Page 24 of The Secret Castle in the Highlands

Beside a lovely photograph of the cottages, which Caleb had taken on a day when creamy winter sunshine had been spilling down on their glinting windows, there was a drop-down menu, which he had linked to my and Katie’s individual websites.

There was also a section where we could feature our ‘Guest of the Week’ and details of any competitions we would be holding, as well as headshots of a smiling Katie, Jenny and me, with a short bio of each of us underneath. There was also a page dedicated to our accommodation price list.

Caleb flashed a proud smile. ‘And there’s room in that section for you to add any new members of staff.’

‘It looks fantastic.’ I grinned at him. ‘I didn’t think you would’ve pulled it together so fast.’

My brother let out an exasperated sigh. ‘You can blame my wife. She can be very persuasive.’

‘Thanks so much. It’s great.’

Katie and I lurked by the cottages that lunchtime, as two furniture vans reversed to the edge of the courtyard. We’d ordered a new double bed for each cottage, as well as assorted cushions, fabrics and some jazzy new furniture for the sitting rooms.

While Samuel, the young carpenter, installed picture hooks on the newly decorated walls under the gimlet eyes of Joe, who was very protective about his decorating, Katie and I shuffled from foot to foot outside in the hazy sunshine.

My stomach did a strange flippy sensation, when I noticed Mason and Darwin sauntering up the brow of the hill towards us. What was wrong with me all of a sudden?

‘Sorry to interrupt you when you’re busy’ came his rumble of Australian accent, ‘but I wanted to ask you something.’

Katie whirled around and gave me a playful nudge, which I ignored.

While Mason was talking, Darwin made a lunge for me, his tail wagging like an over-enthusiastic boat rudder.

‘Hello, you,’ I greeted him with a laugh, kneeling down to cup his solid head in my hands. ‘I think you get cuter every time I see you.’

‘Well, that’s very kind of you to say,’ said Mason, straight-faced.

I gave him what I hoped was a withering look.

Katie was grinning.

‘So, enough about me,’ he joked. ‘I wondered what you might know about McKerron Castle?’

‘What do you mean, apart from it being a castle?’ I smiled sweetly, straightening up.

Katie dug me with her elbow again and Mason’s eyes glowed with humour. ‘I had already deduced that.’

‘If I remember correctly from my schooldays,’ I said after a moment’s recollection, ‘McKerron Castle was built sometime in the seventeenth century. A landowner sold the land it’s on to the Earl of Strath Lee and he had it erected for him and his family.’

Katie nodded at my shoulder, admiring Mason in his navy-blue sweater, and spoke next. ‘Rumour goes that one of the earl’s sons fell in love with a local girl, but the earl threatened to have her imprisoned at McKerron Castle if the son didn’t stop seeing her.’ She released a whimsical sigh. ‘Some locals say they can see their silhouettes dancing together in the moonlight.’

Katie and I swapped dreamy expressions about the romantic tale.

‘Right,’ Mason remarked, making no attempt to conceal his cynicism. ‘I’m sure it’s much more a case of atmospherics, rather than a ghostly couple doing the Argentine tango.’

‘Atmospherics?’ I snorted. ‘Wow. You do have passion in your soul, don’t you?’

‘Oh, I can assure you that I have hidden depths.’

I tilted my chin, surprised that I was actually enjoying our verbal sparring session. ‘I bet even when you were little you had an old, cynical head.’

‘An old, cynical head?’ Mason repeated. ‘Look, I’m not denying it’s a rather charming tale, just like the other one about those tragic lovers calling to one another, but I’m more interested in historical facts.’

Joe, overhearing us, joined us in the courtyard, dusting off his hands. ‘You’re not looking for hidden treasure up there, are you?’

Mason rubbed his jaw. ‘It would be great if I did find anything like that up there, but no.’ Then he turned to me. ‘Would you be free at lunchtime today?’

His question hung suspended in the air, peppered with the scent of painted walls.