The Cosy Teashop in the Castle Page 22

  ‘Hi, sleepy.’

  ‘Hello, you.’

  ‘Hungry?’

  She found she was. ‘Ah-hm.’ She hadn’t even thought about supper. But it must be, what, nine, ten o’clock by now?

  ‘I haven’t got much in. Some local cheeses, bread. Sure I can find a bottle of red lurking about somewhere.’

  ‘Sounds good.’ She sat herself up on the bed. His bed. So it hadn’t all just been wishful thinking, a lovely dream.

  ‘How does a picnic on the roof sound?’ he grinned at her.

  ‘Scary … Joe, it’s nearly dark. Roofs are dangerous. Especially great big castle ones.’

  ‘Well, then, that’s where you’re wrong. There’s a door at the top of this tower and it leads to a flat roof. It’s okay – it has walls around the edges and you can look out over the whole estate.’

  ‘Oh, well, I suppose I could give it a try. Though I am nervous of heights.’

  ‘I’ll keep you safe.’

  He went to his kitchen – she heard him gathering food from the fridge, a clink of cutlery, clatter of plates. He returned with a laden supermarket carrier bag, no wicker picnic hamper – who said romance was dead?

  ‘Okay, ready to roll.’ As they passed the coat rack, he grabbed a fleece, then reached again for another for her. ‘You might need this up there, at this time of night.’

  She wrapped it around her shoulders, revelling in the aftershave smell of him on it, and followed him out and up the winding staircase.

  ‘You haven’t got any other secrets you’re keeping, have you?’ she quipped, ‘No mad Mrs Rochester hidden up here, or something?’

  He glanced back at her with a quirky, uneasy smile.

  On the last twist of the stairs, they reached a heavy wooden door. He had a key ready in his pocket, and held the carrier bag and a blanket over his arm. Ellie stepped out first onto the tower roof. The stone wall was high enough to feel safe, with rectangular cut-outs, the medieval crenellations, but it still made her feel giddy up there. Twilight spread inkily across the sky, she could see the walled gardens, the grey sweep of the drive, the woods now murky and secretive, the grand hills rising in the distance, their heather-mauve dipped in indigo. He was there next to her.

  ‘Wow, that’s one cool view. Though, I don’t think I can stand near the edge too long.’

  ‘Here.’ He motioned to the blanket, he’d placed it where they could sit with their backs resting against the wall. He set out a selection of cheeses, some grapes, a small baguette, a pack of butter, two wine glasses, corkscrew and a bottle of Merlot.

  ‘Supper is served, madam,’ he made a sweeping gesture with his arm.

  They sat down and tucked in, breaking off bread and slicing chunks of cheese, nibbling at grapes. Night crept cosily around them. The fleeces kept off the chill. Stars began to appear in the clear night sky above, turning on one by one. Ellie rested her head against the wall, staring up. It made her feel small – like a speck in the universe.

  ‘Stunning, isn’t it?’ Joe said, ‘I come up here sometimes just to look at the stars. Chill out a bit. Forget about life. No problem ever seems big up here. Should have come up here instead of running off down to Newcastle. Might have seen sense quicker that way.’ He pressed an arm around her. ‘Ellie, there’s something else I need to tell you.’

  She froze inside. Was this the big but?

  He seemed tense, took a slow breath, ‘Right, well … it’s just … I did find out who my father was.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘Eventually … once I’d turned eighteen. My mother never mentioned him up till then, not once. I’d kept pestering her, but she’d never say. Wanted to protect him. She worked here at the castle. Got pregnant. He was married at the time.’ He paused, looking out at the night sky. Ellie let him have the space he needed, kept quiet. ‘His wife was ill, confined to a wheelchair. And my mam said she felt dreadful. She shouldn’t have let it happen, that she never meant to hurt her. They shouldn’t have let the affair go so far. It was best they didn’t know that she was pregnant, then it couldn’t destroy them, their marriage. So she just upped and left. Never told him. But she couldn’t bear to have an abortion either. So she got herself a job and looked after us, on her own.’

  ‘Oh.’ She thought of her own dad, his broad smile, strong arms, the man who’d do anything for her. Joe had never had that. So who was this man who had never been there for him?

  ‘Ellie, Lord Henry is my father.’

  ‘Woah … Lord Henry is your father?’ She was trying to process this information, ‘But you don’t seem close … I’d never have thought.’

  ‘No, we’re not close. He never even knew I existed until I was eighteen. And then, he was still married, he wanted to keep it quiet here at the castle. He only agreed to meet me after his wife, Lady Pamela, had died. And even then, our relationship was never disclosed publicly. So no one knows at work, only Deana. She knew my mam from her working here, all those years before. She arranged the initial meetings. So please, I’d like to keep it that way. I don’t want the other staff knowing.’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘It was a few years later when he asked me to come and work for him here. I wasn’t sure initially, but I was good at business, had a feeling I could turn things around here. And when I came up to see him that first time, I just loved the place. We both felt happier keeping it as a business arrangement. He’s never really felt like my dad. Yes, he’s my father, a biological thing, but he’s never been a dad to me. You have to earn the right to be a dad, and I know it wasn’t really his fault, but he’d already missed all my childhood.’ There was a touch of bitterness in his tone.

  Ellie could understand that. She’d been lucky to have such a secure childhood, had taken her close-knit family for granted. How sad to have missed all that. She found herself thinking of the mannerisms between Joe and Lord Henry: looks, the height was roughly the same, both tall, fairly lean. And, yes, they did both do that rubbing-the-chin thing when they were thoughtful. There weren’t many more similarities, though. Lord Henry’s hair had thinned and was grey, but yes, maybe years ago, a younger man with darker, thicker hair. There might be something there.

  There was so much for Ellie to get her head around. No wonder his mother didn’t feel comfortable visiting the castle. Other thoughts and implications were flooding Ellie’s mind.

  She placed her hand over his.

  ‘I can’t blame my mam too much. She did what she thought she had to, and then she just got on with it. Got her own cleaning company up and running. Looked after me … It doesn’t change anything, does it?’ Joe continued, ‘With you and me? I don’t want there to be any more secrets. I don’t want to keep anything from you.’

  ‘No, I don’t think so. It’s just a lot to take in, that’s all … Blimey, does this mean you’ll inherit this place? The castle, the estate?’ Would Joe become a lord or something? How crazy!

  ‘Yeah, that’s a bit crazy, isn’t it?’ He was stealing her thoughts. ‘Well at least, I think so. That’s unless he’s got any other children hidden anywhere. Wouldn’t put it past him.’ The irony was bitter in his tone.

  ‘Hmn, now there’s a thought. Wonder if they’d be better looking than this one?’ Ellie tried to lighten the mood. She gave Joe a playful dig in the ribs.

  He poked her back, tickling her ribs until she squirmed and giggled, pushing her down until he lay above her on the blanket. And they stopped, stared at each other, then kissed fervently, provocatively. Mouths, tongues, bodies, pressed hard. Hot and sexy and wanting. The stars a canopy above. And he made love to her slowly and intensely, pulling down her jeans, her panties, tugging his own trousers and boxers aside, fleeces and tops still on, a strange sexy mix of nakedness and clothing. And the feeling of him inside her, which filled her with pleasure and awe and love, arching her body to him until they pulsed together. His low groan and her crying out a sensual echo around the castle walls.

  22

  Ellie<
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  Life was good. So amazingly good, she often felt like pinching herself. Ellie hummed away in the kitchen, mixing up choffee cake, the old recipe book to hand, thinking how much her nanna would have liked Joe. Doris kept saying how lovely it was to see them both smiling again, and loudly crediting herself for her splendid matchmaking abilities. But even Doris harping on couldn’t upset Ellie. She was truly happy for the first time in years.

  Joe hadn’t backtracked about their relationship or turned into a sloppy kisser. They had a full-on, loving and very sexual relationship. But it wasn’t just about the sex, they could chat for hours, or they could as easily sit in companionable silence. They ate out, they ate in, strolled the beach, walked the countryside. They talked, they loved, they laughed.

  Even the father–son thing didn’t seem as daunting now. At first she found it awkward speaking with Lord Henry, knowing the truth and having to keep it secret. She even found herself checking them both out for similarities. There was something across the eyes, the shape of the brows, that was alike, but other than that and their height, there seemed very little in common; nurture must have won out over nature, not surprisingly, really, seeing as the young Joe had had nothing to do with his father. And Joe explained a bit more about the inheritance side of things, with Lord Henry fit and healthy – he seemed to be as strong as an ox, and as bullish as one – the prospect was likely to be years away. In reality, Joe explained how there would be huge inheritance tax to pay, though Lord Henry had mentioned some small investments, and it wasn’t even a given that he had decided to make his son sole heir (knowing the quirky ways of Lord Henry there might be something else up his sleeve – give it all to some charity or something). But if so, by the time tax and repairs were taken into account, unless he sold up, Joe would hardly be wealthy – he’d still have to work hard to keep the castle going as a viable entity, the farming side of the estate was only making a small profit, so the wedding bookings, the teashop lease and day-to-day takings were as important as ever.

  Ellie’s parents and Jason had popped up for a day visit one Sunday, and Joe had been more than happy to be introduced as ‘the boyfriend’. Watching Joe chat with them over a cup of tea in the teashop, about fishing with her dad, complimenting her mother on her new highlighted hairdo, and talking football with Jay – Ellie was impressed. His easy manner ensured smiles all round, though he admitted later in the warmth of her bed that he’d felt pretty nervous, not wanting to mess it up at the first hurdle with her family.

  The fiftieth birthday tea went off exceptionally well. The room, with English country-style flowers, cakes, including the prettiest cup-cakes with sugar rose buds on the top, and buffet, looked amazing. Mrs Birthday Girl was so pleased with it all, there were tears all round at the speeches. Life really was coming up roses.

  Ellie was happy, but also wary of her happiness. It was almost too good. She was still expecting the big but, waiting for the fall, for life to trip her up once more.

  *

  Leaves of red and gold drifted down to the castle driveway, morning mists cooled the late September air, and the days were beginning to shorten.

  Less than six weeks now until the end of the season, when the castle would close its doors to visitors and become Lord Henry’s quiet home for a few months once more. Joe stayed on in the winter months, keeping an eye on the estate and the farm; there was plenty for him to do, he’d said. But Ellie couldn’t help but feel anxious. She didn’t want to leave now that things were going so well with Joe, but the two wedding functions they had booked (yes, they had two now) were hardly going to see her through the closed season. She’d finally managed to save a few hundred pounds from the teashop takings over the summer as well as paying back her dad, but with all the costs and paying Doris and Nicola, there was really very little left in her bank account. She might just last a couple of weeks on it, certainly not months. The likely thing was that she’d have to go home – minimal rent back at Heaton, and find some casual work in Newcastle, temping or something. She had been keeping her eye out for something up here in Kirkton, but there was very little in the job centre or local papers, unless she could drive a tractor or had a teaching qualification. She’d be happy to work in a supermarket or a bar if need be. If she could find something, maybe Lord Henry would allow her to stay. But jobs seemed thin on the ground this time of year, the end of the summer season meant less work available, not more.

  There was one last event planned for the castle in a month’s time, for the end of the season: a fireworks and Halloween do, on the last Friday of the October school half term. It had gone well in previous years, apparently, and they hoped to make it even bigger and better, with a professional fireworks display, fancy dress for the children and a pumpkin-carving competition. Ellie was in charge of organising soup, hotdogs and burgers.

  But for now, the teashop was slowing down. Visitor numbers were tailing off – with all the schools back, there were fewer families in for lunches, and more middle-aged couples coming in for just a cup of tea and slice of cake.

  While it was quiet, Joe and Ellie decided to do a ‘meet the parents’ away visit; he’d been wanting her to meet his mum, Sue. And though he had met her parents briefly when they had visited the castle, it would be nice to stay over a night and for him to get to know them properly.

  Doris was going to oversee the teashop: ‘It’ll be fine, honestly. Get away while it’s quiet here and have a nice time. Me and Nicola will be in control.’

  ‘Yes, we’ll have it sussed, Ellie. You go and enjoy yourself. Don’t worry, I’ll keep Doris in order,’ Nicola laughed cheekily, as Doris flicked a tea towel at her. It was lovely to see the new dynamic between them as Nicola was growing in confidence.

  So they set off in his Golf down the A1. First stop was his mum’s house. It was mid-afternoon by the time they got there, as Joe had had some farm business to settle before they could leave. They pulled up outside a neat red-brick semi-detached house on a suburban street on the outskirts of Byker. Just down the hill you could see the smart apartment blocks that marked the more exclusive quayside area. As they got out of the car, Ellie took in the view across the River Tyne. She could make out the tall red-brick industrial building that was now the Baltic Art Gallery and half of the sweep of the Millennium Bridge.

  ‘Great view,’ Ellie commented, as she followed Joe through a small wrought-iron gate, up the paving-stone path to the front door. ‘Did you live here?’

  ‘Just for a while when I was a teenager. But before then we were in a council place in Byker. Bit of a dive.’

  ‘Hello, bonny lad.’ Sue was at the door, giving Joe a big hug. Then turned to Ellie, ‘And you must be Ellie. I’ve heard so much about you … You must be the one he was all in a fret over the other week.’

  Joe grimaced with embarrassment.

  ‘Come on in then, the pair of you. Oh, what a lovely dress, Ellie, very pretty. You’ll have to excuse me, I’m still in my work slacks. Had a job this morning.’

  Sue was dressed in smart black trousers and a white blouse that had a soft frill trailing the front. Her hair was dark, nearly black, most likely dyed, but it suited her. It was to her shoulders with a stylish wave. She wore a lot of mascara and eyeliner, a touch too much, but it kind of suited her bubbly character and highlighted her attractive eyes; they were very like Joe’s in their almond shape but a lighter shade than his, more green than brown. Yes, you could tell they were related. She was talkative and easy-going. Ushering them in to the house with a, ‘Well, what can I get you then, tea, coffee? I’ve made an attempt at a Victoria sponge, though I doubt it’s anything like as good as yours, Ellie. Joe says you’re making a smashing job of the teashop there at the castle.’

  ‘Thanks, and I’m sure your cake will be lovely. It’s kind of you to go to the effort, especially if you’ve been working today too.’

  ‘Oh, it’s no problem. You okay, Joey?’

  It sounded funny to Ellie, hearing her call him ‘Joey’,
but it rang with affection too. Actually Ellie hoped her dad wouldn’t come up with her good old nicknames later on: ‘Titch’ (from Dad) and ‘Ells-bells’ and ‘Lardy Arse’ (both from Jason) were better kept under wraps at this stage in their relationship.

  ‘Good thanks, Mam,’ Joe replied, ‘Everything’s going well, really well,’ and with that he gave Ellie a wink.

  They sat in the lounge, on a modern beige sofa set with comfy red cushions, and chatted away while filling up on sponge cake and chocolate-dipped flapjack. They heard all about Sue’s latest holiday to Bulgaria with her best friend, Marge. Ellie, in turn, had to tell her all about the tearooms, and what she’d been doing before that, and how she found the castle.

  ‘H alright these days?’ Sue turned to Joe.

  Ellie twigged – Lord Henry – and was a little surprised that Sue had mentioned him, but there seemed no ill will in her tone.

  ‘Yes, he’s fine. Much the same as ever.’ Joe gave a wry smile. ‘He’ll be glad to get shot of the guests for another winter. How we’re supposed to make money to keep the place going without them, though, I’ll never know!’

  ‘Well, send him my regards.’ She seemed comfortable talking about him but, Ellie supposed, it was all a long time ago, and there must have been some affection there. It was still weird to think he was Joe’s father. But, then, how would anyone have guessed without him publically acknowledging it?

  Sue had a little dog, Bertie, a pug-terrier cross who was extremely cute. He was allowed in to the lounge once the cake and biscuits had been put away. He made friends with Ellie instantly and ended up snuggled against her on the sofa, making little contented grunts as she stroked him.

  An hour or so later it was time to get going. ‘We’d better get ourselves away, Mam. Ellie’s parents are expecting us there too. Sorry it has to be so short and sweet this time. Once the castle’s closed, we’ll pop back for longer, maybe stay for a couple of days if that’s okay?’