I laughed. We all enjoyed the fact that Tipsania was a bit of a neat freak. ‘Sorry.’

‘Are you quite sure about this, dear? Returning her to the Bull will undo all the progress she’s made. The man is a buffoon. He’s bound to rub off on her again.’

I grimaced. ‘He certainly is a buffoon but it won’t be for long. I’ll explain what’s going on when I get there. It’s probably best if you don’t mention anything to her in the meantime.’

‘Anything for a quiet life,’ Morna replied cheerfully. ‘Is this going to save Scotland?’

I considered her question. If everything went to plan, it just might. ‘Who knows? I still don’t think we should put too much credence in the prophecy. No one else does.’

Morna snorted. ‘That’s because they’re too afraid.’

I didn’t have anything to say to that. Hanging up, I settled down while Taylor threw me an arch glance and sped up to overtake a trundling tractor that seemed to be dropping more hay than it was actually carrying. ‘Is she still harping on about the prophecy?’ he asked.

‘Yeah.’ I nibbled my bottom lip. ‘Maybe this plan of Byron’s will mean that we stop Aifric and get him locked up. Then Scotland will be saved.’

‘Then why isn’t Golden Boy named as the one?’

I thought about it. ‘Because he’d never have believed the truth about his father if it weren’t for me,’ I said eventually.

‘Right,’ Taylor drawled.

‘It might not even be me. It says the one Adair will save Alba. That could be my child. Or my grandchild. Or any number of descendants.’

‘Do you really want that burden to be on someone else?’

I sighed. ‘No.’

‘And since when were you planning on children?’ His shoulders shot up as a thought struck him. ‘You’re not pregnant, are you?’

I smirked. I could have a little fun with this. ‘We never did have that conversation about the birds and the bees, you know. I’m not sure I know how it all works.’

Taylor’s cheeks reddened. ‘I asked Bella to talk to you.’

I nodded. ‘She did. She told me never to charge less than fifty and to make sure they paid up front.’

He seemed to go even redder. ‘She said what?’

‘Byron did mention something about…’ I wrinkled my nose as if trying to remember. ‘Con … dom? I told him I was good enough at conning for the both of us and that I didn’t need Dom to help me.’

‘Tegs?’

‘Mm?’

‘You’re making fun of me, aren’t you?’

I grinned. ‘Yep.’

‘That boy doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into,’ he muttered.

‘He’s one of the good guys, Taylor. No matter what happens, remember that.’

Taylor was silent for a long while. ‘How often do the good guys win?’

‘Sometimes it might take them a while but they always win in the end.’

‘How do you know?’

‘George Lucas.’ Taylor hissed through his teeth. I shrugged. ‘What’s the bet that the prophecy is actually about rescuing a haggis called Scotland from the clutches of a grumpy troll called Sorley?’ Taylor opened his mouth to answer and I realised what I’d said. ‘Whoa ‒ no actual bet. It was a figure of speech.’