Page 24 of Heirs and Graces at Highland Hall
‘What? Why? I thought it would be straightforward. Kieron’s the heir, isn’t he?’
‘Yes… of course,’ Bex said quickly, realising her mistake. She’d promised Gordon she wouldn’t mention this to anyone, and now, five minutes alone with Duncan, she’d nearly blurted everything out. ‘Look, I’m sure it’ll all be sorted soon. I’m not meant to say anything.’
‘It’s fine. My lips are sealed.’
Now that he’d mentioned his lips, Bex couldn’t help but look at them. She felt herself drawn towards him, as if by some magnetic pull, but she stopped herself, pushing back from the table.
‘Right, I’d better get home,’ she said. She reached the door, but paused and turned back. ‘I’m going to the Burns Night thing. I know what you said to those girls, but it’d be nice to see you at the castle.’
Duncan’s cheeks drew inwards in what was almost as deep a pout as the Australian. ‘Kieron invited you?’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I thought… with all the work I’m doing there…’
‘I don’t tend to go to his things,’ he said.
‘I know. But it’d be nice to have another friendly face there.’ He nodded in response, but it was that type of nod thatacknowledged he had heard what she’d said, rather than actually agreeing to show up. ‘Let me know how Ruby gets on.’
As Bex looked down at Ruby’s plate of scrambled egg, that had now been licked clean, Duncan let out a brief chuckle. ‘You know, I wouldn’t put it past the dog to pull this just to get us to spend some time together.’
Bex lifted her gaze to look at him, then smiled. ‘Maybe,’ she said, before looking back down at Ruby. If that was the case, then she wasn’t sure if she should be happy with the dog or not. But at least she now had a reason to text Duncan again. If she wanted to, that was.
20
‘You and Duncan looked like you were getting on well at the café,’ Lorna said that evening.
‘I think the word you’re looking for is civil,’ Bex said, although she felt a little bad saying that, so added, ‘But it was nice to talk to him though. I just hope Ruby’s all right.’
‘Well, at least now he knows what to feed her. She might put on some weight.’
‘I hope so,’ Bex agreed. She was the one cooking tonight, though it wasn’t very exciting. Pasta and pesto. It would fill a hole, and she didn’t have the mental capacity for anything more. From the will to Duncan and now Ruby, there was a lot to worry about, and she was exhausted.
‘And you’re okay about tomorrow?’ Lorna continued, grabbing the cutlery. ‘About going to Moira’s? Eilidh’s already started working on your dress, and before you say she needn’t have, she wanted to. She’s just as excited as I am. It’s going to be incredible. Oh, and don’t think I didn’t hear you invite Duncan along. Maybe a few drinks together is what you guys need.’
‘Or maybe that is the worst possible idea ever,’ Bex countered. ‘And I didn’t invite him. I asked if he was coming.’
‘And said it would be nice to see him there.’ She arched an eyebrow as she offered Bex a smirk.
‘Exactly how much of the conversation were you listening in to?’ Bex asked. ‘Weren’t you meant to be serving?’
‘I can multitask. And I did very well.’ Lorna’s expression turned into a telling stare. ‘I’ll leave it. You know I will. I’m your friend as well as his sister. But honestly, seeing you talking like that, I just wanted to knock your heads together. You are the most perfect couple.’
It had been one thing hearing the same sentiment from Claire and Daisy for weeks on end, but it struck even harder coming from Lorna. Perhaps because she had been so forthright in warning Bex off Duncan when she’d first arrived.
‘I get that it was difficult being together,’ she continued. ‘But was it really so difficult that it wasn’t worth it?’
Bex made a slight hissing sound as she sucked in a breath through her teeth. Was it so difficult that it hadn’t been worth it? It was hard to know the answer. They had coped as it was, but it would’ve just got harder, wouldn’t it?
‘I know you mean well,’ Bex said with a sigh, ‘but I really haven’t got the energy to talk about this. However much he likes to pretend this is all on me, Duncan and I made a mutual decision.’
‘He would have done whatever you said, and you know it. Besides, it doesn’t mean you can’t backtrack. It wasn’t some legal thing, written in stone.’
Bex knew that, but she didn’t say anything.
‘Come on. Food’s ready. Why don’t you tell me more about Burns Night?’
The next morning, Bex tried to push thoughts of Duncan out of her head and focus on getting ready for work. Given the unpredictability of the weather, Lorna had given her a lift there every morning before heading to the café to start work. But as Bex stared out the window at the sun creeping over the horizon, she found herself fancying a walk outside.
Winter mornings in Scotland were like something out of a fairy tale. Crisp frost glittered on the grass and rooftops; smoke wove up from chimneys, filling the air with the scent of wood fires and homeliness. It was no wonder the village was constantly filled with tourists. Like the Australian women Bex was trying her hardest not to think of. Yet they were like pink elephants in her head. The more she tried not to think of them, the more the images, with their ludicrously long legs and perfectly manicured hands, took over.
