Murder at a Scottish Wedding


 
 
 
 
 Table of Contents
 
 Praise
 Also by
 Title Page
 
 Copyright Page
 Dedication
 Acknowledgments
 Chapter 1
 Chapter 2
 Chapter 3
 Chapter 4
 Chapter 5
 Chapter 6
 Chapter 7
 Chapter 8
 Chapter 9
 Chapter 10
 Chapter 11
 Chapter 12
 Chapter 13
 Chapter 14
 Chapter 15
 Chapter 16
 Chapter 17
 Chapter 18
 Chapter 19
 Chapter 20
 Chapter 21
 Chapter 22
 Chapter 23
 Chapter 24
 Chapter 25
 Chapter 26
 Chapter 27
 Chapter 28
 Epilogue
 
 
 
 Acknowledgments 
 I would like to thank my editor, John Scognamiglio. This series would not exist without him giving me a chance. 
 Thank you, Evan Marshall, best agent ever, hands down. 
 My mom is my first reader, and a close second is Sheryl McGavin. It takes a team to make a story really shine and I am so grateful to have such dynamic folks around me. 
 Thank you to the crew at Kensington, from the cover artist to the copy editor. Thank you, thank you! 
 
 
 
 Books by Traci Hall 
 
 MURDER IN A SCOTTISH SHIRE 
 MURDER IN A SCOTTISH GARDEN 
 MURDER AT A SCOTTISH SOCIAL 
 MURDER AT A SCOTTISH WEDDING 
 
 
 And writing as Traci Wilton 
 
 MRS. MORRIS AND THE GHOST 
 MRS. MORRIS AND THE WITCH 
 MRS. MORRIS AND THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST 
 MRS. MORRIS AND THE SORCERESS 
 MRS. MORRIS AND THE VAMPIRE 
 MRS. MORRIS AND THE POT OF GOLD 
 
 
 
 Published by Kensington Publishing Corp. 
 
 
 Epilogue 
 “Mum, are we there yet?” Brody asked for the tenth time. 
 Paislee read the clock on the dash of the Juke. She drove, Grandpa had shotgun, and Brody and Wallace were in the back. “Three minutes!” 
 “We cannae be late,” Brody said. 
 They’d left Nairn this morning at nine to be at Gretna Green to surprise Lydia, all set up by Corbin and his baby brother, Drew, at two thirty. The trip was supposed to be around four hours but that wasn’t including pit stops to use the restroom. Yes, the male passengers in the car could all use the great outdoors; rustic wasn’t Paislee’s style. 
 They’d all dressed in their Sunday best, but nothing too fancy. Corbin would be arriving with Lydia, who believed they were on the train to see the sights before going to Germany to use the tickets as rescheduled (for the third time). 
 Since they’d reconnected, Corbin had showered Lydia with love, apologies, flowers, and more true love. Lydia had told Paislee that was enough. She didn’t want marriage. 
 Who needed it anymore? 
 Paislee parked at two thirty on the nose. “We’re here!” 
 Lydia’s parents, Sophie and Alistair Barron, were also there. Drew would be the only one attending on his brother’s side, and that was only because Corbin required a family witness to prove he meant what he’d said about Lydia coming first. 
 “Hello!” Grandpa greeted the Barrons. “Here we are again.” 
 “Nice tae see you all,” Sophie said. “And Wallace! What a cutie. And that knitted collar is just perfect tae carry the ring. I should have brought my Moxie. Do you think Lydia will want the Luckenbooth pin?” 
 Paislee shrugged. “Lydia hasn’t been excited about marriage. Can’t blame her. I’m hoping she’ll accept the ring she’d tossed back at Corbin.” 
 “Oh, but Corbin loves her so much!” Sophie wrung her hands. 
 “And Lydia loves him.” Paislee brushed a lock of errant hair down on Brody’s forehead. “Take Wallace for a walk, and then bring him back tae get ready.” 
 Brody ducked away and hurried Wallace out of sight to a grassy patch. The red from the Smythe tartan on his leash and harness was quite striking against his black fur. It hadn’t taken her long to knit and she’d created a new pattern to sell at Cashmere Crush. Designer dog wear. 
 Paislee and Alistair each received a text that Corbin and Lydia were five minutes out—to take their positions inside the office of Gretna Green. 
 Sophie tied the diamond to Wallace’s collar. Wallace puffed his furry chest as if he knew he had an important part to play. Brody grinned and opened the door. 
 Paislee was first inside and saw the historic anvil that folks had been getting married over for hundreds of years. She had no idea what Lydia would say when Corbin proposed. She thought him awfully brave to risk it, actually. 
 Corbin claimed love made him brave. Or dumb. Either way, Lydia was his soul mate. 
 The car he’d rented from the train station arrived. Drew hopped out from the back seat, in gray denim. Lydia and Corbin each exited from the front seats. The door was partially open. 
 “Sairy, Lyd,” Drew was saying, “but I’ve never been here. What if we can find a record from some of the other Smythes? The guid ones,” he joked. 
 “We do have some.” Corbin’s tone cajoled. “If you go back far enough every tree has a few bad apples.” 
 “Your tree started off bent,” Lydia countered, but Paislee could tell she was teasing. “It’s fine that we stop. I just dinnae want tae be late tae check into the hotel for tomorrow’s flight.” 
 “We willnae!” Corbin assured her. 
 Drew widened the door to Gretna Green. 
 Lydia and Corbin, arm in arm, entered. Candles had been lit for romantic atmosphere. Lydia blinked to bring them all into focus as they clustered near the anvil. 
 Wallace, off his lead, trotted proudly toward Lydia. 
 “Sit,” Brody said. The pup did, as noble as you please. 
 “What’s this?” Lydia stooped to pat Wallace. “Mum? Da?” She sucked in a breath when her fingers caught the ring on Wallace’s collar. “Paislee, Brody, and Angus.” She whirled to Corbin. “You’ve brought my family here.”