Page 8 of The Secret Castle in the Highlands

We all assisted Mum and Dad with clearing up the dining table and then Mum reappeared, carrying a stack of freshly laundered bedding. ‘You can have your own room, Poppy. There’s a bit of clutter in the corners, but I’m sure you can manage for now.’

Oh God. It was like stepping back in time. That was my room from when I was younger.

I stuffed my hands into my jeans pockets. ‘I’ve been thinking, Mum, and I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve decided to move into the annexe by the cottages, instead.’

Mum was crestfallen. ‘Why?’

‘I want to hit the ground running, and if I stay up there, I’ll be closer to the cottages and can get to work straightaway.’

‘But it hasn’t been lived in for a while,’ protested Mum, the horror on her face evident. ‘And it’s so cold here at the moment, Popps.’

Dad appeared behind Mum and placed a tender hand on her shoulder. ‘Don’t try to persuade her, Eve. If this one has made up her mind, she won’t budge. You should know that by now.’ He gave me a small smile of admiration. ‘And anyway, the annexe is clean. Katie gave it a good top-to-toe the other day. It’ll be chilly, but the heating system is okay, if a bit sluggish.’

‘Well, won’t you at least stay for a coffee?’ asked Mum, concern etched on her face. ‘Or how about one of those herbal teas you like?’

‘Mum, please don’t worry. That was a lovely dinner. I’m just tired from the trip up and really would like to get settled.’

The truth was that I was so tempted to stay at Mum and Dad’s, but knew that if I succumbed, I wouldn’t want to leave, and I had to strike out on my own. I had made a strong case for taking over the mantle of the holiday cottages and now I had to follow through.

‘Well, I’m giving you some supplies to take with you,’ insisted Mum, steering me by the elbow into the kitchen.

‘Mum, I can go shopping tomorrow.’

‘Yes, I know that.’ She bustled about, plucking assorted items from the fridge before rummaging through one of the cupboards. ‘But a few things will keep you going for now.’

Once Mum had thrust her carrier bag of food at me, I declined another offer of coffee and bathed Caleb and Katie in a wide smile.

Caleb folded his arms. ‘I take it the puppy eyes are your way of asking us to drop you off at the annexe on our way home?’

I grinned wider.

‘Come on, then, Let’s get you settled in.’

The fairy lights looped along the harbour were casting pools of gold onto the shimmering surface of the water, and McKerron Castle loomed large further along the coastline, its jagged turrets and walls like inky silhouettes.

The castle never ceased to capture my artistic appreciation. It was a steadfast symbol of Port Starr, carrying with it the secrets and desires of the local people who had long since gone. It was like the jewel in the crown of Port Starr and everyone who lived here had always been very protective of it.

I used to love painting its majestic walls and ancient brickwork or ensnaring its moody side on a dull day with sweeps of my charcoal chalk. There had been rumours, which a lot of the townsfolk loved to regale the tourists with, of the ghosts of two dead lovers heard to cry longingly from the battlements. I did sometimes wonder why a lot of the locals seemed to prefer this story to the tales about the Scarlet Highwayman, but I supposed they hadn’t been accused of various misdemeanours like he had.

A Sunday evening in March was bringing a stiff breeze across the North Sea, and the shops were huddled together in the cloak of darkness as Caleb drove me up the snaking road towards the cottages, Katie in the passenger seat beside him, her brown curls frothing outwards from her head like a dandelion as she updated me on the local gossip.

The annexe was situated to the top left of the row of six cottages and had originally been used as a furniture-storage facility. That was until we had plumbing issues with the cottages several years back and Dad turned it into a crude mini apartment so he could sleep over and be on hand.

The office for the business was located directly across from the cottages. From what I could make out, that too could benefit from a fresh lick of paint, but I’d investigate properly tomorrow.

The moon was like a huge white saucer as we hauled my belongings out of the boot and Caleb fished around in the pocket of his combats for the annexe key.

I glanced over my shoulder at the cottages, crouching empty in the dark. Katie followed my gaze and she narrowed her eyes at me.

‘Are you sure about all this?’

I pinned on a smile. ‘Absolutely.’ I rubbed my hands together to warm them. ‘I need to do something challenging. It’s all right for you. You’ve done so much more than I have.’ Katie and I were both twenty-nine, yet she’d managed to have a bigger, more accomplished life.

Katie rolled her eyes good-naturedly. ‘Is this where you bring up my Bohemian childhood again?’

‘No, this is where I mention your brief engagement to an Elvis impersonator, your stint rescuing stranded dolphins in Thailand and the time you camped out on a beach selling recycled swimsuits.’

Katie blushed. ‘Believe me, it all sounds far more exciting than it actually was.’