Page 80 of The Secret Castle in the Highlands

‘Mason said his mother in particular is keen for him to meet someone else, and he was worried she was going to try to line him up with half the female population of Port Starr.’ I tried to look nonchalant. ‘It’s only for a couple of days, until his parents leave on their road trip to the Highlands.’

‘Sounds fun – in a mad sort of way.’

‘Believe me, it isn’t. I’m terrified they’ll see through us.’ I went on to explain to her that Mason had promised to help me deal with Alex Lapley in exchange for me posing as his new girlfriend. ‘And that’s why I’ve got to disappear for a bit today. We’re having lunch with his mum and dad.’

‘Ooh! Should I start looking at big hats?’

‘Don’t you dare. It’s all a pretence.’ I heard myself say the words and felt a weird sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach. ‘As soon as his parents are gone, we can revert to how we were.’

Katie furrowed her brow but didn’t say anything.

The four of us slumped in our high-backed chairs. Orla and Jack Cooper had offered to take us to Campella’s, our posh local Italian, but Mason and I had roundly refused. I was carrying enough guilt as it was about our deception, without Orla and Jack remortgaging their home to pay for some expensive lunch.

Mason agreed with me when I suggested we go to the tearoom at McKerron Castle instead. ‘The forecast isn’t great today,’ I reasoned, ‘and if we go there, it will give you a chance to see some of the grounds.’

So, we opted for their traditional afternoon tea of petit fours and a selection of finely cut sandwiches of egg and cress, Scottish salmon, cucumber, and tomato and mozzarella, all washed down with copious amounts of Earl Grey.

Orla appraised the surroundings of the castle tearoom, with its stone-flagged floor, heavy tartan drapes at the windows and gleaming swords and shields hanging from the walls. The tearoom was located on the ground floor, next to the gift shop in one of the turrets and boasted a soaring ceiling that had suspended light fittings that resembled giant raindrops. It was very cosy.

Mason insisted on paying, brushing away my contribution with one of his disapproving stares. Then the four of us stepped back out into the damp courtyard, where the morning rain had melted against the castle walls.

‘I’m so sorry I have to dash off,’ I apologised, ‘but hopefully I’ll see you later.’

Orla beamed through her slash of ruby lipstick. ‘That would be good, Poppy. Maybe we could drop by your office.’ She clasped her manicured hands around her patent handbag. ‘We’re leaving on Monday.’

‘Oh, I don’t think there’s any rush, love,’ piped up Jack beside her. ‘About leaving Port Starr as quickly as that, I mean. This is a gorgeous place, and you said you wanted to spend some time with Mason.’

Panic flooded through me. Oh, shit! Don’t tell me I’ll have to continue with this for another few days. I was already forgetting details of Mason’s favourite rugby-playing heroes and which Rolling Stones album he played over and over as a teenager.

‘Right,’ I forced. ‘That would be great. It’s just – I thought you were keen to see some of the northern landscape.’

I decided not to examine Mason for his reaction just yet. I could imagine his dark brows like storm clouds and the same surge of rising dread I was experiencing.

‘Oh, we are,’ Jack agreed, ‘but this place is even prettier than we thought it would be.’ He glided a hand over his snow-white hair. ‘And if we stay on a bit longer, it will give us more time to get to know you.’

‘Lovely,’ I said through a strained grin. ‘Isn’t that terrific, Mason?’ I aimed a direct comment up at my ‘boyfriend’ and did a double take.

To my astonishment, Mason was nodding and agreeing with them! ‘I think that’s a great idea, Dad. As I understand it, your holiday cottage is free for the rest of the week, anyway.’

When Orla and Jack spotted the gift shop and wandered off to take a closer look, I used the welcome distraction to pull Mason to one side. ‘What on earth are you doing?’ I hissed. ‘I’m an artist, not an actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company!’

Mason’s full mouth flickered. ‘You could have fooled me after that kiss this morning. Felt real to me.’

I scowled at him.

He silenced me for a moment with a killer grin. ‘Have you gone red?’

I fiddled with the strap of my shoulder bag. ‘I always look like this when I’m bloody angry.’

‘Oh, well, I’ll have to annoy you more. You’re even sexier when you’re flustered.’

I waited until a family drifted past, studying a map of the castle grounds. ‘Stop being such a smartarse, Mason. You said this ridiculous situation would only be a for a couple of nights.’

He shrugged lightly. ‘That’s what I thought too. But it sounds like my parents’ plans have changed.’

He gazed down and I looked away. None of this is real, I reminded myself. It’s all just an amusing diversion for him. Goodness knows where my common sense had got to. Whenever I was near Mason, all my logical reasoning evaporated.

I tried to keep my voice steady. ‘And while we’re wasting time playing Romeo and Juliet, we’re not progressing with the Scarlet Highwayman research.’