“Well haven’t you thought of everything Mr Buchanan. I’m impressed.” Zara looks all around in awe of the surroundings. “How many rooms am I going to have to clean then?”
“There’s ten bedrooms and a lot of bathrooms and reception rooms, two kitchens, a cinema room and a pool house. But you don’t have to lift a finger. This place is a working estate. It comes with a full payroll of staff. I would imagine the estate Joe works on is the same. The live-in staff all have their own cottages on the estate and the rest are employed from the local town.”
I pull the airport hire car up outside the main entrance to the castle, the bright gravel chips crunching under the tyres. The house manager is already there to greet us.
“Wow. I always imagined what it would be like to live on an estate like that. Clydeview is lovely but it’s brand new. This has history and character. I could never have dreamed of a better place to start our life together. Thank you,” she says wrapping her arm around my shoulder and pulling me in close for a hug.
“We have a lot to do before we can officially move in, but I’ve handed Margot her notice that I’m leaving her services.”
“I’m glad you decided to go. They’re no good for you.”
“I know. Shelly has already started working on her own management and PR company, but it’ll take some time to set everything up. In the meantime I want to get settled here with you, so I’m not fussed about having representation for a while. Shelly is still going to field any work offers for me because I’m her special one.”
She side eyes me and shakes her head. “Oh good lord. Is that what you want to be called now? The special one.” Her laugh is beautiful, and I can’t wait to hear it echoing around our new home.
“Come on let’s go and meet the staff and get a tour of the place. Since the sun is out, I’ve arranged lunch in one of the gardens. Here’s to an amazing adventure.”
We high five each other and get out of the car into the warm sunshine. A moment of pure happy bliss takes hold of me. It’s that feeling my parents always talked about and that I thought I’d never experience. Even if we were moving into a cardboard box under a bridge, I think it would still be there. Because I have everything I’ve ever wanted in Zara.