The Cosy Teashop in the Castle

5

Ellie

‘Just one more flight,’ Ellie tried to sound cheery against the noise of her father’s huffing and puffing. She had rather overloaded that case. Thank heavens he was well built and strong, but she’d need plenty of clothes, and the jumpers and cardigans were essential this time of year, especially here.

It was cold and draughty in the stairwell, though her dad was dripping with sweat, balancing her massive suitcase against his broad chest as he wound his way up the spiral staircase to her room. Jason was following with a huge black sack of shoes, and her mum was tottering behind with a cardboard box full of kettle, mugs, tea, coffee and basic food essentials to start her off.

Deana had showed Ellie and her family up to her new lodgings ten minutes earlier. They all stood nodding appreciatively, taking in the room. It wasn’t hotel grade, but it wasn’t bad, considering Joe had asked a mere £100 a month for it – which was some relief. It was a medium-sized bedroom with a high ceiling, white-painted walls, a double bed with black-metal bedposts (like something out of Mary Poppins), a simple dark-wood dressing table and stool, wardrobe, cosy armchair in burgundy velvet – there seemed to be a lot of red velvet around the place – that had seen better days but was extremely comfy when she tried it out, and a small fireplace that was set with kindling and coal but not lit. The only other source of heat was a solitary Victorian-looking radiator that was merely lukewarm. Dad set about trying to adjust the valves, letting some air out with a radiator key he’d had in his coat pocket – the joys of being a plumber.

In all honesty, the room was a bit drab and Mum looked nonplussed. The small window served to highlight the fact it was grey and drizzling outside, and that didn’t help matters either. But Ellie was determined to stay positive, setting out a few nick-nacks from her room at home, and installing a small TV on the end of the dressing table (was there an aerial point?), and she had her new double duvet to put out (thank heavens she’d gone for the toasty twelve-tog). She’d chosen red-and-cream country-style plaid covers with red scatter cushions to match. It’d be fine. She’d make it feel homely.

Deana had set out a kettle and tea bags, mugs and biscuits for them. Ellie was touched by her kindness. It was lovely that she’d made such an effort to welcome her.

‘Thanks for the tea stuff,’ Ellie remarked later, passing her office with armfuls of gear.

‘Oh that’s no bother, flower, thought you’d need a cuppa after tripping up and down those stairs with all your stuff. Do you need a hand with anything?’

‘We’re fine, thanks,’ Dad answered, passing by with a stack of DVDs. ‘We’ll manage won’t we, Son,’ he clipped Jason’s ear, who shrugged his shoulders with embarrassment.

‘Okay, then. But if there’s anything you need, Ellie, just pop in and give me a shout. Joe’s about somewhere too. I expect he’ll drop by at some point. And really … don’t be afraid to ask if there’s anything you want, or we can help you with. Welcome to Claverham Castle.’

Dad and Jason headed back to the car to unload the next lot of luggage, while she and her mum took the new bedcover set out of its packaging, tugging it over the duvet and pillowcases.

‘Are you sure you’re going to be alright here?’ Sarah began tucking the sheet in, muttering ‘Well, this has seen better days,’ as she eyed the mattress with caution.

‘Of course, Mum. Look, it’s what I really want to do. And I just need a change, to get out and do something different. I’ve never really enjoyed the insurance job.’

‘Well yes, maybe with everything that’s happened these past months … I can see that, but to move right away, from your family and everything. Won’t it just make things harder?’

Ellie didn’t answer that question. She wasn’t sure whether it would or not yet. ‘I’ll show you the kitchen and teashop before you go.’ She quickly changed the subject. ‘So you can see where I’ll be working.’

‘Oh, pet, I do hope it all works out for you. But you know you can always come back if it doesn’t. It’s such a way out up here. Won’t you find it lonely? You know your dad and I can be here within the hour if you need us.’

‘Mum, thanks for your concern but I have a car, I’ll not be stranded and there are other people here. It’s not just me. It’ll be fine, I promise.’ And even if it wasn’t, she wasn’t going to be giving up any time soon; she’d already promised herself she’d stick the full season out, whatever happened.

A black sack on legs wobbled at the door. ‘Give us a hand, Ells, this weighs a ton.’ Jason nearly fell into the room. It was her books and CDs. She loved reading and had a great selection of cookbooks, baking manuals and, of course, her nanna’s beloved Be-Ro book (that one was packed safely in her case). She managed to catch the front of the bag from Jason before they all tipped out. Dad appeared with a second suitcase, more clothes; she’d packed for winter, spring and summer, though summer seemed a long way off. On a day like today it was hard to imagine the castle as anything but cold and grey.

‘I’ll make us some tea then, shall I?’ her mum popped the kettle on, while Ellie checked out the adjoining room – she’d spotted a white wooden door, thick with layers of paint, leading off from the bedroom. It opened onto a small shower room, with a basic white sink, shower cubicle and loo – at least she had an en suite. Very posh. On closer inspection, the cold tap on the sink had evidently dripped over the years and left a metallic green trail on the porcelain. The window had condensation inside, and there didn’t appear to be a radiator in there – that didn’t bode well. It’d be freezing of a morning, for sure. ‘Bathroom,’ she announced chirpily as she stepped back out.

They had tea and biscuits – three of them perched on the bed, Dad in the armchair – chatting on inanely about the castle. It’s just so old, Mum kept repeating. What did she expect? Her family commenting on her room – general consensus not bad, the weather, the journey. Then they had a quick tour of the castle, via the rooms Ellie had already seen, on the way to the tearooms.

She stood there, bigging up the huge kitchen space she had to work in, and explaining that it would all look different out front in the teashop when it was up and running. It had an air of shabbiness about it at the moment that certainly wasn’t shabby chic. She made a mental note to go and buy new oilcloths for the tables and some posy vases – for spring flowers on each table – that would perk things up a bit for the customers on the Easter weekend. She tried to distract her mother from the grimier parts of the kitchen – buying disinfectant, rubber gloves, and scrubbing the place from top to bottom would be her main priority tomorrow. Ooh, and placing an order for all the food she needed for the coming week (she had no real idea of quantities – she’d ring Kirsty in the sandwich bar later). Joe had mentioned in a phone call that they used Breakers for most of the supplies, and that they delivered daily. She wondered where he was – hadn’t seen anything of him as yet today. She had so much to think of, her mind was spinning.

The time was approaching for her parents to leave, the late-afternoon light thinning outside, and Ellie began to feel a little strange. She’d holidayed with friends before, been away from home for the odd week or two, but had never lived away for any real time. Okay, so she was twenty-six, and for all her bravado that she was doing the right thing and would be fine, it still felt odd. An elastic twinge of vulnerability pulled inside.

‘Well then, lass, we’d better be setting off shortly.’ Her dad grasped her to him in a big bear hug. Oh shit, there was a mist of tears in her eyes, better not let Mum see, or they’d have her whisked back home to safety in the back of Dad’s van.

‘Yes, pet. It’ll be coming in dark soon enough,’ her mother agreed, ‘We’d better be going. Now, are you sure you’ve got everything you need?’

‘She’s brought half the house, Mam. We’ll probably find we’ve got nothing left when we get home,’ Jason joked, softly punching his sister in the ribs.

They left the dim light of the tearooms and walked out into the courtyard and towards the main doors. The elastic band in her gut was pulling tighter.

‘Make sure you ring, now, and tell us how you’re getting on. We want regular updates,’ Mum said, her voice wavering.

‘I will, of course.’ Stay cool, calm, collected.

‘And you’ll pop home and see us sometimes too.’ Dad’s eyes looked a bit misty.

‘I promise. I’m only an hour away, and I’m sure I’ll get the odd day off. Once I’ve settled in and got things up and running, I’ll come and see you all.’

‘See ya, Sis.’ Jason put an arm about her shoulders with a squeeze.

There was a knot forming in her throat now.

‘Oh, and we’ll come up to visit you too, no reason why not,’ Dad grinned. ‘Come and sample the food here! It’d better be good,’ he laughed. Then he began fishing in his back pocket, pulling out banknotes. He counted out a hundred pounds and handed it to Ellie. ‘Just in case, pet.’

‘Oh, you don’t need to, Dad. I’ve got savings.’

‘I know I don’t need to pet, but I want to. Take it.’

‘Aw, thanks, Dad.’

‘Where’s mine, then?’ Jason jested.

‘Yours can wait till you leave home. It might give you an incentive. Just think of the peace and quiet we’ll get then, hey, Mam.’

They all laughed, a little too loudly, anxiety feeling its way through the four of them. The family dynamics were about to change.

At the main castle door now, Ellie pulled across the heavy metal bolt, turned the latch. And there she was, on the threshold of her new life. Hugs, kisses and ‘Byes’. They were walking away, the rest of her family, back to Dad’s white work van. Waves and more goodbyes shouted from wound-down windows, a toot of the horn, and she watched with a lump in her throat and tears in her eyes as the van got smaller and smaller, until it was swallowed up by the vast tree-lined driveway.

Well, that was it. She was on her own now, and she had to make damned sure this new life and her teashop dream worked out.

6

Ellie

She was lying on the bed, having emptied one case, which filled the whole wardrobe before she had even opened the second. She had crammed her books onto two shelves that were set into an alcove in the wall, the overflow pile stacked under her bed. Hmn, storage was going to be an issue.

There was a knock on the door.

‘Come in,’ her voice sounded strange and echoey in this high-ceilinged room.

Joe popped his head around the door. ‘Only me! Just thought I’d see how you were settling in. Sorry I didn’t get chance to come a little earlier and meet your family. Deana said they’ve gone now. I got held up – bit of a problem down on the farm.’

So, there was a farm to deal with on the estate too; Joe must have a lot to keep up with here. He was hovering on the threshold. She suddenly felt awkward lying there on the bed, so sat up briskly, ‘Come on in.’

He walked to the armchair and perched on the edge of it as though he didn’t intend staying long. ‘Is the room okay? Do you have everything you need?’

‘It’s fine, thank you.’

‘I’m afraid you might find it a bit chilly. The central heating system’s a bit antiquated through the castle, seems to have a mind of its own. There is the coal fire. I’ll get James to fetch you up some more coal and logs if you’d like.’

He must have spotted the blank look on her face. She hadn’t a clue how to keep a fire going, she was worried she might end up setting the room alight – they had an electric flame-effect affair in the lounge at home in Heaton, and toasty hot radiators throughout.

‘Actually, I’ll bring you down the electric heater from my office – that’ll take any chill off.’

‘Oh no, it’s fine. You might need it.’

‘It’s okay. I’m hardened to the cold by now. No, I’ll bring it across, honestly by the morning you’ll be glad of it.’

‘Okay, then, thank you.’

‘Well, we’ll have a proper meeting tomorrow, talk about the tearooms, any questions you might have, information you might need, all that kind of stuff. For now, I’ll let you settle in. Oh, and if you want to cook for yourself just go ahead and use the kitchen in the tearooms. And if you think of anything else, or you need anything, my rooms are on the floor above you, this wing. Just go one more flight up the staircase and knock on my door. It’s got a sign saying Keep Out on it.’

She laughed, ‘That sounds very welcoming!’

‘Oh yes,’ he grinned. (He had a lovely smile, which made his eyes sparkle, she mused.) ‘Well, that’s just for the tourist season, they tend to wander off the recommended route in the guide book and get everywhere, and think they can barge in wherever they like just because they’ve paid a fiver to get in! You might think about getting a sign for your door before the weekend, and don’t forget to keep it locked once we’re open. Other times it’s fine, you can trust the staff here with your life, they’re a great bunch, but the tourists …’ He shook his head, but was still smiling.

He seemed much more friendly now they were out of interview mode, Ellie noted. ‘I’ll bear that in mind.’ She smiled back.

He stood up, as though he were about to leave.

‘Oh, Joe, is there a TV point or anything?’

‘There is an aerial socket in the corner here.’ He pointed behind the small table, where Deana had left the kettle and cups. ‘Good luck with reception, though. It’s a bit hitty-missy.’

Sounds like the bloody radiators, she thought. ‘Okay, well, I’ll give it a go and see how I get on.’ What the hell would there be to do here of an evening if there was no telly? Well, at least she had her iPod and laptop. There was always iPlayer. And then another thought dawned on her, ‘Any wi-fi?’ Please, please.

‘Now, there you are in luck. But only because you’re in this wing, Lord Henry doesn’t have a computer his side of the castle, but I’m pretty sure the wi-fi router from my room will connect through down to here. Try it now and we’ll see.’

She took up her laptop case and started the computer up. As she tried to get into the internet there, to her delight, was the wi-fi symbol, and a message asking her for a password. Joe spotted it and then his cheeks seemed to colour. He said nothing for a second or two, just gave her a funny look.

‘What is it?’ she asked.

‘You need a password.’

‘Okay, and?’

He pulled a face, ‘Okay … it’s Batman.’

She stifled a giggle.

His brown eyes crinkled with an embarrassed smile. ‘Well, don’t you like Batman? Those films are great.’

In fact, she had liked the films, when she was about twelve. But she just hadn’t expected a superhero crush from him and not at thirty, or whatever age he was. But it made her smile widen, shifting her view of him from the nice, slightly scary and far-too-intelligent boss as per the interviews, to someone far more human. As she shrugged her shoulders with a grin, he ducked for the door. ‘Okay, well, I’ll fetch that heater for you.’

Later that evening, she lay in bed, with her zebra-print onesie on and thick socks. It was bloody freezing in that room – the radiators must go off at night. If she got out of bed, she could put on the electric heater that Joe had brought down for her. But she didn’t fancy getting out at all, the cold air would blast her the minute she lifted that duvet, so she just snuck further down under the quilt, listening to the lonely sound of an owl hooting. There had been a weird cry outside earlier, too, probably a fox or something. It was high-pitched like a baby’s wail. Ooh, she hoped the castle wasn’t haunted – don’t be daft, she chided herself, what a load of old nonsense. Get to sleep, Ells-bells. Jason’s nickname for her floated around in her head. You’ve got a big day ahead.

She lay there thinking, finding it hard to settle. It was nice that Joe had given up his heater for her. She liked him. He actually seemed quite down to earth and approachable, was probably very clever and had a nice smile. She remembered the Batman thing and grinned in the dark. As she thought of him, a warm glow flooded her. It surprised her. It was the first time she had felt that in an absolute age. Oh well, there’d be nothing in it, of course: a) there was no way she was going anywhere near men or relationships for the foreseeable future, and b) he was her landlord and they’d be working together – and getting involved in the workplace was never a good idea, a total no-no in her book. Gemma at work had done the boss thing at her previous workplace – big mistake – ended up having to give up her job in the end, all got far too messy. And the ‘man’ thing, well, she didn’t want to dwell on that. Onwards and upwards, or as bloody far away from all that relationship stuff as possible. Still, a little glow in Joe’s presence might be allowable. Just in terms of eye candy, that was all. But what she really had to concentrate on was getting the teashop venture up and running and making a success of it.

There was just so much to organise: clean the kitchen from top to bottom – main priority tomorrow – then meet up with Joe and go through everything. She’d need to order food in and ingredients, find the local suppliers, check if there was crockery and cutlery to use, buy those oil-cloths she fancied and find some posy vases and a florist to supply flowers, something cheap to cheer up the tearooms, bake like a mad thing, menus – bloody hell, yes, she’d need menus – she’d have to draft something on her laptop, meet the waitressing staff, the list droned on in her fractious mind. And she only had four days in which to do it! Tomorrow was Monday. They opened to the public on Friday at ten o’clock, Good Friday. It’d be Easter weekend and Go, Go, Go! Aaagh! Had she bitten off so much more than she could chew?

She finally got off to sleep in the early hours, to the sounds of the owl hooting away like her night watchman, rain tapping on the glass and the drumming of her heart.

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