Page 26 of Kilts and Kisses at Highland Hall (Kilts and Kisses #1)

On Friday morning, Fergus popped into the study. Ruby had spent the previous few nights sleeping up in Bex’s room, on the armchair, and she wondered if he was going to mention it, but instead, he simply scanned the area.

‘Looks like you’ve sorted out a fair bit in here. Maybe you won’t be here as long as we thought.’

‘This is just tidying, Fergus,’ Bex replied. She didn’t mean to sound so short, but once again the birds had had her up at an insane hour, and the fact that Fergus seemed completely oblivious to the task he had set her was more than a little irritating. ‘I haven’t even started on the accounting.’

‘Aye, of course,’ he mumbled. ‘Oh, I found some keys for you. Not sure which opens which, and like I said – if there’s stuff that dinnae concern you, just leave it. Nae need to fash yourself about anything that’s not money.’

Bex had a long way to go before she understood all the Scottish words that Fergus interjected into their conversations, but she could always gather the meaning.

‘Don’t worry, I’m leaving anything that’s personal aside,’ she said, although she wasn’t sure why he felt the need to reinforce the point.

She was, after all, an accountant. She’d already piled a corner high with artwork, birthday cards and memorabilia that had nothing to do with accounts.

Despite his craving for solitude, it was clear Fergus had been well-loved.

‘There are some other things in there,’ she said, pointing at the pile. ‘Maybe you want to take them into the drawing room and go through them?’ The old man crinkled his nose as he looked towards the items with something close to a sense of fear.

‘They’re fine here for now,’ he said. ‘And I best be getting on. Things to do.’

Bex smiled at the response. She too had things to be getting on with and as useful as it was to have the keys, she had been partway through sorting out a stack of receipts and really wanted to get back to them, but rather than going, Fergus was continuing to linger in the doorway.

‘Noticed the lad Duncan seems to have taken a shine to you,’ he said. His tone was stoically even, as if he had needed to work to make it sound less pointed. Bex wasn’t quite sure why it made her feel so uncomfortable.

‘He seems nice,’ she said, not sure what else she could add that didn’t sound incriminating.

‘Aye, he is. Heart of gold, that one. Just like… just like his mother. You best not be playing some games, though. Boy’s had enough of that.’

Bex bit down on the inside of her cheek.

How the hell was this what her job entailed?

She was a senior accountant. One of the most respected members at her firm, and now she was going through papers, fishing out chocolate bar wrappers and being given very unsolicited advice about who she could spend her time with.

Not that she and Duncan were even spending that much time together.

‘I know about Duncan’s situation,’ she said.

‘And I also know that I am here to do a job, and getting that job done as effectively and efficiently as possible so I can return home to my life in London is my only goal here. Now, as you said, you have things to do. As do I, so you should probably go and do yours and leave me to get on with mine. Don’t you think? ’