Last Wish (Highland Magic #4)

‘Oh,’ she said reassuringly, ‘we deal with large weddings all the time. How many guests were you thinking of?’

I plucked a figure out of the air. ‘I’ve only just started the list,’ I answered, ‘and I’m already at more than a thousand. It’s so important in this day and age to ensure that no one is left out in the cold or offended because they’re not included. Perhaps if you could tell me of any large weddings you’re currently planning I would have a better idea about whether you could manage mine. I want it to be the best.’ I sounded like the worst kind of bridezilla. Considering Shona didn’t blink, however, I guessed that in this industry it was par for the course.

Fortunately it worked. She glanced round as if wary of being overheard and then dropped her voice. ‘You didn’t hear this from me,’ she said conspiratorially, ‘but we’ve been engaged to arrange the upcoming nuptials of Byron Moncrieffe and Tipsania Scrymgeour. It’s going to be the wedding of the century, and not just because it’s Sidhe. Byron is son to the Steward himself and the Scrymgeours are incredibly wealthy. No expense will be spared.’

My eyes lit up while I quashed the desperate sinking feeling in my stomach. ‘How wonderful!’ I cooed. ‘I imagine Ms Scrymgeour has been in regularly for dress fittings. She’ll want to make sure everything is perfect for such a high-profile ceremony.’

This time Shona couldn’t prevent her mask from slipping. Her face dropped in genuine dismay, although she did her best to provide Tipsania with excuses. ‘She’s been far too busy to come in. We are some distance from the Scrymgeour Clan Lands here. We have precise information of her measurements, though, and we’re confident her dress will be perfect.’

I looked from side to side. ‘I don’t suppose I could see it? I promise I won’t tell a soul.’ Her expression immediately closed up. Uh oh. She opened her mouth to speak but I forestalled her. ‘Of course, I understand if you can’t. Confidentiality is important and if the dress isn’t ready yet…’ I paused. ‘When did you say the wedding will be?’

Shona began to fidget. ‘A week on Saturday.’

‘That’s cutting it fine.’

‘The dress is ready. In fact we’re to deliver to Miss Scrymgeour tomorrow.’

I smiled, making it obvious that I didn’t believe her. ‘Mmm.’

My prevarication did the trick. Shona took me by the elbow. ‘You can’t tell anyone.’

Only just managing to keep the grin off my face, I nodded fervently. ‘Of course.’

We veered through the shop, side-stepping a few wide-eyed women, and headed into a back room. There, in the centre, was a massive white … thing. My jaw dropped and I wasn’t even faking. ‘That’s, er, that’s big.’ My gaze drifted over the white monstrosity. There were bows everywhere. The skirt was so large that I doubted Tipsania would fit through the massive doors at the Cruaich. It was also surprisingly demure, with a high sweetheart neckline. In fact, it looked like the kind of dress a girl dreamed of when she was about six years old. Or the kind of dress a father might imagine his princess wearing.

I scratched my head. ‘So, this is what Tipsania Scrymgeour wanted?’

‘Oh yes.’ Shona nodded proudly.

‘She told you that?’ I asked, circling it. It took a good ten seconds to work my way around, even at a brisk pace.

‘She was very explicit in her emails.’

Sure she was. Asking to see those emails would be a step too far, even for the compliant Shona. Anyway, I had everything I needed from her. Whatever was going on, the Bull was fully complicit. I smiled my thanks, retrieved Bob from underneath a scrap of veil that he was admiring himself in and made my escape.





Chapter Three


‘The wedding’s not taking place at the Cruaich,’ Angus MacQuarrie informed me. He joined us as we regrouped down by the windswept dunes of Balmedie beach, where the granite grey city of Aberdeen met the stormy grey North Sea.

That was a surprise. Given Byron’s status as the Steward’s son, I’d assumed the Sidhe seat of power would be the natural choice for a venue. ‘Really?’

‘The invites have only just gone out or I could have come and told you about it in person. It appears that both Clans have decided on neutral ground. It’s happening on Muck.’

‘I take it that you’re referring to the Hebridean island and not that this entire charade is a piece of shite and everyone’s just mucking around?’ I asked drily.

His mouth flattened into a grim line. ‘Tegs,’ he said, sounding worried, ‘word is that Byron wants it to happen there because it’s where his mother was from. He wants to marry the woman he loves there in a homage to his mother.’

I shook my head. ‘Nope. This whole thing has been cooked up between the Bull and Aifric. They probably want it to happen there because it’s the most isolated damn place you’re likely to get. That way neither Tipsy nor Byron is going to run away at the last minute.’

Taylor placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. ‘Tipsania’s already run away.’

I ignored that part. ‘What we still don’t have is motive,’ I mused. ‘Aifric needs the money the Scrymgeours can offer but there must be a reason why he still wants the ceremony to go ahead even though he doesn’t have the bride. And we still don’t know what that reason is.’ I toed at the soft sand. ‘Something’s afoot.’

Taylor remained impassive. ‘Are you sure you’re not getting involved in this because of what’s between you and Byron?’

I ignored Angus’s raised eyebrow. ‘Nothing’s going on between me and Byron. He thinks I’m dead. And it’s not just me who thinks this is worth the risk. Morna reckons it should be investigated.’ I paused. ‘And Tipsania is my guest. It’s my duty to protect her.’ I didn’t meet his eyes; I was starting to feel that I was protesting too much.

Taylor gazed at me, our decade and a half long relationship reflected in the knowing wisdom in his eyes. ‘Don’t kid a kidder, Tegs. And don’t kid yourself either.’

‘Okay,’ I conceded. ‘Maybe part of this is to do with Byron. But,’ I held up my hand, ‘more of it is to do with Aifric.’ Taylor huffed in disbelief. ‘I mean it. We know that Aifric is the bastard here, Taylor. He’s the one who murdered my parents and destroyed my Clan. He’s the one who was desperate to see me cold in the ground. What if he knows that Tipsania is missing and is going to use her absence and the way that absence snubs Byron to attack the Scrymgeours? It could be some kind of power grab. Now he thinks he doesn’t have to worry about me any more, he could be going after the rest of his competition.’

Taylor eyed me. ‘What do you care? You’ve lived most of your life without giving a hoot about any Sidhe, living or dead.’

Angus nodded in agreement. ‘The Clans have always ignored you. Leave them to their machinations.’

I glanced from one to the other and sighed. ‘I can’t pretend that I’m that person any more,’ I said quietly. ‘And one way or another I’m going to bring down Aifric Moncrieffe.’