what I knew, because they donated to the upkeep of McKerron Castle. And they made it very clear my job would be in jeopardy if the truth came out.’

She paused. ‘I mean, where would I find another job like that at my age?’ She smiled sadly. ‘I love going to that beautiful castle every day, and the prospect of losing all of that…’ She pressed her lips together again. ‘That Lapley family aren’t outwardly scary, I know, but they’ve always carried this air of untouchability. Not anymore.’