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

There was no more to be said just now, so Joe got up to leave. The older man was never going to make a decision that quickly, not with the girl just five minutes out of the room. Joe was already by the door. He turned, saying, ‘We can’t leave it too long, Henry. We’ve interviewed them both twice now, and it’s not as though there’s a queue of applicants. Easter is just over three weeks away, and I don’t know how to cook a batch of scones, do you?’ He challenged his boss with a stare, as if to say over to you, but I’ll be arguing my case.

Lord Henry’s stare back didn’t falter, ‘I’ll see.’

Deana came in through the part-open door to clear the crockery. Joe guessed that she was rooting for Ellie too. Hopefully she would set to work on Lord Henry as well. A double-pronged fork action – that might just do the trick. But he could be such a stubborn old bugger. Joe was sure Deana had warmed to Ellie; the way she had helped with the tea and coffee, laid out the scones. She was on Ellie’s side. The last thing she would want was another bossy middle-aged woman in the castle … She was enough herself, and would be the first to admit it!

‘We’ll speak later.’ Joe walked on out the door. He had loads to do. He was getting a new flyer made up to distribute around other local attractions and the tourist information centres. He needed to organise an advert too for the local Gazette as they were doing a special ‘What’s On Over Easter’ section. And he had to call in some contractors to look at repairs to the roof after last week’s storms; some missing tiles had caused a leak in the Edward I Room. God, this place was falling apart, and, boy, did they need to pick up their visitor numbers this year and improve their income! The repairs and staff bills alone would eat up any chance of a profit they might make. And the farm side of the estate was only just covering its costs. Yet he’d grown fond of this place, this crumbling crazy castle that he thought of as home, and had built up over these past four years. He didn’t want to see it fail now, be sold off to some property developer and made into flats. Surely Lord Henry didn’t want that either, but the whole damn place was at risk of turning to dust.

Joe wound his way down the stone stairwell and headed for the great hall, which was the quickest way to get across to the opposite wing, where his own office and apartment were. There were two huge fireplaces in the hall, and an immense mahogany table that virtually filled the room. There must have been thirty-six chairs set at it. Deana would lay it all out with crockery and glasses just before the Easter visitors were due, ready for the banquet that never happened. The tourists could only look at it. But why couldn’t it be used, why couldn’t they move on to doing functions; weddings? Ellie seemed the sort of ambitious businesswoman who could drive that forward; the castle might be able to do function catering. That would surely bring more income in. Yes, they’d get booking fees, they might even let some of the bedrooms out as guest suites and bring these rooms to life once more. Give this place a future not just a past.

But would he ever manage to persuade Lord Henry?

*

Five days … five days it had taken, of arguing his case, then backing off a bit. The ‘softly, softly’ approach. But they were desperately in need of getting someone into the position. Lord Henry couldn’t make any decision in a hurry, oh no, and the poor girl and that awful Cynthia woman were left hanging by a thread, no doubt wondering what was going on.

Well, at least he was making the call now.

A lady answered the phone, middle-aged by her tone, definitely not Ellie. He introduced himself and then heard her shout away from the receiver but still pounding in his ears, ‘It’s for you, Ellie. That Joe chappie from the castle, I think.’ Must be her mother, he mused, with a wry smile.

He was sure he heard a little squeal in the background, of excitement or fear; he wasn’t certain. It made him grin. He could picture her dashing to the phone – it was a nice image. He couldn’t help but notice at the interview that she had generous boobs, they were sure to be bouncing.His heart rate cranked up. God, what was he thinking? He was usually very professional about these things, and he would continue to be. Image removed promptly.

‘Hel-lo,’ her pitch was higher than he remembered. She sounded nervous.

‘Hi, Ellie, it’s Joe Ward here. I’m just calling to let you know …’ He sensed her holding her breath. He could drag this out, but that wouldn’t be fair on the girl. ‘Well, I’d like to offer you the lease on the Claverham Castle Teashop for the season.’

Silence for a second, then her voice, ‘You would ?’

‘Yes, I would.’ There was a hint of amusement in his tone.

‘Oh … My … Goodness.’

It wasn’t quite the response he’d expected, but it made him feel good, nonetheless. He’d obviously just made her day. And her genuine enthusiasm and warmth gave him even more confidence in his decision, though she’d have an awful lot to pick up in a short space of time … but he could help; he’d seen how the tearooms had worked over the past couple of years, and the improvements she could easily make. As the landlord, and his experience in running the estate, he knew the ins and outs of health and safety, insurance requirements and the like, he could put her on the right track. And then … functions … the future. His mind was rolling along. Yet, there was no further response down the line. Was she still there?

Come to think of it, she hadn’t actually said ‘yes’, had she? ‘Oh My Goodness’ wasn’t exactly a yes, he realised. ‘Would you like some time to think about it, Ellie?’

‘Oh no, well yes. The answer’s definitely yes.’

‘Great … Well, we’d like you to start as soon as possible, to get things up and running before the Easter weekend opening. But I realise you will probably have to work some notice with your present company.’

‘Oh, I’ve already looked into that. I officially have to give a month, but I had an off-the-record chat with my supervisor, you know, just in case, and I’m already owed a week-and-a-half as holiday, so she said she could let me go in two weeks. That’d mean I could be with you at the castle a week before the opening weekend.’

She seemed to have thought things through and be organised. He was pleased she was already living up to expectations.

‘Okay, well that should be enough time to get the place ready, just ,’ he added with a smile.

‘Great.’

‘And if you have any particular questions and queries in the meanwhile just give me a call. I deal more with the day-to-day running issues at the castle, so best to ask for me rather than Lord Henry.’

* * *

Ellie

Any questions or queries? My God, she had a running list in her mind … But they wanted her, she had the lease. Wayy-hayyy! She was having trouble keeping still, bouncing on her toes in the hallway of their terraced house. She was going to be her own boss, under the watchful, not unattractive, deep-brown eyes of Joe Ward, and she was going to be working and living (hopefully!) in … a … castle. Were there any pressing questions? She couldn’t possibly ask all the ninety-seven that were bouncing in her head!

‘Thanks … Actually, yes, there is something. You mentioned at interview there might be accommodation with the role. Umn, is that still the case?’

‘Oh.’ He sounded as if he was thinking on the spot. ‘Well, we can sort you out with one of the guest rooms in the castle. I’ll get Deana to get it all organised for you. Does that sound okay?’

‘Ah, yes … And would that be included in the lease payment, or will I have to pay extra as rent?’ She was a little concerned as to how far Nanna’s money was going to have to go.