Caroline Roberts - The Cosy Teashop in the Castle - The bestselling feel-good rom com of the year

‘Umn, maybe a nominal fee but nothing too much, don’t worry. I’ll have a quick think on it and let you know, if that’s alright.’

Again she had the feeling he was thinking on his feet. The previous tearoom leaseholder had probably lived locally. This seemed to be a new prospect for him.

‘Okay, well thank you. And thanks for giving me this opportunity … I won’t let you or the castle down.’ She had the feeling it was more his decision than Lord Henry’s that she had the offer. She just hoped that in reality she could keep that promise.

‘I have every confidence in you, Ellie. We’ll speak again soon.’

‘Thanks again. Bye.’

‘Goodbye, Ellie.’

Oh wow, she was going to be living in a castle in two weeks’ time. She was bouncing again. She suddenly felt like Cinderella.

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.