Page 9 of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay
‘There’s nothing wrong in that!’ I reply defensively. ‘It’s good honest work. Don’t turn your nose up at it.’
‘I’m not. My mother worked in a shop all her life, as a matter of fact, and I was born over the top of one.’
I look at Benji with interest. But he doesn’t continue with the potted history of his own life; instead he resumes his assault on mine.
‘You are destined for so much more than the life you’re living at the moment, Amelia. Life has dealt you some rough blows, I know that. Don’t ask me how,’ he insists, holding his hand up. ‘But when life tries to make it up to you by giving you another chance, don’t let your pride knock it back. Take that chance, and go and make a better life for yourself and for your son.’
‘But—’ I begin.
‘But what? I’ve heard your excuses, and they can all be overcome. Charlie can go to a new school; you can both move into the modern apartments at the castle – yes, there are some, I’m not asking you to move into a ruin! And most importantly you can make a difference. You can choose the type of landlord you want to be; yes, you could be the owner who lords it up over the locals, as in times gone by. Or you could be the sort of owner who makes the castle work for the locals and the community that surround it.’
I gaze over the table at Benji. I hadn’t thought about it that way.
‘I do like the sound of the latter option . . . I still have one big but, though,’ I say apologetically.
Benji’s lips twitch slightly with amusement, and I realise what I’ve just said. But instead of making a comment he clears his throat and says, ‘Go on.’
‘ButI don’t know how to run a castle, do I?’
Benji smiles kindly. ‘That skill I’m sure can be learned. There are already staff there who will show you the ropes. As I said before, Chesterford Castle isn’t a ruin; it’s a fully habitable castle already open to the public. I visited it once when I was holidaying up in Northumberland.’
‘Did you? What was it like?’
‘Old.’ Benji winks. ‘It’s quite a magnificent place, actually. It stands, as you can see from the photo, on a hill that looks out over Rainbow Bay.’
‘Rainbow Bay?’ I enquire, smiling. ‘That makes it sound like a fairy-tale castle.’
‘I can assure you that the history of Chesterford has been no fairy tale. There is all sorts of bloody history associated with that place.’
I grimace. ‘Sounds lovely. You’re really selling it to me.’
‘I believe it’s called Rainbow Bay because of an ancient myth about a rainbow shining over the castle. Either that or it’s to do with the rocks the castle stands upon: if I remember, there are many colours in them – like a rainbow, I suppose?’
I look at the photo again.
‘But what I do remember is the place was definitely in need of some new blood, and now it has some.’ Benji grins at me.
‘I haven’t agreed to any of this yet.’
‘But you’re thinking about it – yes?’
‘Maybe . . . just a bit.’
Benji claps his hands together. ‘Wonderful! When shall I arrange a visit?’
‘Whoa, steady on, I only said I was thinking about it. I have another question.’
‘Yes?’
‘What happens if I don’t agree to take the castle on? You said I couldn’t sell it.’
‘That is correct.Ifyou were silly enough to reject this offer,’ Benji eyes me meaningfully, ‘then the castle would be passed immediately to National Heritage to do with as they see fit. You would get nothing.’
‘I see.’
‘So, Amelia,’ Benji asks, ‘what’s it to be? Are you going to embrace this wonderful offer of a brand-new life for you and Charlie? Or are you going to reject this amazing opportunity, and continue living the dull, monotonous life you are now?’
Five
