Page 8 of Chasing a Highland Dream

Olivia shook her head. ‘It’ll be fine. We’ll have plenty of time to get everything put back to normal after the event. It’ll be easier now the fashion show will be my designs and I’m using local models.’

Bella noted a hint of sadness in Olivia’s eyes. She’d known how much the original fashion show idea had meant to her. ‘It’ll be amazing, you know,’ she said, hoping to reassure her.

Bella was already trying to picture the author from his name. ‘Aiden’ felt quite young, perhaps like the man who played Poldark in the remake. Although the photos of crime writers she’d actually seen didn’t fit that mould.

Olivia interrupted her thoughts. ‘Speaking of the corporate event, I’m afraid I’m going to need you to take on an extra task. Brodie wants to whisk me away for a few days and I tried to decline but… I can’t say no to him,’ she said dreamily. ‘Then when I get back I’ll need to knuckle down with my designs for the fashion show part of the event.’

Bella nodded. ‘Sure, boss. Let me know what you need me to do.’

Olivia beamed. ‘Thanks, honey. I’ll need you to handle the e-invites for local businesses and people who we think might benefit from knowing about the castle as a venue; local press, national press, magazines, etc. I really appreciate your help. I know you’ve had a lot on with the apartments and you could probably do with a rest. But they need to go out as soon as possible, really.’

Bella shook her head. ‘No, I’m all good. And I’m happy to help.’

‘Fantastic. Well, I’ll get the list over to you on Monday. In the meantime, I’ll leave you to show your lovely glamorous granny around the apartments. Enjoy, Isla! And pop up to the kitchen for a cuppa when you’re done. I’m sure Mirren will want to see you and wee Beau.’ She kissed Isla on both cheeks and left them to look around.

Once Olivia had left the room, Isla nudged Bella. ‘See, that’s what you need. Someone who won’t take no for an answer when he wants to sweep you off your feet. Not someone who wants you to be at his beck and call behind his other woman’s back when it suits him.’

Bella sighed as sadness washed over her. ‘I know, Granny. I’d love a relationship like theirs.’

As if feeling bad for ribbing her, Isla linked arms with her and tiptoed up to kiss her cheek. ‘Aye, well, you never know, hen, this fancy crime author chappy might be the one.’

Bella snorted. ‘Not likely. Most crime and thriller writers are older married men or middle-aged women. And I’m not into either.’

Isla raised her eyebrows. ‘You know that’s called stereotyping, don’t you? I didn’t think that was the kind of thing you young folks did. And anyway, you never know. There’s always an exception to the rule.’

Bella smiled. ‘We can all dream, I suppose. Now come on and let me show you the rest of the apartments.’

Once they were finished, they made their way up to the main floor of the castle to see Mirren, the housekeeper, and Marley the Labrador–German Shepherd cross. The huge fluffy cream dog stood and wandered over to greet Beau when they walked through the door, his tail wagging and his eyes bright.

‘Isla, how lovely to see you,’ Mirren said as she hugged the elderly lady.

‘Hello, Mirren, and hello, Marley. I’m sure you get bigger every time I see you, fella,’ Isla said as she scratched the friendly animal behind his ears.

‘Do you fancy a cuppa and a slice of wedding cake?’ Mirren asked, pointing to the teapot.

Isla chuckled. ‘Was your wedding cake the size of a heilan coo? It seems never-ending.’

Mirren laughed. ‘Aye, it turns out people prefer red velvet cake these days to the traditional fruit cake. Me and Dougie will be eating it into next year, I think!’

Isla smiled. ‘Well, I’m happy to help you get rid of it, it’s delicious.’

Mirren poured tea for the three of them and cut some hefty chunks of the moist fruitcake, placing it onto china plates. ‘So what do you think of the apartments? Your girl has done well, hasn’t she?’

Isla took a big bite and chewed while nodding in agreement. Eventually she replied, ‘Oh, they’re beautiful. I was saying she’s better than those fancy pants designers on the telly. They’re fit for kings and queens. Too posh to let out to just anyone, though. I’d hate to see them get the treatment you see on the Tick Tack Toe videos.’

Mirren scrunched her brow. ‘The what?’

Isla gestured as if typing on a phone. ‘You know, the Tick Tack Toe app. One of the staff at the day centre loaded it down onto my telephone. You watch videos on it; mostly of dogs doing silly things and people getting planked. Anyway, I saw some films of people who own those rental holiday places. Left in a right state they were. Trashed was the word they used.’

‘I think you mean TikTok, Granny, and people get pranked, not planked,’ Bella said with a giggle.

Isla turned to her. ‘Aye, that’s what a said.’

‘Oh, I don’t think we need worry about that,’ Mirren told her. ‘I think Lady Olivia has a mind to let them to people such as business folks and writers and the like.’

Isla crossed her arms under her bosom. ‘Aye, well, they can be as bad. And she won’t want to end up with squatters. Folks today think they can take whatever they like and hang the consequences. Do you know, I watched one of those Tick Tack videos and there were people in America running out of shops with arms full of stuff and not paying for a single thing? Because they know they can get away with it. It’s dreadful. They wouldnae have got away with it in my day. People respected the polis then.’

‘Och, I know, Isla,’ Mirren agreed. ‘Some folks these days think they’re above the law.’