Page 49 of The Scottish Island Wedding

Heather watched as workmen got out and started pulling out wooden posts from the back of their vehicles. Steadily ignoring the chants and jeers of the protestors, they began building a long fence along the edge of the land on the other side.

‘Are you okay with that?’ Bluebell asked Heather, as they watched the fence go up.

PROPERTY OF CAMPBELL OF GLENORCHY HOLDINGS LTD. A new, larger sign was hammered into the ground. KEEP OUT.

‘Not really, if I’m honest.’ Heather wrapped her arms around herself. ‘Not very okay at all.’

TWENTY-TWO

‘It’s all lies, of course.’ Clara sipped a cup of herbal tea.

Heather, Violet and Primrose had popped into the lounge for some lunch after coming back from the protest, expecting it to be reasonably quiet, but all of the Campbells seemed to be in a state of extreme panic. On her way to the lounge, Heather had seen Estella hurrying along behind Elizabeth as she stalked along the corridor, barking orders at her.

‘What is? The protest? I don’t think it is. I saw it for myself. It’s real.’ She frowned. ‘And I don’t think it’s going anywhere, either.’

‘No, not that. Although, that’s a huge annoyance. Bloody locals don’t know what’s good for them.’ Clara tutted. ‘No. It’s this.’ She slid a folded newspaper across the table to Heather, who squinted at the headline.

CAMPBELLS IN NEW SCANDAL OVER FAKE JEWELS

‘What’s this?’ Heather asked.

‘Read the article. Though it’s all wrong.’ Clara sliced a cooked tomato daintily in quarters; she only had two tomatoes on her plate. ‘Lies, like I just said.’

‘Falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it,’ Aunt Joan said, from the opposite side of the table. ‘Jonathan Swift.’

‘Oh. Fun. I always rather liked “The naked truth is better than the best-dressed lie.”’ Aunt Chrissie chipped in. ‘Though I don’t remember who said it. Hello, Heather, dear.’

‘Hello, Aunties.’ Heather smiled distractedly at both aunts. She took the newspaper and read the article.

The Campbells of Glenorchy, whose family businesses include the Glenorchy Organic Tea Company, are in some hot water today.

Last week, Lady Elizabeth Campbell made a press announcement to a select number of invited attendees at Balhennie Castle about the forthcoming nuptials of her youngest son, Matthew, and his bride-to-be, Heather Balhennie of Skye. Miss Balhennie is the Laird of Balhennie’s niece.

At the event, Lady Elizabeth showed off a diamond and pearl necklace and matching earrings which, she boasted, were gifted to the family by a daughter of Queen Victoria. Miss Balhennie was photographed wearing the Cottingley Jewels, as they are known, and Lady Campbell intimated that Miss Balhennie would be wearing them at her wedding.

However, since the photos were circulated in the press, a source has come forward to claim that the Cottingley Jewels are, in fact, in her possession, and that the necklace and earrings owned by the Campbell family are fakes.

The source, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims that her family have been in possession of the jewels since 1908, when they were gifted them by Queen Victoria herself. The source also suggested to our reporter that she highly suspects the story about the jewels being given to the Campbells by Princess Charlotte is inaccurate.

The Glenorchy Foundation is currently under investigation after a routine audit found inconsistencies in their company accounts. The Campbells are also currently under investigation for tax fraud. Additionally, their new golf course development on the Isle of Skye – coincidentally the location of the wedding of their son Matthew to Heather Balhennie – has experienced serious local objections, with the islanders of Skye turning out in droves to protect the development yesterday. MORE ON PAGE TWO.

‘What the hell?’ Heather looked up from the paper. ‘Is this true, about the jewels?’

‘No! How could it be?’ Clara looked appalled. ‘Lady Campbell will issue a press release today. It’ll get sorted.’

‘Well, this unnamed source seems fairly sure,’ Heather said, doubtfully. ‘Surely the newspaper wouldn’t publish a story without knowing it was correct.’

‘Heather, don’t be naïve,’ Violet said, from where she’d sat down at the end of the table. ‘Think about all those made-up stories in the papers, over the years. All those celebrities that journalists made up stuff about. It still happens.’

‘Thank you, Violet,’ Clara said, primly.

‘God. I need a coffee.’ Elizabeth swept into the lounge and poured herself a cup, drinking half of it in one go. ‘Bloody press.’

‘Hello, Lady Campbell,’ Aunt Joan said icily.

‘What? Hm. Good day. Though it’s hardly that,’ Elizabeth replied.

‘I see that basic manners weren’t on the curriculum of the finishing school you went to,’ Aunt Joan retorted, rolling her eyes.