Starlight Over Bluebell Castle (Bluebell Castle, Book 3)

by Sarah Bennett

Chapter 7

  Jess watched Tristan usher the children out of the head teacher’s office with more than a little trepidation. Though they seemed content enough to go with him, and the prospect of exploring a new place and the promise of sweets from the shop enough to keep them happy, he was still little more than a stranger to them.

  ‘The shop is less than five minutes’ walk. If there’s any problem, he’ll have them back here in a jiffy.’ Mrs Winters said, tearing her attention away from the closed door. ‘Now why don’t you have a seat and let’s see what I can do to help you.’

  ‘Those mind-reading skills must come in very useful when you’re dealing with the children,’ Jess said with a rueful laugh as she took the offered seat on the opposite side of the desk. It was a small room, made cheerful by a wall full of colourful drawings and thank you cards, and an array of potted plants which filled every empty spot on the desk not covered in paper.

  ‘If only! Now, can I get you a drink, only instant I’m afraid, but I’ve got a nice selection of teas.’

  ‘I’m fine, thank you.’ Jess shifted on her seat. ‘It was good of you to see me without an appointment.’

  ‘Oh, nonsense.’ The silver-haired woman waved a hand. ‘We don’t stand on ceremony here like they might have to in a larger school. With the way the economy’s going we struggle more each year to hang onto our younger families in the village so there’s no problem with fitting your lad into the class.’ Folding her hands on the desk in front of her, she leaned forward in a confiding manner. ‘If you’re here to help boost the fortunes of the castle, then I for one am delighted to welcome you and your family to Camland. The work the baronet is doing is already paying dividends for the village.’

  It struck Jess then just how closely the fortunes of the local families must be tied to those of the Ludworths. Though it had been hard to see anything through the driving rain last night, she’d not missed how remote a location it was, and she’d seen no evidence of local industry on her approach. ‘I think it’s more a case of them helping to boost my fortunes, but I’m happy to be here anyway, even if the circumstances are a little unorthodox.’

  ‘Well, yes, it is a bit unusual, and a shame – Elijah, is it …?’ Jess nodded and Mrs Winters continued. ‘A shame he couldn’t have started at the beginning of term with the others, but he’s only missed a few days and it won’t take long for him to make friends, I’m sure.’

  Jess swallowed down a wash of bitter guilt. ‘I’d registered him at another school, and they were aware of his later starting date but then everything changed at the very last minute.’

  ‘Because you got the offer of this job?’ There was no missing the gentle probing behind the question.

  ‘I wasn’t expecting it, that’s for sure.’ God, that made her sound flighty as a bird. Sitting up straighter in an attempt to not look or feel like a naughty child herself, Jess decided to come clean. ‘My husband and I have separated, and I was going to move the boys back home to live with my family in the short term. Tristan offered me an alternative to that, and I think this move is the best for the three of us.’

  ‘Better to move away to a place where you don’t know anyone rather than live back home?’

  Jess wanted to tell Mrs Winters to stop prying, but she supposed this is what life in a small community was like. ‘My parents are very kind, very loving people.’ It was true, regardless of how her mother’s words hurt sometimes, Jess knew they were never malicious. ‘My mum has always been a bit rigid when it comes to rules, and I’m not sure exposing the boys – particularly Elijah – to her uh … inflexibility is the best thing for him right now.’ It felt horribly disloyal to speak of her mother like this to a stranger, but Elijah needed all the confidence she could give him as they all tried to navigate their way through this turbulent patch in their lives. ‘Coming here gives me a bit of breathing space whilst taking a job which suits my career.’

  ‘So, you don’t anticipate this being a permanent move?’ Mrs Winters steepled her fingers, her expression thoughtful, but there was no judgment in it that Jess could detect.

  ‘I’m here to manage a specific project through to the new year. By then, things will be more settled on the domestic front, and I’ve got time between now and then to work out what I want to do for the longer term.’

  Mrs Winters nodded. ‘While it would be advantageous for Elijah to be able to continue his schooling uninterrupted for as long as possible, I recognise that’s not always possible. You’ll keep me informed?’

  ‘Absolutely.’

  ‘Well, there’s paperwork to be done and we’ll have to get Elijah registered with the local authority, but I’m content for him to start here on a casual basis until the formalities are concluded. It can only be to his benefit to start as quickly as possible – is tomorrow too early for you? We don’t have a branded uniform. Black trousers and shoes, a white polo shirt and a red jumper. They’re all easily obtained from one of the big supermarkets, and we’ve got a donations box because most families are on a tight budget, so they donate anything that’s been outgrown that still has a bit of life left in it. I’m sure we can rustle up something for Elijah to tide him over the next few days.’

  ‘He has black trousers and shoes, and I’ll get online and order the rest as soon as we get home.’

  ‘Perfect. Let’s pop next door and have a look at what we can find, and we can get the paperwork started with the school secretary at the same time.’ Mrs Winters led her to the door, then paused without opening it. ‘I know I’ve asked some very personal questions, and I appreciate you’ve been very honest so far, but can I ask how your relationship is with Elijah’s father?’

  ‘We’re on speaking terms; better than, really. He’s gone back to university as a mature student, so the boys won’t see much of him in the coming weeks, but the plan is to Skype most days.’ She scrunched her nose. ‘It’s not ideal, but it’s the best we could come up with.’

  ‘The joys of modern technology. We have a girl a year or two older than Elijah whose father is in the military. He’s on deployment at the moment, and I know they use it to keep in touch. She’s a sensible girl, and very friendly so I might get her to help Elijah settle in a bit as she knows better than most how tough it can be when you’re missing a parent.’ She patted Jess on the arm. ‘Don’t worry about Elijah, we will take very good care of him for as long as he is a part of this school.’

  The relief swamping Jess was almost overwhelming. Thank heaven there were good people in this world like Mrs Winters. ‘Thank you.’ It was hard to get the words out around the lump in her throat.

  As though sensing her struggle, the head teacher said no more, merely opened her office door and took Jess to meet the school secretary and they were soon too busy sorting through the clothing donations box and making a start on Elijah’s registration for Jess to have time to get emotional.

  The rest of that first week passed by so quickly, Jess barely had time to blink. With the help of Lucie and Constance she managed to get all her boxes unpacked within a couple of days and with their familiar toys and things around them, the boys seemed to have settled into their little attic haven without any major issues. The twice daily walk to and from school with Elijah, as well as multiple trips up and down the stairs were doing wonders for her fitness, and by Friday she could make it to the top floor without feeling even a little out of breath. A trip to the outskirts of the nearest big town had resolved Elijah’s uniform issue, and although the Ludworths had offered to redecorate their suite of rooms, Jess had preferred to make a visit to the local DIY store and pick up some colourful posters and wall decals which brightened up the walls without the disruption of moving furniture around, or the smell of fresh paint to irritate sensitive noses.

  Between Tristan and Mrs W, she’d had a thorough tour of the place and her mind was already buzzing with dozens of ideas. She’d picked up a new notebook at the supermarket and scribbled notes in it of everything as it came to mind. Her phone w
as full of photos she’d taken of different rooms – from the guest bedrooms to the breathtaking library with its floor to ceiling shelves and access to the enchanting orangery stuffed full of exotic plants and blooms. By Friday, she was eager to get started, but Tristan was insistent she took the full week to settle in and had arranged a meeting with Arthur for Monday morning when they would try and thrash out the basic details of what they would offer guests so Tristan could update the website.

  With Isaac down for a nap and a couple of hours remaining before Elijah needed to be collected from school, Jess had decided to do some solo exploring to help coalesce her mishmash of ideas into something more substantive. Tristan had identified ten rooms in the guest wing he thought would offer suitable accommodation, and while Jess could see the merit in maximising their revenue, she believed limiting the first year to half a dozen couples would not only make things more manageable, it would enhance the idea they were part of the family rather than simply paying guests. Twenty felt like a lot of people, too, when it came to finding public spaces they could comfortably use, unless they spread them out over more rooms which would defeat the intimate feel they were aiming for. Knowing she would have to sell him on the idea, Jess started with a review of the bedrooms, making a list of pros and cons for each of them and ranking them in her order of preference.

  She was just shutting the door on the suite which was her personal favourite – a bedroom decorated in shades of cream and gold, with an adjoining small sitting room in muted green shades and a bathroom dominated by an enormous roll top bath – when she spotted a dark velvet curtain at the end of the corridor. Assuming it was a window, she went to tug it back so there would be more light to inspect the corridor and spot any remedial repairs or redecorations. To her surprise, the curtain concealed not a window, but a flight of carpeted stairs. Peering down, she tried to see where they led, but her view was blocked by a half-landing about a dozen steps down. Curiosity piqued, she felt around until she located a light switch then began to make her way down in the gloom of the single bulb still working in the pair of wall sconces. She had better luck with the middle section of the stairs as the lights there were fine, but she needed the torch function on her phone to make it to the very bottom where she found a closed door. More with hope than expectation, she turned the handle and found herself towards the bottom end of the picture gallery being glared down at by a portrait of one of Tristan’s very haughty-looking ancestors.

  Excited, she turned to check her bearings and gave herself a mental high-five as she spotted the entrance to the orangery. It wouldn’t take much to get the staircase refurbished and those dead bulbs replaced giving their guests a private route directly from their bedrooms to the parts of the castle she hoped to utilise as their rest and relaxation areas. Pushing open the door to the orangery, she paused, eyes closing for a second as the warm, perfumed air hit her nostrils. Remembering Tristan’s warning about protecting the temperature so as not to risk damaging the plants, she stepped inside and shut the door firmly behind her. She’d seen some glorious spaces around the castle, but this one might just be her favourite. Each plant had a neatly penned label at its base, which would likely fascinate those with a passion for horticulture, but Jess couldn’t care less about the names or genus listed below the English in Latin. It was more about the atmosphere for her, the colours and vibrancy of the leaves, the scents of the various blooms and the oxygen-rich environment.

  Weaving her way through the plants, she noted there were already two or three groupings of seats which would serve perfectly as reading or contemplation spots for guests. She wouldn’t have to do much more than add a few comforting touches like soft throws, not that anyone would get cold per se, but just for the snuggle factor. It wasn’t just the view inside either. The orangery backed onto a rolling lawn and beyond that was the rear of the stables, the stone walls thick with ivy. Towards the far end, she could see the edge of the woods, the leaves on the cusp of turning were still more green than brown but hinting at a glorious autumnal display to come. In the heart of winter, with perhaps even a dash of snow on the ground, the contrast between the inside and outside would be even more stunning.

  Having made her way back to the centre of the room, Jess used a set of double glass doors to let herself into the library. The variance between the warm, slightly heavy air of the orangery and the dry, leather-filled scent of the books lining the shelves was another sensory delight. As she trailed a finger lightly over the spines to her left, she pictured the kind of furniture she wanted to install in the large, empty centre of the room. A couple of sofas facing each other over a coffee table, perhaps a chair or two off set in quieter corners for anyone seeking solitude with a book. A thump from somewhere overhead startled her. ‘Hello?’

  ‘Oh!’ She recognised Lucie’s startled voice before the redhead came to peer down over the railing of the upper mezzanine floor. ‘I didn’t hear you come in. How’s it all going?’

  Jess couldn’t help but return the other woman’s warm smile. She didn’t know her very well yet, but what she’d seen so far had given her a glimpse into a kind and generous heart. A sweet foil for Arthur’s more outgoing nature, she liked the way they complemented each other, how Lucie shone in his obvious affection, how he softened in her quieter presence. ‘It’s good. Great, actually. I’ve been scouting around some possible locations for our guests to use over Christmas.’

  ‘And you were thinking of the library as one of them?’

  The slight hesitancy in Lucie’s voice brought Jess up short. ‘Is that going to be a problem? I didn’t realise it got much use.’

  ‘Only by me. This is my office.’ Lucie spread her arms to encompass the mezzanine. ‘I’m building the family record archive up here.’ Perhaps Jess’s expression gave away some of the disappointment she was feeling, because Lucie began to hurry down the stairs towards her. ‘Don’t worry, though! It’s not like I’m planning to do much work, if any, over the holidays, and I can always sort out what I think I’ll need beforehand and transfer it to Arthur’s office.’

  ‘I don’t want to put you to any trouble. The idea is to try and make this work with as little disruption to you and the rest of the family as possible.’

  Lucie laughed. ‘Arthur and I have already resigned ourselves to hosting duties. Oh, don’t look so worried, we’re quite looking forward to it. It will be our first proper outing as Sir Arthur and Lady Lucinda Ludworth.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Lord, what a mouthful that is!’

  Jess couldn’t help giggling. ‘It does make you sound terribly posh.’

  ‘And I’m anything but. Morgana has been trying to teach me all the proper etiquette for things like afternoon tea, but I’m rubbish at it compared to her.’ A suspicious gleam entered her eye. ‘I’ll have to get her to invite you to tea. It’s an experience not to be missed.’

  ‘I’m not sure that sounds an entirely good thing …’

  ‘Lucie grinned. ‘Oh, no, it’s wonderful, I promise. We might even be able to persuade her to host one for the ladies over Christmas. She really is a marvellous hostess, and I’m sure the guests would love to hear stories of how life in the castle has changed over her lifetime.’

  ‘Well, if you think she’d do it, it sounds like a brilliant idea.’ Tim and Charlie sprang to mind. If they did indeed book to come, then Tim with his sweet tooth would die at the chance for proper afternoon tea. ‘It might appeal to some of our gentlemen guests, too. Do you think she’d object to a unisex event? We can balance it with another more rigorous outdoor activity to keep the numbers manageable.’

  ‘I don’t see why not. Let’s see if we can have a chat with her when we gather before dinner. We could give her the option then to pick and choose whether she attends any of the other group meals. I know she’s keen to play her part, but I don’t want her to feel obligated.’

  ‘That’s a really good idea. I certainly don’t want anyone in the family to feel obligated to participate, which is one of the reasons
I want to establish a clear division of spaces where both the guests and you guys can relax in private.’ Jess glanced around them at the rows of shelves. ‘This is such an atmospheric room which is why I wanted to use it. And the orangery as well. I also want to use one of the bigger drawing rooms, hopefully one quite close to where we are now so they’re all interlinked.’

  ‘Have you seen the west drawing room? It’s just along the corridor.’ Lucie pointed to the door opposite the one where Jess had entered.

  ‘I’ve seen quite a few of them, I can’t remember all their names to be honest.’

  ‘Here, I’ll show you.’ Lucie led the way, turning left just after they left the dining room and pushed open a door not more than fifty feet away. ‘I thought it was a bit spooky when I first inspected it when I was updating the castle inventory.’

  As soon as she saw inside, Jess remembered the rather gloomy room and her excitement waned a bit. It would take a lot of work to create an inviting space here.

  After flipping on the lights, Lucie hurried across the room to draw back the thick, heavy drapes. ‘Once you let the light in, it totally transforms it.’ Moving at right angles, she drew another set of curtains. ‘See?’

  Jess blinked at the transformation. With light flooding in through the huge picture windows, it was already a million times more welcoming. Feeling better, she began to inspect it more closely. ‘This fireplace is lovely, and the mantel is nice and wide, perfect for decorating.’

  ‘Yes,’ Lucie agreed, coming to stand beside her. ‘A roaring blaze in there would make such a difference.’

  Her little sigh made Jess turn to face her. ‘What is it?’

  ‘I have a theory that this was once used by Thomas and Eudora, and that’s why it always makes me feel a little bit sad when I come in here.’

  ‘Who are they?’

  Pushing aside the protective covering on a nearby sofa, Lucie sat then patted the seat beside her, inviting Jess to join her. ‘Thomas was Arthur’s several times great-grandfather. It’s because of him that all his ancestors have those mad names. He was absolutely obsessed with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, to the point he developed a theory that Camland was once the ancient seat of Camelot.’