Page 87 of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay
Vic, the woodworm expert, had been in to look at the stables this morning, and now Bill and I were discussing his findings.
‘So we have no choice?’
Bill shakes his head. ‘The beams are going to have to be replaced if you want to continue with this project.’
‘Can’t we just cut them out?’ I ask, looking up at the offending beams. ‘I know it won’t look as effective, but surely that would be a cheaper option.’
‘We could do that, but we’d have to install something else to prop up the rest of the ceiling. These oak beams aren’t just for decoration; they’re an integral part of the support system of the whole building. If you don’t replace them like for like, then we’d have to put something more modern, and, most importantly, something structurally sound in their place instead.’
I stare up at the beams. How can something so basic-looking cause me so much expense? There’s no way I want something modern up there; it would completely ruin the look we’re going for. I’ve got no choice.
‘And you’re sure this is a fair price?’ I ask, looking at the estimate in my hand. ‘This Vic isn’t trying to pull a fast one on us because he thinks we have lots of money, is he? Because I can assure you, Bill, currently we do not.’
‘It’s actually a very good price,’ Bill says. ‘I can get some other quotes, but I don’t think you’ll do any better. Vic is local to this area; he’ll want to do a good job for you.’
I nod. ‘Okay, go ahead, then. But please emphasise to Vic to keep his costs as low as possible – without scrimping on safety, of course.’
‘Of course,’ Bill says. ‘On the bright side, everything else is going very smoothly now, and with a bit of luck and some overtime we could still open on time.’
‘That’s really good to know, Bill,’ I say, trying to sound pleased. ‘Don’t let me hold you up any more then, and as always, many thanks for sorting all this out for me.’
I leave Bill and his men whistling and bantering away with each other while they work. But as I walk away from the stables, I can’t shake the cloud of doom that hangs over me.
I know exactly how much money we have in the castle’s main bank account right now, and how much I have left in the secret fund that the last Earl left me. And it’s nowhere near enough to cover the estimate that Bill has just shown me. I don’t know where I’m going to get the money from to pay this bill; all I know is that I have to find it somewhere.
‘You’re quiet,’ Benji says to me a couple of days later, when he’s popped up to the tower with a new draft of facts for the tour guides to impart to our visitors. ‘In fact, you’ve been quiet for a few days. Is everything all right?’
I look at Benji sitting next to me on the sofa, and suddenly I feel like bursting into tears. I’ve kept my money concerns to myself until now. I didn’t want to worry anyone else with them, not until I’d figured out a plan for how we were going to pay for everything.
‘If I tell you something, Benji, you must keep it to yourself, okay?’
‘Sure, of course. What’s wrong? Is it you and Tom again?’
‘No, why would that be worrying me? Me and Tom are fine now – not that there really is a me and Tom . . . Why, has he said something to you?’ I babble, completely thrown by his question.
Benji shakes his head. ‘No, but I can’t think what else it would be . . . unless . . . ’
‘Unless what?’
‘Nothing. You carry on.’
‘Right . . . ’ I tell Benji what Bill had said, and then my concerns about how we are going to pay for everything. At the end, to my astonishment, Benji smiles.
‘Why are you smiling?’ I ask. ‘This is serious.’
‘Yes, I know,’ Benji says. ‘It’s very serious indeed. But I have to say I’m a little relieved.’
‘You are – why?’
‘It’s going to sound silly now after what you’ve just told me, but Tom confided in me that he’d let slip to you about my . . . my sexuality a couple of days ago. And it’s since then you’ve been a little off. I thought it was that that was bothering you, but now I know it isn’t me, it’s something else, it’s quite a relief.’
‘Oh, Benji, you didn’t really think I’d mind that you’re gay, did you?’
Benji shrugs. ‘I hoped you wouldn’t, and I have to say it really didn’t seem like the way you’d react. But you just never know these days.’
‘I have to admit itwasa bit of a surprise when Tom told me.’
‘Really?’
