Page 122 of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay
‘Good. So this Graham fella isn’t getting any sort of look-in?’
‘Oh no, definitely not. I don’t think he’d ever be interested inmeany more – if you getmymeaning?’
‘Why not? There’s nothing wrong with you, miss. Nothing at all.’ Joey looks me up and down approvingly.
‘Thanks for the vote of confidence, Joey, but Graham isn’t interested inanywomen these days . . . ’ I wait for the penny to drop.
‘Oh . . . ’ Joey nods perceptively. ‘Makes sense.’
‘Does it?’ I ask. ‘Does any of it, really?’
‘Just do what you think is right, Miss Amelia,’ Joey says, tapping my shoulder. ‘That’s usually the best thing, in my experience.’
‘But that’s the trouble, Joey; every time I’ve tried to do the right thing since I came here, the right thing just doesn’t work out for me. Something always gets in the way. I can’t do right for doing wrong.’
‘Then I can only say one thing to you,’ Joey says in a serious voice.
‘What’s that?’
‘You’re screwed,’ he says pragmatically, ‘whichever way you turn.’
‘Never have you said a truer word, Joey.’ I agree. ‘Never have you said a truer word.’
Forty-six
Joey and I walk back to the castle together, me wondering all the way what I’m going to find when I get back.
But what I find is nothing, just a very calm castle carrying on its business as usual.
‘They were taking him inside somewhere when I last spoke to Arthur,’ Joey says, reading my thoughts. ‘Tom went down to the kitchen with Dorothy, and Benji took this Graham in the opposite direction.’
‘To the dungeons?’ I ask hopefully.
Joey looks at me, his eyes wide.
‘I’m joking, Joey,’ I assure him, only half meaning it. How fabulous would that be, to be able to dispose of your enemies simply by sending them down to your own personal dungeon to rot away?
But I know I wouldn’t have been able to condemn anyone to that fate. Even Graham, who although he’s definitely my worst enemy, as Joey had rightly pointed out, is also Charlie’s father.
‘Ah good,’ Joey says, relieved. ‘Although I wouldn’t blame you for feeling that way at all. Life might have been more brutal centuries ago, but it was a lot simpler too.’
‘It was indeed. I guess I’d better go and find Benji.’
‘No,’ Joey insists, holding up his hand. ‘I won’t hear of it. Benji and Graham must be brought to you. This might be the twenty-first century, but there’s still some things we can do like the old days.’ He grins and taps the side of his nose. ‘You leave this with me. Now, where would you like to hold court? Can I suggest the Great Hall? It’s the most imposing of our many rooms, and that enormous table is still in there from your dinner with Tom.’
I smile as I immediately understand what he’s suggesting. ‘Yes, that would be most acceptable, my good man,’ I reply, playing along. ‘Bring them to me at,’ I look at my watch, ‘midday, please.’
‘Certainly.’ Joey bows. ‘I wanted to say “m’lady” then,’ he adds, looking pleased with himself, ‘but I remembered not to.’
‘Just between us, Joey, today, and only today, I shall enjoy playing the part of the lady of the manor. In fact, I shall be channelling all my past ancestors that have sat in that Great Hall and dealt with their enemies. I just hope I do them proud!’
It’s hard to imagine as I sit at one end of the long oak table, that only a few days ago I’d enjoyed a romantic meal in here with Tom. Today the ambience inside the Great Hall is very different; the table is stripped bare, and as I sit waiting for Benji and Graham to arrive, I feel different too.
The person sitting in one of the large carved wooden chairs (that were usually positioned up against one of the far walls like thrones, but Joey had helped me to pull to the head of the table) doesn’t feel like the usual me at all. I feel powerful and in control, and I have to admit I quite like it.
I rest my hand on the table in front of me, occasionally tapping my fingers on the wood – not impatiently, but with meaning, as though this small act will bring me closer to those who have sat in this position before me, so I can draw on some of their strength and resolve.
The large grandfather clock that stands at one end of the hall chimes midday, slowly and with purpose, adding to the already dramatic atmosphere.
