The Last Waltz

Chapter 4

On Friday, Sally picked Poppy up on time, and the drive to the castle was short. From the main road, they turned off into a long drive that wound its way through the forest. The light, as it peeked through the trees in spots, reminded her a lot of the Spanish Moss that hung from the trees in coastal Georgia, one of the many places where she had fond childhood memories.

When they broke through the trees, Poppy gasped at the sheer size of the castle. It was made of stone and even had a few turrets. She was more excited for the tour now than she had been. She wanted to learn everything there was to learn about the building.

"It's massive and everything I would expect a castle to be," Poppy whispered in awe.

Sally grinned. "Yes, it is something, isn't it?" She sounded proud. "My parents used to talk about the parties held here years ago when the Fulton family owned it. They would invite the entire village for Christmas or New Year's. I always thought a Halloween party would be great fun."

Poppy's heart stopped at the sound of her great-grandfather's name. "Was the Fulton family liked?"

"Oh, yes." Sally nodded. "They were great fun and very welcoming. You would never guess that they were lofty barons and baronesses."

It would have been an ideal moment to tell Sally of her family's history, but she wasn't ready to share yet, and maybe she never would be. The Fultons were long gone, and she wasn't sure that her revelation was all that important if she could find out what she wanted to know without telling anyone that might be best.

There was a massive gravel drive, and a tour bus was parked off to one side, which Sally drew her car to a stop next to before she started to gather up her things.

"Have you been here before?" Poppy asked. Her wallet, phone, and keys were in her pockets, so she didn't need to gather anything together, but when Sally got out of the car, so did Poppy. She had to remember to watch where she was walking so she wouldn't trip because she wanted to see every detail.

"I've been past it on a few walks, but I've never been inside," she admitted.

Poppy pulled at her phone and snapped a photo, then got Sally, and they took a selfie with the castle looming in the background. The overcast sky and birds nesting on the roof made the atmosphere perfect.

"The only thing that would make this better would be if there were a loch," Poppy mused allowed.

"No, we're too far inland for that, unfortunately." Sally shook her head as she led the way to the front door, where someone was waiting to check them in for the tour. He was tall and upright, an older gentleman with snow-white hair, bushy eyebrows, and calm blue eyes.

"Well, hello, Sallie," he greeted as she held out her phone, which had their tickets on it for him to scan. "Is this your cousin from America?" The man's brogue was thick.

"She is American, but this is Poppy Stevens, who is staying in the village and wants to see the castle. My cousin couldn't make her trip. Poppy, this is Isaac's uncle, Boyd Harrison."

"Poppy Stevens, you say. Are you Mary's new friend? The one who had my nephew all in a bother?" He studied her as he gave a crooked smile.

"Yes, that would be me. I committed the horrible faux pas of trespassing," Poppy smiled back.

"We'll if he posted a few signs, then I'm sure you wouldn't have trespassed, but how were you to know?" Boyd winked, letting her know that he knew all the details.

"My point exactly. I even pointed out where he should put it so further mishaps wouldn't occur, but he didn't appreciate my advice." Poppy shook her head and gave a mock frown.