A Christmas Romance in the Scottish Highlands (Scottish Highlands #6)

Chapter 5

5

ELLA

The Art House on Mistletoe’s high street was quiet when Ella entered, and she dragged Wyatt across the threshold before he got distracted by another cat. She was bone-tired and couldn’t wait to get home, but her godmother had asked her to pop in on the way and she could never refuse her Aunt Mae.

‘Hello!’ she called out, as she wearily made her way across the stunning gallery. It was light and airy due to the huge windows in the roof. Columns set into the wooden floor exhibited striking pottery and sculptures – and a multitude of thick white panels showcased pieces of eclectic art, hand-picked by Mae. Ella paused at a landscape she recognised as one of Henry’s and winced at the price tag. Her problems would be solved overnight if her art could earn even a fraction of that. She’d pay off the company debts and find a new staff member to help out. Then she’d have time to paint.

‘Is anyone there?’ Ella called again as she passed a Christmas tree decorated in red and green baubles.

‘Ella,’ her godmother said brightly as she emerged from her office at the back, looking cool and collected in a pristine crimson suit. Mae Douglas had been Ella’s mother’s best friend from school up until her mother had died when Ella was almost five. Mae was a beautiful woman – she’d been a model before opening her art gallery. Despite being in her early sixties, Mae’s shiny blonde hair was styled into a modern, chin-length bob which complimented her pretty heart-shaped face and made her look younger than she was. She always looked immaculate – but was very sensitive about her age.

‘Wait a second, I’ve got a couple of things I want to give you,’ Mae said in a deep Scottish drawl, and Wyatt barked with excitement as she disappeared into her office, emerging seconds later holding bags. ‘Aye, lad. I’ve got something for you,’ she cooed offering Wyatt a bone-shaped biscuit, which he quickly gobbled down. ‘Did you have a good day off?’ Ella grimaced. ‘Let’s sit over there, you look tired.’ Mae pointed to two red leather sofas by the Christmas tree.

When they were seated, Mae put the bags on the table and crossed her long legs.

‘Clyde was sick,’ Ella said, rubbing her eyes.

‘Let me guess.’ Mae sighed. ‘You had to do his work again?’

‘You know both of my stepbrothers have health issues,’ Ella quickly shot back as she took in her godmother’s expression.

‘They seem like a couple of very healthy twenty-two-year-olds to me. What they’re both suffering from is a bad case of lazyitis,’ Mae said dryly. ‘They’ve only been working with you for six months. But they’ve been incapacitated for more days than they’ve worked, and you look more tired than I’ve ever seen you.’

‘I’m fine.’ Ella shoved her hands into the pockets of her coat. ‘It’s winter and there are lots of bugs around.’

‘You know, it could be time to finally make a change, leave the business and concentrate on your art,’ Mae said softly.

Ella shook her head. ‘You know Da made me promise to take care of the family and Magic Mops when he died. I’ll go back to art college when the business is on track.’

Mae pulled a face. ‘That’s not going to happen, lass, until someone other than you steps up.’ She trailed off when she caught Ella’s expression. It was a conversation they’d had a thousand times. But Ella had made a promise to her father and that was that.

‘Aye, well…’ Mae sighed and, after a long pause, she nodded. ‘Perhaps these will cheer you up.’ She handed one of the bags to Ella. ‘I made my reindeer cupcakes.’

Mae had been making her Christmas cupcakes for Ella since her mam had passed a few weeks before her fifth birthday, almost eighteen years before. Now Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without at least a dozen crooked reindeer cakes.

Ella pulled a tin from the bag and opened the lid. Inside was a plate of the skew-whiff cupcakes decorated with pretzels, candy eyes and sweets which were supposed to resemble reindeer – but looked more like four-legged monsters.

‘Thank you.’ Ella’s eyes pricked with tears, and she popped the lid back on. ‘I’ll take them home.’

‘Don’t share them,’ Mae said sternly, and Ella nodded. Last year, she’d taken the cakes to Lucinda’s and her stepbrothers had gobbled the lot.

‘There’s something else wrong.’ Mae looked at Ella carefully and leaned forward studying her face. ‘Did you see the eejit artist today? Did he upset you?’

‘Henry was fine – I was late to his lesson again, that’s all,’ Ella said as Alex Forbes-Charming’s face flashed into her head.

‘Ach, it’ll do the bampot good to wait for somebody for a change. Perhaps his head might finally shrink to the size of his brain,’ Mae said darkly.

‘He’s not that bad.’ Ella shook her head at her godmother’s comments, wondering again where the anger came from.

The couple had begun a love affair at the start of the year and from what Mae had told her, it had been both tumultuous and passionate. By the summer, things had started to get serious, and they’d even discussed Mae moving into Pinecone Manor. Then something had changed in the autumn and since then, her godmother had refused to speak to Henry. Whenever Ella had tried to grill the older woman about what had happened, Mae had declined to share. But something had hurt her; it was written all over her face. Henry randomly asked questions about her godmother, looking more and more dejected when Ella had little to offer him.

‘Maybe you should talk to him?’ she suggested.

Mae’s expression was grim. ‘We’re past talking, lass. The less said about Henry Lockhart, the better as far as I’m concerned.’ She let out a long breath, visibly relaxing. ‘You should get yourself home. I just wanted to see you to give you the cakes.’

Ella stood and gave her a quick hug. ‘Will I see you at the pantomime rehearsals?’

‘Aye, wouldn’t miss it.’ Mae nodded as she stood. ‘I am the director, after all. Oh, that reminds me.’ Mae picked up the final bag and pulled out a pair of pretty, transparent high heels. ‘Blair McBride found you some glass slippers and asked if I’d give them to you.’ She offered them to Ella. ‘If you’re going to be playing Cinderella, you’re going to have to look the part.’

They were delicate, covered in sparkly jewels and looked about the right size. ‘I’ll try them on when I get home,’ Ella promised, taking the bag.

‘Don’t forget to bring them to rehearsals tomorrow.’ Mae leaned in to kiss Ella’s cheek. ‘And try to take a little time for yourself and your art, lass. I know for a fact that your mam – and da – wouldn’t have wanted you to waste all that talent running about after—’ She frowned. ‘Well, you know what I mean.’

Ella nodded and squeezed her godmother’s shoulder before heading for the door. She hadn’t shown an interest in art before her mam had passed and her da definitely wouldn’t want her to abandon the family or Magic Mops.

Which meant Ella would do whatever was necessary to make sure both thrived. She’d just work even harder so she could do it all.