“The furnishings from Holt’s estate have been here for over a month,” she said after a restorative sip. “Have you noticed anything…different?” Along with the cursed cabinet, they’d shipped other pieces Caitlin thought might have come from the same household, owing to their similar construction and condition. Ian had taken charge of them until Caitlin could arrive to make appropriate arrangements for them.
“Nothing to report,” Ian told her. “We’ve noticed nothing unusual since they arrived.”
“Nothing more unusual than the usual for Cairn Dubh, ye mean.” Caitlin felt tension ease out of her that she hadn’t realized she carried.
“Aye. Fergus seems unconcerned. The twins would have said something. They’re more attuned to him than the grown-ups.”
“That’s good, aye, that Fergus is calm about it all?” Of course, it was.
“As near as I can tell, aye, it is.” Ian shrugged, then regarded Holt steadily.
Holt nodded.
“So ye ken about our wee beastie.”
“Caitlin has told me a little about your protective ghost.”
That seemed to be what Ian wanted to hear. “You’ve got an itinerary worked out, then?” he asked, clearly ready to change the subject.
Caitlin nodded, then glanced at Holt to make sure he didn’t object. “We’d planned on a few days here to get settled and get over jet lag. Holt has never been to Scotland, so I’ve much to show him. We’ll make our way to Inverness from there where I hope to work out a deal with the Highland Museum to display the pieces and do a story about the curse. I still hope to consult there, if not to become a permanent member of the staff.” She hesitated, then plunged ahead. “Then on to Edinburgh. We’d planned to return here in about a fortnight for the wedding, but Holt…”
“Has other ideas,” Holt interrupted, taking her hand. “I want us to marry as soon as possible.”
Ian grinned. “An eager bridegroom. Aye, well, then, ye’ll need Lara to help ye with that. She should be back soon after half nine.”
“I was going to wait until tonight to spring this on ye,” Caitlin agreed, “but I’ll tell her when she gets back. She and I can work out what needs to be done over tea and scones.”
“Brilliant. I’ll take Holt into the village with me.” He gave Holt a grin. “Trust me, when those two lasses put their heads together, ’tis best to be as far from them as ye can be. Leave them to their lists. They’ll have plenty for us to do, all too soon.”
Holt winked at Caitlin and laughed. “I’ll take you up on that, Ian. I’ve seen Caitlin at work.” At Caitlin’s frown, he added, “She’s a whirlwind of the very best kind.”
“Decided to save yerself, did ye?” Caitlin narrowed her eyes, teasing. “We willna want the two of ye underfoot, as Ian kens fine.” She stood. “Why don’t we get settled while I wait for Lara, then ye two can escape.”
Holt got to his feet and took her hand. “Lay on, MacDuff…”
Caitlin rolled her eyes, gave grinning Ian a wave, and led Holt back to the foyer to pick up their bags, then upstairs to his room. “I’m across the hall,” she told him. “There are two very intelligent, very inquisitive twins in the house who notice everything. I think we should keep our sleeping arrangements this way until the wedding.”
“They’re not here now.”
“Nay, but Ian is. And Lara will be home soon. Get cleaned up. I’m going to unpack while I have the chance.” She tugged her bag from Holt’s hand, pulling him toward her in the process.
Holt leaned in to give her a kiss, then went obediently into his room.
* * *
Hours later, Holt returned from the village with Ian. As he climbed the stairs in search of Caitlin, he could hear Lara telling her husband that she and Caitlin had worked up lists of what had to be done and by whom. Ian’s low rumble became unintelligible as Holt turned a corner in the upstairs hall, and Caitlin’s voice came to him from her room.
“That’s perfect. I’m so happy you can arrange it.”
Holt entered the room as she glanced around with her phone to her ear, saw him and colored.
“I’ll speak to you later. Thank you,” she added and ended the call.
“Who was that? I heard Lara tell Ian that you two have everything organized.”
“Organized, aye. And lots still to be done.” She gestured with the phone. “I’ll be on this for hours until the day.” She glanced at it, then lifted her gaze back to him and smiled.
Holt couldn’t escape the sense that she was hiding something. Her Scottish accent had thickened since she’d returned home, but now, on the phone, she sounded more like she had by the time they left Long Island.
