Page 13 of Death at a Highland Wedding

“You joke,” I say, “but we might actually take you up on that, Miss McCreadie. We had someone last month who contacted us to find a pianoforte that had somehow been stolen from their home.”

“Oh, I would be no help at all there,” she says. “I would pay someone to steal mine.Oh, no, it has been taken! Whatever shall I do? I fear I can no longer practice, Mama.”

We all laugh, and McCreadie is about to reply when someone appears from around the house, stopping short as she sees us.

“Violet!” Fiona exclaims. “My soon-to-be sister-in-law. We were just going for a walk about the gardens. Will you join us? Please say yes.”

Violet’s gaze shoots to McCreadie.

McCreadie clears his throat. “Violet may take my place. I really ought to unpack.”

“No,” Violet says, her voice soft, barely audible. “Please come along, Hugh.”

McCreadie shoots her a look that clearly says he will stay behind if she prefers, but she firmly takes Fiona’s arm and says, “Into the gardens. Quickly, though. I have heard we might spot the wildcat and her kits, but if my brother joins us, his voice alone will surely scare them off.”

“We actually saw them,” I say. “A wildcat and two or three kittens.”

Fiona’s face lights in pure joy. “Did you truly? Archie said they are about, and I am dearly hoping to see them.”

“Fiona adores animals,” McCreadie says. “She may have joked about the needlepoint and pianoforte, but her true passion is caring for God’s creatures, particularly those in need. She set the wing on a songbird just last month and released it back to the wild.”

I look at her. “That is amazing.”

Fiona blushes. “My brother makes it sound far more impressive than it is. I dabble, that is all.” She clears her throat and takes my arm. “Now, tell me all about the wildcats you saw.”

FIVE

The garden walk is actually very lovely. McCreadie gives Violet her space, and she relaxes. It’s impossible not to relax around Fiona. She really is delightful. I get the sense there’s more sadness to her than meets the eye, but there’s also obviously more depth, and with depth comes sadness sometimes. She’s not an empty-headed girl, content with her role in life. She sees more and wants more and…

And she’s marrying Archie Cranston, a wealthy asshole who sets out bear traps for poachers.

Which doesn’t matter as much as it might seem. If this marriage is meant to merge the two families, it isn’t intended to be a love match. They will lead their separate lives and pursue their separate interests, and I will try very hard not to patronize Fiona McCreadie by pitying her.

She certainly doesn’t seem like a reluctant bride. Not an excited one, either. In fact, she seems far less like a bride than a guest enjoying a holiday with family and friends. But, again, none of my business.

We enjoy our walk in the gardens. Between Isla and Violet, they are able to identify most of the plants, even some of the rarer herbs. We take our time wandering the gardens before heading back to the house.

“Dinner ought to be ready by now,” Fiona says. “I wanted to wait until everyone had arrived, so I apologize for the lateness of the hour.”

“It has given us all time to relax and refresh after our journey,” Isla says.

We reach the house, and McCreadie holds the door as we enter. Fionaleads us through to a large sitting room. Cranston is on his feet, regaling Sinclair and another man with some story. As he spots us, his gaze passes right over his bride and lands on Gray.

“Gray!” he says, coming forward. “Impeccable timing, old chap. We were just talking about you.”

Gray slows, and the pit bull in me starts to growl.

“I told them how you solved the mystery of my missing stickpin,” Cranston says.

“That was Miss—” Gray begins.

“And James here—you remember James Frye, from school?—he said he seems to have misplaced his pocket watch. He had it in the coach, and now it is gone. You can find that for him, can’t you?”

Gray opens his mouth, but Cranston only claps him on the back. “Good chap. Now, who else has a mystery they need the famous detective to solve?”

“How about your missing manners,” a voice says archly, and I’m surprised to see it’s Violet.

To my surprise, Cranston actually seems to hesitate at that, and then offers his sister what looks like a nod of acknowledgment.