Fairytale Beginnings (22 page)

He flicked a switch and a row of bulbs lit up the tunnel beyond – obviously it was still in regular use. The ground was smooth too.

‘Do you mind if I take a look?’ she asked Igor.

He nodded and gestured for her to go ahead. For a publican, he was a man of few words.

‘We’ll stay here dear, it’s a bit steep for us,’ Gladys said.

Milly started down the tunnel and, like the ones in the castle, she could feel the steep incline as the path took her further into the cliff face and towards the sea. Eventually it opened out directly onto a very small slip of sand. A wooden jetty led from the cave’s entrance out into the sea and a little motor-powered fishing boat was beached on the sand, out of the reach of the sea that was lapping on the edges of the jetty.

There was nowhere in the cave where a chest could be hidden, no cracks or crevices. She stepped out onto the jetty and walked to the very end and looked around. Sheer cliff faces stretched into the distance on one side and disappeared round a corner on the other side towards the tiny cove. She could see no other caves at all.

She was about to go back in when she saw a large, deep crack on the edge of the corner of the cliff. No matter how far she leaned out she couldn’t tell whether it was just a crack or a cave or another tunnel, but it was definitely something she wanted to investigate. Maybe she and Cameron would have to go for another swim again, or maybe once they were on more friendly terms with Igor, he might take them out on his boat to explore some of the cliffs.

She turned back and headed along the tunnel towards the pub where the ladies were waiting for her. Igor was nowhere to be seen.

‘Well thanks for showing me, but I’m still no closer to finding the treasure for Cameron.’

‘The Grey Lady guards over it so no one can get their hands on it who isn’t part of the Heartstone line. You could try asking her.’

‘Well, I doubt she will speak to me, but maybe she might tell Cameron.’

‘You’re part of the Heartstone line now too,’ Lavender said, smiling sweetly. ‘She’ll tell you.’

Milly looked down the tunnel, listening to the waves crashing on the rocks below. Maybe they could ask the Grey Lady where it was. It couldn’t hurt to try.

C
ameron woke
to an empty bed which was beyond frustrating, considering the condition he had woken up in. He needed Milly. He rolled out of bed and opened the door, wondering if she was nearby and he could tempt her back to bed. There was no sound from the kitchen apart from the tapping of keys on a computer. Not wanting to frighten Olivia with his nudity, he quickly got dressed and went out to join her.

She smiled hugely when she saw him.

‘Do you want a cup of tea?’ She asked, getting up and moving to the kettle.

‘That would be great.’

‘Will Milly want one?’

‘I don’t know, she’s not in my room. I thought she was out here.’

Olivia shrugged and set about making two cups of tea. Cameron peered out the window, Milly’s car was still there. He looked around the kitchen, her shoes were still strewn all over the place, so it was unlikely she had suddenly decided to run away. She was probably doing some more tests somewhere.

‘How’s it going with you two, getting bored yet?’

Cameron sat down. ‘No, I’m crazy about her.’

Olivia turned round, smiling cheekily. ‘Come on, Cam, you know you have the attention span of a goldfish. No woman holds your attention longer than a few weeks.’

‘It’s different with her. I know it sounds stupid but I think she’s the one.’

The smile fell from Olivia’s face. ‘The one?’

‘Marriage, babies, she’s my happy ever after.’ Cameron smiled at the phrase he had obviously stolen from Milly.

Olivia turned back to make the tea and then brought the mugs over and sat opposite him.

‘Are you sure about her?’

Cameron nodded. ‘More than I’ve ever been. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but do you believe in soul mates?’

Her eyes widened slightly and he quickly rushed on. He told her briefly about the family curse, the stone heart, the cameo, the dragon necklace and Milly’s tattoo and Olivia’s face became more and more shocked. He knew it was crazy. He was a rational man, he knew the concept of soul mates didn’t actually exist, he didn’t believe in the family curse or any of that other stuff that linked Milly to him, it was just a whole load of coincidence but he couldn’t escape the feeling that Milly was the other half of his heart.

He let his head fall into his hands. It was insanity to fall this hard and this quickly but he couldn’t stop it.

Olivia took his hand and squeezed it. He looked up at her and her shocked expression had gone.

‘I’m delighted for you,’ Olivia said. ‘You deserve to be happy and I think she’s lovely.’

Cameron smiled with relief. ‘You have no idea how pleased I am to hear you say that.’

‘I’m really happy, for both of you.’

Cameron squeezed her hand. ‘Thanks Liv.’

Olivia returned her attention to her tea and her laptop for a few minutes.

‘Listen, while she isn’t around, let’s talk business for a moment, especially about Palace Hotels.’

Cameron suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Olivia was so efficient and organised in every way but why was she so hung up on working with Palace Hotels? Especially when the deal was so bad?

‘Maxwell is really keen to work with you. They’ve come back with a different offer which I think is more than generous under the circumstances, especially given the current condition of the castle. They’ve offered two and a half million and …’

‘Extravagance have offered four and a half million for fifty percent ownership. I also get fifty percent of any profits and they will handle the repairs. When Palace Hotels come back with an offer like that, then we can talk.’

‘We don’t know anything about Extravagance. My contacts at Palace Hotels say they’re a bunch of cowboys.’

‘I’ve met the CEO, I was very impressed with him and his plans for the castle.’

‘Where on earth did you find him? I thought you were leaving all the research to me. Was my work not good enough?’

‘Jamie is actually … Milly’s brother. She put me in contact with him,’ Cameron said.

Olivia’s mouth fell open slightly. ‘Cameron, you’ve known her a week and now you’re working with her brother?’

‘How do you know I’ve only known her for a week?’

Olivia sighed, shifted through the papers in front of her and slid Milly’s Castle Heritage ID card across the table. ‘I found it this morning.’

He felt his jaw clench. ‘It doesn’t change anything.’

‘Of course it does. She comes here, gets you into bed and a few days later you’re working with her brother, that’s all a bit coincidental for my liking.’

‘It’s not like that, Milly has helped me to see my options. And a minute ago you were telling me how lovely you thought Milly was, now what? You’re accusing her of sleeping with me in order to get me to sign with Extravagance and get some financial kickback from her brother?’

There was a flash of something in her eyes, an emotion he couldn’t identify before it was gone.

Olivia sat back in her seat for a moment, eyeing Cameron thoughtfully. ‘She does seem really lovely and if you trust her then I do too, but I am worried how much trust you’ve laid at her feet already, when you barely know her. You’ve told her about how you didn’t write the
Hidden Faces
series, now you’re trusting her with the future of the castle. Listen, you know nothing about her except that she is probably good in bed. You ask me to research all these companies before you work with them – Palace Hotels, Extravagance, Castle Heritage – but you’ve done no research on the woman that you want to spend the rest of your life with. You’ve known her a week. Don’t you think it might be beneficial to do a little bit of digging?’

Cameron bit his lip. He hated to admit it, but she was probably right. If nothing else, Olivia researching Milly and finding out that there was nothing untoward about her would at least get Olivia off his back about her.

‘Fine, look her up. Research her. Research Extravagance too. I am one hundred percent confident that you will find nothing dodgy about either of them, but if it will make you feel better then go ahead.’

Olivia sighed with relief. ‘I’m sure you’re right about her, but a little research won’t do any harm.’

Her phone rang on the table next to her. She glanced at the caller ID and snatched it up. ‘I’d better take this.’

She opened the back door and stepped outside as she answered the phone, closing the door behind her.

Cameron watched her go. Olivia was right. After what happened with Eva, it paid to be a little cautious. He just hoped that she wouldn’t find anything.

M
illy walked back
up the drive and spotted Olivia talking on the phone. She was facing away from her, leaning on the castle wall. Annoyingly, as she drew closer, she could see Olivia absently kicking at some loose brickwork at the very bottom of the wall. The castle was damaged enough as it was, without Olivia making it worse.

She carried on walking past her, but stopped as she caught some of what Olivia was saying.

‘Don’t worry, he’ll sign it. Maxwell, don’t worry, I’ll get him to sign it. I need this deal as much as you do.’

Maxwell? As in the owner of Palace Hotels?

Olivia shifted slightly and Milly bolted in case she saw her listening. She went into the kitchen and Cameron stuck his head out of the lounge. His smile, when he saw her, lit up his whole face.

‘Morning, beautiful.’

She stepped into the lounge, planting a deep kiss on his lips as he pulled her against him.

‘I missed you this morning,’ Cameron whispered against her lips.

She smiled. ‘You missed the hot sex, you mean.’

‘That too.’

She pulled him further into the lounge. ‘Cameron, listen, how long have you known Olivia?’

He frowned. ‘About a year. She came to work for me shortly after my dad died. Why?’

‘I think she might be doing some kind of deal with Palace Hotels.’

His frown deepened. ‘Jesus Milly, don’t you start. I’ve just had all this with Olivia about you, she thinks you’re getting some kind of kickback from your brother.’

‘What?’

‘I told her Jamie was your brother, wish I hadn’t now and I really don’t need you going after her too.’

Milly regretted saying anything. Of course he would believe Olivia over her, they were friends and he’d known her a lot longer than he had known Milly. Unless she came to him with some hard proof, she was just going to look petty and silly. And she hardly had anything concrete apart from a few overheard words in a one sided conversation. She could have jumped to completely the wrong conclusion. She had to let it go for now.

She decided to change the subject completely, in an attempt to dispel that frown that was marring his beautiful features.

‘Ok, forget I said anything. Listen, I went down to the village and spoke to the ladies. They seem to think the treasure is still here in the castle and that Sophia guards over it.’

This at least managed to wipe the scowl from his face. ‘The dungeons?’

‘Apparently.’

‘I can’t see anything being hidden down there.’

‘Me neither but we haven’t exactly spent prolonged time in the dungeons. There could be lots of nooks and crannies for hiding a chest of treasure. Imagine, if you find it, you wouldn’t have to do a deal with Extravagance or Palace Hotels, you might have enough to pay off all your debts and do the renovations yourself. I know that would be your first choice.’

Cameron nodded. ‘We’ll have to have a look down there.’

There was a noise in the kitchen. Milly poked her head outside and spotted Olivia staring right at her. How much had she heard?

Milly went out into the kitchen and Cameron followed her.

Olivia continued to stare at her and Milly stared straight back. She didn’t trust her, but apparently the feeling was entirely mutual.

Cameron sighed as he looked between the two of them. ‘I’m going for a shower. Play nicely, girls.’

He walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind him.