Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
After the most wonderful night with Mason, I returned home.
My hair was tumbling and tousled down my back, and a smile decorated my face as I showered.
I could still feel the imprint of Mason’s body against mine; his fingers tracing my curves; his mouth tasting every inch of me.
My skin was pink and glossy. Despite the needles of hot water, I could still feel the impression of Mason’s hands roaming over my skin. I’d finally been able to release myself from my past and from Nick and how he’d treated me.
I struggled to eat my cereal. My stomach and heart seemed to be competing against each other in the most delicious way, but once I’d styled my hair in a messy ponytail and threw on my belted aubergine shift dress and cashmere cardigan, I walked across to the cottages with a big, silly grin.
While I’d made an effort with my soggy bran flakes, I’d created a poster to put in some of the local shop windows. It said:
2pm today – Tuesday 27 July at Port Starr town clock.
The truth about the Scarlet Highwayman!
Your exclusive opportunity to find out about the man behind the mask.
Q & A with Mason Cooper, Historian, Author & TV personality, to follow.
I tried not to smile as I typed the word ‘personality’, knowing Mason would cringe at being referred to in this way.
I had fired off the same details in a round-robin text to as many people as I could possibly think of, targeting everybody from our local newspaper to Gilbert Evans, head of the Port Starr Business Federation. And I posted it on Bluebird Cottages’ social media.
I was just finishing off an email to Mum and Dad, telling them about the latest developments, when Katie made me jump in my lavender heels.
She stood in the office doorway, her bottle-green jacket flapping open.
‘What is that poster all about? First, I get some strange text and now there’s that in the window? ’
‘Come at two and everything will be clear,’ I assured her. ‘Just trust me. Please.’
Following behind Katie were Jenny and Maisie. They stood outside the office window, reading the poster I’d placed there, decorated with the horseshoe emblem and entwined roses drawn in the lower corners.
From inside, I could see their mouths fall open. Jenny hitched up the strap of her bag and wandered in. ‘What’s going on?’
Katie folded her arms across her embroidered mint-green blouse.
‘I’ve just asked the same question. You’ll have to wait until two.
’ Her mouth seemed to hold the promise of a smile as she looked at me.
‘And what happened to you last night? You never came back to the office, and you didn’t answer any of my calls. ’
Visions of Mason pinning me to his bed, our limbs entangled, lodged in my mind.
Katie didn’t wait for my reply. ‘Oh, I see. Mason wanted to inspect your watercolours.’
Jenny laughed as she removed her coat. ‘Stop teasing the poor lass. It’s none of our business.’
I stopped toying with my ponytail. ‘Thank you, Jenny.’
‘I bet he’s one hell of a kisser, though,’ Maisie added over her shoulder.
Katie sniggered.
‘Yes, thank you. I’m glad I’m providing such light relief.’
I snatched up my notebook and tried to bury my face in it, when FaceTime erupted on my laptop. It was Mum and Dad.
I sat down behind the desk, and Maisie and Jenny disappeared over to the cottages. ‘Hi, Dad. How are you?’
‘I’m fine, thanks,’ he assured me after a pause. ‘I just got your email and I’ve seen your poster.’
Mum appeared behind him, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Dad was looking at me with a slight inclination of his head. They were now on their docked cruise ship in New Zealand and the evening sky outside their cabin was a rich concoction of deep raspberry and amber.
Dad looked like an opulent weekender in his beige trousers and brown checked shirt. ‘I should never have doubted you. You’ve found out who the Scarlet Highwayman is, then.’
‘Yes, we did and we also uncovered a link he had to this place.’
‘What? You mean the cottages?’
I nodded. ‘I spoke to Historic Heritage just recently and they said that if we could find a credible link between the Scarlet Highwayman and our business, we stood a very good chance of achieving Listed Building status.’
‘Well, that’s wonderful news,’ assured Dad. ‘Alex Lapley wouldn’t be able to do a thing.’
‘Exactly.’
‘And is someone from Historic Heritage able to come along to your announcement this afternoon?’
‘Unfortunately, no,’ I admitted. ‘I did try to ring David Telfer – he’s the official I spoke to – but his boss answered the phone and said he was too busy to attend.
’ I pulled a disappointed face. ‘It’s a pity as I got the distinct impression David was genuinely interested in the Scarlet Highwayman story. ’
Dad cocked his head to one side, to show he was listening.
‘So,’ I said, clapping my hands together, ‘how are you enjoying yourselves? I take it you’re both eating far too much. You both look great.’
My father didn’t reply. He was lost in his thoughts.
‘Dad? Did you hear me?’
‘Oh. Yes. Sorry,’ he murmured. He patted Mum’s shoulder. ‘Look, darling, apologies but I’ve got to shoot off.’
He hurried out of sight of the screen and Mum smiled and blew me a big kiss. ‘We’ll be in touch soon, sweetheart – and huge congratulations again. We’re so proud of you.’
‘Sure,’ I answered. ‘No problem.’
Katie observed my father’s disappearing figure across the screen with an odd frown, whereas I just about concealed my disappointment in his lacklustre reaction with a faded smile.