“Malcolm, you’re keen to get into the library this morning.”
He patted his ample belly and frowned. “I’m not here for the library, Caroline. I need to talk to you.”
“Okay.” The insides of Caroline’s eyelids were lined with sandpaper. The last thing she felt like was a chat. “Just let me open up and we’ll go into my office.”
He nodded solemnly.
Once in her office, Caroline sat behind her desk and Malcolm took the only other chair in the room. She wished she’d had time to make some strong tea before dealing with the local newspaper editor, but, from the look on his face, caffeine wasn’t going to help her anyway.
“I had a phone call this morning.” Malcolm curled his lip in disgust. “An anonymous tip.” He sucked in a breath. “It was a woman. She told me that you and Josh McInnes are getting married.”
Caroline felt everything within her still as her head throbbed furiously.
“I’m sorry to bring this to you, but I have to check everything that comes over my desk. Plus, the woman became angry when I said I didn’t believe her. She said she was going to call the Glasgow press.”
To stop them shaking, Caroline folded her fingers on the desk in front of her. “Do you think she did?” Caroline was pleased her voice sounded a whole lot calmer than she felt.
“She was pretty angry with you, so I’m guessing that she did.”
“Do you think they took her seriously?”
“They don’t know you as well as I do, so they won’t realise it’s a silly story made up by someone who has a grudge to bear. But there’s a good chance they’ll send someone to check out the tip.”
Caroline pulled a notebook and pen towards her. She needed to make a list. Things were always easier to handle when she had a list. “How quickly will they do that?”
Malcolm stilled with his hand halfway through a belly rub. His keen eyes focused in on her.
Caroline kept her face blank. “You worked in Glasgow for years. You must have an idea how fast they will get here?”
“Tomorrow would be my guess.” He studied her for a moment. “First they’ll make some phone calls to see if Josh is actually here, then they’ll check you out, and if they think the story has merit they’ll send someone up here.” He leaned forward in his seat. “It’s not true, is it, Caroline? Are you really going to marry Josh McInnes?”
Caroline took a deep breath. “Yes. It’s true.”
“Holy smoke.” Malcolm’s mouth fell open.
“Indeed.” She rubbed her temple.
The editor’s expression was apologetic. “You know I can’t sit on this. I have a business to take care of, and this is the biggest story we’ve had in Invertary since the Battle of the Bras.” His face softened towards her. “I’m really sorry, Caroline. I’ll have to run with the story.”
“I know. But there must be something we can do about the rest of the press. We don’t want the town overrun, do we?”
“Well…” He scratched his unruly hair, making it look much worse. “I wouldn’t say no to an exclusive, but I don’t see how we can keep the press out of town.”
Caroline pursed her lips. “Leave that to me. Would you mind spreading the word? Emergency town meeting in the church hall tonight.”
Malcolm seemed confused, but nodded. “Sure, but I don’t see how even you can stop this.”
“You’d be surprised what I can do when I put my mind to it.”
The editor shook his head. A knowing smile curled his lips. “No, I really wouldn’t.”
“We have a problem,” Caroline said in Josh’s ear.
Josh tucked the phone between his shoulder and ear while he grabbed a coffee mug from the cupboard. Her lilting accent sent shivers down his spine. His brain flashed a replay of the night before on the inside of his eyelids. He wanted to let out a growl. But he didn’t. Caroline was nervous enough around him without him channelling his inner animal. Instead he aimed for casual. “I know we have a problem. I’m here in the castle and you’re not with me.”
She ignored him. No surprise there. “The press know about the wedding.”
Josh shrugged as he reached for the coffee pot, which his dad had been hoarding at the dining table. He was surprised the press had taken this long.