1
Bex was walking down the cobblestones of LochDarroch, two bacon baps clutched in her hands as Ruby strolled happily in front of her.
The sleepy village was even quieter than normal, but Bex had had an exceptionally productive morning. As well as purchasing the takeaway breakfast, she’d also just got off the phone from her boss back in London, who said that she could take a month’s sabbatical from her accounting job. It was exactly what she’d asked for and meant she could spend the next four weeks trying to work out what the hell she wanted to do with her life. The only problem was, she thought she already knew, and there was no chance it could happen.
Less than twenty-four hours ago, during the Burns Night celebration at Highland Hall, her ex, Duncan, had discovered that, rather than being a dedicated groundskeeper of humble descent, he was possibly the grandson of Fergus, the late laird of Highland Hall. Which meant Duncan could well inherit it all. Of course, he would need to do a DNA test to confirm things, but in her heart of hearts Bex was certain she knew what that result was going to show. Duncan was Fergus’s kin. She just wished the old laird had told Duncan the truth before he’d passed away. Now there were so many unspoken questions. Unfortunately, whether or not she was still in love with the groundskeeper – and possible future laird – wasn’t one of them. He was the love of her life. She knew it. And he felt the same way about her. He’d said as much. But that didn’t mean they could be together. They were from different worlds, and accepting that had been the hardest thing she’d ever done.
As Bex reached the pathway leading down to the castle and Duncan’s lodge, she paused. So much of her wanted to run down to him, to ask how he was, to be there for him… but how could she? This new situation didn’t change matters. If anything, it made things even more complicated, especially with Kieron, Fergus’s nephew and presumed heir, thrown into the mix.
Kieron had made his feelings about Bex perfectly clear, and for a split second she had thought she might be able to reciprocate them. He was certainly good-looking, charming and definitely the type of man she would have gone for before the groundskeeper. He was also a city dweller and far more suited to her lifestyle than Duncan. But he wasn’t the one for her. Deep down she’d always known.
‘Come on, girl,’ Bex said, tugging Ruby’s lead. Not that the dog needed one. Ruby would follow her anywhere.
Technically, Ruby wasn’t Bex’s dog. She’d belonged to Fergus, and Duncan had been caring for her since his potential grandfather’s death. But from the very first time Bex had shown up in LochDarroch, directed to sort out the old laird’s finances, Ruby and Bex had had a connection. One she was even more grateful for now, as without her, Bex probably wouldn’t be alive.
The event had only happened a matter of days ago, yet somehow it felt as if it had occurred in a different life – or someone else’s life entirely. It had been a strange day and the pressure of keeping the details of the will hidden from people had been getting to her, and so she took a walk, unaware of the incoming weather. In less than an hour Bex had found herself lost in a snowstorm, with no way of finding her way to shelter. She’d almost given up hope when Ruby had found her and stopped her from becoming a tragic headline. She owed the dog her life and as long as Ruby wanted to be with her, she’d do everything in her power to make that happen.
Unfortunately, like all the current relationships in her life, she knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Her apartment building had a strict ‘no dog policy’ but she wasn’t going to let that deter her. She’d ignore the building rules, keep Ruby in her apartment for as long as possible, and pray the dog would adjust to city life. If she didn’t… well, that was something Bex couldn’t think about right now.
When she reached the top of the village, and the small cottage, Bex dropped Ruby’s lead and grabbed the keys from her pockets, unsure what she would find inside.
The two bacon baps weren’t just for Bex. One was for Lorna, Duncan’s stepsister and Bex’s good friend, upon whose sofa she’d been sleeping since returning to LochDarroch to help sort Fergus’s estate. How that had only been a couple of weeks ago was a mystery to her, and back then, she’d been more than a little confused about why Fergus had specifically requested her, given she’d already handled his accounts previously. But now it made sense; she wasn’t the only person who loved Duncan as much as Fergus had – all his family did – but she was the only one who could see the situation from the outside. If anyone was going to untangle this puzzle Fergus had left behind, it made sense that it would be her.
Still, with her extended stay confirmed, it was time to move off Lorna’s couch. She knew her friend would object, possibly even offer her a proper bedroom just to keep her close, but Bex needed her own space to clear her head. She hoped the food would soften the blow of moving out and help with her friend’s ferocious hangover.
‘Oh my God, why are your footsteps so loud?’ Lorna groaned from the living room as Bex walked into the cottage.
‘So you got up then?’ Bex replied. ‘I was wondering if you were going to manage to do that today.’
‘My head hurts so badly,’ Lorna said from where she was curled up on the sofa with several blankets. ‘I was about to ring you, check you were okay. Is that… is that bacon I smell?’
She crinkled her nose, sniffing delicately at first, then deeply, as if trying to decide whether she could stomach food.
‘It is,’ Bex said. ‘I thought you might need something to settle your stomach. You’ve got a shift at the pub tonight, don’t you?’
Just the word ‘pub’ was enough for Lorna to clutch her mouth and make a dry-heaving sound.
‘Oh God, I don’t think I can cope with the smell of alcohol. I think I’ll be sick.’
She covered her mouth again, took a slow inhale, then shook her head. ‘I’ll have to ring Roddy, see if he can cover my shift.’
‘Roddy might need a rest,’ Bex replied. ‘He’s working at the café now, and I’m guessing he was driving everyone home until crazy late too.’
Lorna clutched her head. ‘Oh God. I was singing. I think I was hanging my head out the window like a dog drooling and everything… and trying to get him to do it too.’
Bex chuckled softly. She wished she’d seen that, but she hadn’t been able to stay at the party. As soon as Duncan and Kieron had learned the inheritance and will might not be as straightforward as they’d thought, things had got messy. The last thing Bex needed was her feelings adding to the chaos, so she’d left early.
‘Where did you get to, anyway?’ Lorna asked, as if reading Bex’s mind. ‘I’m guessing it had something to do with why Kieron was in such a foul mood?’
Bex felt the heat drain from her cheeks. ‘Really? Why do you say that?’
Lorna raised an eyebrow. ‘Don’t think we didn’t see you and Duncan on the dancefloor. So… are you going to tell me what happened? Did the future laird find you two lips-locked in the anti-library?’
‘The future laird?’ Bex hesitated. ‘You mean…’
‘Kieron. Who else would I mean?’
‘Right. Right, sorry. Of course. Just tired, that’s all.’
