Chapter 27
Tobias commended his timing. As he was about to move into Ted’s cottage, Aunt Celia decided to grace Treweham Hall with her presence. Arriving in the morning, with her luggage piled at the front entrance, wearing a tweed suit and a tight smile, she flounced in, ordered the staff to collect her cases and demanded to see Tobias. Hearing the commotion from his bedroom, Tobias made his way down the stairs.
‘I thought you were going to ring me, Aunt Celia.’
‘Ah, there you are. Order tea, will you? I’m parched. I decided to get a taxi.’
‘Come into my study. I’ve something to show you.’
Owing to the efficiency of the staff, Tobias and Aunt Celia were soon sitting drinking tea at his desk. He was talking her through the plans for converting the old stable block into a café and gift shop. Since his talk with his mother, Tobias had given the plans for the old stable block plenty of thought. The conversion idea seemed a good one, especially as he had seen similar projects work well.
Celia’s beady eyes darted over the foolscap paper containing the drawings. She pushed her tight curly grey hair behind her ears in concentration. Tobias valued her opinion. Celia might be eighty, but she had a sharp mind and was extremely intuitive. He waited for her verdict. She looked at him and shook her head.
‘It won’t work,’ she stated flatly.
‘Why not?’ Tobias replied, surprised.
‘How would you gain access?’
‘We’d have to build a pathway at the side of the Hall.’
She looked warily at him, ‘And have people traipsing past your home all the time? Can’t see your mother buying that.’
He had to admit, it wasn’t ideal. In fact it would be quite intrusive. Sighing, he folded the plans away.
‘I’ve got to do something, Celia. We’re broke.’
‘It’s going to take more than coffee and cupcakes to save this place, plus you’d be spending money on the conversion and the staff.’
He nodded in agreement. ‘I thought it would be a good way of utilising the old stable block. It’s just standing there doing nothing.’
‘You need to do something that won’t cost you to set it up.’ Then she narrowed her eyes, a thought having occurred to her. ‘Have you closed any of the rooms off yet?’
‘Mother won’t hear of it,’ he answered dully.
‘Good.’ He looked up questioningly. ‘The answer’s staring you in the face. Open up the house—’
‘She’d never allow it,’ he cut in.
‘Listen, this place is huge enough to separate your private quarters from the rest of the rooms. Guided tours could be conducted with the minimum of disruption. Just set your boundaries as to when and where the public can visit. You could even renovate one of the rooms into a tearoom. Damn sight cheaper than converting a stable block.’ She sat back and sipped her tea.
The more he considered the idea, the more he liked it. Celia was right, it would be far less costly to open the house up to the public and make a tearoom. A fixed timetable could be implemented. They could even sell merchandise with the coat of arms on, as he had originally thought. It need not be intrusive if limits and confines were adhered to.
‘You could be on to something, Celia. But how do I sell this to Mother?’
She huffed, ‘Tell her straight. It’s either open the Hall, or face ruin. Good God, that woman’s been wrapped in cotton wool all her life.’ Beatrice was the polar opposite to her much older sister. Celia had practically brought up Beatrice, the baby of the family. She’d witnessed how her parents had doted on their sweet little Bea. She’d watched how her husband had adored her and showered her with gifts; and now she was seeing how her elder son, who had inherited all the consequences of such frivolous spending, was still trying to protect her. It angered her, and that jealous, resentful emotion that had plagued her childhood was starting to rear its ugly head again.
Tobias’ mind was buzzing with ideas. It was so obvious now he came to consider it. The rooms he’d wanted to close and cover in dustsheets would be cleaned, polished and showcased. Sharing the family home with the public meant bringing the Hall back to life again; and at minimum cost.
‘Do you want me to speak to her?’ Celia looked at him directly, arms crossed, lips pursed.
‘No… thank you. I’ll break it to her. Perhaps that Caribbean cruise won’t have to be cancelled after all.’
Celia beamed, making the corners of her eyes crinkle. ‘Attaboy.’ She patted him on his shoulder. Settling back in her chair she asked, ‘Any news from Sebastian?’
‘He’s touring in Stratford at the moment. We’re expecting him home next week.’
Celia nodded, then added, ‘I take it your mother still doesn’t know he’s queer as a coconut?’
