‘We don’t. We spend our lives here. Hallelujah! The fates have aligned. Told ya so.’ Dan claps his hands, and his muscles clench.
‘Stop messing,’ I say.
‘Don’t panic, Terry will be in soon to throw more turf on the fire in the Sweet Orange Room, he knows I’m down here. Follow me.’ Dan takes my hand.
‘What is this cellar used for anyway?’ I try to steady my heartbeat.
‘Nothing nowadays. Well, storing wine and beer kegs, that kinda thing. Years ago it was a gathering area for staff in service to relax in. I’ll show you properly, just need to get into the main room so I can put on the light. We haven’t been able to access it for a few days as the gate keeps sticking. Not ideal with a wedding on the other night and more wine needed! Anyway, head down!’ He jerks my hand and Red barks as I drop my head and the floor underneath becomes much smoother. The heat from Dan’s hand radiates and once again that feeling of being protected flows through me. In all the dates I’ve been on, over two years with Cooper, this kind of chemistry has never happened to me. His fingers flutter and move over mine. Ha, maybe I finally understand what Cooper meant when he said he never felt about me the way he did about Tanya. I also have every intention of calling Cooper Dwight after Christmas and telling him what I think of how he treated me. Then I finally will block his number! Just the thought fills me with strength!
‘Voila!’ Dan lets go of my hand and as he hits a button the sounds of a generator kick in and the lights start to flick on above.
‘Welcome to Castlemoon’s cellar. It’s my absolute favourite part of the castle, truth be told.’ Dan watches me as my eyes widen and I take it all in.
‘You have got to be kidding me!’ To say I cannot believe my eyes would be an understatement. Slowly, I turn three hundred and sixty degrees to take in the magnificence of what I’m seeing. ‘Just when I thought this place couldn’t get any better.’ I gasp, wildly.
The cellar is a perfect circle with unexpected height, exposed brick and nooks and crannies everywhere. Inset into the wall are old steel antique candle holders and a wine-rack mounted on the wall is home to what appears to be hundreds of bottles lying flat. Red tapestries hang on one half of the wall, and kegs and crates are scattered around. There’s a huge open space in the centre where a cobblestone floor spreads out. It’s like someplace the Knights of the Round Table might have gathered for their feasts.
‘Really? Oh, that’s great to hear, so glad you like authentic as much as I do.’ Dan is pleased, and still half naked!
‘Dan, who actuallyownsthis place? I know it’s not my business but I need to speak to them because this is a gold mine!Thisis where Kate and Jimmy should get married! Feel how warm it is down here? This has romance seeping out of it and it’s smaller and easier to manage. It’s so much more compact than the Heart Ballroom, yet you still get married in the castle and have all those blessings of a long-term marriage,’ I explode with elation.
Dan says nothing, just leans back against the brick wall. His mouth falls open, he scratches his stubble.
‘At your service,’ he says finally, extending his hand.
‘Huh?’ I crinkle my nose in confusion.
‘Lord Dan Delaney. Owner of Castlemoon. How can I be of service?’
My mouth drops open in shock. ‘Say what?’ I lean so far into him I almost fall over.
‘Watch yourself.’ He puts a strong arm out to steady me. ‘I mean I’d hoped you were falling for me but .?.?.’ But his eyes hold mine and I can see he’s curious to see my reaction to this bombshell. I mean I knew he worked here but I did not realise he was the owner!
‘Y-you own the castle?Youown Castlemoon?’ I almost choke on the question.
‘I do.’ He nods.
‘Esther and Michael are .?.?.’
‘My parents, yes,’ Dan says, oh so matter-of-factly, watching me oh so carefully.
‘Oh my God,’ I gasp. ‘I love them so much!’ I clutch my heart.
‘I was going to tell you .?.?. in Heartwell Hall.’ The smallest flicker of a smile at the edge of his mouth. ‘But, well, ya know.’
‘Well .?.?.’ I compose myself. ‘You have a beautiful .?.?. castle.’ I laugh at the absurdity of my words.
‘And cellar by all accounts. Please, tell me more?’
I try to pretend that I’m not as shocked as I am. I am talking to a lord. I kissed a lord! He is so humble. I can hardly wait to get out of here and call Jill. But I turn to him and focus on his cellar.
‘Oh what I wouldn’t do to turn this cellar into a wedding venue.’ I watch him now reaching for his white shirt draped over a barrel, the sinew of muscles rippling down his bare arms as he slips an arm into each sleeve and pulls on his shirt. He lets it hangs open. Don’t button it up, I think.
‘How on earth would a bride and groom dance on a cobbled floor?’ he questions me.
‘Eh, we cover it with a parquet flooring.’
‘How much would that cost?’
