66
‘You’ve made good progress,’ said Tobias to his maintenance manager. The new rooms he was renovating for Marcus and Finula were taking shape.
‘As you know, it’s not too complicated a job, Sir, just a matter of sprucing up.’ Assessing the freshly painted pale grey walls and high, white ceiling with decorative coving, Tobias nodded his head in agreement. He was particularly pleased with the huge stained-glass window, which had been painstakingly restored and cleaned. It made a real feature to the room.
‘Is the bathroom complete?’
‘Almost – let me show you, Sir.’ Walking through the large sitting room, Tobias was led to an adjoining door, which opened up a small corridor. Off there was the bathroom and two bedrooms. Again the bedrooms had been painted and housed a huge double bed in the master and twin beds in the other. The bathroom was white marble tiled and had a grand, roll-top bath.
‘Yes.’ Tobias nodded again. ‘I’m sure Marcus will be more than happy with his rooms.’ Should bloody well think so, thought the maintenance manager tartly, given what had been achieved in such a little time.
‘Very good, Sir.’ He smiled pleasantly.
Megan’s voice could be heard. ‘Tobias! Are you there?’
Tobias walked back to join her. ‘In here,’ he called.
‘Wow! Look at this,’ she gasped at the newly refurbished room. ‘You wouldn’t believe it was the same place.’ Her mind cast back to being shown a tired, dowdy, dark room covered in dust sheets. The stained-glass window had been blocked by wooden shutters. She gazed in amazement at it now as the glass panes sparkled with colour in the sunshine.
The manager smiled at her reaction. He’d always liked Lady Cavendish-Blake, finding her far more down to earth than her husband.
‘Finula’s going to love this,’ she said half laughing.
Tobias grinned. ‘Do you like it better than our rooms?’
‘No, ours are beautiful too,’ she was quick to reply and she smiled at the manager, not wanting to cause any offence. It would be strange knowing Finula was only next door to her. Megan was so looking forward to having her best friend stay at Treweham Hall. When Finula had moved to Shropshire after meeting Marcus, she had been heartbroken at seeing her go. They had always enjoyed each other’s company and shared many a giggle. Now, it would be just like old times and she couldn’t wait.
Together Megan and Tobias walked through to their own suite.
‘It’ll be nice having all three brothers together at the Hall,’ she remarked.
‘It will and I’m sure it’s what Father would have wanted. Sebastian said so too.’
Megan turned to face Tobias. ‘How is Sebastian? I haven’t seen him for ages.’
‘Fine. A little tired, but then the production’s taken it out of him.’
‘Good job it’s finished then.’
‘Too right. He deserves a long rest.’
‘And where better to take it easy?’ Megan replied staring out of the window overlooking the manicured grounds. She still had to pinch herself at times. Originally, she had moved to Treweham to live in her gran’s cottage. Never had she dreamt of ending up in Treweham Hall as Lady Cavendish-Blake.
‘What’s going on in that mind of yours?’ Tobias came and put his arm round her shoulders.
She laughed. ‘Just how your life can take such a sudden change of direction.’ There was a moment’s pause.
‘Let’s hope Marcus can cope with the direction his is about to take.’
She hugged her husband, knowing how defensive Tobias was about all his family. ‘He will,’ she reassured him.
