Page 7 of The Secret Castle in the Highlands

‘Ooh. Help with what?’

Katie was standing in the doorway, her light-brown curls springing around her freckled face. She was wearing a pair of putty-coloured dungarees with a polka-dot T-shirt, which matched the red-dotted scarf wrapped around her head.

Caleb strode towards his wife and softly kissed her lips. ‘Let’s just say I think the two of us are going to be rather busy for the foreseeable.’

‘I’ll go speak to Mr Hanson now,’ I insisted, as Caleb proceeded to tell his stunned wife of my plans and Dad looked on, bewildered.

The thought of leaving London wasn’t an attractive prospect, but there was no other option.

It had to be done. I wouldn’t lose the cottages after everything else.

Throwing myself into arrangements, so I wouldn’t have too much time to dwell on what I was doing, I telephoned my landlord first, to relinquish my flat, promising to confirm all the details by email. Then I made the call I truly was dreading.

I imagined Mr Hanson’s hooded eyes popping behind his amber-tinted John Lennon spectacles as I told him my news. He sounded confused. ‘You’re leaving? But why, Poppy? I don’t understand.’

I clutched my mobile to my ear and thought of Artisan, with its red velvet seating, the creamy-white walls and glowing spotlights that picked out not only the sweeps, lines and dashes of artists’ creativity, but also the solid, gilded frames that the paintings rested in. I blinked back guilt that was festering behind my eyes and explained to Mr Hanson about my parents’ desire to sell our ailing holiday cottages.

‘So,’ I sighed, ‘that’s why I’ve decided to return to Port Starr. I’m so sorry, Mr Hanson. You’ve been so good to me, especially when my marriage broke up.’

‘No need to apologise, Poppy. It’s just regrettable that I’m losing one of the best and most knowledgeable receptionists I’ve ever had.’

I heard the black pointed shoes he always wore tapping back up the polished floor towards his office. ‘I’ll make sure you’re paid to the end of the month and there’ll be something extra in there, too, as a way of thanks for all your hard work.’

I bit my lip. ‘Thank you.’

‘And don’t worry about your belongings and your sketches and artwork,’ he assured me. ‘I’ll arrange for it all to be transferred back up to you in Scotland, through our delivery service here at the gallery.’

‘But, Mr Hanson, that will cost a fortune!’

‘I won’t hear another word, Poppy,’ he insisted down the line. ‘You just get yourself settled. Then you can message me with your new address, and we’ll get your things back to you safely. Good luck with everything.’

‘Thank you so much.’ A grateful lump lodged in my throat. ‘That will be such a great help.’

I hung up and chewed my lip. I was glad I’d brought my Scarlet Highwayman portrait with me. Everything else could be brought up to Scotland by the art gallery delivery service, thanks to Mr Hanson’s generosity. It was all happening so quickly, but perhaps that was a blessing. It wouldn’t give me time to question the enormous task I was undertaking.

Chapter Three

To say that our family dinner that Sunday evening was a buzzing affair was an understatement.

Dad kept smiling at me – well, when I say smiling, it was more of a terrified grimace.

Mum dished out her roast potatoes with relish, while chatting about how many pairs of linen trousers she thought she would need for their extended holiday.

While cities of the world were enthused over, Caleb appeared to be in a state of catatonic shock. At least my sister-in-law was giving the impression of being somewhat more enthusiastic.

I took a sip of my crisp, white wine. ‘We can have a brain-storming session about the cottages in the next day or two. I’d welcome your input. How are the ceramics going, Katie?’

She twitched her freckled nose and slid a glance at Caleb. ‘Not selling as many as I’d hoped. Nothing I could retire on.’

I lifted my wineglass in a mock toast. ‘I know the feeling. Here’s to all of us struggling artists everywhere.’

Katie speared a piece of chicken on her fork. ‘So, anyone new on the horizon?’

I almost coughed up my wine. ‘You’ve got to be kidding. Nick the Dick has put me right off men.’ I took a bite of potato. ‘I should have stuck to my teenage promise of loving the Scarlet Highwayman for the rest of my days.’

Katie sent my brother a long sideways glance. ‘Yes, at least a handsome highwayman wouldn’t sit on his Xbox until almost midnight.’

Caleb’s hazel eyes widened. ‘I had to finish that level, otherwise it was curtains. I couldn’t let the rest of the guys down.’