‘How does it feel to be back?’ Megan asked, looking sideways at Tobias as he drove up the gravel driveway to the magnificent Treweham Hall.
Even now, she still couldn’t quite believe this huge, stone building, with its buttresses and four turrets, giving it a castle like-appearance, was actually her home. Stained-glass windows glimmered in the sunshine. It was a magical place and opening it up to the public a couple of months ago had already proved profitable. The Hall’s grandeur cost greatly. A small team of staff ran Treweham Hall like a well-oiled machine. Not only was the Hall open for tours, but the estate grew fruit and vegetables in its three thousand acres of land. Its orchards burst with apple, pear and cherry trees, plus plots containing herbs and vegetables, which were picked, packed and sold to local businesses. The new racehorse training yard was at the far end of the estate with a separate entrance, well out of the way from the paying public.
Visitors had flocked to Treweham Hall, not just to see the splendour of the building, but in the hope of seeing its family living there. With Tobias’ wedding to the beautiful young Megan Taylor splashed across the papers, and Sebastian’s rising fame, not to mention Dylan Delany, the very attractive jockey, in the nearby stable yard, it was hardly surprising that so many people wanted to visit.
Tobias smiled and turned to his wife. ‘It feels good. How about you?’ His hand squeezed hers in her lap.
‘A little daunting, but I’ll get used to it.’
Tobias appreciated how she must feel coming back to such a place, even if he had been at pains to make it feel like home to her. Given time, he was sure she’d feel more at ease, and God help any member of staff who didn’t treat her well.
His thoughts turned to Henry, his butler, who hadn’t given Megan the warmest of welcomes. Being entrusted with the duty of looking after her dog whilst they were away hadn’t helped matters.
As if on cue, Henry appeared at the front entrance, ready to receive them. Tobias got out of the sports car and went round to help Megan to her feet, and hand in hand they climbed the stone steps into the Hall.
‘Good day, sir.’ Henry bowed slightly, then quickly added, ‘Good day, madam.’
‘Hello, Henry. Could you have the car unpacked, please?’
‘Certainly, sir. Tea, madam?’ He looked in Megan’s direction. Megan smiled.
‘Lovely, thank you, Henry. We’ll have it in the drawing room.’
‘Make that the south wing drawing room, please, in our apartment, Henry,’ butted in Tobias.
Henry looked a little surprised, but nodded all the same. Megan smiled again. Obviously Tobias was making a point; he was a married man now, with separate rooms from the rest of the household, and she felt a sense of relief that he had set the boundaries.
Tobias put his arm round her and pulled her in to him. She felt further reassured. He kissed her cheek. ‘We’ll dine with Mother tonight. She’ll want to see us. Is that all right?’
‘Of course. I’m sure she’s dying to see you.’ Megan threaded her arm round him.
‘Aunt Celia may still be here,’ he gently warned, making her giggle.
‘Even better.’ Well, she was going to have to get used to all this sooner or later, wasn’t she? She only hoped she’d manage to keep dinner down and her pregnancy a secret.
Together they walked along the tiled floors of the corridor, past the oak-panelled Great Hall and up the sweeping staircase to the south wing. The rooms had been aired and cleaned, but it was to be Megan’s project to redecorate them. At the moment the walls were bare, all pale yellow and white with polished wooden floors. Nice enough, but she wanted to inject warmth and character into her home, to personalise the rooms with photographs, cosy it up with throws, rugs and gentler lighting. Tobias had had his great four-poster bed moved into their bedroom, and a matching dressing table with the same heavy style of carving had been placed there too. Beatrice, no doubt, thought Megan, appreciating her thoughtfulness. The two large sash windows in the drawing room overlooked the gardens, manicured to perfection, giving them splendid views. It was a vast contrast to the small cottage garden at her old home.
There was a knock at the door and a young girl wearing a white apron carried in a tea tray. Placing it on the coffee table she quickly smiled before leaving the room.
‘Thanks!’ Megan called after her.
Tobias was on his mobile, staring out of the window. Far in the distance the white railings of the training track could be seen. Beyond that was the old stable block, which he had converted for Dylan’s business, and it was Dylan he was talking to, with an intense expression on his face. Clearly they were talking business. Megan understood how much her husband worried about keeping Treweham Hall afloat and out of the red. The training yard promised to have a huge positive impact on their finances, and both Tobias and Dylan were determined to grow the business as quickly as possible. Seeing the tea had arrived and Megan was waiting on the sofa for him to join her, however, he finished the conversation quickly.
‘Everything all right?’ Megan asked, pouring the tea.
‘Fine. The yard’s filling up; more horses are arriving this week.’
‘That’s great, isn’t it?’ she replied, passing him a cup.
‘Certainly is.’ He took his cup, put it down, and then turned to her. She got more beautiful as the days passed. Pregnancy certainly suited her, making her skin shine healthily and her brown eyes sparkle. Her body was starting to change shape slightly, with her full breasts and stomach beginning to swell. Megan saw her husband looking at her and it felt good that he still reacted this way. He leant forward to kiss her and she met his lips while her hands ran through his long, dark hair. He pulled her towards him, his arms enclosing her as he deepened the kiss. Her hands crept under his shirt and felt his toned back. She heard him quietly groan as he ran his lips down her neck and began to reach for the zip at the back of her dress.
‘Tobias! Tobias, are you there?’ Suddenly they jumped apart. Beatrice bustled into the room, closely followed by Zac, Megan’s black Labrador. ‘There you are! How wonderful to see you both!’ Her petite frame was outstretched for Tobias to hug, which he dutifully did.
‘Mother, how lovely to see you,’ he answered.
Megan chewed her bottom lip to stop the laughter that threatened to escape, whilst hugging an excited Zac.
*
Dinner that evening was a curious affair. Beatrice and Celia made rather humorous company, without any intention to be funny on their parts.
‘So, how did the honeymoon go?’ Celia asked directly whilst breaking into her bread roll.
‘France was divine, thank you, Celia,’ replied Tobias. Celia then turned to Megan.
‘All settled in then?’ Her eyebrow arched. Megan couldn’t decide if that was a genuine question, or a bit of a dig at them having their own private quarters.
‘Yes. How about you?’ replied Megan, referencing the fact Celia was still there since coming to stay for the wedding, instead of returning to her luxury retirement complex. Touché, thought Tobias grinning to himself. Celia chose to ignore the question and carried on.
‘You look a little pale, Megan. Are you feeling all right?’
Megan’s soup spoon hovered before her mouth. ‘Fine, thanks.’ Had the old bat guessed? With her hawk eyes she probably had.
‘Sebastian was just marvellous,’ gushed Beatrice, totally oblivious to the conversation going on around her.
‘I heard that too,’ Tobias smiled. ‘We’ll be seeing him soon. The reviews have been fantastic, haven’t they?’
‘Very talented boy,’ butted in Celia firmly.
‘He is,’ agreed Megan warmly. She thought fondly of her brother-in-law, who had given her so much support, especially when conducting the first guided tour of the Hall, dressed in sixteenth-century costume. Then an uneasy feeling started to stir inside her stomach. Oh, no, she thought, putting her spoon down. Tobias quickly turned to her.
‘Are you OK, Megan?’ His face was etched with concern.
Megan shook her head. ‘I think I’m… going to be…’ Then she quickly got up from the table and dashed to the nearest toilet.
Tobias rose from his chair. ‘Excuse us, ladies,’ he said over his shoulder and followed Megan.
‘Huh, just as I suspected,’ Celia said flatly. Beatrice looked quizzically at her sister. Oh for God’s sake, thought Celia in exasperation. Did she ever cotton on to anything? ‘The girl’s pregnant, Beatrice,’ she stated with force.
‘Oh… a honeymoon baby! How romantic!’ Beatrice clasped her hands together with joy.
Honeymoon my foot, thought Celia.