CHAPTER 8
Linford Castle was a hive of activity when Jess returned after lunch. As set designers continued to add the finishing touches to their outdoor sets, the Linford staff worked on cleaning and preparing the hotel.
The head of housekeeping and Holly were coming out of one of the hotel’s luxury cottages as Jess strolled up the tree-lined driveway, enjoying the early-afternoon sun on her face. She waved to Holly.
“Did you like Ivy Cottage?” Holly shouted.
The other woman frowned at her, but Holly ignored her and marched over to Jess. “Can you believe we still have to wear these uniforms even though there’s nobody here at the moment? Do they think we’re all going to forget how to do our jobs if we work in our own clothes for a while?”
Jess shot her a look of sympathy. “They must be pretty warm all right. But I heard that some of film crew are arriving later this evening.”
Holly brightened. “I know. I heard all the crew are Irish, including the makeup and costume people, which is pretty cool. And the actors are arriving tomorrow.” Her face fell slightly.
“Although we’ve all been warned not to ask for selfies or autographs, and we’ve had to sign non-disclosure agreements. I spend my life having to sign NDAs!”
Jess suppressed a smile. “They’ll be mad busy. I’ve no idea how long it takes to shoot a movie, but I suppose they have a strict schedule.”
Holly shrugged. “I’ve no clue. Don’t most of these movies just get made in studios?” Before Jess could answer, she added, “What did you think of the cottage? Pretty grim, right?”
Jess briefly debated being honest but remembered just in time that Holly thought ‘discreet’ was a line of sanitary products.
“Not at all, I love it. It’s really cosy, and it’ll be dead easy to keep clean.” Right, that was enough of that. “I’d better let you get back to work.”
Holly frowned. “Oh, fair enough. Anyways, I’m here if you want to know anything. Not just about the house but about the village and stuff.”
“I’ll definitely keep it in mind,” Jess said. She looked up at the grand facade of Linford Castle. The ivy that climbed over its four-hundred-year-old stone walls had been cut back since last time she was here. “I wonder if they’ll want to change a lot inside.”
“Well, I know they’re planning on using the old tunnels.” Holly seemed delighted to have insider knowledge.
Jess shot her a worried look. “Where did you hear that?”
“Mrs McDonagh.” Holly gestured to the housekeeper who was now giving her pointed looks.
“Apart from Mr Neary, Mrs McDonagh knows everything about the hotel. She told me that the tunnels have been unlocked, except for the one in the Whispering Gallery above the Great Hall because it’s supposed to be way too dangerous. ” She widened her eyes meaningfully.
Jess simply nodded. Of the castle’s three tunnels, only two had been used in recent times.
The old staff tunnel that led from the kitchens had been featured in a promotional video.
The other led from the Lady Linford Suite and had been used by their celebrity bride the previous year to escape her wedding!
She’d completely forgotten about the tunnel in the Great Hall but was relieved to hear that at least one of them would remain locked.
Holly flicked another look at the housekeeper. “Better go, excuse me.” She hitched up her long skirt and hurried off to one of the cottages.
Jess tried to dismiss a feeling of unease as she went back inside. If the filmmakers were planning to use Linford’s two other tunnels, one of which ran from the Lady Linford Suite into Linford Wood, it was likely they’d remain unlocked the whole time.
The last time that one had been left unlocked, they’d had a runaway bride. And despite appearances on the day, it hadn’t been her.
She took a deep breath. There was absolutely no need to worry because this was a totally different situation. This time, there was no danger that anything could go wrong.
“I remember the moment I knew I wanted An Irish Inheritance to be made here.” The film’s director, Doug Strathan settled back into an armchair, stretched his long legs out in front of him and beamed at Anthony and Jess.
Doug, his wife and assistant producer Mel Winters, and the film’s publicity person Lisa Greensmith had arrived at Linford shortly before five that evening and were having light refreshments in the orangery.
The couple looked the part, Jess mused, as she studied them. They were both tall, impeccably dressed and lightly tanned. Doug was probably mid-to-late forties, but he had the lean physique of someone who ran every day.
“You guys remember when that celebrity wedding went viral last year?” Doug gave a deep chuckle, and Jess felt herself sink further into her chair.
“You gave the whole damn world the perfect story! The haunted castle, the secret tunnels, the runaway bride with the helicopter chase all over the news!” He slammed his hand down on the armrest, making Anthony Neary jump.
“That’s the stuff of Hollywood right there! ”
Jess silently willed Anthony not to mention her role in it.
“Obviously, our location scouts checked out a number of other places.” Mel Winters smoothed a hand quickly over the black polo sweater she wore with black leather trousers, and flicked Doug a look Jess couldn’t read.
“We’d hardly choose a location based on something so frivolous.
But we had a good look at the hotel’s website, and then I flew over in February to make sure this place ticked all our boxes.
” She turned her gaze on Jess. “Did we meet that time?”
“We wouldn’t have.” Jess flashed her a smile. “I’m the group’s marketing manager, which means I’m usually stuck in head office in Dublin. But I’ll be your go-to person for anything you need while you’re here, or any problems you run into that you think I might be able to help with.”
“Good to know,” Mel said.
“Jess regularly updates Linford Castle’s website,” Anthony pointed out. “I find it very impressive.”
“Yeah, I noticed you’ve a cute map of the whole castle and the little village on there,” Doug said enthusiastically. “There’s a little wood nearby, right? Might be nice to do my daily run there.” He slapped his hands on his flat stomach and winked at Jess.
“Anthony –” Mel began.
“You work in Dublin, Jess?” Doug said at the same time. “We spent a few days there before coming here. Our kid is doing math and science camps for the next few weeks in one of your universities. The timing was great, right, Mel?”
“Peachy.” She smiled tightly and pointedly switched her attention to Anthony. “So, our core cast are arriving tomorrow. I assume everything’s ready for them?”
“Of course.” Anthony handed her a typed sheet. “We’ve twenty cottages on the grounds behind the castle where most of your cast and crew will be staying, and eighteen of our castle rooms are prepared also. That includes the Lady Helen suite. We’ve left two suites free for filming, as requested.”
“Good.” Mel nodded. “I want to check out our village set – it should be nearly ready.” She glanced over at Lisa. “Anything else, Lisa?”
Lisa, who Jess figured was only a few years older than her, glanced up from her phone for the first time since they’d all sat down.
“We have Deb Considine coming for a photo shoot.” She looked at Jess.
“She’s the author of the book our movie is based on, and her agent contacted us last week to say she’s staying nearby for a couple of months to write her next book or something.
” She glanced at Doug. “It’s a good opportunity to get some photos of her with the cast.”
“I’ve read some of her books,” Jess said. “They’re great fun.”
Doug pursed his lips. “She also wrote the script. But that doesn’t mean anything once we start filming.”
“Well, if there’s anything we can do, just let us know.” Anthony shot Jess a quick look. “We’re here to help. Whenever you’re ready, I can show you to your cottages, and you can get settled in. Our chefs are staying on until your food trucks arrive on Monday.”
For the first time since she’d arrived, Jess felt a real surge of excitement at the thought of being so close to a Hollywood production. She got to her feet as the others stood.
“If you don’t mind, I think I’ll tag along.”
After a quick tour of the castle and grounds with Doug, Mel and Lisa, Jess excused herself and headed back to the five-acre west field where the fake village was being painted.
One of the workers seemed to be checking the floral-decorated benches on the bandstand that had been built on the village ‘green’. He turned as she approached.
“Robert?”
He pushed a screwdriver into the tool belt at his waist. “This is known as stalking!”
Jess laughed. “I didn’t know you were working on the set?”
“I was hired to oversee the structural integrity of all the sets.” He gestured around. “Basically, to see that they’re all properly built and safe for purpose.”
“Cool.” Jess folded her arms. “Have you done any work for Linford in the past?”
“I wasn’t involved with any of the redevelopment, no.” He tipped his head, his hair glinting in the sun.
He was even fairer than Simon, she thought. Definitely nothing like Adam.
“Uh, Jess, are you okay?”
She blinked. “Good, yep.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I was saying that I heard some of the crew are already here.”
“Yes, I met the director and assistant producer, and the woman in charge of publicity earlier. I can’t believe Spencer Torres and Afric Brooks are arriving later today. I loved their last movie.”
A beat passed and then he gave a teasing smile. “Should I warn them?”
“No need, I promise.” Jess grinned. “I’ve just never been this close to Hollywood before. What about you?”
“Oh, I’m in the inner circle,” he said. “Anyway, I’m finished here now. Are you still working?”
Jess checked the time. It was after six. “Nope, I think I can safely finish for the day.”
“I’m heading back to the village,” he said. “Can I walk back with you?”
Jess did a quick mental check of what she’d left at the castle. She didn’t need any of it tonight, and anything important was locked in Ian’s office. “Sure.”
They headed across the field towards the main driveway to the castle. As they got to the edge, Robert stopped. “Turn around now and have a look.”
Jess turned and scanned the three sides of the set with the centre bandstand. “It looks great, very realistic.”
“The set designers did a good job.” Robert glanced over at the castle. “So, I hear some of the staff are signing up to be extras?”
“Yep.” Jess nodded. “Half the locals will probably put their names forward too, won’t they? What about you?”
“Too busy. And no burning desire to hang around a set doing nothing all day.”
They reached the castle’s huge wrought-iron gates and walked up the small road that led to the village.
“Listen,” he said, “I feel bad doing this, but I’m going to have to take a rain check on that coffee. I’ve been asked to look at a job in Ballina, and the client is only free that day.”
“Oh, yeah, no, that’s grand, don’t worry.” Jess managed a smile. Maybe he was regretting asking to meet. Or she’d read the situation wrong and he was just trying to be friendly?
“You know, I was just about to treat myself to a pub dinner at The Tin Whistle.” Robert looked thoughtful. “Why don’t you join me?”
Jess hesitated. Coffee was fine, but dinner? She’d only met Robert and, if things got awkward, she’d spend the whole six weeks down here trying to avoid him.
“We’ll go Dutch if that makes you feel any better,” he said, correctly guessing what she was thinking.
She gave a reluctant laugh. “I guess I do need to eat. And I haven’t had a chance to do any shopping yet.” She glanced down. “Am I okay like this?”
He smirked. “You’re probably overdressed, but the locals will forgive you if you’re with me.”
She needed to stop overthinking things and just go with the flow for a while. This wasn’t serious. It was just a meal with a nice guy. At most, it was a bit of harmless flirting.
And it was exactly what she needed to forget about Adam.