Page 13 of The Secret Castle in the Highlands

‘I have. It’s a spectacular place with such gorgeous scenery, and the harbour, and that castle you have here. It’s like something out of a fantasy novel. I bet it harbours a few secrets.’

‘Yes. McKerron Castle is very special. It’s the pride of Port Starr. It’s like our equivalent of the palace in Disneyland.’ I found myself smiling as I thought about it. ‘There’s so many tales about that place. And it’s a fantastic subject to paint.’

‘I expect it is.’

Mason gestured towards the town. ‘I’m from Sydney, but I’ve always been fascinated by European history. I based myself in London for a while.’ He looked out the window, his earnest gaze drinking in the sea and the horizon.

He took his phone out of his front pocket. ‘I think the initial way forward is for me to do some more local research. Are there any stalwarts in the community who are members of historical societies or something similar?’

There was Eliza Compton, self-appointed custodian and one of the main guides at McKerron Castle. I told Mason about her and he nodded. ‘She sounds like someone I should speak to.’

He glanced down at his watch. It was a big, chunky black thing with a solid silver strap. ‘I’d better be off.’ He fished in the front pocket of his combats again, and this time pulled out a business card. ‘I’ve moved into one of those new apartments near the harbour. Here’s my mobile number.’

I snatched up a Post-it from the kitchen and scribbled my number down for him. He took it. ‘That’s great, Poppy. Hopefully, together, we can get to the truth about this mysterious man.’

‘That would be wonderful,’ I agreed. ‘It would be wonderful to put an end to all the wild accusations about him.’

I opened the front door and watched Mason’s long legs stride away across the cobbles, with Darwin at his heels.

Something told me I maybe was a little too hasty in agreeing to work with him. But, oh well, it was too late now. And after everything else I’d been through could there ever be too many distractions to mend a broken heart?

Chapter Six

Ireclined against the squashy blue sofa in the annexe, on which I’d thrown three cushions covered in buttercup-and-cream fabric which I’d just bought that afternoon from the local furnishings shop, Sitting Comfortably.

‘How are your drawings coming along for Super Shark?’

Caleb’s close-cropped hair was burnished red under the sitting-room lights and there were small ink marks on the tips of his fingers. ‘I was a bit behind last week, but the promise of an impending deadline can really focus the mind.’

My brother had started off supplying cartoons for the Hell versus Heroes comic several years ago, but when his ability was spotted online by a new children’s book publisher, he agreed to come up with illustrations for a series of new books featuring a character by the name of Super Shark.

Through the gap in the curtains, the evening sky was twisting into coils of orange and a thin line of dark seeped towards the horizon like spilt ink.

Caleb leaned forward, a tattoo flexing gently on his bicep. It was of Blaze, Caleb’s first creation: a blond, long-haired Nordic prince who possessed the powers of telepathy and speed. ‘Listen, Poppy, I’ve got a number of contacts around here. I can call a few of the guys and get them to give you some quotes for the work you need doing.’

‘That would be great.’ I smiled with relief. ‘There’s so much to do.’

‘You’ll get there,’ encouraged my brother. ‘And although I don’t have the same attachment to the cottages as you do, you know you can rely on me.’

‘Thanks.’

I plucked an iced biscuit from the plate on the table in front of us.

Caleb spoke. ‘There was some guy asking around about the Scarlet Highwayman this morning.’

My thoughts conjured up pictures of my surprise visitor. ‘Oh yes, I know about him. Tall, dark hair, Australian accent … that’ll be Mason Cooper.’

He looked confused. ‘No, he didn’t look like that. This fella was shorter with blond hair, smartly dressed.’

‘Seriously?’

‘Yep. All suited and booted. Bit of a smooth-looking guy.’ Caleb frowned. ‘He seemed vaguely familiar.’ An edge of envy was traceable in his voice as he added, ‘His suit probably cost more than I make in a year.’ Caleb’s eyes widened with recognition. ‘Actually, I’m sure he was the same guy I spotted the other day. He was lurking around down by the harbour.’ He rubbed his peppering of red stubble. ‘I was delivering draft designs to the Lavender Hotel for their new kids’ menu. Did I tell you I’ve suggested a character called Sid the Seagull for them?’ At this point, my big brother beamed with self-congratulation.

‘Good for you,’ I said, eager to hear more. ‘Now, what about this stranger?’

‘Oh aye. Well, he was hovering about near the harbour, trying to speak to some of the locals.’ Caleb hitched up his mouth at one corner dismissively. ‘I couldn’t hear everything he was saying, but I did catch him mentioning the Scarlet Highwayman. That soon sent the folks round here fleeing in the opposite direction.’

I looked across at my brother. ‘It’s almost as if the Scarlet Highwayman has been erased from Port Starr’s history, isn’t it?’