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‘Never been tempted to do something that way yourself?’
‘Not at all.’ She laughed a little self-consciously. ‘Acting has never been a love of mine. I was more likely to be found painting scenery than trying out for the lead. But in some ways, I guess, I do spend a lot of time acting, channelling a more confident, assertive me. Clem taught me techniques—how to stand, to project. How to breathe—that’s been very useful. Simone was great too at preparing me to speak up in intimidating circumstances. She was one of the most matter-of-fact and forthright people you’ll ever meet, she passed that quality onto Clem. They both taught me to focus on what’s important. I owe them both a lot.’
‘Sounds like being a diplomat is hard. You must be young to have so much responsibility. I think of diplomats as older—not that I’ve dedicated too much time to the topic,’ he added hastily, although he had been thinking about it of late, since meeting her.
‘Iamyoung to have some of the responsibilities I do, but politics is the family business. I was raised to it. And yes, at times the focus is on me, but more what I represent, if that makes sense, rather than me as a person. That’s why it can help to play a part, to take the personal out. How about you? What’s today about? Planning to set up a troupe of players to stage your opus?’
‘Not exactly. I’m not one for being on stage either, but I am interested in this theatre in particular.’
‘In what way?’
He took a deep breath. Now was the time to make his pitch. ‘I want to take out a long-term lease and carry on the restoration process to take the theatre to the next level. Make it an asset thatworksfor the community,nottake it away from the community.’ He could hear his tone sharpen at the last words and her eyes widened.
‘You clearly feel passionately about it,’ she said.
Jack nodded grimly. ‘I’m not the only one. According to the village—and your cousin—everything I want to do goes against what this theatre is for. That’s what the meeting just then was about—I am going to have to hire a PR firm to untangle the web of gossip and rumours about what I am trying to do here. Because itwillhappen. The Council will lease it to me, they have to. This place is expensive to run, they’re relieved to get it off their hands, for someone else to be responsible for the upkeep, but I’d rather go ahead with the backing of the village. I’m not interested in cementing my role as the bad boy outsider.’
Rosy sat back, eyebrows raised. ‘Is that who you are? That’s not how I would describe you. A hard-working father maybe, a mean maker of a lasagne, a man who obviously cares about his community, but not a bad boy outsider. And I’m usually a good judge of character.’
Her words warmed Jack through. Maybe he did have a chance to start again—with the incomers at least. ‘People in Polhallow have long memories and the Treloars a certain reputation. I wouldn’t care if it wasn’t for the girls.’ He stopped and thought about his words. ‘That’s not true. I do mind, I always have,’ he admitted, surprised at his honesty, to her and to himself. ‘But back then, instead of trying to prove people wrong, I went the other way, became the boy they expected me to be for a short while. But even when things changed, whenIchanged, all the local community could see was who they expected to see. And that is who many people in the village see now, no matter where I live or how I act. They hear I have plans for the theatre and assume the worst because of my name and the actions of a messed-up teen. That’s not what I want for the girls. I want people to hear their name and respect them, respect their origins.’
‘That seems like a laudable ambition to me,’ she said softly and with her words he felt some of the brittleness within him break as if she had given him a benediction, a blessing on his plans.
‘You want to hear what I have in mind?’
Rosy reached out and touched his arm, the warmth of her touch searing him. ‘I’d love to.’
‘Come on then.’ This was a great opportunity to start to change things. Clem was influential and if her own cousin could advocate for him then his battle might be half won before it started. But as Jack began to expand on his ideas, he knew that it wasn’t the village he was trying to impress—it was this one woman.
CHAPTER FOUR
ARROSAWASN’TJUSTbeing polite when she said she wanted to hear more, although it was Jack’s allusions to his youthful reputation and motivations that piqued her interest rather than the actual means of achieving his aims. But as the tour progressed she got swept away. There was something about Jack’s vision that made things come alive. She could see the theatre as he did, filled with chattering, excited people, smell the greasepaint, feel the heat of the lights. She could see the entrance opened up and welcoming, imagine the glass-fronted café overlooking the bay, picture the currently unused boxes turned into sought-after seats for special occasions. He didn’t just want to restore the front of the theatre, he also had plans to refurbish the dressing rooms, currently more reminiscent of a school locker room, and create VIP areas backstage.
‘I want to attract the best,’ he told her as he sketched out his ideas. ‘The best dance companies, opera, repertory theatre, touring musicals, even bands. When I was a kid we had to travel for any kind of culture, which for people like me meant it was completely inaccessible. When Lily and I moved to London I was intimidated by theatres and museums, I didn’t think they were for the likes of me. I don’t want any child within twenty miles of here to ever think that. I want this to be a destination theatre that attracts tourists all year round, but it’s important that anyone and everyone who lives here has full access too—and at an affordable price. What do you think?’
Arrosa circled round, seeing the currently drab bar area through his eyes, bright and busy. ‘Honestly? I love it! Your plans are completely inspiring.’ She meant every word although she knew Clem was opposed to any changes to the current set-up. But surely her sister wasn’t fully informed about what Jack had planned? Loyalty to Simone might make Clem stubborn but her own ambitions for the theatre weren’t dissimilar to everything Jack wanted to do. ‘But I can see your comms problem; I’ve not heard anything about any of this, just that the theatre needs saving.’
‘I think I went about it all wrong, dived straight in without laying the groundwork first.’ Jack was clearly frustrated. ‘I’m not used to being the upfront spokesperson, I’m usually behind the scenes. I thought the plans would speak for themselves, but as soon as it became known I wanted a long lease and changes were involved rumours started. You can see why I need a PR agency to help turn things around.’
‘Changing public perceptions can be a long process and it’s important to remember that even if opposition feels personal it usually isn’t,’ she assured him. She should know. After all, it had been over eight years since realising his hoped-for son was never going to come, her father had turned his attention to amending Asturia’s laws in order to make Arrosa Crown Princess and eventual Queen. They’d had to work tirelessly over those eight years to get to the point where public opinion was in favour and for all the opposition parties to agree to change the age-old laws. Eight years of Arrosa not putting a foot wrong, of treading the delicate line of not looking too eager to become Queen whilst displaying leadership and diplomacy. Eight years of only being photographed looking calm, friendly and professional.
Eight years of knowing that this was just the beginning. That her entire life had to live up to the promise of her eight year-long audition for the role.
‘Daddy, I’m hungry!’ Clover clambered up the stairs towards them. ‘Can Rosy have dinner with us again?’
Arrosa could see Jack hesitate and tried to think of an excuse she could use to help him out as after an uncomfortable pause he nodded. ‘Of course. She’s very welcome if she doesn’t have other plans.’
‘I did defrost a chicken.’ It was a rubbish excuse, and she knew it from the disappointment in Clover’s face. ‘But you could come to me,’ Arrosa offered before she could remember all the reasons getting further entangled with the small family was a bad idea.
Jack didn’t reply at once. Instead, he met her gaze as if seeking confirmation that the offer was genuine and not mere politeness. Not for the first time, Arrosa noted the wariness behind what often looked like arrogance and confidence, giving her a sense of the lonely and potentially misunderstood boy he had once been. ‘If you’re sure. There’s a lot of us to feed.’
‘I can’t promise anything as magnificent as your lasagne,’ she said. ‘But I could cook you chicken the Asturian way with lemon and garlic, fresh salad and these little cubed potatoes covered with a special secret spicy sauce. Does that sound any good?’
Clover agreed volubly that it did and before Arrosa knew it she was being whisked back home in Jack’s oversized car, despite protesting it was only a short walk away. He parked outside and she opened the little picket gate, the family following her down the path which wound through the flower-filled garden to the white cottage’s front door.
‘Is this your home?’ Clover asked as Arrosa unlocked the front door and ushered them inside.
‘No, it belongs to my cousin Clem, but itfeelslike my home. I spent lots of very happy times here.’
