Page 11 of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay
But even though I’d run a small business before, I had to admit the thought of taking on the running of this ancient castle was incredibly daunting. Where would I even begin? Benji had said there were staff here that would help me, but I hadn’t seen many of them yet.
If they were all like the young guy on the gate, I’d be fighting an uphill battle steeper than the gradient the castle stood on. Was this actually such a good idea after all?
My doubtful thoughts had been broken by something spooking me. I’d shuddered and turned swiftly around, certain that someone was standing behind me listening to what I was saying. But of course there was no one there, just the sound of a strong sea breeze circling around my head, and a cool wind chilling my already cold body.
‘Well, if we do come here we’ll definitely need some warmer clothes,’ I’d murmured, shivering. ‘How chilly is it up here – even in the springtime!’
But although the castle was vast, the walls were thick, and the rooms that I’d seen were a bit tired looking, there was definitely something about this place. Something that made me feel not only positive about the future, but a little excited, too, about the thought of coming to live here. I wasn’t sure why, but for some reason I already felt very content at Chesterford.
‘Come again!’ a cheery-looking woman had called across the courtyard as I headed for the exit. She’d smiled warmly at me. ‘We could do with a few more visitors.’
‘You know something? I think I just might,’ I’d called back as I’d waved goodbye. ‘And sooner than you think,’ I’d whispered to myself.
And now, as I smile at Charlie and put the car back into gear, I’m about to make my return visit to Chesterford Castle; not as a paying guest this time, but as its new owner.
Six
Charlie and I drive through a pair of huge wrought-iron gates at the centre of the high stone wall that encircles the grounds of the castle, and continue up a long driveway. We pull up in the visitors’ car park, just outside the entrance where I’d paid to go in last time, and we climb out.
‘Wow, it’s even bigger than I thought it would be!’ Charlie exclaims, his neck tilted right back as he gazes up in awe at the impenetrable castle walls. ‘Can we live in one of the towers, Mum, purrlease?’
‘We’ll be living in the apartments we’re allocated,’ I tell him, ‘like Benji told us.’
Benji really has been too good to us. In addition to assisting me with the practicalities of moving to a castle, he’s been really helpful about finding out everything we needed to know before moving – like exactly where we would be living when we got here. He’d joked to Charlie that it would be in the dungeons, but instead of being horrified, Charlie was even more thrilled to hear this.
We’ve spent so much time with Benji over the last few weeks that I was quite sad when I realised that when we finally did move we wouldn’t be seeing him any more. He’s become more than just an advisor to us; I like to think he’s become our friend, too.
But as friendly as our transition has been so far, I had no choice but to be very formal when I requested that both Benji and the staff at Davies & Davies were on no account to tell Charlie about his title. I haven’t fully decided what I’m going to do about that yet, and I don’t want the issue confused by Charlie knowing about it. So they’ve agreed that for now the title Earl of Chesterford will be a silent one. I think they were so grateful to have found someone to take on the castle at last that names were the least of their worries. Plus, I’ve been having enough trouble making Charlie understand we aren’t going to be lording it up in grand halls with servants dancing to our every whim without informing him he is actually an Earl!
‘Well, I hope our apartmentsarein one of those towers,’ Charlie says, still gazing at the castle. ‘That would be so cool. But how are we going to get all our stuff inside, Mum, if we have to park out here?’
‘I’m hoping someone will open up the big gate over there, so that we can park inside the courtyard.’
I point to a second set of black gates that bar the entrance to unwanted (or these days – non-paying) guests. These gates are the last barrier between the exterior castle walls we’ve just driven through and the inner part of the castle. I’d entered through a much smaller side gate when I’d come on my day trip, but even that seems to be closed at the moment.
‘Let’s see if there’s anyone about,’ I say, walking with Charlie towards the gates. ‘Maybe the castle is closed to visitors today?’
The little wooden ticket kiosk is indeed closed as we arrive at the entrance.
‘Damn,’ I say, looking around. ‘I’m sure Benji said they’d be expecting us.’
‘Is Benji coming to live here too?’ Charlie asks keenly. ‘I’d really like him to.’
Benji and Charlie, to my surprise, had hit it off incredibly well in the few times that Benji had popped around to the flat. Benji seemed to have a natural easy way about him that Charlie liked, and Charlie, continually wary of men since his father left, had always been sad to see him leave.
‘No, I’m afraid not. Benji has his own life back in London, hasn’t he? We talked about that.’
Charlie’s face drops.
‘But he has promised to come and visit us when we’re settled in.’
‘Goody!’ Charlie grins now. ‘I like Benji, he’s fun.’
‘I know you do.’ I put my arm around Charlie’s narrow shoulders protectively as we both look up at the ominous gates in front of us. Having Benji with us today would have made things that little bit easier, no doubt. But I have to be brave and stand on my own two feet now. ‘Benji gave me a number to call if we have any problems,’ I tell him. ‘I think it’s for the caretaker. I’ll see if he can help us.’
I call the number stored in my phone, but it just rings out and there’s no answer.
‘Damn,’ I say, looking down at the phone in my hand. ‘What now?’
