Page 118 of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay
‘That’s good, isn’t it? You’ve now not only got us humans rooting for you, but the afterlife too!’
‘Don’t tease me, Benji; I’m serious about this.’
‘I know you are, and that’s why I’m trying to help you by taking some of the weight off in other ways. I spoke to my friend yesterday, and he said he’d like to visit Chesterford before he makes any financial decisions.’
‘What do you mean “financial decisions”? I thought he was just going to offer us some advice?’
‘I just said that so I didn’t get your hopes up. But Toby might actually be able to offer you some investment, too.’
‘Really?’
‘I hope so. He’s coming on Monday.’
‘But we’re closed on Mondays; he won’t be able to see the castle in full flow, with visitors touring around the place and the guides doing their stuff.’
‘I’m sure that won’t matter – plus, this way you can give him his own personal guided tour.’
‘I guess . . . What’s he like, this Toby? How do you know him?’
Benji raises his eyebrows at me.
‘Oh, like that?’
‘We were together for a while, yes; but it was a number of years ago now. He’d just come out of a difficult relationship; in fact, I think he’d not long come out altogether. He didn’t want anything serious, and neither did I at the time. It wasn’t meant to be anything long term, and it wasn’t, so we parted amicably when the time came.’
‘What have you told him about Chesterford?’
‘That it could be a worthwhile investment for his company. The new owner is doing a wonderful job bringing the castle into the twenty-first century, as it were, but you could just do with a few extra resources to allow you to bring all your plans to fruition.’
‘Nice.’
‘Thank you.’ Benji gives a tiny bow. ‘Right, where are you off to now on your mission?’
‘I don’t know; I’m running out of people to speak to.’
‘Looks like you’ll just have to stay on as lady of the manor, then,’ Benji says, winking at me.
‘Iwillfind this heir,’ I tell him. ‘Now I know they’re here at the castle, I will find them, Benji; you just see if I don’t.’
‘So what’s this guy like?’ Tom asks me as we wait in the courtyard to greet our important visitor on Monday morning.
Arthur, back at work now after his few days off, and Benji are already waiting at the front gate to meet Toby and escort him up to us in the main castle.
‘It will create a sense of importance and grandeur about the occasion,’ Benji had insisted when we’d discussed who would greet our visitor and where. ‘Like he’s being escorted in to meet with nobility.’
‘He’s going to be a tad disappointed when he finds me, then,’ I’d told him, smiling.
‘Not at all. You’re going to make a fabulous impression on him, I’m sure of it.’
I wasn’t quite so confident. But Benji seemed to think this was the best course of action so we were going with his plan.
‘I don’t know what he’s like,’ I tell Tom. ‘Benji has done all the organising. All I know is that we have to impress him enough so he gives us some money – sorryinvestment. You look very smart, by the way,’ I tell him, looking him up and down. ‘I didn’t know you owned a full suit.’
‘It’s hardly a suit, I’ve ditched the jacket; it’s far too hot for that today.’
Tom is wearing a tight-fitting waistcoat with a shirt and tie combination. His waistcoat and trousers fit him so well; they must have been tailor-made.
‘Well, I like it. It’s very . . . you.’
