“A hundred years later a tech bro would invent an app that did the same thing and sell it for half a billion dollars,” Van murmured.
“But sadly, the tech bro still wouldn’t be the second-richest man in Silicon Valley,” Caroline whispered back.
There was a model of the family yacht, theIllyria, in a glass case on a sleeping porch, and a display of the blue-and-cream custom-designed china that the Cranes used in the ship’s mess.
“Quick! The wind is blowing! Grab the soup tureen and climb aboard!” Caroline murmured, and Van muffled a laugh with his fist.
As their group meandered through grand drawing rooms and elegantly appointed bedrooms, they crossed paths with other tours, theirguides dressed as stable boys and chambermaids, monologuing away in an actorly fashion. There was something vaguely cringe about the guides, desperate theater kids stuck in the historic home rotation, and Caroline felt a pang for them. She thought she might be able to write a short story about a tour guide and tucked it away in the back of her mind for future use.
They made their way through the bedrooms and back down the stairs before leaving the Great House to walk through the Rose Garden, Martha keeping up an animated stream of conversation with the crowd.
“What are those islands in the distance?” asked the man with the mustache, pointing out across the ocean.
“We scullery maids are mostly knowledgeable about the interior of the property,” Martha demurred. “Van? Do you know?” She turned to him expectantly. Caroline frowned, confused. How did the maid know her kayak guy?
“Sure.” He walked easily to the front of the group. “So, that’s Plum Island, then the Isles of Shoals are those low ones, then you can actually see Agamenticus, which is in southern Maine, and Boar’s Head over there.” He pointed to various spots along the horizon.
“Van, since we have you, do you want to tell them anything about the nesting sites?” Martha pushed.
“Am I that predictable?” Van laughed and Martha looked at him like she wanted to rip off his shirt. Why was the scullery maidflirtingwith him? Caroline pulled her lip balm out of her pocket and applied a layer, feeling flustered. “The piping plover is a threatened species,” Van continued, “and one of the important things we’re doing here at Crane Beach is preserving their nesting site. You’ll see areas that are roped off, and that’s to protect the two dozen breeding pairs we havehere. By paying for your tour today you not only support this beautiful castle but also our important work protecting wildlife.” Van nodded quickly at Martha and retreated to the back of the crowd.
“What was that?” Caroline whispered, baffled.
“Oh, I work here.” Van ducked his head down, embarrassed.
“You’re a tour guide?”
“No, I work for the Trustees of Reservations in land management. I’m an environmental scientist. Our offices are on the third floor.” He gestured up at the Great House.
“So, you’re not here to visit your Chicago friends Richard and Florence?” Caroline looked at him in mock accusation.
Van shook his head and smiled bashfully.
“Wait.” Caroline realized something. “Did you just do the tour because I was doing it?”
Van covered his face with his hands. “I was just going to say hi, but kind of got sucked in.”
“Damn it! I was here thinking you spent your Wednesday mornings touring historic castles—which, by the way, is a totally normal thing to do—but you were actually at work!”
“Uh, well,” Van looked at his watch, “if it makes you feel any better, I think I missed a semi-important meeting and am now supposed to be telling my staff what they’re doing today.”
“I am also very busy and missing some important things.” Caroline nodded.
“Maybe if you find a break in your busy and important schedule, we could grab a drink this weekend?”
“Hmm.” Caroline pretended to think. “The Cranes do keep me pretty occupied with all the sailing and ballroom dancing, but I think I can manage.”
They exchanged numbers, and as Caroline walked back to her car, she grinned hugely at every ancient European tourist she passed.
Wow, you really committed to the bit with the Guest of a Crane thing, texted Nina.
He thought it was funny too. He laughed.
Was it a polite laugh?
It would have been a big laugh but we had to be quiet
Yikes. Please tell me you’re doing something normal for your first date