By the end of her first week back Cat felt as if she had never been away. Siobhan Pendennis, the young, enthusiastic brunette seconded from reception to cover her job during her absence in France, had carried out a thorough handover of all the current projects. Their morning together had seen Cat brought up to speed on every single event on her wall planner, leaving Siobhan free to disappear on extended leave until September, backpacking around the Far East with her current significant other.
As she finished her call to Jodie, having arranged to meet for coffee tomorrow morning at The Copper Kettle in Carrenporth’s small High Street, she noticed the Bentley pull up outside the main doors of the hotel. She stopped for a moment to watch as Harry hobbled around to open the passenger and rear doors. Emelia and her three companions stepped out laughing and chattering like a small group of aged magpies.
‘Take the shopping back to the house, Harry,’ Cat heard Aunt Em say with a carefree wave of her hand, ‘and call back for us in two hours.’ Harry nodded and they left him. With Em at the front, they marched towards the front door like a determined gang of elderly storm troopers. Obviously, Harry had let slip about Ruan being in Falmouth this morning and crafty Em had decided to use his absence as an opportunity to challenge his ban. Watching their approach with interest, Cat knew they were going to be in for a bit of a surprise.
Anton, the maître d’, greeted Em as they reached the restaurant area. With a smile, Em informed him they had come for lunch and wanted their usual window table. Anton acknowledged the request with a polite nod but regretted hecould not assist on account of her being banned from the restaurant on Ruan’s orders.
‘Well, he’s not here, is he?’ Standing in the doorway of her office, Cat watched her square her shoulders, full of indignation as she prepared to argue, the three women grouped behind her to add support, Rosalind giving her a sly nudge. Em decided to change tactics. With a benevolent smile she leaned towards Anton and whispered, ‘Oh come on, please, let us in.’
Anton shook his head and politely refused her request. As the small group flexed aging muscles and attempted to push him out of the way, Nathan materialised and walked over to join them. ‘Good afternoon, Aunt Em.’ He smiled at her graciously, deliberately snubbing the other three. ‘What appears to be the problem?’
‘Ah, Nathan, just the person. You’ll be able to sort this out, I’m sure. I brought my friends here for lunch as usual and Anton tells me I’m banned.’ She smiled up at him innocently. ‘Now that can’t be right, can it?’
‘No it can’t.’ Rosalind stepped forward to join Em, chins wobbling indignantly as she joined the protest. ‘We always eat here on Tuesdays.’
Ignoring Rosalind, Nathan imparted the bad news. ‘Sadly, it is Aunt Em, I’m afraid.’
‘But I’m a Trevelyan.’ She bristled indignantly. ‘This is the family’s hotel.Myfamily’s hotel.’
‘I know,’ Nathan acknowledged politely, ‘and far be it from me to prevent you enjoying something from the hotel restaurant. You just can’t eat it in there.’
‘How preposterous!’ Em pulled herself up to her full height. ‘Where are we supposed to eat then? On our laps in the car park?’ This brought a titter from the other three.
‘No. Caer Gwyn. You can choose your courses here by all means,’ he said, presenting them with one of the menus Antonhad retrieved from the dining room. ‘We can take your order and the food will be prepared. Harry will collect and Marion will serve, leaving you to enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. Dad’s set up an account for you and you’ll be billed at the end of each month.’
‘What?’ she snorted indignantly. ‘Your father’s behaviour is disgraceful. And so is yours, young man. Do you hear me? Disgraceful!’
‘Disgraceful,’ the three echoed.
Cat thought from the pitch of Em’s voice that most of the dining room must have heard the altercation but both Nathan and Anton stood their ground. With a last ferocious glare at both of them she turned away, the trio trailing behind her, and settled herself in one of the small side lounges. They sat for a while, heads together, muttering. After a few moments Rosalind looked up and, catching sight of one of the waiters, beckoned him over.
‘Looks as if Rosalind’s decided to try her luck,’ Cat whispered as she joined Nathan. ‘Damned cheek! I knew she was behind all this. She’s manipulating Em, the old witch.’
‘Don’t worry,’ he reassured her with a smile, ‘every member of staff has been briefed. None of them will be eating or drinking anything in this hotel for the foreseeable future.’
Cat continued to watch as the young waiter apologised before beginning to clear away empty glasses from a nearby table. In a heartbeat, Emelia was back beside Nathan, the menus in her hand.
‘On second thoughts,’ she said, slapping them at his chest, ‘I don’t think we’ll bother. Come, ladies, we’ll have lunch at The Copper Kettle instead; my treat.’ Calling her small group together they trooped out of the hotel.
‘Nathan one: Emelia nil.’ Cat grinned, delighted he’d managed to get rid of her.
‘It’s merely one battle,’ he acknowledged with a shrug as they both walked to the main door to watch their unwanted visitors leave. ‘She’s not going to go away in a hurry. You’d better believe she’s at war with us. There will be more of this and we’re going to have to get used to it.’
‘I can’t believe she’s unable to see those awful women for what they are. Rosalind definitely egged her on.’
‘Yes, she’s a bossy old witch. She’s had a few things to say about Ship2Shore,too. She wasn’t at all happy when we opened. Gave me a lecture on what a bad influence the place would be on young people’s morals.’ He shook his head. ‘Sadly, the woman’s got nothing better to do with her time.’
Ship2Shorehad been Nathan’s baby: a club in the hotel’s basement, which he’d set up three years ago. He appeared to have inherited their mother’s creative flair, taking charge of the project with ease, using the empty cellars under the hotel to create his nautical themed nightspot. The club had been a runaway success, a new, much sought after venue for the north Cornish coast. He’d sourced a great local DJ and there was a regular Saturday slot for live bands. Yes, Cat thought, she could well imagine Rosalind’s indignation. Heaven forbid people should be allowed to enjoy themselves.
As they both watched Harry pull up outside and the small gaggle of women climb into the Bentley, a large four by four arrived and slipped into one of the vacant parking spaces.
‘Ah, looks like my twelve thirty,’ Cat said, watching as a red-headed woman in her forties emerged from the driver’s side and slid a soft leather tote over her shoulder.
‘What’s the occasion?’
‘Daughter’s eighteenth birthday party. See you later.’ With a casual wave to her brother, Cat walked out into the sunshine to greet her client.
Chapter Three
