Daisy laughed but Tabby didn’t and for a moment there was an awkwardness in the air.
“I,” Daisy said, breaking the spell, “am going for a pee.”
They didn’t talk about the cards anymore that night though Daisy found herself thinking about them later, just before she fell asleep.
What if she did go back in time? It would be the perfect research for her historical bakery. Imagine living in the castle and baking the medieval way with Jock by her side.
It was a nice dream with only one problem.
Jock MacGregor acted like he lived in the past but he lived in the present.
Or so she thought.
She slept fitfully and when she dreamed she dreamed of Jock.
Monday morning she showered and then stood in her room, trying to choose what to wear. In the end she settled for pretty much the same thing she’d worn last time, despite Tabby’s shouted through advice that she dress to impress him.
“What’s the point,” she called back. “I’m never going to be seeing him again after today. One signature and I’m out of there.”
“You never know. You might end up married to a laird. Lady MacGregor, that could be you.”
“I very much doubt it.”
She headed downstairs once she was dressed, finding Tabby looking much the same as she’d done all weekend. “Are you ever going to get better?” Daisy asked.
“Are you ever going to listen to my fashion advice?”
“Maybe. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“And several pounds richer. Maybe with an engagement ring on your finger?”
“Stop it. I’ll just get the custodian to sign for him and then I’ll be back.”
“Nuh uh, he took the box, he has to sign. That’s the way it works.”
“Really?”
Was she glad Tabby had told her that?
Of course not.
So why had her heart just skipped a beat?
She headed north for the second time in a week. The journey was as pretty as the first time and went by quicker now she knew which way she was going. She even managed to slow down in time to enter the parking lot when she got to the castle.
She took the form with her across to the gatehouse, ringing the bell and feeling strangely as if she someone was watching her. She looked up but there was no one visible at any of the arrow slit windows.
For a brief second she could have sworn she saw a head at the very top of the battlements but then a crow rose up and flew off and she realized she’d been mistaken.
The door creaked open and there was the ancient custodian once again. “Och, ye’re back,” he said, rubbing his hands together excitedly.
“I need the Laird’s signature for his package.”
“Ye mean you actually saw Jock MacGregor? In the flesh?”
“He was in his room just like you said.”
“So the door was unlocked, was it? The one up top of the stairs, I mean?”
