Chapter 43
‘Now are you sure you’ve got everything, ladies?’ Tobias couldn’t help smiling to himself at his mother and aunt’s excitement. They had both been up since the crack of dawn, scurrying around like headless chickens, packing and fussing over last-minute arrangements. Tobias had arranged for a car to take them to Southampton, where they would board theJewel of the Ocean. He was more than ready for them to set sail. With his mother and aunt safely off on their voyage and Sebastian in Canterbury, he had Treweham Hall all to himself, to entertain the lovely Megan. Ted’s cottage was now advertised as ‘to let’, being fully renovated and Tobias had moved out.
‘Come to the Hall tomorrow evening. I’ll cook dinner,’ he had suggested last night at The Templar. Megan had just finished her shift and Tobias had arrived for last orders and to walk her home.
‘We both know it won’t be you doing the cooking, Tobias,’ replied Megan, grinning.
He raised an eyebrow seductively, ‘I’ll have you know mycoqau vin is to die for,’ he purred.
‘Really? And what about dessert?’ she batted back.
‘Oh, you’ll get your just deserts, don’t you worry.’ He grabbed her by the waist, she put her arms round his neck and together their lips met.
‘Have you no homes to go to?’ asked Dermot drily as he guided them both out of the pub doors.
As they strolled to Megan’s cottage hand in hand Tobias continued, ‘Stay over tomorrow night. It’ll be just us, with everyone gone now.’
Megan was so tempted, but if she were being completely honest she still felt a little in awe of the place. Tobias wanted her to be more relaxed, to treat his home as her own. This meant her being accustomed to the space and grandeur, plus the team of staff that kept Treweham Hall ticking over like the fine machine it was. He noticed her hesitation.
‘Megan, it’s my home. I want you to be comfortable in it,’ he reasoned.
‘I know you do and, yes, it would be lovely to stay over, thank you.’ She realised how it must seem to Tobias and really didn’t want to cause any offence. Besides, another night with him was what she had been privately craving since Royal Ascot.
To say it was what Tobias had been craving was an understatement. He was at fever pitch to have Megan in his four-poster bed – permanently, if he had his way. He was aware of how possessive of her he had become, hence why he had taken to walking her home after an evening shift in The Templar. The thought of Nick Fletcher sniffing around Megan filled him with rage. He had startled himself at his own reaction when seeing Fletcher touch Megan at the Landlord’s Supper. Once again, he understood the lengths his father had gone to in protecting his mother.
‘Good. That’s settled then.’
*
The following evening, Megan, despite her nerves, was still eager to stay at Treweham Hall with Tobias. She was glad it would be just the two of them the first time she stayed over. Not really sure if dinner would be a formal affair in the great dining hall, or an intimate supper in the drawing room, she found it difficult to decide what to wear. In the end she opted for a simple cream tea dress with a matching fine wool cardigan. She arrived at the Hall and went through the back way, via the kitchen. The staff were familiar with her by now, as she always passed by the kitchen to see them when calling at the Hall. Even Henry, who deep down hadn’t approved of Megan initially, had succumbed to her friendly manner. It would have been foolish not to. If his suspicions were proved right, Megan’s presence would be a permanent fixture in the not-too-distant future.
‘Ah, Miss Taylor, Lord Cavendish-Blake is expecting you in the dining hall.’
‘Thanks, Henry. I’ll make my own way there.’
‘Very good, madam.’ He bowed slightly. Megan’s lips twitched: was he always this formal?
Walking along the corridor, she glanced upwards to the many portraits staring down at her. The dining-hall door was open, but there was no Tobias inside. She entered the huge room and wondered why he had chosen this ceremonial setting for just the two of them. A long mahogany table ran down the centre of the room, with ten chairs seated each side. A silver candelabra burned brightly in the middle. Two places had been set on the corner towards the top end. Megan giggled, thankful they weren’t sitting at opposite ends of this great long table, imagining herself whizzing the salt down to Tobias. Just then he walked in, looking rather dapper in jeans, shirt and a Harris Tweed jacket.
‘Sorry, I was just on the phone to Dylan.’ He kissed her mouth firmly. Moving towards the drinks cabinet, he poured himself a brandy. ‘What can I get you?’ he called over his shoulder.
‘A gin and tonic, please.’ Megan gazed around the room, remembering the first time Tobias had shown her Treweham Hall. A spectacular chandelier hung in the middle of the ceiling, its cut-glass flickering light on the pale silk walls. She looked enquiringly as he handed her drink. ‘Why are we dining in here, Tobias?’
‘Because it’s a dining room,’ he replied simply.
‘You know what I mean,’ she chided. ‘Why so formal?’
He sighed. ‘Because I want you to get used to all this.’ He raised his hands in the air. Megan frowned. ‘Look, all I want is you to be yourself, as relaxed here as you would be at your cottage.’
‘Bit different, though, isn’t it? I don’t have staff wandering around the place. Don’t you find it a little intrusive?’
‘Not really. And talking of staff, I’ve been thinking.’ Megan took a long drink: this sounded ominous. ‘After dinner I’ll show you the rooms that will be open to the public. The teashop conversion is about to start. I’m renovating a downstairs room. It’s big enough to house tables, chairs and a kitchen, plus there’ll be a small annex selling souvenirs of Treweham Hall.’
‘It all sounds great.’ Megan couldn’t help but be impressed with Tobias’ drive and vision. He was committed to Treweham Hall and she hoped his hard work would pay off. ‘How’s the training yard coming along?’ Yet another project he was dedicated to.
His face lit up with enthusiasm. ‘Good. Dylan knows exactly what he wants and I’m more than happy to accommodate. That training yard will be the saving of this place.’
‘Really?’ Megan was surprised. ‘I never knew there was so much money involved.’
