a trick of the light, but more likely from mildew. He pulled a face, wondering just what else might be lurking in the depths of its cushions after so many years of neglect. They’d outgrown it after going off to university, and he doubted very much anyone had been inside in the dozen or so years since.
Ever since Uncle Lancelot had taken it upon himself to convert the rooms above the stable blocks from which he ran his successful horse stud, Tristan had been pondering the idea of carving a private space for himself on the castle grounds. It wasn’t that the castle didn’t have more than enough bedrooms to accommodate them all several times over, but now the long-term future for the castle looked healthy, it was time to start making plans of his own. A home of his own. He’d have to speak to Maxwell, the family’s butler, to see if he knew where the keys were and check the place out before he got too far ahead of himself.
Ignoring the little voice in his head that whispered perhaps now wasn’t the best time to take on yet another project when he had so much already on his plate, he circled around to the other side of the gatehouse, shining his torch through each window in turn. The kitchen was small, but how much space did he need? Though Lancelot and Constance lived above the stables, they still joined the rest of the family for most evening meals. The old wood-fed stove was a bit too primitive for Tristan but could easily be replaced with a microwave and an electric hob. He flashed the torch around the rest of the room. The tile floor looked pretty sound and the wooden cupboards were mostly intact apart from one door hanging loose off its hinges.
His progression round to the two rooms which had once served as bedrooms was halted by a sudden splash of light behind him. A car with a mobile trailer box attached had pulled into the drive and come to a standstill. At last. Abandoning his plans for the gatehouse for the moment, Tristan hurried across the grass. When he got close he could make out the silhouette of a woman, hands gripping the steering wheel as she stared straight ahead through the windscreen. She seemed lost in a world of her own and gave no sign she was aware of his approach.
Using the butt of the torch he tapped lightly on the glass. With a muffled scream she twisted her head to stare up at him through her window before quickly glancing behind her towards the back seat. Following her gaze, he saw two little figures strapped into car seats, their heads lolling in sleep. The window slid down, and she hissed at him. ‘You scared me half to death! What are you doing lurking out here in the bloody dark?’
Adopting the same hushed tones, Tristan bent down. ‘I was out taking my dog for a walk and wondering where on earth you’d got to. Is everything all right? Why did you stop here?’
She waved a hand towards the castle. ‘Look at it, for goodness sake.’
His eyes followed the direction of her hand. The rain had thinned to a drizzle, casting the illuminated front of the castle in a misty curtain. Looming out of the darkness, he supposed it cut an imposing sight, but for him it was simply his home. ‘What am I looking at?’
Her incredulous stare narrowed as she realised he was teasing her. ‘Not funny.’
‘Well, a bit funny,’ he argued, giving her a grin. ‘Come on, you must be knackered, let’s get you inside in the warm.’
She eyed him for a long moment before nodding. ‘It was a tough drive.’ As though admitting it brought the reality of what she’d been through rushing forward, her shoulders slumped, and he could make out the lines of strain bracketing her eyes.
‘The rain’s almost stopped. If you want to leave the car here and walk the rest of the way …?’ He or Arthur could come back and fetch it in a bit once Jess and the boys were sorted.
‘It’s so silly, it’s only a hundred yards.’ When she made no move, Tristan leaned in and turned the engine off before tugging open her door. ‘Come on, the fresh air will do you good.’
‘Yes, you’re probably right.’ She still seemed a bit dazed when she climbed out, so Tristan put his arm out to steady her. When she looked a bit more with it, he quickly unzipped his jacket and slung it around her shoulders.
‘Mine’s in the boot somewhere,’ she protested, vaguely.
‘And you can get it later.’ Tristan moved towards the passenger door and popped it open quietly. ‘This is Elijah?’ he asked Jess over his shoulder as he crouched down beside the sleeping boy.
‘Yes.’ Shrugging into his coat, she leaned across Tristan to shake Elijah’s shoulder. ‘Hey Eli, wake up, sweetheart, we’re here.’
A pair of thick sooty lashes blinked open to reveal a set of deep-set green eyes inherited from his mother. ‘Mummy?’
She tugged the complicated mechanism strapping him in then straightened up. ‘This is Tristan. Remember I told you about him? He’s going to help you out while I get your brother.’
Those big olive-green eyes blinked owlishly as they watched Jess disappear around the back of the car before turning to gaze at Tristan. ‘Hello, Elijah.’
‘’lo.’ The little boy made no move to get out, his expression a combination of suspicion and weary confusion.
Glancing behind him, Tristan clicked his fingers towards where Pippin was busy sniffing at the tyres of the trailer behind them. ‘Come here, Pippin. I’ve got a new friend for you to meet.’ The little terrier bounced over, his stub of a tail wagging a mile a minute as he put his front paws up on the side of the car and gave Elijah an inquisitive sniff. ‘This is Pippin,’ Tristan said. ‘We’ve got lots of lovely dogs here at the castle, but he’s my special friend. He can be your friend too, if you’d like?’
Still looking uncertain, Elijah held out a tentative hand towards the terrier, giving a little giggle when Pippin licked the tips of his fingers. ‘It tickles.’
‘Down now, Pip,’ Tristan tap his thigh and the obedient dog came to sit at his heel. Turning back to Elijah, Tristan held out his hand. ‘Ready now?’ The boy nodded and wiggled down from the car. When he left his hand resting in Tristan’s he kept hold of it as he rose, making sure to keep his grip loose so Elijah could slip free at any time.
‘Well now, who’s this?’ Jess asked as she returned with a very sleepy Isaac in her arms and Pippin came to sniff at her feet.
‘Pip!’ Elijah said, then glanced up at Tristan as though checking he’d got that right.
Smiling, Tristan nodded. ‘His name is Pippin, but he likes to be called Pip by his friends.’ Pippin wagged his tail in agreement.
‘Making friends, already? Aren’t you a lucky boy, Eli? Now where’s your coat?’ Jess bent forward, still clutching Isaac to her hip.
Over her shoulder, Tristan surveyed the jumble of toys, pillows, colourful plastic lidded cups and other detritus spilling across the back seat and into the footwells beneath. ‘Do you want me to look?’
Jess straightened. ‘Thanks. It’s a navy puffa-type thing.’ At that moment, Isaac straightened in her arms and pulled the kind of face that portended nothing but trouble. As the first wail escaped his lips, Jess jiggled him. ‘Shh, it’s all right, bubba. We’re here now.’ Paying no heed to her assurances, the toddler continued to cry.
‘Take him in,’ Tristan nodded down the drive. ‘I’ll find Elijah’s jacket and we’ll be right behind you.’
‘Okay, sorry.’ Jess gave him an apologetic smile before heading towards the castle, crooning nonsense words to Isaac as she tried to console him.
Crouching once more, Tristan began to turn over everything in the back of the car, but the jacket remained stubbornly elusive. Giving Elijah a quick glance, he asked ‘Any idea where your coat is hiding?’ Elijah shook his head, his expression falling.
Fearing more tears, Tristan decided to abandon the hunt. The rain was nothing more than the odd spot now, and the boy’s sweatshirt looked warm enough for the couple of minutes it would take them to get inside. ‘Brave men like us don’t need coats, right?’
Clearly liking