The Cosy Christmas Teashop: Cakes, castles and wedding bells – the perfect feel good romance. Caroline Roberts

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СКАЧАТЬ to do. Go.’ But she was grinning.

      ‘Okay, okay, I know where I’m not wanted. I should have let them all turn up on you without warning.’

      He headed for the swing door.

      ‘Thanks,’ she finished.

      He gave her a wink as he exited.

      They’d been married for over three years now, meeting at her first ever interview for the lease on the Claverham Castle teashop. He was the estate manager, tall, with dark, slightly floppy-fringed hair – he had it cut a little shorter nowadays – and she was a rather naïve twenty-six-year-old, coming straight from her uninspiring insurance job in the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, armed only with her love of baking, her Nanna’s cookbook, and her teashop dream. Nanna’s slightly charred Be-Ro Recipe book still held pride of place on a shelf in the teashop’s kitchen – that was another story.

      Now, five years on, her husband was still as affectionate as ever, probably more so. Love and trust, and tenderness, having grown between them. But at hectic times like this, she really had to focus on running the teashop. They would catch up later, back in their castle apartment, and hopefully they might carry on where they left off.

      The afternoon flew by, in a flurry of making vanilla and chocolate frosting for the spare cupcakes (yay – she’d had some in the freezer!). She also found an extra batch of choc-chip shortbread in a tub in the store cupboard, and after rearranging the remaining cakes and biscuits in the counter display of the teashop, it looked a pretty good selection.

      Irene (the newest addition to the teashop team and Ellie’s wonderful, sixty-something, baking assistant), Doris (waitress, gossip-lover, difficult at times, yet with a heart of gold) and Lauren (a lovely girl from the village who helped on weekends and holidays) were in full swing too.

      Serving fifty additional people in a teashop that was nearly full as it was, was a challenge. Luckily, they had some extra tables outside in the courtyard, and as it was a sunny day that worked well, but it meant even more to-ing and fro-ing for the waitresses. The coffee machine was spluttering and frothing, very much on overdrive but still sending out those gorgeous, rich aromas. The cakes and scones were plated up – the lemon drizzle proving to be a hit.

      Ellie’s feet were sore, her back was aching. It was nearly four-thirty, and they normally closed around now. But there were still several stragglers, sat chatting and sipping their drinks like they hadn’t a care in the world. And, that was fine. Let them enjoy their trip out, and their treat at the end of their castle tour, that’s what it was all about. But boy, she’d be looking forward to soaking in a deep, bubbly bath tonight.

      They were wrapping up for the day, it had just gone five-twenty, well past their normal closing time, and one remaining middle-aged couple were still lingering over a pot of tea they’d been sharing for the best part of an hour.

      Ellie was behind the counter restacking the crockery and cutlery from the dishwasher tray, ready for the next day. She felt that telling nag of period pain, along with a dull ache of disappointment.

       Oh no, not this. Not again.

      It was early days, she knew that. She and Joe had been trying for a baby for five months now, but she couldn’t help but get excited this time; she’d been four days late, and her hopes had soared. She’d already planned to get a pregnancy test on her next day off, and had pictured herself telling Joe the wonderful news.

       Bloody hell.

      Doris was clearing up around the couple who still remained seated, chattering away, oblivious to the time. The waitress made herself busy wiping down all the other tables, encircling theirs, but to no avail. Then, she started with the broom, sweeping loudly in their direction. Tact was not her thing. Ellie couldn’t help but give a wry smile.

      ‘Doris, I just need to nip out a minute. Are you okay to stay on a little while?’

      ‘No problem,’ she announced noisily. ‘We’ll not be long now, anyhow.’ Doris smiled across at the couple, stirring them from their comfortable reverie. ‘Everything all right?’ she asked them, the message as clear as if she had come straight out and told them to leave. How did she do it? Ellie had tried her best with training Doris in customer service over the years, but there were some elements of her waitress’s nature that just couldn’t be curbed. And in a strange way, Ellie had grown fond of them.

      Ellie traipsed off to the ladies. Sure enough, the telltale not-pregnant-at-all bloodstain was there. Bloody hell.

      It was okay, she reminded herself, as she washed her hands at the sink, all early days stuff. Her face looked pale in the mirror, tired. No wonder, after the hectic day she’d had. Her thick blonde hair was tied back in its work-style ponytail. She sighed at her reflection. It was just one of those things. After all, she’d read only recently that most couples took up to six months to conceive. She’d just hoped, hadn’t she? She’d been so excited at the thought of telling Joe. They both felt so ready for a family, to move on to this next exciting phase of their lives together, they had talked about it so much of late.

      She had extra help at the teashop now with her fabulous assistant Irene, who made the most wonderful cakes and quiches. Deana was also getting on well, helping her with all the wedding bookings they had been taking. It seemed like a good time for her and Joe to plan for their family. She’d keep up her work, of course, the teashop and the castle were so much more than a job, they had a huge place in her heart and life, but she’d take a step back, and allow the team to help some more.

      Ellie loved doing the wedding coordinating – making a couple’s wedding day as special and unique as she could for them. The weddings were a fairly new venture for the castle that Ellie and Joe had developed in the last few years. The castle was now growing a good reputation as an up-and-coming wedding venue, being one of the most beautiful locations in the area. A stunning old stone castle, surrounded by formal gardens, small lakes, and the most beautiful rolling countryside.

      If anything did happen baby-wise, Ellie planned to stay on and carry on working, doing less hours naturally, and with some childcare help she’d still keep her hand in with everything. It wasn’t as though she lived far away – just one floor up in the West Wing in Joe’s original suite of rooms!

      Anyhow, she stopped her daydreaming, it wasn’t to be, not this time. Despite the sinking feeling of disappointment, she knew she’d have to just keep her chin up and keep going. They could wait, she told herself. They’d have to wait.

      She dried her hands on a paper towel, and headed back to the teashop.

      Sure enough, the middle-aged couple had disappeared and Doris was mopping the tearoom floor.

      ‘Thanks Doris, I’ll take over here.’

      ‘You sure, pet?’

      ‘Yes, get yourself away. You’re running a bit over time as it is.’

      ‘Okay, thanks then, Ellie. See you in the morning.’

      ‘See you, Doris.’

      All was quiet. She looked around the teashop, Ellie’s Teashop in the Castle, and felt a sense of pride. She’d really made a go of it. It was looking lovely, with a little late-afternoon glow of sunshine coming in through the leaded windows. She’d kept the vintage-flowered oilcloths, though she was on her second set now. And the tables were set with the posy jars she’d originally СКАЧАТЬ