Page 7 of The Castle in the Bay

Monty swallowed and his insides flipped over. She was the one with the boat?Great, just great.‘Oh, um, yes. Nice to meet you.’

Iona’s eyes narrowed, and she nodded in response, her lips pressed into a tight, fake looking smile.

‘Well, I’ll leave you to it,’ Catriona said. ‘While I finish the breakfast.’

Monty cleared his throat, sure the couple across the table were watching and listening in. Who wouldn’t? This was probably better thanEastenders. ‘Look, about yesterday—’

‘It’s fine,’ Iona said. ‘Catriona said you needed help with a boat?’

Monty nodded, his jaw tensing.Count to ten.‘I need to get to Kisimul Castle.’ Though he wasn’t sure he wanted to go with her. She seemed rather grumpy, and he didn’t imagine she’d be in the least sympathetic if he got seasick – and that was pretty much a given. ‘It’s important, but I wouldn’t want to impose.’

Iona glanced at the door, seemingly restraining an eye roll. ‘Don’t tell me your ancestors are buried there?’

He frowned and shook his head. Just as well he wasn’t oversensitive about his real reason for being here. Someone else might have found that remark extremely hurtful. ‘No. Not that.’ He fixed her in his gaze again. ‘Can you or can’t you take me? I’m sure I can find someone else if you’re busy.’

She gave a little shrug. ‘Technically, Icantake you, but I’m not sure when. I’m pretty busy.’

‘Fair enough.’ Her words stung a little and his chest smarted kind of like it had done after Sophie left him, though obviously not as badly as that. ‘I’ll look for someone else to do it.’

‘Good luck. I’m sure you'll find someone.’ She turned and walked out of the room, leaving Monty sitting like a plank. He blinked and glanced across at the other couple.

‘Guess I’m not popular,’ he said, and they gave him a little smile. Story of his life really. Only this time he was sure he hadn’t actually done anything wrong… Not on purpose anyway.

Chapter Four

Iona

Iona kicked at a loose pebble in the farmyard, watching it skitter across the dusty ground. She let out a huff, then ground her teeth. So, she probably shouldn’t have been so grouchy with the guest over breakfast. Catriona would be annoyed if she found out – and Catriona had enough to be doing – but something about him got on her nerves – on principle. Shewasn’t even sure what, apart from the fact that he’d made her graze her arm and twist her ankle.

‘Everything ok?’ Catriona came out and opened a large silver bin. She scooped out some seeds and tossed them around the yard, and the chickens skittered about, pecking at it.

‘Just thinking about the numpty who’s now knocked into me twice. It’s like he’s on a mission to take me out. That’s partly why I don’t want to take him to the castle, in case it’s third time lucky.’

‘He seems really nice.’ Catriona huffed out a laugh. ‘I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose.’

Iona crossed her arms. ‘Well, whatever he is, he’s a menace. I think I should keep out of his way. For my own safety… and his.’ She slapped her hands together.

‘You’ve really got it in for him, haven’t you?’

‘I could say the same about you and Alex.’

‘Let’s not go there.’ Catriona looked away. ‘I wouldn’t even have taken him on. My mum did it before she got too ill to run this place.’

Iona let out a slow breath. ‘What’s your deal with him?’ She didn’t get why Catriona was so irritable with Alex. ‘Has he done something bad? If he’s done anything horrible to you. I’ll kill him.’

‘Thanks.’ Catriona gave her a smile. ‘But it’s not that. I can’t explain it. He just… I don’t know… Has a way of annoying me.’

Sounded exactly what that guest did to her. ‘Where is Alex anyway?’

‘He’s driving Eilidh to school. She had some heavy books to take for a talk today and she didn’t want to carry them on the minibus.’

‘I see.’ Except she didn’t. Why did someone so helpful annoy Catriona so much? ‘That was nice of him.’

‘Oh yeah. He loves Eilidh, and she loves him.’ Catriona walked across the yard, and Iona raised her eyebrows at Catriona’s back.

‘Are you jealous or something?’

Catriona turned around and sighed. ‘Not really. He just likes to disagree with me for the sake of it. He never says anything, but I know he thinks I’m too young to run this place. I can tell he thinks I’m incompetent. I know we need to diversify. But whatever I suggest, he dismisses it and makes out that I’m clueless. It’s not like he knows any better. He doesn’t have a background in business or finance.’

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